Car-Based Carnival: Turning Marlins Park into a Race Track
Marlins Park, the home of the Miami Marlins, is set to host an unconventional event this weekend. The prestigious Race of Champions (ROC) will replace the usual crack of the bat with the roar of engines. This marks the first time ROC takes place in North America, and for the first time, a baseball diamond is transformed into a race track.
Claude Delorme, Executive Vice President of Operations and Events for the Miami Marlins, shared his thoughts on the unique event with CNN. He mentioned how difficult it was for people to imagine turning a baseball stadium into a race track. However, the excitement among the players to meet world-class racers was unparalleled.
Delorme explained that they removed the middle field tor and temporarily marked the track for protection. Then, they installed 50,000 square meters of metal plates to create a firm surface for the race track. The entire asphalt was completed in one night, leaving only the final touches for the drivers to start their full training on Friday.
The transformation of Marlins Park is an entirely new challenge. With only one entrance and exit, moving 120 loads of gravel and 50 loads of asphalt in 48 hours was no easy feat. The design took into account the mound's slope and the field's shape, compressing the event into four days of tireless work.
With a total area of 130,000 square feet (similar to most baseball stadiums), the ROC track has a round length of 613 meters (670 yards), a width of 7 meters in the turns, and a 14-meter-wide straightaway beginning and end.
The Miami Marlins are eager to offer fans the quickest time they've ever seen in a 37,000-seat stadium. The fastest car in the series, the Radical SR3 RSX, has a top speed of 155 miles per hour, but that's just a comparison to the usual MLB pitching speeds. Delorme explained that the best pitchers can throw over 100 miles per hour, with 105 miles per hour being the limit.
Renowned racers such as four-time Formula 1 World Champion Sebastian Vettel, F1 champion Jenson Button, and NASCAR brothers Kurt and Kyle Busch will be among the 20 drivers competing in this unforgettable event. The title race is expected to be tight, with each competitor bringing their unique strategies to the table.
After the event, Marlins Park will have to be quickly transformed back into a baseball stadium. However, this process is estimated to take longer than the event demolition and repaving. Delorme mentioned that most, if not all, of the materials will need to be replaced.
In an interview with ROC, Ferrari driver Vettel expressed his excitement for the event, stating that it was a reminder of why they all started racing. He emphasized that the competition was pure, with all drivers being strong and NASCAR and IndyCar champions motivated to perform well in front of their home crowds.
When the ROC champions are crowned, and the engines fall silent in Marlins Park, it will be time to transform the track back into a baseball stadium. ROC president Johnsson predicted that it would take less than 48 hours, but the process of restoring the grass and leveling the ground will require more time and effort from Delorme and his team.
The ROC in Marlins Park may race past Beyoncé's concert speed, but with Guns N' Roses appearing this summer, the Cars Stars are set to take center stage and host the most thrilling and loudest event Marlins Park has ever seen.
Hail to the champs!
