ted@economy
in the interest of equal time
Post some pics when you get back.
How do you attend a NASCAR race weekend?
- Thread starter dpkimmel2001
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A
AKRobby
Guest
Most definitely.
dpkimmel2001
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Last year we rode in school buses from the outlying parking- camping areas that was an adventure in itself, get a damn good grip, hang on and laugh.
NC HillBilly
Back home where I belong
I can really only give advice for Martinsville, been to other tracks but not often enough to know them well.
For Martinsville:
- Pack a big cooler, and buy an extra seat to have a place for it. Pack the following: Any drinks (soda/beer), bottled water, snacks/lunch. Always pack a little more then you plan on eating/drinking at the track. If you do bring your own beer be aware that if you act drunk in public you will get arrested on the spot.
- If you're going to buy food at the track plan on standing in line for awhile. You will miss a lot of the race if you go very often so plan to get everything in one trip. I suggest the hot dogs which honestly don't taste as good as they used to and aren't anything special but at least you can say you had one!
Don't buy drinks/beer because they are a rip off.
- Don't just show up on Sunday: Spend the weekend. You can watch practice, qualifying, and probably at least 1 or 2 other races going on at the track over the weekend. If you can tour the pits, walk the track, and make sure to chat with people you meet. When I was a kid I got to sit in the cars and a lot of other fun stuff just because the drivers were really cool.
- Don't get a hotel in Martinsville because they jack up the rates when the cup cars come to town. Instead stay in Eden, NC which is only a short drive away. You can get a really cheap room and its a nice area. A lot of the drivers and teams stay there.
- If you can enter the track from the back entrance, less people use it. You might have to park and walk but at least you avoid the huge crowd and traffic jam at the front entrance.
- If you use the front entrance come really early and park your car at one of the locals houses. Unlike a lot of tracks Martinsville has houses located right next to the track and these people will allow you to park for a small fee. You'll be a short walk away and you won't really have to worry about anyone messing with your car. Prices vary but you should be able to park for $10-$20.
- Turn 2 offers the best view of the track imo, turn 1 begin a close second. If you can get seats there about halfway up. You don't want to be too close to the track because something in the infield may block your view of the other side.
- If you value your hearing wear ear plugs.
- Bring something to keep the rain off you...trust me you don't wanna get soaked in the stands. Even a sheet of plastic is better than nothing. You will eventually get caught in the rain at the track...it happens. This is why you pack extra food/drinks so you have something to tide you over.
- Extending on the above: plan to not work on Monday in advance. In case the race does get rained out you can come back on Monday. Monday races are actually pretty nice because they aren't as crowded.
That's really all I have. Hope it was helpful.
For Martinsville:
- Pack a big cooler, and buy an extra seat to have a place for it. Pack the following: Any drinks (soda/beer), bottled water, snacks/lunch. Always pack a little more then you plan on eating/drinking at the track. If you do bring your own beer be aware that if you act drunk in public you will get arrested on the spot.
- If you're going to buy food at the track plan on standing in line for awhile. You will miss a lot of the race if you go very often so plan to get everything in one trip. I suggest the hot dogs which honestly don't taste as good as they used to and aren't anything special but at least you can say you had one!
Don't buy drinks/beer because they are a rip off.- Don't just show up on Sunday: Spend the weekend. You can watch practice, qualifying, and probably at least 1 or 2 other races going on at the track over the weekend. If you can tour the pits, walk the track, and make sure to chat with people you meet. When I was a kid I got to sit in the cars and a lot of other fun stuff just because the drivers were really cool.
- Don't get a hotel in Martinsville because they jack up the rates when the cup cars come to town. Instead stay in Eden, NC which is only a short drive away. You can get a really cheap room and its a nice area. A lot of the drivers and teams stay there.
- If you can enter the track from the back entrance, less people use it. You might have to park and walk but at least you avoid the huge crowd and traffic jam at the front entrance.
- If you use the front entrance come really early and park your car at one of the locals houses. Unlike a lot of tracks Martinsville has houses located right next to the track and these people will allow you to park for a small fee. You'll be a short walk away and you won't really have to worry about anyone messing with your car. Prices vary but you should be able to park for $10-$20.
- Turn 2 offers the best view of the track imo, turn 1 begin a close second. If you can get seats there about halfway up. You don't want to be too close to the track because something in the infield may block your view of the other side.
- If you value your hearing wear ear plugs.
- Bring something to keep the rain off you...trust me you don't wanna get soaked in the stands. Even a sheet of plastic is better than nothing. You will eventually get caught in the rain at the track...it happens. This is why you pack extra food/drinks so you have something to tide you over.
- Extending on the above: plan to not work on Monday in advance. In case the race does get rained out you can come back on Monday. Monday races are actually pretty nice because they aren't as crowded.
That's really all I have. Hope it was helpful.
dpkimmel2001
Team Owner
Quick tip for Martinsville. Get a seat in the South Terrace. Not only is it the best seating location at the track, they come to your seats under caution and take food orders. You never have to wait in line there. They deliver it to you right were you sit.
dpkimmel2001
Team Owner
Quick Bristol tip for you campers out there. If you pay to stay @ one of the many official BMS campgrounds and you want to arrive before your campground opens, they have a staging area just off 394 south of the track. FREE camping. Last fall I stayed there for a week before my campground opened up. It's a nice service that they provide.
dpkimmel2001
Team Owner
I was just looking up some ticket information and remembered about this deal. Last year Walmart started offering tickets for some races online. They are still doing it this year too. These are packages for a family of four, two adults and two children. I thought some on here may be interested.
