Motorsport Tourism?
Dec 3, 2012, 12:10 pm
#46
Join Date: Apr 2003
Location: CLT
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I have been to Darlington for a race. It is alot of fun.
My buddies and I keep talking about roadtripping to a deep-South NASCAR race. The harder core, older school, and more redneck the better.
I've attended one NASCAR race, but it was in Kansas - total wine & cheese crowd. We want deep, deep South for this. I don't think the DFW area would quite cut it either. I'm thinking Darlington, Chattanooga, Martinsville, Bristol...one of those. But open to others - bonus if it's in the fall and we can pair it with an SEC football game. (We have no need to watch the Busch race, the truck race, etc.) Again, I'd want that to be in Bama, Mississippi, or Georgia. Maybe Tennessee if the Vols don't suck when we get around to this. No Vandy or anything like that.
Extra bonus if we can play one of the RTJ golf courses in that part of the world...I realize that doesn't jive with the demographic here but it could be a Friday activity nonetheless.
I kind of like the idea of that track that basically looks like a huge football stadium where they do a night race. I think it's a half-mile track and half of the pits on each side of the track. (Martinsville?)
I've attended one NASCAR race, but it was in Kansas - total wine & cheese crowd. We want deep, deep South for this. I don't think the DFW area would quite cut it either. I'm thinking Darlington, Chattanooga, Martinsville, Bristol...one of those. But open to others - bonus if it's in the fall and we can pair it with an SEC football game. (We have no need to watch the Busch race, the truck race, etc.) Again, I'd want that to be in Bama, Mississippi, or Georgia. Maybe Tennessee if the Vols don't suck when we get around to this. No Vandy or anything like that.
Extra bonus if we can play one of the RTJ golf courses in that part of the world...I realize that doesn't jive with the demographic here but it could be a Friday activity nonetheless.
I kind of like the idea of that track that basically looks like a huge football stadium where they do a night race. I think it's a half-mile track and half of the pits on each side of the track. (Martinsville?)
Dec 3, 2012, 12:47 pm
#47
Suspended
Join Date: Dec 2012
Posts: 90
I'm terribly curious whom here actually travels to watch Auto Racing?
Its an area that I've recently became very addicted to. Curiously enough already managed to bump into another FT'er who's got the same passion.
Likewise if anyone needs some help in this area, I'd be happy to contribute whatever I've learned, or at least try to point you in the right direction.
cheers!
--Russ
Its an area that I've recently became very addicted to. Curiously enough already managed to bump into another FT'er who's got the same passion.
Likewise if anyone needs some help in this area, I'd be happy to contribute whatever I've learned, or at least try to point you in the right direction.
cheers!
--Russ
Dec 4, 2012, 2:25 pm
#48
Join Date: Nov 2010
Location: Seattle, WA
Programs: Hilton, United, Gold DL
Posts: 993
Technically, all races just go around in a circle. Some just have deviations. And besides nascar, you have alms, grand am, scca, nasa, narra and host of several more in the states that are worth watching.
Dec 4, 2012, 2:53 pm
#49
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I have a family wedding in Asheville NC on Oct 19/13 and trying to fit in a NASCAR event. I could probably work in one of the following:
Oct 12 Charlotte
Oct 20 Talledaga
Oct 27 Martinsville
It sounds like I would have the same goal as you for the event, the more redneck the better. Which date would be best?
Oct 12 Charlotte
Oct 20 Talledaga
Oct 27 Martinsville
It sounds like I would have the same goal as you for the event, the more redneck the better. Which date would be best?
Dec 4, 2012, 7:00 pm
#50
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Join Date: Jun 2006
Location: New Jersey
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NASCAR isn't as bad as so many people make it out to be.
I had an opportunity to watch the race after volunteering the Grand Am race at Indianapolis Motor Speedway, but had some issues with my car so instead I decided to nurse it back to Detroit to have the problem looked at.
The NASCAR race at Watkins Glen was fun, and the ending was quite exciting, especially since I had a perfect view of the incident that went viral at the closing lap of the race, the whole bump, spin, oil on track issue. Wouldn't mind volunteering for another race, the amount of fans is certainly fantastic!
