Let's talk Richmond

Joniki

Joniki

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Because of a few changes in my life, I am going to add a couple of tracks to my resume this year. I am intersted in going to Richmond this spring. There are good tickets available and I am able to find suitable lodging close to the track at a very reaonble price.

How is the parking at the track and the traffic in and out of the track? Anything to steer clear of? Any local hot spots I need to see?

I get 10 weeks of vacation a year so I am planning on making a vacation of this.
 
Smoke14 said:
Because of a few changes in my life, I am going to add a couple of tracks to my resume this year. I am intersted in going to Richmond this spring. There are good tickets available and I am able to find suitable lodging close to the track at a very reaonble price.

How is the parking at the track and the traffic in and out of the track? Anything to steer clear of? Any local hot spots I need to see?

I get 10 weeks of vacation a year so I am planning on making a vacation of this.
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I live in Waldorf, MD so I always drove home after the Nationwide race and went back down during the Cup race. Back when Richmond was selling out, hotels would cost $300 per night or more and every hotel all the way up to Waldorf would have no vacancy so there was really no downside to just driving home.

Richmond, VA is one of those places I drive through, I don't ever actually go to Downtown Richmond.

Here's a good start though: http://www.visitrichmondva.com/
 
Traffic can be "fun" sometimes. Most of the time, you're out of the track and on 301 in 45 minutes. The 2007 spring race was hell though. It got rained out on Saturday night and everyone left at once. We left the grandstands around 8pm and didn't get out of the parking lot until 1am.

The fans can be a little rowdy... after all, it's a night race and people spend 12 hours tailgating and getting drunk before the race starts. Usually, they're still respectful though. Most of the races I went to at Richmond, I was stuck behind a chimney.

The weather's usually pretty nice that time of year. It only rained out in the 2007 spring race (and it was COLD that weekend) but they just end up racing Sunday afternoon so you've basically already got a rain date built in the schedule. We get spring storms that time of the year, but a total washout is an anomaly.

All I can recommend is, do your homework. If you can't get a hotel in Richmond, keep looking up the 301 corridor. I don't know what they're expecting for ticket sales but if they're close to a sell out, you'll end up close to me (Southern Maryland) or ferg (Northern Virginia). If you end up staying within an hour of DC, I'd strongly recommend spending part of your vacation going around DC.
 
There's a lot to do down VADirt's way as well. But the drive from Hampton to Richmond on I-64 is absolutely hellacious.

If I get free or reduced tickets, I might go down there myself.
 
One of the reasons that I would love to get to Richmond is that it is in the heart of civil war country. My wife would love to visit some of the civil war estates that are open to the public .I would imagine if you google Richmond civil war you will find an amazing array of things to visit.
 
ted@economy said:
One of the reasons that I would love to get to Richmond is that it is in the heart of civil war country. My wife would love to visit some of the civil war estates that are open to the public .I would imagine if you google Richmond civil war you will find an amazing array of things to visit.
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I'm just wondering, are you guys still sore about that whole thing?
 
ted@economy said:
One of the reasons that I would love to get to Richmond is that it is in the heart of civil war country. My wife would love to visit some of the civil war estates that are open to the public .I would imagine if you google Richmond civil war you will find an amazing array of things to visit.
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Here's a link with local Richmond Civil War points of interest: http://www.civilwartraveler.com/EAST/VA/va-central/richmond.html
I have a childhood freind who is a very serious collector/dealer of Civil War artifacts I'll get some ideas from him also. Virginia is rich in history and some great sites are well preserved and open to the public. Schedule in some extra time!
 
FenderBumper said:
I'm just wondering, are you guys still sore about that whole thing?
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Well later on ,we made a lot of money selling booze during prohibition so we're okay with it. Wish we had all the tea back ,though .And those Cajuns turned out to be a lot of fun.(Tastes just like chicken)
 
Some info on Richmond from a long time season ticket holder. While I no longer go to Richmond, we attended for many years. We've gone to that track in about every way imaginable. I didn't catch where you are staying or how you really like to attend a race. If you like tailgating before a race, RIR is a great track. Parking is free in all of the Raceway lots. Get there early, and I mean early for the best spots close to the speedway, (6:00-8:00am). We prefer to park outside turn one just off of Carolina Ave and enter Gate #6. Keep in mind though..... If you get there early and are parked close to the track, you are less likely to get out of there any time soon after the race. We learned over time that if we arrived at about 11:30am that we could park much closer to the outer edges of the parking lot @ gate #6. That helped us get out of there sooner. Personally I like spending the entire day there parked close to the track. When the race is over we'd normally hang out a while in the track and then take our time heading to the parking lot. Once we got there we'd break out the grill, cook some dinner and unwind after a long day at the track. If we could easily drive right out of there by then we would otherwise we'd take a nap until things cleared. I've driven out of there as late a 3am after a race. Leave the parking lot/road rage for the rookies. Relax, have a good time. Let all of those other people worry about driving right out of there. You'll have a much better time.

