Detroit — Imagine you could drive over 35 mph on Jefferson Avenue and not get a speeding ticket. Now imagine you’re going 185 mph. You’re now ready to hear about the Detroit Grand Prix.
The event, which runs Friday to Sunday, isn’t one car race but three, which circle General Motors Renaissance Center in downtown Detroit.
On Saturday fans were eagerly anticipating the first contest, the Chevrolet Detroit Sports Car Classic, an endurance race that features prototypes of race cars.
Linda Schmidt of Grand Blanc said she was counting down the days since attending the race last year.
“I couldn’t wait. This is my happy place,” she said. “I love everything about it.”
If you thought parking garages were for parking, guess again, Ricky Bobby. The rooftops of no fewer than four downtown garages offered premium viewing of the sports spectacle.
This is the first year they were opened to fans. Bob Whelan of Oak Park wanted to know why it took so long.
He was loving his vantage point atop the Port Atwater Parking Garage, which overlooked one of the nine turns along the 1.7-mile track.
“It’s pretty cool. You can see Canada, too,” he said about spying the Windsor skyline across the Detroit River. “I can see all over the track.”
Whelan wasn’t wanting for a seat, either, having brought a foldable lawn chair. He also was loving the warm, sunny weather.
The more standard viewing spots, the grandstands, offered a more down-to-earth glimpse of the action. Glimpse was the operative word because the cars passed in a blur.
Even if you miss seeing the cars, you heard them. The Detroit Grand Prix was nothing if not loud.
It was easy to spot the more experienced racing fans. They were wearing foam earplugs or, even better, over-the-ear, noise-canceling earmuffs.
Pat Schultz, who has attended several times, was rocking the foam earplugs.
“It makes a big difference,” she said. “It’s loud. Really loud. You can’t hear yourself think.”
She learned her lesson after her first race in 2018, when she spent most of the time covering her ears. She was with her daughter so she had to cover her ears, as well, which is hard to do when you don’t have four hands.
Besides the lucky fans in the grandstands and the even luckier ones in suites, even the hoi polloi, were enjoying the fast cars Saturday. The northern side of Jefferson Avenue allowed a free view of section of the track.
Also free was access to Hart and Spirit of Detroit plazas, which offered music, games and food vendors.
Maria Garrett of Detroit isn’t much of a race fan but is a fan of having fun and was finding it outside of the track. She brought her husband and two kids to Hart Plaza.
“It’s great to see so many people enjoying themselves,” she said. “Detroit is a great city. You just have to give it a chance.”
Garrett was several blocks from the race track but still felt like she was part of it. That’s because she could hear every car every time they passed by.
Besides the Sports Car Classic, two other races will be held this weekend. They’re the INDY NXT, which involves up-and-coming, open-wheel drivers, and INDYCAR Grand Prix, the marquee event that features premier open-wheel drivers. Both will be held Sunday.
Pat Schultz said she will be there. With her earplugs.
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This article originally appeared on The Detroit News: Detroit Grand Prix is a ‘happy place’ for car racing fans
Reporting by Francis X. Donnelly, The Detroit News / The Detroit News
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
