Southeastern Road Trip

[UKCraig]

First of all, sorry to crash in on someone else's thread! Second of all, thanks for the suggestions.

I did the Bristol night race this last August and was totally blown away by it. Absolutely fantastic. I'd love to go back again but wasn't considering it this year due to the cost of getting a ticket. But... it's kinda tempting, I gotta say! I adored the atmosphere and the 1/2 mile configuration blew away the other venues I'd visited. Richmond sounds intruiging... not done a 3/4 mile oval yet...

Excellent work with the link to the short track website. I've only ever been to Volusia Speedway so I'm not at all versed in that sort of racing but I'm up for finding out. I really fancied popping over to Eldora last year but it was just gonna be too expensive.

I think perhaps I should never have opened this thread -- it could prove expensive! I wonder how much a flight into Washington and out of Tampa would set me back :s I can see a nice route Washington - Shenandoah NP - Richmond - Mooresville - Sarasota - Tampa

[Foy]

Yes, Craig, I suppose we could be cited for a hijack, but all of this is fodder for the original poster, as well. That's my story, and I'm sticking to it.

I am also intrigued by Eldora, but with so many venues so close to my Raleigh, NC home, I don't know if or when that might happen.

One of my first racing experiences was a sprint car race at the NC State Fairgrounds here in Raleigh, NC. It was a 1 mile oval clay track, fairly narrow, and the sprinters really put on a show. At age 52 presently, and having grown up right here, I had a chance to see the predecessor to Nextel Cup, called Grand National, run at the NC State Fairgrounds. From about age 12 to 16, I was employed by a concession company, selling soft drinks and such at stadiums, arenas, and such. The Fairgrounds was one of their venues. That work earned me a chance to see the last NASCAR top-level race run on a dirt track. Richard Petty, Cale Yarborough, David Pearson, and company powersliding huge 1960s American sedans around a dirt track, 427 cubic inches of V-8 power roaring--what a rush.

And back to the intent of the original post, that's the kind of thing one can readily see every Friday and Saturday night at any one of hundreds of tracks across the US.

And don't even get me started on drag racing..................

Foy

[austin83]

Foy I am definately enjoying this insight that you have been posting on this thread. I myself have been to Bristol several times but always the day race, in fact I'll probably be going to Bristol again in March (even though the date is too early and it'll be cold!). I would love to go to the August race but I get March tickets for free and August tickets are just too expensive. The only thing I'm mad about is that I planned on going to the Gatornationals in Gainesville this year and it's the very same weekend! I haven't been to an NHRA event since the 06 US Nationals in Indianapolis (when I lived in Kentucky I went to that event every year). I have decided that I am going to be heading over to Daytona for a day in early January for Daytona 500 testing, and I am going to start my road trip the next day! I'll probably miss the Rolex 24 but I will be back to attend the 500 as well as some of the events at Volusia Speedway and some preliminary events. Simply put, it's going to be a busy but fun couple of weeks!

[UKCraig]

Funny to think that, despite our different ages and backgrounds, we'll all be that little race come Feb 17 :)

It is something that I've said before, and I'll say it again here, how great would it be to see a little more diversity in what we now know as 'Cup'. There's already great diversity but how about adding a couple of races on the dirt, another road course, an airfield race like we used to see in CART, maybe even a street race. Okay, that may be going a bit far but I'd dearly love to see them race on the dirt. And, let's face it, it's not like we'd be breaking with tradition, is it?

[Foy]

Austin-
Since 1997 I've been badly sunburned in shorts, rained on, hailed on, and snowed on at the Bristol "Spring" race. This year's Spring race was very fair and comfortable, weather-wise. The 06' race was the "Snow Bowl" with overcast skies and temps which never got out of the 30s. The Busch race the day before was red-flagged for a spell due to heavy snowfall. And now they've pushed it back to mid-March. Shades of the "Spring" races at Rockingham, held 1 week after Daytona. The normally brightly-dressed race fans had more the look of a duck hunting convention with all of the camo foul weather apparel.

I've never been to an NHRA dragrace but was able to get down to the Rockingham dragstrip for some IRHA events. The FunnyCars and Top Fuelers were simply unreal. It's not my favorite form of racing, but once every year or two, it's an awesome spectacle to witness.

Craig-
I also lament the lack of variation in Cup venues. More road courses, more short tracks, and a touch of dirt would be my preference. Clearly within the tradition, but you've got to look at the relative lack of respect "tradition" gets from the France family these days. When I'm King.....

I think many of the drivers would like some variation, too. I distinctly recall Rusty Wallace saying he'd like to run more road courses, since "it's like your father gives you the coolest hot rod in the county, tells you the Sheriff has closed all the roads, and you and your buddies get to go out and raise hell all afternoon". Pretty good summary of what running a road race in a 800 hp race car is like, I'd guess. Old Jimmy Spencer was one who hated road courses, lamenting that he'd raced at Sears Point for 5 years before learning the track was paved.

Both of you: While we're on the subject, consider one of the driving schools in your road trip time and expense budget. I received a 8 lap Richard Petty Driving School session at Charlotte for my 40th birthday in 1995, and let me tell you, there is nothing like running a real race car down the backstretch at 150 mph. Or, you can do a 3 lap "ride along" with a professional driver and get up to 170 mph. Those banked turns look like solid walls as you approach them at those speeds. I can barely imagine green flag racing at Charlotte when they brake for Turn 1 at 197-200 mph. Nerves of steel!

