Grew up at Riverside, getting passes from Dave when the Cuppers were in town (or over at Ontario) and camping out in the infield at almost every major and a whole lot of minor events ever held there.
The three day SCCA weekends were the best. Sometimes as many as 500 or so cars with inspection and qualifying on Friday, the next two days would be racing from right after sunup to sundown. If you live any where near a road course I would highly recomend an SCCA weekend adventure.
When Vegas first opened, I had two start/finish tics about 30 rows up but their pooter crashed and they lost my spot. Didn't go the next year but spent the next 2 in the wooden grandstands off of turn three but would wander over near the line as soon as the race got under way. This year I got a comp tic from a friend who runs a concession. Haven't missed a Cup qualifying session or Busch race here yet.
Qualifying has always been one of my fave days at any track. Hardly anybody around but folks who really know about and enjoy auto racing. Wandering around the track getting the view from all over. At Riverside you could walk along the infield fence as the drivers walked the track. Some of them would come over to talk. I even had the pleasure of advising Lake Speed on the best way thru the esses back when he was a rookie.
One of the great joys of Las Vegas Motor Speedway for me is The Bullring which puts on nascar weekly racing every Sat night...Stop by In and Out for burgers and shakes on the way, and stay late to hang in the pits with the drivers and teams afterwards.
Also been to Orange Show, Perris, and Corona Speedways in SoCal, and must raise my voice to add to those who say there is nothing in the world like being there, but have to add that to me it hardly matters what kinds of cars are on the tracks or who the drivers are. It's just plain fun.
Am hoping to get to Little Pocono....errrr Pheonix this year for the first time. I'm thinking I'll buy a really good set of binocs and sit up on the hill with a battery operated TV unless racer8 can recomend some really good cheap seats.