I had an opportunity to watch the race after volunteering the Grand Am race at Indianapolis Motor Speedway, but had some issues with my car so instead I decided to nurse it back to Detroit to have the problem looked at.
The NASCAR race at Watkins Glen was fun, and the ending was quite exciting, especially since I had a perfect view of the incident that went viral at the closing lap of the race, the whole bump, spin, oil on track issue. Wouldn't mind volunteering for another race, the amount of fans is certainly fantastic!
Dec 4, 2012, 7:04 pm
#51
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Join Date: Jun 2006
Location: New Jersey
Programs: Credit Cards
Posts: 3,009
My 18 year old son is studying motorsport and has seen a fair few in the US, he even went to some event at the new NJ motorsport park last Easter while we were on vacation, he goes to LeMans and I think his preferences are for the various LMS and most forms of endurance racing, I am the one who stays at home while he goes so I cant say for certain but I think he was planning to go to the F1 when it comes to NJ and I heard him mumble something about using my BA miles to get to Macau
I was reluctant for him to do the course at college at first but its a proper degree and I just hope he finds a job in the industry
I was reluctant for him to do the course at college at first but its a proper degree and I just hope he finds a job in the industry
I would still love to get a job in the industry, or any job for that matter that would at least support this hobby.
Dec 5, 2012, 2:36 pm
#52
Join Date: Sep 2007
Location: Wild Wiltshire
Programs: Demoted to gold, Cats protection
Posts: 3,455
He has Mum and dad to support his hobby
he is building his own race car for next year and the final college project this year is building an off road buggy.I think for some of the trips further afield he would like someone to travel with as most of his friends parents dont have a stash of miles to travel on!
Dec 7, 2012, 8:58 am
#55
Join Date: Mar 2011
Posts: 19
I fly from DEN to CLT twice a year for the NASCAR race weekends. Have been doing this for 20+ years.
Carryon luggage only, and my cooler is my "personal item" which I stow under the seat...
Another great motorsports-related event is the Barrett-Jackson collector car auction held in Scottsdale every January. Nice break from the winter weather and a great event for car guys/gals.
Carryon luggage only, and my cooler is my "personal item" which I stow under the seat...
Another great motorsports-related event is the Barrett-Jackson collector car auction held in Scottsdale every January. Nice break from the winter weather and a great event for car guys/gals.
Dec 8, 2012, 8:52 am
#56
Join Date: Dec 2010
Location: Elmira > Taiwan > Elmira
Programs: Delta, Continental, United, USAir, Marriott, Best Western, Super 8, Holiday Inn
Posts: 47
I've been a motorsports fan since I was 8 or 9 (now 64). I travel a fair amount for work and I always check to see what's going on where I happen to be. Occasionally personal travel has worked out favorably also. I'm originally from Toledo, lived in Joliet for a couple of years and at this moment I'm in my home about 17 miles from Watkins Glen International.
So, races that I have been to when I was working somewhere close:
WoO, Santa Fe Speedway, Hinsdale, IL (now defunct), ~1989
USAC Midgets, Santa Fe Speedway, Hinsdale, IL (now defunct), ~1989
NASCAR Trucks, Louisville Speedway, Louisville, KY, 1995
USAC Midgets, Louisville Speedway, Louisville, KY, 1995
IMSA Camel GT, Charlotte Motor Speedway, 1985
NASCAR Busch Series, Darlington Speedway, 1985
NASCAR Modifieds, Bowman Gray Stadium, 2012
Races that I have traveled to specifically or as part of a personal trip:
Copper World Classic, Phoenix International Raceway, 1995
Sprint Cars, regular show at Ventura Speedway, Ventura, CA 2002
Monterey Historics, Laguna Seca, Monterey, CA, 2005, 2007
Vintage Extravaganza, New Hampshire Motor Speedway, 2005
SVRA, Willow Springs Raceway, Willow Springs, CA, 2000
CART, Long Beach, 2001
IMSA Camel GT: Columbus, OH, 1986, 1987
Full CV here...
