Betty Blog #6

Betty Blog #6

By Brett Lee

One of the parts I enjoy about the Nationals is the fact they are a live show. From the moment we arrive at the tracks on Sunday morning until the moment we leave, we are on the clock. Riders meeting needs to be done so practices can begin, so qualifiers can start, so motos can begin, so stage presentations can take place, while the track is being worked so that we can start motos again. It is a challenging, exciting and very rewarding day when the stars all align, but when they do not there isn’t a hole big enough to crawl into and hide.

What made me think about this was watching this weekend’s Daytona 500. I would not describe myself as a car guy, but I do love big events. Whether it is the Masters, Superbowl, Daytona or even for myself Walton, I like big events that have history and athletes that put effort into winning and are special. Daytona is that event to me and millions of sports fan around the world. So I spent Sunday watching the rain fall in Florida, drivers roam around motor homes, and Fox TV work to fill 6 hours of television.

That in itself was impressive. The Television crew worked 6 hours of television with updates, facts that kept fans watching, and yes, hoping the big show would go on. In perspective, it was creating a show, unrehearsed with no time table, no content and no panic for 6 hours.

The rain never seem to stop for the Daytona 500

The race itself was delayed. First race officials then FOX made a big call. They delayed the  race till 7pm Sunday. This was a big move for several reasons. On site were thousands of people that wanted to see a race. The fans outside needed to be entertained and the event staff had the resources to commit to that. The facility, which would have been in clean up mode at 7:00pm, bumped their staff rotation and schedules. That alone is a significant effort for a facility that houses thousands of spectators. It also pushed the TV program up an additional 6 hours, eventually committing 12 hours to the race. The last 6 hours were in prime time and went against the NBA All Star Game and Oscars (22.6 rating); not what anyone wanted. I thought to myself as this was unfolding, how little all our problems seem when we have perspective. By 7pm, the rain had not let up and the race was moved to Monday.

Monday played out much the same: rain, delays and frustration. The race that was scheduled to go at noon on Monday was again bumped to 7pm Monday night. Monday night was a firm wall though because teams had to pack and move to the next race. For the Daytona500, there was no tomorrow. So for millions of fans, millions of dollars in sponsorship, teams and drivers, everything rested on the weather. For the Daytona team, the work, organization and effort was now down to a pocket of good weather to determine failure or success. It is the cruel hand in live, outdoor events that makes so much out of anyone’s control. It stressed me to think about it, it made me think of the Saturday at the TransCan this year as a perfect week came crashing down from the sky.

The event saw it all. Including fire.

The rain held off, the fans stuck around, and the 54th running of the Daytona500 left the line. It was what the race was meant to be with tight racing and crashes. With about 50 laps to go, I am sure the staff of Daytona Speedway were about to collectively let out a big exhale when Juan Pablo Montoya’s car spun out of control in corner three towards the jet fuelled safety truck that was drying the track. It was a “what the hell” moment as Montoya’s car smashed into the truck and ignited the jet fuel into a fire ball. One again, the race that just couldn’t start looked like it may not finish. Montoya and the driver of the truck miraculously walked away as fuel burned down the banked wall while the two vehicles smouldered. I could only imagine being one of the people tied closely to the management of this event wondering what was next. For the next hour the crew fought down the fire, cleaned the track with hand brooms and followed the golden rule of all events….the show must go on.

It was an impressive effort. Not by just the drivers, but more by the thousands of people who put on this event. There was rain, fire, fog and delays in the most bizarre Daytona 500 in history. In the end, Matt Kenseth won the crazy 36 hour marathon that began Sunday and ended in the early hours of Tuesday morning. It was an event that could not have been predicted or scripted. That is live racing. About the time you think you’ve seen just about everything, you see something like the Daytona 500.  It is why we wait for checkered flags to see who wins, why we are all thankful when the sun shines. It reminds us all that there will always be moments in life that we cannot control because we are just along for the ride.