First time at Martinsville, any information appreciated

J

JPF

Guest
This year will be my first time going to the Martinsville race. Unfortunately I will be going by myself. I have rented a hotel room in Collinsville a short way away. I am looking to have the best time and meet the most race fans that I can. Would camping be a better option for a single person ? even for 1 night before the race ? I could pack up a tent, sleeping bag, beer and a grill no problem, and I have no problem bringing extra beer and steaks for my new friends. What is the campsite like with race fans ? I have never stayed at one.
Also any information on the area, things to do, bars to go to, restaurants to eat in would be helpful.
Thanks in advance for any info.
 
JPF said:
This year will be my first time going to the Martinsville race. Unfortunately I will be going by myself. I have rented a hotel room in Collinsville a short way away. I am looking to have the best time and meet the most race fans that I can. Would camping be a better option for a single person ? even for 1 night before the race ? I could pack up a tent, sleeping bag, beer and a grill no problem, and I have no problem bringing extra beer and steaks for my new friends. What is the campsite like with race fans ? I have never stayed at one.
Also any information on the area, things to do, bars to go to, restaurants to eat in would be helpful.
Thanks in advance for any info.
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That hotel has to be just north of the track on Business 220. I'd just stay there if I were going alone. I'd take that grill and head to the track about 7:00am race day and take the left @ Industrial Park Drive followed by a right onto 976. There will be free parking on the right just after turning onto 976. Plan on cooking dinner after the race. Eat a good meal and drive right outta there after the haulers leave. You'll have a good time.

I don't know about arriving that late in a tent. Besides it's cold there and not a level place to camp if you arrive just before race day.
 
Wecome to the forum JPF glad to have you aboard . Can't tell you anything about Collinsville , but the race will be really enjoyable . A fine choice . We stayed way up in Roanoke when we went and there was plenty to see and do there . Great food , great bars , great downtown . Have a ball and post some pics for us.
 
JPF said:
This year will be my first time going to the Martinsville race. Unfortunately I will be going by myself. I have rented a hotel room in Collinsville a short way away. I am looking to have the best time and meet the most race fans that I can. Would camping be a better option for a single person ? even for 1 night before the race ? I could pack up a tent, sleeping bag, beer and a grill no problem, and I have no problem bringing extra beer and steaks for my new friends. What is the campsite like with race fans ? I have never stayed at one.
Also any information on the area, things to do, bars to go to, restaurants to eat in would be helpful.
Thanks in advance for any info.
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Link to places to eat around the track. We've hit every single one of these over the years. All good.

Food Link
 
Charlie Spencer said:
There's a wicked Mexican restaurant on 220, El Parral. I chowed down there a few years ago on a non-race vacation.
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This place gets two thumbs up from you then? I've passed this place several times. I know exactly where it's at now. I checked with the better half. She and another couple that we are going with to this spring race already have all of the meals planned but we'll definitely hit that place this fall when it's just the wife and I. Looks like everything that we are having this spring will be cooked over the campfire. That's always good cookin'.
 
dpkimmel2001 said:
This place gets two thumbs up from you then? I've passed this place several times. I know exactly where it's at now. I checked with the better half. She and another couple that we are going with to this spring race already have all of the meals planned but we'll definitely hit that place this fall when it's just the wife and I. Looks like everything that we are having this spring will be cooked over the campfire. That's always good cookin'.
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It was back in 2009 or so when we were touring western VA. I recall having the 'Camarones Chipotle' (shrimp). My wife had a combo platter. I remember nuking our leftovers in the hotel the next morning instead of having their free breakfast, so I must have enjoyed it. I don't think she could finish hers and we were disappointed when we couldn't jam it in the cooler.
 
Charlie Spencer said:
It was back in 2009 or so when we were touring western VA. I recall having the 'Camarones Chipotle' (shrimp). My wife had a combo platter. I remember nuking our leftovers in the hotel the next morning instead of having their free breakfast, so I must have enjoyed it. I don't think she could finish hers and we were disappointed when we couldn't jam it in the cooler.
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After looking at their menu, they are now on our place to eat list. We'll definitely stop there during the fall race week when we tend to eat out more.
 
dpkimmel2001 said:
After looking at their menu, they are now on our place to eat list. We'll definitely stop there during the fall race week when we tend to eat out more.
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Damn. I mapquested it and it's nowhere near our route this year. If the food is as half as good as it looks it would be worth the stop.
 
Thanks for all the comments everyone. I really do appreciate it. Lived my entire life in New York, and now I go to more NASCAR races than anything else, but it has always been on a bus or with a group. This is my first time driving to a race town on my own and making my way to the track by myself. I do believe that if I pull into a parking lot race morning with a cooler and a grill, by race time I will have met some pretty friendly people. I am looking forward to this more and more, and can't wait to meet some nice race fans. Thanks again for the comments.
 
JPF said:
Thanks for all the comments everyone. I really do appreciate it. Lived my entire life in New York, and now I go to more NASCAR races than anything else, but it has always been on a bus or with a group. This is my first time driving to a race town on my own and making my way to the track by myself. I do believe that if I pull into a parking lot race morning with a cooler and a grill, by race time I will have met some pretty friendly people. I am looking forward to this more and more, and can't wait to meet some nice race fans. Thanks again for the comments.
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I remember taking my brother in law to his first race. We pulled into the lot, got out of the car, and didn't get the doors closed before the old boy next to us said, "Hey, y'all wanna beer?" :):):) I'm convinced race fans are friendlier than other sports fans. With 'stick and ball' sports there are only two teams involved each game, one them always a home team, and the other a team you might not see again for years. It's too easy to draw lines between 'us' and 'them'. At the track there are same 40+ teams every week, no one driver's fans are even close to a majority, and people travel so far that no one group of fans has a 'home field' advantage. Plus, each track has so few events that it's impossible to take them for granted, like you can with dozens of home baseball or basketball games. It really contributes to that 'The circus is in town!' atmosphere.
 
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