I am 90% sure I saw that same launch. Night launches were extremely rare.
It had been delayed for about a week and it just so happened the launch (Endeavor? — beleive it was STS 96 at 10:00 PM: https://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/shuttle/shuttlemissions/archives/sts-97.html) was the week I was there. We drove towards the cape until we got to a stretch of highway (528?) with a clear view of the launchpad and a BUNCH of cars pulled over to observe.
I don’t remember any sound but it was the BRIGHTEST light I have ever seen in my life outside of the Sun itself. Even from miles away.
Like early march 2001.
103 8 March 2001
11:42:09 UTC
06:42:09 EST
STS-102
Discovery 7/7 12d 19h LC-39B Kennedy
ISS supply and crew rotation
[231][232]