Bill Warner catches a ride with Sir Stirling in the 300SLR.
Story and Photos by Jonathan Sharp
Dear Pete,
Up like a lark for a crack of dawn start this morning. The general consensus among other photographers who have covered the event before was to get there before first light, so I did. Not sure why though! Had a problem finding the car park; I knew where it was as I had parked in it yesterday but could not see the entrance to it due to the flashing red and blue lights from all the local Police patrol cars all crowded around the entrance to the Ritz Carlton controlling the traffic, of which, at that hour, I was the sum total of it.
Then walking across the damp grass of the greens it would have been but the work of a moment to fall into the lake having been dazzled by the spotlights set up to light the way. It was good fun however to watch the buildup and to see the cars arriving. Most of my fellow photographers seemed to spend the time enjoying the free breakfast. Perhaps that is why they suggested getting there early.
I was not sure what cars to expect. I had made an effort since picking up the program on Friday to not look at the entry list so I was rather pleasantly surprised as the field filled up. Variety was very evident throughout the field with special classes this year for Stutz, the Porsche 914, Classic Hot Rods, Orphan Concept Cars and probably the strangest yet most fun class of all, Cars of the Cowboys!
'And I learned this from old man Farina..'