Another good option that we've done is take the free shuttle from downtown Richmond. The shuttle is free but parking is not. Only $6 though so not bad @ all. The shuttle runs from Coliseum to the front gate of the track. While it is a quick ride to the track any time during the day it is a long wait for the shuttle to return to your car downtown. Great service none the less. It allows you to get to the track at a more desired time if tailgating is not your thing.

Info on getting to the Coliseum.....
The Richmond Coliseum parking area is conveniently located less than five minutes from the intersections of I-95 and I-64. To see a detailed map of the Richmond Coliseum area visit: http://www.rir.com/About-The-Track/Seating-Chart-and-Maps/Shuttle-Map.aspx. Fans can also park their cars and RVs at The Showplace and take a free shuttle ride to Richmond International Raceway. The Showplace is conveniently located less than three miles from Richmond International Raceway at 3000 Mechanicsville Turnpike and is just ¼-mile off of I-64 at exit 192.
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As far as local things to the city click here. There are many great place to go and see while you're there. Lots of history. I don't remember what they call their entertainment area by the river downtown but there are plenty of restaurants and lots of entertainment.

Someday when you get wise and are ready to go to these races in an RV, PM me and I'll really be able to give you great advice. Rookies Tailgate, nascarcamping.com. Have a blast!

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FenderBumper said:
I'm just wondering, are you guys still sore about that whole thing?
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Why would we be sore? We Won, if you don't beleive me step outside and enjoy your beautiful warm sunny day........oh I'm sorry it's somewhere in the mid 40's and either raining or snowing up there isn't it :p
 
If you're coming from NY, take 95 to the Capital Beltway, get off at Branch Ave MD-5 South. That turns in to 301 and takes you direct to the track.
 
Oh, nvm you're Indiana not NY. That's the other Tony fan.

Still, the first chance you get to go on to 301, take it. It's a much easier drive.
 
Smoke, I just checked, there are vacancies all around RIR. You can get rooms for $90/night. And don't forget about the Denny Hamlin Showdown.

I'm putting together my RIR plans now. Unfortunately, NASCAR doesn't hand hot passes out like candy anymore.
 
How nice you are ANDY. You Are just as good of a giver as a hater.
 
mike honcho said:
He would be better if he had maps and stuff like dpkimmel.
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I'm just saying, I-64 and I-95 in and around Richmond are about as pleasant as a root canal. I'm probably going to stay in a hotel this time around since I'm planning on covering the Showdown and the K&N race.
 
AndyMarquisLive said:
I'm just saying, I-64 and I-95 in and around Richmond are about as pleasant as a root canal. I'm probably going to stay in a hotel this time around since I'm planning on covering the Showdown and the K&N race.
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Do you have pictures of traffic on I-64? Send along some of your root canal too, just so we can compare. ;)
 
WAH!

Opening Weekend at the local ballpark is the same weekend as the Richmond race..... and I've been wanting those damn tower seats for years. :mad:

Guess I'll be going to Dover instead.
 
AndyMarquisLive said:
WAH!

Opening Weekend at the local ballpark is the same weekend as the Richmond race..... and I've been wanting those damn tower seats for years. :mad:

Guess I'll be going to Dover instead.
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That reads like you have your priorities screwed up.

Oh and as far as the tower seats go..... I had the tower seats the first three years they became available. They are great, don't get me wrong but the climb is a killer!

Check out this video that I took from the tower of the flyover!

OK..... Not the best quality but it was a pretty cool flyover none the less.
 
I see what happened. The video played, but the odd loading dots stayed even after it was fully loaded. If I play it a second time, they go away.

Perfect location for that fly over. I can almost hear the leader say "Guys, I see dpk. Move left".
 
dpkimmel2001 said:
That reads like you have your priorities screwed up.

Oh and as far as the tower seats go..... I had the tower seats the first three years they became available. They are great, don't get me wrong but the climb is a killer!

Check out this video that I took from the tower of the flyover!

OK..... Not the best quality but it was a pretty cool flyover none the less.
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One is called work, the other is play. The baseball game is work. But my boss is a NASCAR fan so she knows the importance of getting tower tickets at Richmond.
 
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