Charlotte First Timer Suggestions Please

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BobW-BristolRI

Guest
Hi all, first time here... taking my GF to her first NASCAR race for her birthday, Charlotte for the Coca Cola 600 (with the Richard Petty Ride Along for a surprise the day after).

She's been to other motorsports events (we go to one or two different ones per year), Lime Rock IMSA GTP, Rally Cross, AMA Motorcycle Road Racing, & local midgets (Thompson CT) to name a few.

I've been before (first races attended were at Riverside CA in the 60s, Talladega, Richmond, Dover and New Hampshire), but we've waited because I wanted her first NASCAR experience to be big fast and loud (no restrictor plate or smaller tracks) - and this year our sked works out for the Charlotte race.

We're going down for a long weekend, and I know how I like to enjoy a race weekend (walking around and generally hanging out with other race fans)... but I want to make this as good as I can for her - it's her first one (and her birthday present.)

I've noticed that lots of y'all seem to think that only the highest seats are good - (I get the obvious - that you can't see the whole track from down low), but what about suggestions for mid height seat tickets and at Charlotte in particular - what do you folks recommend? (I was actually thinking about the less intoxicated, less smoke in the family section?)

Also - those of you that know the area and the track - recommendations for food, good/bad hotels (she's a walker - but not a camper), anything else tip-wise... trying to make this her best birthday adventure.

All thoughts and ideas welcome. Thanks for reading.
 
Hi Bob, welcome to the forum.

Reminds me of a funny story, about 20 yrs. ago my brother in law had tickets to WWF on Thanksgiving, nobody else wanted to go so I went with him. About halfway through the event we overheard a guy in the row in front of us ask his hottie "so how do you like your birthday present so far?" She looked less than impressed...

I'm sure you'll have a good time, looks like you're going to spoil her at her first race! I've never been to the 600, but keep in mind it's late in the day, tailgaters will be as primed as Packers fans for a Monday night game, if you know what I mean.

Good call on the Petty ride along too, I hope you're going to do a few laps as well. I was a pit crewman at Chicagoland a few years ago and saw lots of happy faces getting out afterwards.
 
Welcome aboard.

Charlotte is a fabulous track for a race. There really isn't a bad seat in the place. The track is easily accessible and rooms can be had fairly close at a reasonable price. Check out hotels in Salisbury which is 30 minutes from the track. If you can, check out the HOF.

You will have a great time, I hope the GF does as well. ;)
 
If time permits you might want to take her to see some of the race shops. Hendrick Motorsports is just a few minutes from the track, but the majority of the shops are in Mooresville Nc about 45 minutes away. Here is a website that might help you out with some info.http://www.raceshops.com/
 
Depending on how much time you have in the Charlotte area, and if you have a rental car, take the time to make a tour of some race shops. Most have open houses during Speed week in Charlotte. Also, take in speed street in downtown Charlotte. Lots of free entertainment on several stages.
 
TexasRaceLady said:
Depending on how much time you have in the Charlotte area, and if you have a rental car, take the time to make a tour of some race shops. Most have open houses during Speed week in Charlotte. Also, take in speed street in downtown Charlotte. Lots of free entertainment on several stages.
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It looks like you and I had the same thought at the same time.:)
 
I've sat in mid-level seats at Charlotte and been very happy with the view. I used to favor the grandstands between 1 and 2 until Bruton took them out. I'm going to test turn 4 during the Nationwide race, but I won't have info soon enough to do you any good.

I think Charlotte still offers a 'park and ride' service, but check the track. The hotels on the south side of town are reasonable, but they'd all jack the rates up some for Memorial Day weekend even if there wasn't a race.

There's a huge mall on the north side of the same exit off I-85 as the track, but expect it to be jammed. For other non-race entertainment, there's the Carowinds amusement park on the NC / SC state line, the excellent Mint museums, and the US Whitewater Center.
 
Thanks all for the ideas.

Hotel gouging noted (found a decent rate at the Homewood Stes. in Davidson for the weekend). Anyone know the area between the track NW towards Davidson - any food recommendations?

