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BEHIND THE SCENES--TRANSPORTING THE RACE OF A THOUSAND YEARS

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Traveling to Australia from the United States requires almost 24 hours of flying time. Following in the tradition of the Olympians, motorsport crews and drivers are headed "down under" for the final event of the 2000 American Le Mans Series schedule. This massive operation brings Australia closer to all of us, if only via television coverage. To support their favorite teams, American fans in great numbers are making the voyage.

In another behind the scenes look at what it takes to run a race, let's examine the options of getting the equipment, crews, drivers and fans to the streets of Adelaide for the "Race of a Thousand Years."

Moving race teams around from continent to continent requires massive planning and careful execution. When at a race in North America, teams have everything they need in their transporters, things are in place and there is a list to work from. It is fairly routine. It is not so when traveling to another continent.

Some teams will fly their machinery and supplies to Adelaide a few days ahead, but many others will take an alternative option. Those teams who chose to send their equipment by ocean freighters had to start weeks early and unload everything into containers, using fork lifts and other tools. The lists must be carefully adhered to, since finding replacements for lost objects could be a real problem. The crew often has to build shelving and decking to hold parts and to offer maximum protection from something breaking away and damaging the cars as they travel the high seas for weeks.

Containers are filled with things like golf carts, scooters, spare (auto) body parts, tools, fire suits, and anything else you can think of that a team may need to operate. Of course, customs regulations require the teams to list in detail and assign a value to everything it is taking on the trip, even down to small items such as shop rags. If the team leaves anything in Australia, it must declare what is left.

One advantage of shipping equipment by sea is that hazardous materials do not have to be shipped separately as they would have to be if air transportation was being used. Other consumable goods that be will needed for the race in Australia, will be purchased by the teams when they arrive.

Most of the containers are scheduled to be delivered to the paddock area at the Adelaide street circuit on Dec. 26. Crews members will spring into action to set up. Once at the circuit the containers will get unpacked and teams will move into their assigned garage spaces and set up as is normally done using its sponsor boards, etc. Without a transporter for office space and seating, most teams will rent motor homes, tents and chairs.

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