Does anyone (besides me) camp at racetracks a lot?

[labontefan]

I know there are a couple of folks who have mentioned camping at the tracks, and I know there are some other race fans here.

I'm asking for a specific reason. I usually go to the same tracks every year (Bristol, Charlotte, Martinsville) and we always camp so I'm pretty familiar with those areas, the campgrounds, etc.

There are some other tracks I've been to but not camped (Daytona, Darlington, Atlanta, Richmond). And there are some others that I'd like to add to my "racing resume" (Talladega, Rockingham,...who knows!)

Some of the tracks have plenty of useful info about campgrounds on their website (Bristol is a good example). Others are not so helpful. (For example, if all the info you had about Charlotte was from the website, you'd think the Fleetwood campground was the only one there.)

I was wondering if there were enough folks interested if we might request that a "Racetrack campground review" forum or something similar be added. It would serve the same purpose as the other campground review sections do. If someone was planning to attend a track and camp for the first time, they could use that section to (hopefully) get info about the available camping at the track, as well as helpful info about the area.

Good idea? Bad idea? Useful? Useless? What do you think?

[B-flat]

You might want to add "The Rock" at Rockingham to your racetrack camping list. You can check out the info at www.northcarolinaspeedway.com In addition to what the speedway has, there are plenty of camping spots on private property across the road from the track on a first come, first served basis that do not have hookups. It's a lively crowd and it sure beats the traffic. Might as well camp there and enjoy yourself the entire weekend. It might be a good idea to have a racetrack campground forum but then someone will request a Bluegrass festival camping forum.
 
I just checked the site I mentioned above and changes have been made, apparently because the speedway is losing one of its races next year.  I understand that the February race will be retained and the Nov one will be in California.  When I find out what the new link will be, I will try to post it here another time.

[JonesFamilyJayco]

I would really like to see other posts about camping at racetracks.  I live near & make most of the races at Charlotte, but would like to someday camp near the track instead of driving.  Looks like alot of fun, except when the weather turns like it did in Charlotte last spring.  I usually camp with my son who is 5 1/2years old. I would want to be sure that the site that we pick for our first race camp would be ok for children.  I want him to love racing as much as I do, so I want to start taking him to some Busch Series Races this coming year.  

It would be great to learn from those with more experience what to expect & what you should bring to the track.  Camp site recommendations, fees, when is best to arrive, etc would help me the most.

Thanks for the great post!

[Gone-Camping]

Camping in Richmond is kind of a "crap shoot" so to speak. Yes, they do have an official campground outside Turn-2, but it's limited in size, and very expensive. The affordable alternative at RIR is not to camp at the track. Most of the home owners surrounding the track turn their yards into mini-campgrounds on race weekends. Some of them can charge an arm and a leg, others are very reasonable. Even the Churches in the area get in on this little cash cow twice per year. I've seen camping lot's (wide enough for one MH with slideout) go for $200 per night!!!

We stay in the same peoples back yard twice per year. I can't remember her name off hand, but a very nice older black lady rents us one quarter of her backyard for $30 per night, and even let's us plug into the outside receptical (and only us, no one else get's a hook-up). We've been a regular in her back yard for nearly 10 years now, so we get the choice spot in the back corner under the tree!!! It's located about 6 houses from the Service entrance on Meadowbridge Rd, and we walk to the track for the race, takes about 15-20 mins to walk there.
 
Staying over at Richmond is great, because it's a Saturday night race, and who wants to sit in traffic for 2-3 hours waiting to get out, then making the 2 hour drive home, all of this after 11pm. Normal arrival time at home is around 5-6am, but by staying we probably are in bed by 2am, and in the morning make a huge group breakfast, followed by a liesure breakdown and head on home...sans all the traffic!!!

[B-flat]

My daughter and the grandkids have also camped in the back yard of some folks across from the racetrack.  She discovered this place through friends of hers who have camped there for several years.  I think the cost was around $30 or $40 per night but it was worth it for the convenience of being able to walk to the track and not to have to worry about parking or traffic.

