Fenderbumpers exhaustive review of the NASCAR Hall of Fame.

Lazyking said:
That bad huh?
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Yep. The cars on the fake track is cool, but there's nothing else on that floor. The 2nd and 3rd floors are all glass display cases with mostly mundane items. There's a theater downstairs, but there were so few people it wasn't open. I was shocked at how little floor space and effort was put into it. I tried to really take my time, but it was done in 1:45, including lunch in the small pre-made sandwich lounge.

I definitely had a feeling of being used when they made me exit thru the large souvenir shop, which had 10 X's the floor space of most of the racing displays. At the back of the shop is a tiny doorway that dumps you into a grimy service hallway where you figure out which way to the exit.

Total trash and a rip off at $20. It's as if nascar put out the call for drivers to donate items and they haven't done anything since. The building is impressive, but it's 95% office space.
 
Thank's, I almost went last year, but it sounds like I didn't miss anything.
 
I have to disagree. Now it's been two years since I went (was in town for the World of Outlaws finals), but I could have spent hours and hours and hours there.
 
Haven't been to Daytona USA since I was a kid. I wonder how much that's changed
 
I went a year and a half ago and plan to go back when I can spend at least 6 hours. There is a ton there if you take the time to read and listen at all of the displays.
 
I have been wanting to go but think I will pass for a while if its that lousy.
 
FenderBumper said:
Yep. The cars on the fake track is cool, but there's nothing else on that floor. The 2nd and 3rd floors are all glass display cases with mostly mundane items. There's a theater downstairs, but there were so few people it wasn't open. I was shocked at how little floor space and effort was put into it. I tried to really take my time, but it was done in 1:45, including lunch in the small pre-made sandwich lounge.

I definitely had a feeling of being used when they made me exit thru the large souvenir shop, which had 10 X's the floor space of most of the racing displays. At the back of the shop is a tiny doorway that dumps you into a grimy service hallway where you figure out which way to the exit.

Total trash and a rip off at $20. It's as if nascar put out the call for drivers to donate items and they haven't done anything since. The building is impressive, but it's 95% office space.
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Matthew2470 said:
I went a year and a half ago and plan to go back when I can spend at least 6 hours. There is a ton there if you take the time to read and listen at all of the displays.
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:confused:o_O

FLRacingFan said:
Nonexistent, unfortunately.
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Are you kidding me? I thought it just got re-named the Daytona Experience?
 
I moved from NC about the same time it opened, never got a chance to check it out. It seems like they put a lot more effort into it before they lost their ass on the place. I wouldn't be surprised if they have taken away a large number of displays in the past couple years without replacing them.

Sounds weak about the souvenir shop, cramming crap down your throat. Please.
 
Personallys I am boycottings the Nascar Hall of Fame until Anne B France gets inducted into the Nascar Hall of Fame.
Once they have enshrined the blessed books she kept as the best book keeper and ticket seller ever, I will be interested in seeing the place.

Justice for Anne she belongs with the King, Earnhardt, Jr Johnson, Allison and all the other greats.
 
Next time I make it down for the Charlotte race I'll be heading to the HoF. I think I'll find enough there to keep me busy for the day. Heck, I've heard good reviews and bad reviews. Enough so that I figure that I need to judge for myself whether it's worth the trip or not.
 
Greg said:
Personallys I am boycottings the Nascar Hall of Fame until Anne B France gets inducted into the Nascar Hall of Fame.
Once they have enshrined the blessed books she kept as the best book keeper and ticket seller ever, I will be interested in seeing the place.

Justice for Anne she belongs with the King, Earnhardt, Jr Johnson, Allison and all the other greats.
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lol Greg. It's times like these when the sarcasm icon is totally unnecessary.
 
Interesting review.

I have been to the HOF and loved it.
 
Matthew2470 said:
I went a year and a half ago and plan to go back when I can spend at least 6 hours. There is a ton there if you take the time to read and listen at all of the displays.
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Slow reader? There were less than 30 visitors. 20 would be closer.
 
Smoke14 said:
Interesting review.

I have been to the HOF and loved it.
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When? How much was there to see? If I walked at normal speed and doubled back to pass every display on it's side of the isle, it would take 10 minutes and no longer. I did listen and watch a few video displays, and even sat down to play CC near the 14 car display.

I honestly wouldn't go back if it were free. I've seen it all, and I wasn't impressed.

I do regret not buying that $45 picture/magnet package of me standing in front of the 2 car. :sarcasm:
 
Johali said:
Every inside tourist destination I have been to in the last 30 years has the exit through the gift shop including The Daytona Experience, museums, caves, vineyards, everywhere because it is impulse shopping.
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Agreed, but did they dump you into a service hallway when they were done with you? I'm not joking.

There are reasons why the place is dead, and now you know them.
 
FenderBumper said:
Agreed, but did they dump you into a service hallway when they were done with you? I'm not joking.

There are reasons why the place is dead, and now you know them.
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Nope, that's the first time I've heard of a service hallway exit.
 
Only $20 to get in? I gotta make that hour trip to Charlotte soon.
 
