Hixon at the Glen
Our second adventure in the United States begins with a flight to New York State, landing at Rochester Airport, and driving through beautiful scenery to one of the most famous race tracks in the world, Watkins Glen International. This is a place that I've always admired—a road course cemented in the history of the NASCAR Cup Series, and this weekend, it plays host to the Sahlens 6 Hours of the Glen.
Watkins Glen International
We settle into our campsite at Naturluxe & Stars, conveniently located near the track but away from the noise of the tracks main camping areas, yet still within walking distance to the main entrance. Once we are all set up, American motorsport legend Scott Michael delights us by picking us up in the Hixon Motorsport Golf Cart 'Mater'. Scott takes me to the inside of Turn 1, where we share motorsport stories as the day's light fades.
As the racing activities for the day come to an end, a few crew members remain behind, diligently repairing damage from a violent Race 1. Unfortunately, flight delays had caused us to miss the day's racing, so we head to the Watkins Glen township for some burgers and beers.
Having been fortunate enough to work with Hixon Motorsport for nearly two years, designing wraps and various elements, I am eager to finally meet race team manager Shea Holbrook Chorely. I seriously admire her energy and leadership. Scott had mentioned that Hixon Motorsport exemplified what it takes to be a successful team. The positive and friendly atmosphere within the team is infectious, and it starts with Shea. It doesn't take long before I have the chance to meet the crew and drivers, and observe my design work displayed across their fleet of MX5 Cup cars.
Shea Holbrook Chorely and the Hixon Motorsport team.
The pinnacle of the weekend arrives with the final race for Hixon Motorsport, held in the morning before the 6 Hour qualifying session. Equipped with a headset, I stand on pit lane, a designer's dream come true, witnessing two of my cars running 1-2 on one of our favorite tracks. The race has everything—intensity, skill, and drama—and in the end, Selin Rollan takes the checkered flag with an emotional victory for the team. After the race, I have the privilege of catching up with Selin to discuss sim racing and motorsport design. From the kindness of team owner Bryan Hixon to the hardworking volunteers, Hixon Motorsport is indeed a team to be admired, and I feel privileged to be the one designing for them.
Emotional win for Selin Rollan and the team.
After the team has packed up and left, there is still much more to enjoy at the event. During the GT4 race, I have the pleasure of meeting Charles and Ayla from HRX USA, who kindly gift me my own race suit and apparel. Additionally, I have the pleasure of meeting Daniel Hopson, the newest member of our Chillout Motorsports team, who traveled all the way from Atlanta to pick up a race car and join me for the start of the 6 Hour. We're two of the same, Daniel and I. Awesome guy and a great addition to our team.
Tim Pattinson. Motorsport Designer. Race Fan. Sunburnt.
The rest of the 6-hour race is spent with fellow Melbourne-based designer, Tim Pattinson—a legend in Australian Motorsport and a source of inspiration in the world of motorsport design. Meeting him at one of our all-time favorite tracks, Watkins Glen, is the icing on the cake for sure.
Not bad.
Watkins Glen International exceeds all my expectations—a captivating racetrack set amidst a breathtaking location that delivers some of the best racing I have witnessed in a long time. What an awesome weekend.