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DP the wife reconsidered the long ass trip to and from Sonoma ( with a lot of begging and groveling from me ). We leave home dragging the tagalong the morning of Monday 7/8/13, arrive at Loudon Wed. afternoon 7/10/13, go racing, leave Mon. morning 7/15/13 arrive at Eldora around Thur. evening 7/18/13, leave Thur. morning 7/25/13 and amble around towards home. She cant change her mind back, I already bought the tickets and a camping spot.
dpkimmel2001
Team Owner
Niiice!DP the wife reconsidered the long ass trip to and from Sonoma ( with a lot of begging and groveling from me ). We leave home dragging the tagalong the morning of Monday 7/8/13, arrive at Loudon Wed. afternoon 7/10/13, go racing, leave Mon. morning 7/15/13 arrive at Eldora around Thur. evening 7/18/13, leave Thur. morning 7/25/13 and amble around towards home. She cant change her mind back, I already bought the tickets and a camping spot.
Still a long a$$ haul for you.
S
SuperTex14
Guest
Great thread folks, I hope it doesn't fall off the first page.
I was going to put this in the 'etiquette' thread, but it fits better here as suggestions to improve the experience of going to the racetrack, learned from many moons attending races and airshows.
We live in the Chicago area, and for the last few years have only gone to tracks within a few hours' drive, which includes Chicagoland, Milwaukee Mile, Road America, and Indianapolis, as well as many smaller local tracks. However, these tips will work anywhere:
Many tracks have a shuttle or trolley that circles the track. We like to get on at one end (parking lot) and either ride it all the way around, or in the case of Chicagoland, as far as it goes before coming back, and get off next to the merch trailer midway. That way we enjoy lots of people watching and see stuff we may want to investigate further without wearing out our shoes. (You young fans will learn to appreciate being more efficient about walking, especially if you're carrying a cooler).
With summertime/hot weather approaching, you may find a few of my favorite ideas handy:
1. Sunscreen. Seriously. Buy some next time you're getting supplies, keep it in the fridge door. Throw it in your cooler when you pack, then put it on before you leave the car. I like to keep a small tube in my backpack, but usually a generous application at the car will be sufficient.
1. Fill one water bottle all the way, another about 1/2 full. Put them in the back of the freezer now, the half-full one tilted sideways. When you fill your cooler, fill the 1/2 one up with water, throw them both in the cooler, you'll have cold water ready to go.
2. For tracks that don't allow coolers, get an insulated sandwich case, and 2 or 3 hot/cold first aid packs that fit in it (the kind that are still soft when frozen - look in the pharmacy section). Get a couple of the 'blue water' freezer packs in the camping section about the same size. Freeze them all in your fridge, then stick them in the ice when you pack your cooler. When you get ready to head into the track, layer the packs in the sandwich case and put it in your backpack. When you feel hot, pull one out and put it on the back of your neck, or even on your wrist or knee for a refreshing feeling! You will be your racing partner's hero, and the envy of everyone around you. Rotate with the cold ones in the case, the blue water packs will keep them cold. If it's a long race, the blue water packs will still be cold at the end.
No matter what, remember that you're going to the track to have a good time. Don't spoil it for yourself or others by having a bad attitude. There are lots of people who would rather be doing what you're doing. I have been guilty of getting anxious because we left later than I'd planned, but it has ALWAYS worked out fine.
I was going to put this in the 'etiquette' thread, but it fits better here as suggestions to improve the experience of going to the racetrack, learned from many moons attending races and airshows.
We live in the Chicago area, and for the last few years have only gone to tracks within a few hours' drive, which includes Chicagoland, Milwaukee Mile, Road America, and Indianapolis, as well as many smaller local tracks. However, these tips will work anywhere:
Many tracks have a shuttle or trolley that circles the track. We like to get on at one end (parking lot) and either ride it all the way around, or in the case of Chicagoland, as far as it goes before coming back, and get off next to the merch trailer midway. That way we enjoy lots of people watching and see stuff we may want to investigate further without wearing out our shoes. (You young fans will learn to appreciate being more efficient about walking, especially if you're carrying a cooler).
With summertime/hot weather approaching, you may find a few of my favorite ideas handy:
1. Sunscreen. Seriously. Buy some next time you're getting supplies, keep it in the fridge door. Throw it in your cooler when you pack, then put it on before you leave the car. I like to keep a small tube in my backpack, but usually a generous application at the car will be sufficient.
1. Fill one water bottle all the way, another about 1/2 full. Put them in the back of the freezer now, the half-full one tilted sideways. When you fill your cooler, fill the 1/2 one up with water, throw them both in the cooler, you'll have cold water ready to go.
2. For tracks that don't allow coolers, get an insulated sandwich case, and 2 or 3 hot/cold first aid packs that fit in it (the kind that are still soft when frozen - look in the pharmacy section). Get a couple of the 'blue water' freezer packs in the camping section about the same size. Freeze them all in your fridge, then stick them in the ice when you pack your cooler. When you get ready to head into the track, layer the packs in the sandwich case and put it in your backpack. When you feel hot, pull one out and put it on the back of your neck, or even on your wrist or knee for a refreshing feeling! You will be your racing partner's hero, and the envy of everyone around you. Rotate with the cold ones in the case, the blue water packs will keep them cold. If it's a long race, the blue water packs will still be cold at the end.
No matter what, remember that you're going to the track to have a good time. Don't spoil it for yourself or others by having a bad attitude. There are lots of people who would rather be doing what you're doing. I have been guilty of getting anxious because we left later than I'd planned, but it has ALWAYS worked out fine.
EI2IC
Yeyeyeye
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That would be me. My friends aren't to happy when I wanna get up at 4am and get ready to go to the track. Then when we end up leaving at 5am I'm not to happy and think we're gonna be late/miss all the tailgating. Low and behold we get there and havent missed a thing lol .