Half way through January and watching some beautiful, classic cars roll over the stage of the Barrett-Jackson auction on SPEED made us jump at another thought. The thought of the exotic and new cars taking Daytona by storm for the Grand-Am opening ROLEX 24.

They have already been out turning laps. Just as NASCAR rolls out and does some testing and adjustments in mid-January, Grand-Am does the same with the “Roar before the 24”. The ROLEX folks, however, are out that first weekend of January. The new year hangover is barely down to a throb and they are turning laps approaching 200 mph. They give NASCAR an extra week…

In the interim, SPEED has been airing the Barrett-Jackson auction showcasing people with loads of extra cash going after classic and collectable cars showcasing the best of the best days of Destroit. It is a fun diversion to watch. However, on the days leading up to the ROLEX 24 we had a discussion with ourselves…

Essentially, we tossed about the notion of dropping a small country’s annual budget on a 60 year old car compaired to buying a more current “driving” car. Yes, the notion of a ’57 Chevy or a ’69 Boss Mustang, Challenger or GTO is appealing. The “glory days” of Detroit muscle and style is beautiful, powerful and motor city classic. A dropped ’34 Ford Coupe is art. There is no doubt or argument.

However, they are not “drivers” in the sense of a Porsche 911, BMW M3, Ferrari 458 or any number of road hugging automobiles that can be had for similar bags of cash.

As much as there is desire or even sheer lust for that classic American muscle and design, we find ourselves in the group wanting fun behind the wheel more than aged, classic style. As the Grand-Am teams, drivers and modern exotics descend on Daytona for the ROLEX 24 we itch to see them in action.

24 hours of speed, handling and the top of automotive technology flashing by in an HD passion of color and low swept lines is upon us. Perhaps it is this showcase of sheet metal and carbon fiber on the horizon that makes us pull our eyes away from that cherry ’67 Camaro on the auction block.

Perhaps it is the knowledge that our bank account is closer to the bargain lot at the used car dealer than a classic Firebird or a newer 911. Perhaps it is the whimsical dream of “what if” that opens the discussion of choice.

rolex24_spot2013Perhaps it is the knowledge that if someone has the cash for Barrett-Jackson and classic Detroit they also have the fun funds for a modern, low slung speedster. Perhaps it is envy or dreamy desire.

Whatever it is, Daytona is upon us. We’ll get a big dose of the “best of” sports cars followed by a season of Detroit NASCAR (with a shot of Japan…). For “car” people, classic or modern, the race is on.

And really, isn’t that what matters?

Let’s go driving, racing, dreaming….

CLICK IMAGE for full size ROLEX 24 Spotter’s Guide! (More info on Fan Guide and Rolex 24 from reference online at AUTOWEEK)