Pit Update

Sorry for the delay on the "pronto" promise. Your faithful blogger just had a chance to go down to the pits and then stuffed way more chicken piccata into his belly than can possibly be healthy. Anyway we're experiencing some internet connectivity issues that are limiting our abilities to upload images. In the meantime you may be interested in the experience of going down to the pits in the 21st hour of an auto endurance race.

The most striking feature of the Farnbacher pit (and one can reasonably assume all the other pits) is the level of exhaustion the crew members are experiencing. 5 o'clock shadows have stayed up past their curfew and crew members are sleeping in positions in which only the truly exhausted can reach REM. As I entered a crew member on my right was receiving a massage from a woman who had the countenance and appearance of a mother - a welcome sight I'm sure for the worn out ladies and gentlemen of the Farnbacher crew - and on my left a crew member was passed out sitting up with his feet in a pins and needles inducing position. A group of four men sat perched on a four foot high stand glued to computer monitors and tires stacked in groups of four were littered about everywhere. A crew member named Adam, with scruff that looked like he had been working back to back to back endurance races, approached me and asked if I had an extra Children's Tumor Foundation hat. He said he appreciated the work of the Foundation and was impressed with the dedication of our volunteers. I thanked him, told him I'd look into finding a hat (and I will) and thanked him for the great work he and his crew members are doing. He seemed excited to talk to someone who wasn't discussing tire pressure and we shared a few laughs before he returned to work.

Shortly thereafter a gigantic fireman walked by me as the CTF No. 85 car came into pit. The gentleman was decked head-to-toe in flame retardant gear (literally head-to-toe, including over his face) and I realized the potential danger of the pits area and importance of precaution (about 15 minutes after I left the pits a car caught fire not far from the Farnbacher area - everyone was okay). The crew jumped into action but were not quite as speedy as the pit guys you see in shorter races, quality and thoroughness being more important than a second here or there.

As the car pulled away it was time to go but not without a new found respect for the dedication and commitment of the great Farnbacher crew.