Race shop idea brilliant (hadn't even entered my mind). She's a Tony Stewart fan, so will look into that ( - ducking potential flying objects...)

By the way - I really appreciate that you folks took the time to reply, with thought and great ideas. We're not so much the 'hair on fire' type... more the moseying kind. But we are both really looking forward to the trip.

Regards all,

Bob W. Bristol RI
 
BobW-BristolRI said:
Thanks all for the ideas.

Hotel gouging noted (found a decent rate at the Homewood Stes. in Davidson for the weekend). Anyone know the area between the track NW towards Davidson - any food recommendations?

Race shop idea brilliant (hadn't even entered my mind). She's a Tony Stewart fan, so will look into that ( - ducking potential flying objects...)

By the way - I really appreciate that you folks took the time to reply, with thought and great ideas. We're not so much the 'hair on fire' type... more the moseying kind. But we are both really looking forward to the trip.

Regards all,

Bob W. Bristol RI
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Don't be a stranger . Bring back some pictures .:)
 
Nice to see another old-timer like me who attended the Western 500/MotorTrend grand nationals at the old Riverside track (what a beast!). My dad used to haul us out there and what a great time.

It used to be a few weeks before Daytona and for many nascar drivers was like going to another planet but the guys who won it were usually among the best (Petty, Foyt, Parnelli Jones, Mark Donohue, Pearson, Yarborough, Allison and.......lol).

I heard there may be an attempt to rebuild the course somewhere in the central valley - crazy!​
 
harkin said:
Nice to see another old-timer like me who attended the Western 500/MotorTrend grand nationals at the old Riverside track (what a beast!). My dad used to haul us out there and what a great time.​
​
It used to be a few weeks before Daytona and for many nascar drivers was like going to another planet but the guys who won it were usually among the best (Petty, Foyt, Parnelli Jones, Mark Donohue, Pearson, Yarborough, Allison and.......lol).​
​
I heard there may be an attempt to rebuild the course somewhere in the central valley - crazy!​
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Terry Labonte?
 
BobW-BristolRI said:
Hi all, first time here... taking my GF to her first NASCAR race for her birthday, Charlotte for the Coca Cola 600 (with the Richard Petty Ride Along for a surprise the day after).

She's been to other motorsports events (we go to one or two different ones per year), Lime Rock IMSA GTP, Rally Cross, AMA Motorcycle Road Racing, & local midgets (Thompson CT) to name a few.

I've been before (first races attended were at Riverside CA in the 60s, Talladega, Richmond, Dover and New Hampshire), but we've waited because I wanted her first NASCAR experience to be big fast and loud (no restrictor plate or smaller tracks) - and this year our sked works out for the Charlotte race.

We're going down for a long weekend, and I know how I like to enjoy a race weekend (walking around and generally hanging out with other race fans)... but I want to make this as good as I can for her - it's her first one (and her birthday present.)

I've noticed that lots of y'all seem to think that only the highest seats are good - (I get the obvious - that you can't see the whole track from down low), but what about suggestions for mid height seat tickets and at Charlotte in particular - what do you folks recommend? (I was actually thinking about the less intoxicated, less smoke in the family section?)

Also - those of you that know the area and the track - recommendations for food, good/bad hotels (she's a walker - but not a camper), anything else tip-wise... trying to make this her best birthday adventure.

All thoughts and ideas welcome. Thanks for reading.
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Go to the dirt track at CMS on Friday night and then Hickory or Bowman Gray Stadium on Saturday night. Those will be the only good races you'll see. ;)
 
AndyMarquisLive said:
Go to the dirt track at CMS on Friday night and then Hickory or Bowman Gray Stadium on Saturday night. Those will be the only good races you'll see. ;)
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If you're going to the dirt track Saturday night, you might as well go to the Nationwide race Saturday afternoon.

Of course, if you want to do something other than racing (yeah, I know) and enjoy moseying, you might like the Carolina Raptor Center in Huntersville, between Davidson and Charlotte:

http://www.carolinaraptorcenter.org/home

Daniel Stowe Botanical Garden, just west of town:

http://www.dsbg.org/

or the UNC-Charlotte Botanical Gardens on the northeast side of town.

http://gardens.uncc.edu/

I can't help on the restaurants. I'm from the Columbia SC area, so I only know the places on the south side of town. If you find yourselves around the southern side of I-485, be sure to check out Sticky Fingers, a rib and barbeque joint.
 