Foy

[UKCraig]

Clearly within the tradition, but you've got to look at the relative lack of respect "tradition" gets from the France family these days.

These days? If you ask me it goes all the way back to that day when the Big Bossman France 'invented' Stock Car Racing and 'created' Nascar. All on his own, like. As all the best history books tell us... :s

Fantastic story from Rusty there. I am afraid I'm a latecomer to Nascar and missed out on most of these old characters sadly. My first love in American racing was most definately nineties CART. But, when that started it's slow painful death, I looked elsewhere. Finally saw my first Nascar race in 2002 and didn't really get hooked until three or so years ago when I stopped working in the sport in Europe.

I love the idea of the track ride. The closest I've been is two laps in a mini van around Atlanta Motor Speedway!!! But, looking back to the various passenger rides around circuits in the UK (including one terrifying occasion when we lapped Snetterton in a crazy V6 Clio with me sat on a tool box!) I feel it is something I have to do at some point. Normally though the circuits are closed whilst I'm in town as I'm there for the race. But it's on the 'to do' list for sure.

[austin83]

Austin-
Since 1997 I've been badly sunburned in shorts, rained on, hailed on, and snowed on at the Bristol "Spring" race. This year's Spring race was very fair and comfortable, weather-wise. The 06' race was the "Snow Bowl" with overcast skies and temps which never got out of the 30s. The Busch race the day before was red-flagged for a spell due to heavy snowfall. And now they've pushed it back to mid-March. Shades of the "Spring" races at Rockingham, held 1 week after Daytona. The normally brightly-dressed race fans had more the look of a duck hunting convention with all of the camo foul weather apparel.

I've never been to an NHRA dragrace but was able to get down to the Rockingham dragstrip for some IRHA events. The FunnyCars and Top Fuelers were simply unreal. It's not my favorite form of racing, but once every year or two, it's an awesome spectacle to witness.

Craig-
I also lament the lack of variation in Cup venues. More road courses, more short tracks, and a touch of dirt would be my preference. Clearly within the tradition, but you've got to look at the relative lack of respect "tradition" gets from the France family these days. When I'm King.....

I think many of the drivers would like some variation, too. I distinctly recall Rusty Wallace saying he'd like to run more road courses, since "it's like your father gives you the coolest hot rod in the county, tells you the Sheriff has closed all the roads, and you and your buddies get to go out and raise hell all afternoon". Pretty good summary of what running a road race in a 800 hp race car is like, I'd guess. Old Jimmy Spencer was one who hated road courses, lamenting that he'd raced at Sears Point for 5 years before learning the track was paved.

Both of you: While we're on the subject, consider one of the driving schools in your road trip time and expense budget. I received a 8 lap Richard Petty Driving School session at Charlotte for my 40th birthday in 1995, and let me tell you, there is nothing like running a real race car down the backstretch at 150 mph. Or, you can do a 3 lap "ride along" with a professional driver and get up to 170 mph. Those banked turns look like solid walls as you approach them at those speeds. I can barely imagine green flag racing at Charlotte when they brake for Turn 1 at 197-200 mph. Nerves of steel!

Foy

Foy I have had many different experiences myself with the Bristol spring race. First time I went was in 1998 when it was about 85 degrees outside, I put on no sunscreen and ended up with 2nd degree burns that (when looking back at it) should've required a trip to at least my local doctor. The next time was in 2001 when it was barely 40 degrees and the wind was pretty wicked. I went in 2003 and it was decently cold that time as well and 2004 was pretty nice weather. My last Bristol race was the 2006 "Snow Bowl". I was at the Busch race that got delayed by snow, it was the most surreal thing I have ever seen at a race in terms of weather. I remember it even snowed a little on the day of the Cup race but nothing like the day before, and I remember how brutally cold it was. With the race being on March 16th this year (those races took place from March 30th - April 4th) I am honestly expecting anything.

As for NHRA, you really need to attend one sometime, it is just incredible. I have been to an IHRA event and it is definately good racing, but the NHRA is just another level. The top fuel machines, as much as they are awesome in IHRA, are even better at NHRA, it's just incredible.

I also agree with the variety, I would love to see them bring back old short tracks like North Wilkesboro and Rockingham. I would also love to see some road courses like Road America or Road Atlanta added. I am not a big street course fan, because most of those circuits are very tight and passing is pretty much nonexistant on those types of races. I would definately be up for seeing a dirt race on the schedule. I love the fact that ARCA races on 2 dirt courses each year, really does test the overall skill of the driver.

I remember that quote by Rusty as well, he was my favorite driver and I really do miss seeing him in the Blue Deuce. It just hasn't been quite the same since, but I still enjoy it.

[Foy]

Normally though the circuits are closed whilst I'm in town as I'm there for the race. But it's on the 'to do' list for sure.[/QUOTE]

Craig-

Have a look at www.jayski.com and his link to driving schools. You'll see there are quite a number of locations and quite likely one that is open reasonably nearby to where you're attending a Cup race. For example, Rockingham has hosted driving schools and is likely to do more now that Andy Hillenberg has bought it. It's an hour and a half from Charlotte, so if you were headed to the October Saturday night race, you could possibly drive at Rockingham on Thursday or Friday beforehand. I'm sure other examples exist.

[UKCraig]

That is one seriously cool website - thanks for the link!

[Foy]

Craig-
So, you like Jayski, eh?

If you want the France family's version of reality, read NASCAR.com.

If you want the Real Truth, read Jayski.

Enjoy!

Foy