Help some rookies.

D

DirtDemon

Guest
My Dad and I are going to go to the Brickyard 400 in August, this will be our first NASCAR Race.

I am looking for info about all the events or things that can be done, prior to race start on Sunday. Info like can we get in the infield, you know the whole deal, we're rookies, help us out!! :D

I am sure there are some seasoned vetrans out there who have plenty of race attendances that can share some info so we can make this a great experience.

Thanks
Andy
 
You won't be able to get in the infield without a special ticket.

Get to the track early. I mean early. Did I mention get to the track early? :) Take breakfast. Plan on doing some tailgating. One thing we like to do is make sure we hit all the vendors booths. You can get a ton of free stuff and see some neat things too. OCC is usually at a race, Topflite (sp?) golf balls have been at the last couple we've went to (Atlanta, Charlotte) letting you hit balls and giving out hats and free sleeves. Schwan's was giving out free diecast 49 cars, and drawing names every 30 minutes for diecast Elite series Schrader car. It's a lot of fun. Plus you have to hit your driver's merchandise truck- this is a must. :) Everything from baby bibs, to women's panties all with your favorite driver's number plastered all over them. You'll have the opportunity to buy stuff at the race you won't see anywhere else. (I picked up a Jimmie Johnson practice tire :cool: ).

Get a scanner. Whether you rent one at the track or shell out the cash and buy one at Radio Shack before you go, get one, period. It makes the race a hell of a lot more interesting, plus you'll know when your driver is pitting, you can monitor NASCAR officials for cautions, and why. There's more frustrating than sitting at the track wondering why the god-damned caution flag is back out. You can pick up a radio frequency sheet at the track for $5 the morning of race day. Plus with the scanner you can listen to the MRN broadcast too. My favorite drivers to listen to: Junior- he's funny and gets upset easy, good entertainment. Rusty- he was telling jokes down the back stretch at Atlanta in march, under green was great. Tony Stewart, very outspoken, gets pissed easy. Listening to Zippy try to calm him down is great. Mark Martin is quiet under green, but during cautions he'll usually let loose and talk trash about a few guys that have pissed him off. Kurt Busch is a whiner, to hear what he's really like listen to him under caution, Fenning tried to get him to stay out after his brush with the wall in March that did some fender damage, Kurt threw a fit and demanded he get a new front end put on. Fenning simply replies; "Whatever. Guys get the crash cart ready, Kurt bring the god-damned car in". I love him, but Jimmie Johnson is boring. He and Chad are all business. Dale Jarrett can be good if he's running well, he's quiet if he's not doing too good.

It's a lot of fun, and highly addictive. Once you go to one- you won't want to miss another. :) Have fun, take lots of pics!!

- k y l e
 
Thanks

A special ticket? can you elaborate? I am sure this means an additional charge?

I heard from someone else the OCC might be there.

What type of scanner? Like a police scanner? Any specific kind reccomended?

Is a Camcorder worth taking or just a camera??? I run a website for Micro Sprint Racing, http://www.maximumdirt.com so I have a decent Digital Camera, a Canon Rebel XT w/ 300 mm lens. I also have a Sony MiniDV Camcorder. I use these for the sprint car races all the time.

Thanks again, cant wait!!
 
Renting a scanner at the track is the easiest. Most come pre-programmed for the weekend.

If you are driving, get a good map of the city. Approach the track and park on the north side.

If you are going to be there for the weekend, buy a weekend parking pass at one of the lots on the north side --- it is a good investment. When you leave, head north first, then work you're way around. Did I mention have a good city map? LOL

Keep in mind that what you can see on the track is limited. The place is so damn big and so built up in the infield, you can't see everything. I found that taking pics during the race wasn't worth the trouble.

Do your trailer hopping/shopping early, then find a comfortable spot on the grass to sit. Don't try to take lots of food, there is plenty available. You might want to carry water/soda for in the stands to save trudging up and down.
 
They dont call me Brickyard_400 for nothing ya know! :)

First last year was my first year to behonest but stayed Thursday-Monday and did my homework on things to do during that week.

We camped right accross from the paddox lot 2. A 4 day pass for campinging was $120.00. Were going again this year staying the same lot for 4 days.

