Marc Miller will drive the No. 53 ViperExchange/Riley Motorsports Dodge Viper GT3-R this coming weekend at the 2015 24 Hours of Le Mans. Miller began racing go-karts at the age of 12 and has since raced everything from Formula Fords to stock cars and, in the last few seasons, the IMSA Continental Tire Sports Car Challenge in the Street Tuner (ST) class. Miller made his first GT race start in preparation for Le Mans in May at Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca in the IMSA TUDOR Championship. Driving a Dodge Viper GT3-R, he qualified second and led the first 14 laps of the race in an impressive debut. We asked him to give us his impressions as an American rookie heading to the big race in France for the first time. - Ed.

It is crazy. For the past several months, just the idea of competing at the 83rd running of the 24 Hours of Le Mans has evolved. At the start, I was thinking, "No way. You're kidding, right?" And then all of a sudden, "This has to be a cruel joke. My name is on that car! Holy crap, I'm in France!" This entire experience so far has been an adventure, but not for the reasons you might think.

Here I am at Le Mans for the biggest race of my career, right on the heels of a short trip to Le Mans a few days ago (that's right, I'm at Le Mans for the second time in less than a week!). Sure, this is the most famous endurance race in the world—Circuit de la Sarthe is as storied a race course as they come. And yes, I am excited as hell just to be involved in an event that has included the most legendary names in the history of motorsport. But from the very moment I packed to leave for the official test, I learned a lot about being part of this race that you just don't hear about unless you know someone that has been there.

So here are a few things I have learned so far as a first-timer, that are useful to know, whether you're going there to race or to watch:

Listen to the People In The Know

I was encouraged to arrive early to get the lay of the land, as well as experience as much about scrutineering and the paddock as possible. Since the guy giving me this advice was Bill Riley, and he has won more Rolex watches than I could ever hope to fit on either arm, I decided to heed his advice. I arrived in Le Mans from Paris and was picked up by Bill who then gave me a tour of the old circuit while on our way to the track. Seeing all this fresh off the train really made me realize that….

Marshall Pruett

The Circuit de la Sarthe Has Changed a Lot

I have known that this race has used a variety of track layouts over the years, but what you don't fully comprehend until you see it first hand is just how many layout changes have taken place over the span of 83 races. A simple YouTube search shows some great examples of on-board footage of the various circuits used throughout the event's history, but that doesn't even cover a fraction of it all.

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You'll see these amazing cars racing through these city streets lined with homes and bakeries with no sidewalks and zero run-off. I have realized that I'm pretty lucky to be a driver now instead of back then. I mean, I'm a little crazy, but to run on the old layout would be full-blown lunacy—and I respect the hell out of the drivers who did that. Another thing—the Mulsanne straight is MUCH longer than you could ever have imagined. I mean, at 175-plus mph it is long, but driving it in a regular car just takes forever.

The Fans Are Incredible

Americans may think that planning a day in their garage, inviting all their friends over for the Indy 500, Daytona 500 or Rolex 24 Hour for a good ole' fashioned party is a big deal, but all things being equal, the fans that come to Le Mans are as dedicated as they come. Example: How often do you see an Aston Martin Vantage and a bevy of other high-end luxury or sports cars (vintage and otherwise) parked in the grass with tents behind them at a typical Indy event? Yeah, me neither.

Another example: Walking quietly through the Village just East of the paddock, minding my own business during the Test, I heard my name being called out. I stopped and a polite gentleman pulled out about 10 photos of cars I have driven in the last decade and handed me a pen. Now, I'm almost positive that about 99 percent of you readers have never heard of me. I fly quite low under the radar at most events, but given the fact this was not an isolated incident, and that they all occurred during the days leading up to the Test, I'd say these fans do their homework.

Marshall Pruett

The Tech and Scrutineering System is No Joke. RESPECT IT!

The Automobile Club de l'Ouest (ACO) is the organizing body responsible for rules, regulations and procedures for the 24 Hours of Le Mans—and they take it very seriously. Even the days leading up to the official Test, which is nearly two weeks prior to the start of the actual race, the steps taken to organize and tech each car is painstaking. These guys don't like procedures and structure—they LOVE procedures and structure, and if you want to have any shot of success you better respect their rules every step of the way. There is no room for being a smartass in the tech line… so I brought gaffers tape with me.

The French Love Bread and Cheese

I train almost daily for this job, and that includes a diet of protein and raw vegetables for the most part. I cut a lot of dairy and bread out, so if you are like me, just take this advice: You better just eat some bread. Don't fight it. Don't complain. Don't try to tell the waiter about your special diet… just eat your croissant and shut up.

Google Translate is Almost Awesome

I was pretty overwhelmed with everything else leading up to this race so learning French just wasn't on top of my to-do list. So if you too fail to study up on the French language because you're banking on the fact that Google translate does such a great job, remember you need the internet to make it work. What's French for "I'm sorry, my internet isn't working again? Awkward.

Marshall Pruett

Understand That YOU Might Be The Crazy One

Try to remember that no matter how nice a smile you have and how gentle your approach, when you walk up to someone in the rain and they don't understand what you are saying, you are a lunatic to them whether you have a racing team name on your jacket or not. Think about it.

Just Go With It

Do your best to plan for the unexpected. I did painstaking research to make sure I can connect with my loved ones while abroad. This meant getting on the right cellular plan, ensuring I had proper Wi-Fi, et cetera. I pre-purchased my train tickets, researched the hotel the team stayed at, and did my due diligence to get the right seat on all my flights so I was comfortable. But sometimes plans change and you just need to go with the flow. Don't get upset when your flight lands in Iceland and are rewarded with adding $175 to the Icelandic telecommunications economy for the 10 minutes you browsed Instagram and the couple photos you uploaded to your Instagram feed. You know… hypothetically.

I wrapped up this first blog entry as I was finishing packing for the race, and I was so thankful I already had a dry run during my short first 24 Hours of Le Mans experience a few days before. I'm thankful for a lot of things lately, including the few short days I had at home to spend with my kids, and for the opportunity I will have this week as an American race driver, competing for an American team, driving an American marque in the world's biggest endurance race.

I don't take this opportunity lightly, and I'm looking forward to the challenges ahead. I will share some more with you right here on RoadandTrack.com in the coming days.

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