Daytona 24hrs · 2008
Daytona 24hrs Winning Watch
At the Daytona 24 Hours
In 2008, I had the opportunity to join a friend at the Rolex 24hrs race in Daytona. Taking my long lens and DSLR, I quickly became absorbed in the atmosphere of the race — the noise, the light, the mechanical drama playing out on the banking.
I posted a few photos at the time on two of the period’s key watch forums, capturing the energy and community that defines this iconic endurance race.
Ron Zitza at the Daytona 24hrs race, 2008
The Driver
Ron Zitza — A Racing Family
Ron is a local guy. He grew up in a racing family — his family business began by repairing Porsches and later evolved into preparing them for endurance competition, including Rolex 24hrs entries.
He has spent a significant part of his life on the racetrack and has competed in the Daytona 24hrs approximately fourteen times — a seasoned veteran of that particular circuit’s demands.
Ron Zitza portrait — TerraFirma Motorsports, 2008
Daytona 24hrs Starts
~14 times
Racing Series
Grand Am, HSR, PCA, PBOC, IMSA
Honors
Multiple National & Regional Victories
PCA Instructor
15+ years active
The Watch
A Daytona Won on the Track
In 2008, Ron was a co-driver for the TerraFirma Motorsport team. As with many of his races, he wore his Rolex Daytona 16520 White Dial on the wrist throughout.
The 16520 White Dial — Worn During the 2008 Race
A watch earned on the track, worn back on the track a decade later. Ron told me that the Daytona he was wearing had been earned on the track. In 2000, Ron raced a Chevy Camaro and won the championship in his division — a year in which other drivers in that race included actor Paul Newman. Each member of the winning team was presented with a Rolex Daytona for that achievement — a Model 16520 with white dial, fitting for the year.
Reference
16520
Dial
White
Year Awarded
2000
Race
Chevy Camaro Championship
16520 — Close Up
16520 White Dial — Detail Shot
16520 — Case and Bracelet
Rolex Daytona 16520 — White Dial detail
Beyond Racing
The Man Behind the Watch
Ron’s other interests center on his family, his church community, and staying active. He enjoys taekwondo and skiing with his family — a full life beyond the pit lane.
That connection between the object and the achievement it represents is exactly what makes a racing Daytona different from any other.