Parking and Camping prices:
http://dev.indianapolismotorspeedway.com/visitorinfo/camping/

The Indianapolis Motor Speedway allows personal coolers not larger than 14" by 14" by 14" to be carried into the grounds. No glass containers are allowed. Patrons may also bring in small backpacks and/or carry a bag in for food and personal items. All coolers, bags, backpacks and purses are subject to search at the gate.


Friday, August 5 - $10.00
1:30-2:30 p.m., NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series practice
3:30-4:30 p.m., NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series practice

Saturday, August 6 - $15.00
10 a.m., NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Qualifying (two laps, all positions)
2:10-2:55 p.m., NASCAR NEXTEL Cup practice
3:45-4:30 p.m., NASCAR NEXTEL Cup final practice

Sunday, August 7
NASCAR NEXTEL

Both Pratice and Qualifications you can pretty much walk everywhere around the track but the pits. You can get some very good pictures of the cars/drivers during both those days!!

I agree with the scanner I went all out and got one last year and was very cool listening to the drivers. They will sell them at the track and have trailers outside the track. Just shop till you find the best price to rent one, I think I might have paid guessing here $35.00 for the whole race. Plus you have to leave a deposit of may another $30.00 but get that back.

Me and my brother will be playing golf Friday and should be back before the first pratice that day. Not sure what day your going down but will have

8/4 - We did this last year and got Kasey Kahnes and Mayfileds autograph.
Keep checking http://www.wibc.com/events/ for updates.

Dodge Racers on the Circle Get autographs from drivers (TBA) from Nextel Cup, Busch Series and the Truck Series, plus food, drink, (pop and Miller beer) games and much more. You can roll the WIBC/Dodge Die for your shot at winning a truck, hear music from the Wright Brothers, see the new Dodge Charger, and climb the US Army Rock Wall. It's one of the biggest Monument Circle events of the summer! 3pm-7pm,at Monument

Saturday night before the race the party starts down the street with bands playing all kinds of venders/sponsers giving out FREE shirts hats ect. They will have all kinds of racing simulators games to play and win prizes. Die cast car dealers ect..+

I think its either saturday or early Sunday Dimond Rio will be playing in convert and having free food at the track with admission.


If you have anymore questions feel free to post them and Ill try to help as much as I can and kyle48 said it best when he said:

It's a lot of fun, and highly addictive. Once you go to one- you won't want to miss another. Have fun, take lots of pics!!
Click to expand...

You got that right! :beerbang:
 
Get there early ... has this been said? I go every year and we are usually sitting one block off of the Main Entrance waiting for the gates to open - they fire off a canon! Then we get the grill going. A little vodka and cranberry juice to open the eyes, and get ready for the race!
 
One thing that hasn't been stated is that you will need to go by the track's main ticket office for pit passes. And yes, they are an extra cost. Here at TMS, only season ticket holders may purchase pit passes, so you might want to contact them first by telephone.
 
majestyx you cant buy pit passes for brickyard 400. I think the only way to get them is be a sponser or have some good inside contacts unless it changed this year.
 
That is the reason that I stated they CALL the main ticket office to find out. Here at TMS, you can buy pit passes, but you aren't allowed in the pits when any practice/racing is going on. You can still be in the infield, just not in the pits.
 
Thanks for all the info... we'll just be going down the day of the race.. EARLY! :p

I would still like some details to these scanners besides rent them, will a police scanner work, we already have one of those so if I can save $35 hey why not.

What kind of frequencies need to be able to be programmed in, examples?
 
DirtDemon said:
Thanks for all the info... we'll just be going down the day of the race.. EARLY! :p

I would still like some details to these scanners besides rent them, will a police scanner work, we already have one of those so if I can save $35 hey why not.

What kind of frequencies need to be able to be programmed in, examples?
Click to expand...

If you can enter the 7 digit frequencies into your scanner than it should work. The one thing I reccomend is a good head set or two (with a splitter)because without that you will never hear the regular speaker on the scanner.
As said before, you can get a frequency list for 5 bucks at the track. I don"t remember who has them but I have found that some have lists that are more up to date than others, ask around.
Oh yea get there very early and if you plan to stay till the end plan to be stuck in traffic for a while.
Have a great time
:beerbang: :beerbang: :beerbang:
 
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