BY SCOTT MORGANROTH
I have to admit that I met my match, not personally, but on the road.
I’ve been driving since I was 16 which amounts to 44 years on the road.
When I passed my drivers test on my birthday, December 29, 1962., on a blustery winter day in Southfield, MI, my dad never let me hear the end of it in a joking way that I ran a red light in Waterford, MI.
I would joke around with him that even though I had that inadvertent mishap, I’ve managed to do well through the years and and he smiled at me.
I recently bought a hat at a Truck Stop called “King of The Road” and for those that know me, I enjoy taking trips across the country instead of flying.
I’m not a fan of security checks at the airport, don’t like overspending on rental cars and having to get to the airport at least two hours for a flight. There is always the anxiety that a flight could get cancelled.
Between business and cross country drives, I’ve driven over four million miles.
My wife gave the the name, “Crazy Man” because of the fact that I get stronger as the drive wears on, especially driving at night.
During the night hours, I like to play music and like the fact there is less traffic on the road.
My late mother-in-law was very nervous about my adventures especially knowing I was doing them with her daughter in the car.
She was okay as time wore on.
I couldn’t call my late grandmother Sophie because I was afraid that I would make her sick. But she was glad to see me when I got home because of all the stories I would tell her.
A few years ago, I got my taste of covering endurance racing at Sebring Raceway.
The race is held in March and it’s called the 12-Hours of Sebring which is on a race track that was the site of Hendricks Army Airport.
The course of the track is 3.74 miles that has a lot of holes on the surface which takes a toll on the automobiles.
The man that gave me a good education on endurance racing was Sebring Historian, who handles the Media Credentials, Ken Breslauer.
I met a lot of writers that were pleasant and gave me pointers and by the end of the weekend, I started interviewing drivers.
But there was one person I met that impressed the heck out of me and we became friends.
His name is Graham Goodwin and this 58-year old is the Editor of Dailysportscar.
He’s been covering endurance races for 21 years.
Graham and I spoke at the Roar Before The 24, which are preliminary races leading up to the Rolex 24 at Daytona International Speedway that takes place from January 26-29.
Our interview occurred on “No Limits” that is on the South Florida Tribune You Tube Channel. There in no charge to subscribe.
What amazes me about Graham is he’s covered 13 Rolex 24’s and 89 24-Hour Races.
I asked him a lot of questions during the interview that lasted slightly over an hour.
I asked him his routine during a 24 hour race, whether he gets sleep, talked about the various tracks he’s been to and he gave me advice on covering my first 24 hour race.
I even told him that he reminded me of Lou Gehrig (New York Yankees) Cal Ripken Jr. (Baltimore Orioles) and Gordie Howe (Detroit Red Wings) as iron men in their respective sports.
I have to tell you that this was the fastest one hour interview that I’ve experienced in 43 years during My Sports Media Career.
I hope you enjoy this interview as much as I enjoyed doing it.
IMSA, which does the endurance racing doesn’t get the notoriety that IndyCar Racing, open wheel or NASCAR gets, but it’s a money machine when you factor that sports car racing at long increments tests tire durability, the engines from manufacturers like Mercedes Benz, Lexus, Cadillac, Porsche and many others.
But if you want to get an education on endurance racing, Graham Goodwin will give it to you.
Covering endurance racing is a far cry from the conventional sports that I’ve dealt with in the past.
But the Rolex 24 has always been a bucket list item and now that I can check that off the list.
My hope is to get addicted to this because unlike the regular motor sports events, you track drivers and manufacturers.
Nobody is going to turn their head around non-stop for 12-24 hours especially when you have a combination of daylight and darkness.
Since I figured out Sebring twice, there will be a huge gratification of me when I’m doing this.
I’m definitely doing a journal and taking in all of the media availability’s available to me.
In the meantime, Graham Goodwin has been a good tutor, has traveled all over the world doing these events, but I feel good that I’ve demonstrated enough endurance in traveling all over the USA. I’m also proud of the fact that I’ve hit all 50 States.
But it’s real cool that Mr. Endurance got to Interview Mr. Endurance at the “World Center Of Racing” (Daytona International Speedway).
Scott Morganroth can be reached at southfloridatribune@gmail.com. You can follow him on Twitter @TribuneSouth.
Also, once again, Subscribe to the South Florida Tribune You Tube Channel to see all of Scott’s broadcasts.
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