Charlie Spencer said:
If you're going to the dirt track Saturday night, you might as well go to the Nationwide race Saturday afternoon.
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If he's going to the dirt track Saturday night, he's going to look at an empty track. The Outlaw race is Friday night - which is why I said he should go to Hickory or Bowman Gray Saturday night. ;)

Circle K NOS Energy Outlaw Showdown
Friday, May 24, 2013
World of Outlaws
The dirt will fly when the World of Outlaws Sprint Car Series takes on The Dirt Track at Charlotte on May 24 for the Outlaw Showdown. The winged, 850-horsepower open-wheel, sprint cars take to the four-tenths-mile clay oval to compete for the prize money and prestige of winning at The Dirt Track!
 
ted@economy said:
Oh , ok.
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I'm a bit slow, if you meant who was I alluding to when you said TL, nope. I was talking about a guy who was the first to win an F1, USAC (Indycar), GT and Nascar race. I think only two have ever done it and the other is Mario Andretti (Juan Pablo too if you count Rolex for GT).
 
harkin said:
I'm a bit slow, if you meant who was I alluding to when you said TL, nope. I was talking about a guy who was the first to win an F1, USAC (Indycar), GT and Nascar race. I think only two have ever done it and the other is Mario Andretti (Juan Pablo too if you count Rolex for GT).
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I don't think he ever won a F1 race, but he was the first and only driver to win the Indy 500 in both front- and rear-engined cars, only driver to win the 24 hours of LeMans and Indy in the same year, and was IROC champion 2 years in a row. And of course, John Andretti's godfather :)
 
SuperTex14 said:
I don't think he ever won a F1 race, but he was the first and only driver to win the Indy 500 in both front- and rear-engined cars, only driver to win the 24 hours of LeMans and Indy in the same year, and was IROC champion 2 years in a row. And of course, John Andretti's godfather :)
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Good ol A.J. .....no, I was talking about his LeMans teammate.
 
Sit on the front stretch so you can see the giant TV at a decent angle. It's great for replays. Obviously you'll want to go to Hendrick and the HOF. Plan on hanging out in the parking lot for a couple of hours after the race.
 
harkin said:
Good ol A.J. .....no, I was talking about his LeMans teammate.
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Ah yes, Dan Gurney. Spontaneously invented the podium champagne celebration, and saved A.J.'s life at Riverside. A leader of the greatest generation of racecar drivers and designers ever IMO.

Sorry for hijacking the thread, folks. Please carry on with the excellent suggestions for the OP's trip to Charlotte.
 
BobW-BristolRI said:
first races attended were at Riverside CA in the 60s
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harkin said:
Nice to see another old-timer like me who attended the Western 500/MotorTrend grand nationals at the old Riverside track (what a beast!). My dad used to haul us out there and what a great time.​
​
It used to be a few weeks before Daytona and for many nascar drivers was like going to another planet but the guys who won it were usually among the best (Petty, Foyt, Parnelli Jones, Mark Donohue, Pearson, Yarborough, Allison and.......lol).​
​
I heard there may be an attempt to rebuild the course somewhere in the central valley - crazy!​
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Hijack time.

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215653_10150282464899606_5998458_n.jpg
 
Go to the HOF. Absolutely. The front stretch is cool because of the gigantic tv, I haven't been there since it's been built though. I really enjoyed backstretch seating at that track. Watching them haul the mail into turn one and out onto the backstretch was awesome. Keep in mind I was hammered AND smoking but I felt like they were the best seats in the house. Great track to watch a race. You can feel the hometown vibe.

As far as lodging, there's places right off Bruton smith blvd(lol).. Good restaurants at concord mills mall literally 30 seconds from the track without traffic.. Definitely visit mooresville, take in the sites, and eat at "the cookout" so much good food for so cheap. Ugh!
 
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