FenderBumper said:
When? How much was there to see? If I walked at normal speed and doubled back to pass every display on it's side of the isle, it would take 10 minutes and no longer. I did listen and watch a few video displays, and even sat down to play CC near the 14 car display.

I honestly wouldn't go back if it were free. I've seen it all, and I wasn't impressed.

I do regret not buying that $45 picture/magnet package of me standing in front of the 2 car. :sarcasm:
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:rolleyes:
 
I went back in June and I wasn't overly disappointed except with the overly expensive pictures and the sucky gift shop.
 
ChexOrWrex said:
:confused:o_O


Are you kidding me? I thought it just got re-named the Daytona Experience?
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I heard it's only available for private functions now. They must hide it really well, because when you walk into that building now you can really only see the help desks, ticket office, bathrooms, and gift shop. It's where you check in for the Petty Driving Experience too. That's about it. Damn shame.
 
FLRacingFan said:
I heard it's only available for private functions now. They must hide it really well, because when you walk into that building now you can really only see the help desks, ticket office, bathrooms, and gift shop. It's where you check in for the Petty Driving Experience too. That's about it. Damn shame.
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You don't know how sad that makes me. That place was one of my best childhood memories. I got to stand next to and touch Jeff Gordon's Daytona 500 winning car and took a tour of the speedway, including victory lane. Would do anything to go back to that
 
ChexOrWrex said:
You don't know how sad that makes me. That place was one of my best childhood memories. I got to stand next to and touch Jeff Gordon's Daytona 500 winning car and took a tour of the speedway, including victory lane. Would do anything to go back to that
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They still do tracks tours for the public, that's it. I was pretty upset about it too. One of the attractions I remember from when I was young was the pit crew challenge where I got to see my dad and a few other guys change tires on one of the Wood Brothers cars. Don't know what happened to it all.
 
AndyMarquisLive said:
I'm going in December. Fender's review is the only negative one I've read.
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I've read that the ticket prices are too high and stories that the attendance wasn't what NASCAR promised the city of Charlotte, but Fender is the first I've seen to complain about the actual content of the HoF.

The $20 sounded high, but I cross-checked some other sports HOFs:

Pro Football Hall of Fame (Canton): $22
National Baseball Hall of Fame (Cooperstown): $19.50

The museum at Indy is amazing and is only $5 for adults, which I think is why the $20 sounded high to me at first glance.
 
KevinWI said:
I've read that the ticket prices are too high and stories that the attendance wasn't what NASCAR promised the city of Charlotte, but Fender is the first I've seen to complain about the actual content of the HoF.

The $20 sounded high, but I cross-checked some other sports HOFs:

Pro Football Hall of Fame (Canton): $22
National Baseball Hall of Fame (Cooperstown): $19.50

The museum at Indy is amazing and is only $5 for adults, which I think is why the $20 sounded high to me at first glance.
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Did you take the van trip around the track. That was cool, I never realized that track was so narrow on the back straightaway.
 
Nitro Dude said:
Did you take the van trip around the track. That was cool, I never realized that track was so narrow on the back straightaway.
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Yes, it was incredible. Man, the front and back stretches are LOONNNG there. I am almost embarrassed to say it but I got a chill down my spin. I had a quasi-religious moment.
 
My review is the complete opposite of yours. We were there during the Coca Cola 600 weekend not too long after the HOF opened, and the four of us actually enjoyed the HOF. The city of Charlotte, however, wasn't as pleasant for us as it was for you. I felt like I was in Detroit. There were cops on every corner. We decided to go the street festival because they were supposed to have some neat NASCAR things, but it was a mess! It was so busy that you couldn't even walk and we got stuck in the middle of two gang fights. I'm sure downtown Charlotte is nice during normal time, but I certainly recommend staying away from there during race weekend! I have been to rough six downtown areas during race weekends and Charlotte was by far the worst! So if you do go, make sure to take a weapon...
 
I went to the Hall of Fame a couple of years ago with my dad during the fall race weekend in Charlotte. I enjoyed it. Spent a about a third of the time in the racing simulators, though. :) I do agree the first floor is too empty and the café is pathetic. But there are plenty of things to see on the upper levels.
 
Brent said:
My review is the complete opposite of yours. We were there during the Coca Cola 600 weekend not too long after the HOF opened, and the four of us actually enjoyed the HOF. The city of Charlotte, however, wasn't as pleasant for us as it was for you. I felt like I was in Detroit. There were cops on every corner. We decided to go the street festival because they were supposed to have some neat NASCAR things, but it was a mess! It was so busy that you couldn't even walk and we got stuck in the middle of two gang fights. I'm sure downtown Charlotte is nice during normal time, but I certainly recommend staying away from there during race weekend! I have been to rough six downtown areas during race weekends and Charlotte was by far the worst! So if you do go, make sure to take a weapon...
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I really think they have neglected the displays and the overall experience the the past couple years, since it opened. They took a lot of pride in the place when it first opened and got a ton of business early on. Nowadays it's a moneypit. A red-headed step-child, if you will.
 
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