Made it to Daytona

At about 0330.  Original time was blown because we spent and hour looking for the source of gas fumes in the car.  No leaks anywhere, but we did note the the right exhaust pipe had melted part of the licence plate frame!  Also cooked the paint on the tag a bit- just on the right, and a little rough at idle.  Cylinder missing?  Josie got a second wind, and took us all the way to Daytona.  I really don't know how she does it!  We drove for about an hour with the windows out before I cried 'uncle'.  The fancy one lap blanket came in handy (finally) but if I didn't have it wrapped under me I think it would have been ripped right out of the car.  Josie took pity on me and let us put the windows back on, but I think she was actually having fun in the huricane!  The fumes didn't return, so that's a relief.

Later, Florida roads finally!  Great roads.  We went through memory lane for me: Jacksonville is where I grew up, and all those familiar road signs bring it back as my eyelids flutter open occasionally.  Sleep is still impossible, even on these great roads.

We also have a lot of added play in steering since the start, so Josie decided that has priority this morning.  She strongly suggested I sleep in, so did while she is out consulting with the pros at the track and figuring out what to do.  The gas smell never returned, but we both smelled it, and Josie got a splitting headache from it. 

All this is causing some jitters about the car.  Josie has named 'her' Ilsa (or Elsa? ill-sa), and has been talking to her.  We let the car run the last few fuel stops because staring is taking long, with a bit of extra throttle.

I hope Josie gets to run this track- she was really really really looking forward to it.

Time to get kicked out of this room now, so I need to pack up and wait for word from Car & Driver

Larry