Although sports cars are at the very heart of why international pro racing exists in Schuyler County, the six-hour endurance classic has only been run 31 times. After the track came out of bankruptcy, the race wasn't revived until 1996 and has been a staple on the schedule for all but one year since then. It's become a fan favorite because of the ease of getting around, the use of the "boot" and the accessibility. Here are five worthwhile reasons to attend this year's race:
ValueFor starters, this weekend has more bang for the buck than any other race at The Glen, or really anywhere I can think of.
Weekend admission starts at $40, with children 19 and younger admitted for free. That's three days to take in not only Grand-Am's Rolex Series, but the Continental Tire Series for production-based cars, the Porsche GT3 Challenge Series and the F2000 open-wheel feeder series. Overall, there will be six races over the course of the weekend with literally dozens of different cars, engine and chassis combos.
That $40 also lets you wander pretty much every where except the team haulers, which leads us to ...
AccessibilityWant to see the cars up close? Not a problem. Want a signature for your souvenir program? Every driver is made available during autograph sessions.
In addition to that, any grandstand on the grounds is open, as are the viewing areas that line the 3.4-mile road course. During the six-hour race, you can literally walk the track and take in the racing from every angle imaginable - except the safety stations, of course. There's even a hot dog eating contest and a concert on Saturday night.
No other weekend at The Glen offers that kind of diversity, which leads us to ...
Cars, lots of themFrom the Daytona Prototypes to the Ferrari GTs, there will be nearly 200 different race cars competing beginning Friday morning through Sunday evening.
It's a gearhead's Nirvana.
Practically all the major auto manufacturers are represented, and the cars are driven by the best sports car racers in the world. The Continental Tire Series alone boasts fields in the 70s, featuring Mustangs, Camaros, Porsches, BMWs, Mazdas and Hondas, while the Rolex Series ranges from the engine-chassis combinations in the top class to the production models in GT.
The F2000 Series, making its return to The Glen, features up-and-coming talent with eyes towards IndyCar.
A lot of great drivers have gone through sports cars and open-wheel training series, giving fans a first look at future Hall of Famers, which leads us to ...
HistoryNot only will this year's Sahlen's Six Hours of The Glen be the last sanctioned by Grand-Am, but it's the 32nd edition of a race that's become one of the crown jewels in American endurance racing.
Mario Andretti, Jacky Ickx, Derek Bell, Brian Redman, Max Papis, Butch Leitzinger, Scott Goodyear and Scott Pruett have all put their names in the record books at The Glen. It's become one leg of the "Triple Crown" in the Rolex Series, along with the 24 Hours of Daytona and the Indianapolis Motor Speedway.
Even the cars have become iconic - from the Porsche 917 to the Ferrari 333SP.
The BootThe Glen is in use from April through October, welcoming hundreds of clubs and thousands of drivers and cars that all use Turns 6-9 - know as "The Boot."This extra mile of track was added to accommodate to the increasing speeds of the Formula One cars. It turned a really fast track into a much more technical one. However, since the stock cars don't use that portion of the 3.4-course, Grand-Am is the only pro series to tackle the western end. Not only does it make things trickier for drivers, but it expands the viewing area for fans.
Some of the most challenging, and interesting, corners are found in The Boot, and you can always see fans line the fence.
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