[stateparkgrl]

After waiting 3 years, Earl and I finally got a no-hookup campsite at Richmond.  We only live 45 minutes from the track, but yes, it is nice not to have to get in traffic after the Busch Race Friday night, just to turn around and come back at 7am Saturday morning.

The site is $130 for four days - Thursday at 8am to Sunday at 3pm. No hookups, but big enough for the camper, a 10 x 20 awning, and the kids 5-man tent. We make it a family event twice a year...my brother drives up from NC and helps with the site costs. We usually have at least 6 other family members that stay at least part of the weekend, use the grill (I quit providing food years ago!) and hang out. It's a fun weekend that we all look forward to. BTW, I have extra tickets for Saturday's race if anyone is interested.

Yes, a race track camping forum would be great.  I'd love to get tickets to Bristol one day....

Louise

1994 Starcraft Starflyer
2003 F150 Crew Cab
DH and 1987 daughter

[Gone-Camping]

Louise, which race do you have the tickets for? I have buyers (even myself since I'm not on the permanant ticket list)....

[stateparkgrl]

Cliff,

Well...after getting the mail yesterday from RIR...I may just sell my tickets, too!!!  I got a notice that they were MOVING the camping area where we have camped for the last 2 races to LOT F...across Carolina Avenue!!!  And the price is now $150 for 3 nights!  Lot F is way to far for comfortable walking during the day. They say they will have a tram from the campground, but I bet it only runs just before the Friday and Saturday night races, not all day. This makes me real mad. One of the main reasons we pay for the campsite is to have the camper CONVENIENT to the track all day. I have to help out at the Virginia State Park booth in FanFest during the day Friday and Saturday, and now I can't even walk back to fix meals during the day.  Your campsite at the house on Laburnum is probably closer! (Does she have room for me?)

I also wouldn't mind is so much if they CUT the price because of the move, but RAISE IT!?!?!  

Now that I have vented, I feel better. My tickets that I have for sale are for the NEXTEL (doesn't that sound weird?!?) race on Saturday night, May 15th at Richmond. My mother picks up 8 additional tickets each year and what our family doesn't use, we sell.  They are in the middle of the backstretch, a little over half way up.  Last years price was $80 (Who knows for this year!?!?!) OUR 4 season tickets are on the top row of turn 4. My brother has had those for 20 years.

Let me know. Mom says the first 8 people to give her $ gets them!!

Louise

1994 Starcraft Starflyer
2003 F150 Crew Cab
DH and 1987 daughter

[labontefan]

I would love to go to Richmond! Only been there once and LOVED it! However, even though I'm in Virginia, Richmond is a pretty long drive! Bristol, Charlotte, and Atlanta are all closer! And Darlington's about the same distance.

Don't think I can manage the trip this year....but if you have any more tickets left over anytime, please keep me in mind!! :W

I just saw on Bristol's web site that the deadline for renewing camping reservations is December 5. That's a Friday, so I'm going to give them a call bright and early the following Monday to see if there are any available spaces! We always used to camp in the unreserved tent camping area near the dragway when we were tent camping. Unfortunately, they expanded Hospitality Village and did away with the unreserved camping. All that's left is reserved. And getting a reserved space is almost as hard as getting tickets. (Fortunately, I already have tickets!)

For the last year or so, we've camped in Earhart. It's a privately owned campground right beside the track. Last spring we were literally in the shadow of the track!

I like Earhart, but the bathhouse in Dragway campground is a little nicer. The track campground is a little less expensive too. Plus, it would be nice to have reservations, so I'd know where we would be each time.

Maybe when I get a little more vacation time, I'll add Richmond to the list of "regular" tracks!

[Gone-Camping]

I'll get back to you on that shortly Louise, I've gotta check my other source, as sometimes I get "FREE" tickets from the AC Delco