Always good to be among motorsports fans!!
So, races that I have been to when I was working somewhere close:
WoO, Santa Fe Speedway, Hinsdale, IL (now defunct), ~1989
USAC Midgets, Santa Fe Speedway, Hinsdale, IL (now defunct), ~1989
NASCAR Trucks, Louisville Speedway, Louisville, KY, 1995
USAC Midgets, Louisville Speedway, Louisville, KY, 1995
IMSA Camel GT, Charlotte Motor Speedway, 1985
NASCAR Busch Series, Darlington Speedway, 1985
NASCAR Modifieds, Bowman Gray Stadium, 2012
Races that I have traveled to specifically or as part of a personal trip:
Copper World Classic, Phoenix International Raceway, 1995
Sprint Cars, regular show at Ventura Speedway, Ventura, CA 2002
Monterey Historics, Laguna Seca, Monterey, CA, 2005, 2007
Vintage Extravaganza, New Hampshire Motor Speedway, 2005
SVRA, Willow Springs Raceway, Willow Springs, CA, 2000
CART, Long Beach, 2001
IMSA Camel GT: Columbus, OH, 1986, 1987
Full CV here...
Always good to be among motorsports fans!!
Last edited by flatlander_48; Dec 8, 2012 at 9:06 am
Jan 25, 2013, 9:05 pm
#59
Join Date: Jan 2006
Location: BOS
Posts: 409
I did my trip to the Porsche, Mercedes, and BMW museums during the first week of January and really enjoyed it.
Of the three, I think the Porsche museum had the most impact but all three are top notch and well worth a visit. Porsche's relatively brief history compared with the others makes for a more compact collection but one with great impact. I was extremely happy when I saw one Porsche 917 but my jaw dropped when I went a little farther along and saw six of them lined up next to each other.
RacingJunkie's advice to allocate more time to the Mercedes museum vs. the Porsche museum when in Stuttgart was spot on. While the Porsche museum can be covered pretty thoroughly in 3 hours, the Mercedes museum needs 4 or 5 hours to see everything - that's to be expected with their much longer history.
The BMW museum in Munich was also a great place to visit and I was thrilled to see a 3.0 CSL "Batmobile" race car included in the exhibit, as well as an M1 and a 2002 that reminded me of the one my dad owned.
My favorite unexpected exhibit was the Unimog with a giant snow blower attachment at the Mercedes museum. I'd plow the highways for free if I had one of them!
If you like cars and are in Stuttgart and/or Munich, make the time for one or more of these museums.
Of the three, I think the Porsche museum had the most impact but all three are top notch and well worth a visit. Porsche's relatively brief history compared with the others makes for a more compact collection but one with great impact. I was extremely happy when I saw one Porsche 917 but my jaw dropped when I went a little farther along and saw six of them lined up next to each other.
RacingJunkie's advice to allocate more time to the Mercedes museum vs. the Porsche museum when in Stuttgart was spot on. While the Porsche museum can be covered pretty thoroughly in 3 hours, the Mercedes museum needs 4 or 5 hours to see everything - that's to be expected with their much longer history.
The BMW museum in Munich was also a great place to visit and I was thrilled to see a 3.0 CSL "Batmobile" race car included in the exhibit, as well as an M1 and a 2002 that reminded me of the one my dad owned.
My favorite unexpected exhibit was the Unimog with a giant snow blower attachment at the Mercedes museum. I'd plow the highways for free if I had one of them!
If you like cars and are in Stuttgart and/or Munich, make the time for one or more of these museums.
Jan 26, 2013, 6:55 am
#60
Join Date: Dec 2010
Location: Elmira > Taiwan > Elmira
Programs: Delta, Continental, United, USAir, Marriott, Best Western, Super 8, Holiday Inn
Posts: 47
A friend of mine bought a 5-Series a few years back and did the Euro Delivery. I think he toured Western and Central Europe for for about a week before he gave the car back and they prepared it for shipping. The delivery facility is part of the complex where the museum is. From the photos I saw, it is a VERY impressive structure.