Daytona 500 2014

RaysWay

RaysWay

Autopia Specialist
Just purchased my ticket for Sunday, February 23, 2014!

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Anyone else going!? This will be my first time at a Nascar event. I've toured the speedway before during an Auto Body Shop Class field trip. Any words or wisdom of suggestions? I'll take plenty of pictures.
 
Awesome Vega! You will have a blast. Take plenty of cash for souvenirs and ear plugs. It gets loud. I have been to Dover 3 times & loved it. Sat rite at turn one. The cars look like they are coming at you. Have a blast!
 
Biggest thing to remember during race weekends, at least in California, is sunblock!

I have forgotten to put some on and fried during multiple race weekends, always on Friday or Saturday so by the time Sunday came around it just hurt all day.

You can't see it here but this was last year at a MotoGP race in Laguna Seca, I had to buy a sweatshirt and hat because I got fried the day before walking around the track.

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Never been to the Daytona 500 but I have been to the races at Texas Motor Speedway (right outside of Dallas) and they are a blast! I assume that it is pretty much the same for every race (in terms of what to do before the race). Get there early because there is a bunch of free stuff to get! I remember one year I won a Sprint Cup hat and shirt, as well as some National Guard stuff - all by just knowing some trivia.

Make sure you bring ear plugs. They usually will have them there, including in the free gift bags, but it's always good to have a few pair just in case you lose them. That is one thing you don't want to be without! In fact, depending on how sensitive your hearing is, you may want to use the in-ear foam plugs WITH the over ear headphones. No shame in protecting your hearing!

Enjoy the race, Ray! I wish I could be there but rest assured I will be watching on the TV! :drool:

:rockon
 
I did the 500 last year and man was it cold. My advise check the weather and pack accordingly. We were on the back stretch and had great seats. I usually do Richmond witch is a short track and that can be very loud which i always have my fan view (acts as ear plugs and a tv) but for Dayton i didn't get one as its not as loud at the track is huge. If you are on the back stretch like I was do NOT wait in line for the tram just walk. While the walk is long you will get there faster that way. I carried a cooler of my favorite drink from the car walked all over the trailers, walked the turn to the back and then up all the steps to our seats. My buddies stuffed about 30 cans in the coolers so pretty heavy.

Here is a photo from my seats last year.
 
radarryan said:
Never been to the Daytona 500 but I have been to the races at Texas Motor Speedway (right outside of Dallas) and they are a blast! I assume that it is pretty much the same for every race (in terms of what to do before the race). Get there early because there is a bunch of free stuff to get! I remember one year I won a Sprint Cup hat and shirt, as well as some National Guard stuff - all by just knowing some trivia.

Make sure you bring ear plugs. They usually will have them there, including in the free gift bags, but it's always good to have a few pair just in case you lose them. That is one thing you don't want to be without! In fact, depending on how sensitive your hearing is, you may want to use the in-ear foam plugs WITH the over ear headphones. No shame in protecting your hearing!

Enjoy the race, Ray! I wish I could be there but rest assured I will be watching on the TV! :drool:

:rockon
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I might (fingers crossed) head to Circuit of the Americas for the MotoGP race this year :bigups:bigups:bigups

The last time I was at the Daytona 500 was the year that Dale Earnhardt died. I actually didn't see the wreck, but did see the car slide by. The replays didn't look to bad, so we where all shocked when EMS ran to the car and started pulling him out. The crowd was almost eerily silent.

We found out on the ride home that he had passed away. You will have a lot of fun!
 
Todd Helme said:
I might (fingers crossed) head to Circuit of the Americas for the MotoGP race this year :bigups:bigups:bigups

The last time I was at the Daytona 500 was the year that Dale Earnhardt died. I actually didn't see the wreck, but did see the car slide by. The replays didn't look to bad, so we where all shocked when EMS ran to the car and started pulling him out. The crowd was almost eerily silent.

We found out on the ride home that he had passed away. You will have a lot of fun!
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Well, you will enjoy it! I've been trying to make the trip (3 hours!) for the Aussie V8. ALMS, Grand-Am, ELMS, and F1 and still couldn't swing it... Hopefully this year that will change! Keep us apprised if you're able to go! :rockon

You were at the Daytona 500 on probably the most important day in the modern era of NASCAR. Talk about living history... I remember watching it on tv and thinking nothing of it. I mean, hey, he was trying to keep others from passing to give Jr. the opportunity to win. Then, upon reflection you realize it's not a SAFER barrier and he is traveling at around 200mph on a restrictor plate track with no HANS device. At least a lot of good came from his passing.
 
Good tips here. Thanks fellas.

Attending a MotoGP race in Laguna Seca sounds amazing valleyrider. I've always wanted to see the cork screw in person.
 
Watched Jeff Gordon win it in 1999. What I remember best is watching a car, completely upside down about 10 feet in the air going by my wife and I. All the while it's hood was making its way over the fence and about 12 rows up in the stands. It was a cool event but getting to and from the track was a complete circus.
 
The first of the Speedweek Budweiser Duels starts tomorrow night (Saturday night) on Fox Sports 1. After the race, there is the UFC fight from Brazil. Should be a good night to have FS1 recording and/or watching!

:rockon
 
Ray's getting wet! :rain::rain::rain:

We need it to get dry. Boogidie boogidie boogidie, let's go racing! :rockon
 
:mad: :( Tornado Warning now... Stands evacuated... :mad: :(

Stay dry, Ray Vega! Looks like it's gonna be a good race when we get back to it. Too bad Kyle Larson has been having issues with the sway bar cutting the tire. I like that rookie, a heck of a lot more than the spoiled rich kid taking over the #3. Did you hear his press conference, saying he needed his grandpa to give him the helicopter so he could go race on a dirt track...

Boogidie, boogidie, boogidie, let's go racing!
 
This thread brings back a memory or two. I haven't watched a NASCAR race in person, but years ago I did drive up to Elkhart Lake, WI to watch the Camel GT races, specifically for the Audi 90 Quattro. Neat race, and it was great to walk through the pits prior to the race. Quite hot that day, so watching the weather ahead of time is important. Traffic was a drag.
 
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