Going to my first race at Bristol....anything I need to know?

[BimmerFreak]

Ok, so here's the deal; I have never been to a NASCAR style race in my life.

Not only am I not a "fan" but I have never gotten crazy about big heavy American cars driving in a circle.

I get a call today from one of my distributors.

They have VIP tickets for the Sharpie 500 next weekend.

http://www.bristolmotorspeedway.com/events/sharpie_500/

My guy offers me the tickets, which I accept.

So, what should I expect?

Anything I need to know? What should I take? Anything I shouldnt take?

Will I be ok driving one of my BMWs? or should I bring my good 'ole American build Ford Superduty?

Should I go buy one of those fake mullets?

[Mike.357]

if you are not in a skybox, take hearing protection.

If you do not have a trackside parking pass wear good walking shoes.

bring lots of cash

[willis68]

Not a fan either, but I know that those VIP tickets are Very Expensive, you might even be able to trade them for an Army 1911, some people are that hardcore about it

Congrats, you will have a Blast at the race!

[BimmerFreak]

I dont know where the seats are.

I know they are "VIP" whatever that means, and they are actually paid for by Remington.

[nightrunner]

one one hand id take the superduty as you can "make" people get out of your way when you try to leave. on the other hand, at most nascar races, they have reserved motorcycle parking up front, so either or. EDIT: nevermind on the motorcycle parking, i though you meant the bmw bike not a car. either or would be OK

take your own cooler of drinks. when i went to nashville superspeedway, a longneck domestic beer was $9 each. soft drinks were about $3 for a 12oz. can, IIRC. food is as bad if not worse. you are allowed 1 cooler per person.

take a cushion to sit on, the bleachers get uncomfortable after several laps.

if taking wife and/or kids, take some ear plugs/muffs it is quite loud at times.

i think id check their policy about carrying before id attempt it, with as much alcohol as there is there.

[BimmerFreak]

Im just curious; how much do you think people have to pay for these tickets?

Having never been, I have no idea how much it costs to attend one of these events.

(I have been to Laguna Seca many times, the Long Beach Grand Prix, and a bunch of Porsche and BMW club racing events, but never anything like this)

[BimmerFreak]

I plan on drinking, so no carry.

I guess we could ride a bike (BMW or Harley) up....that may make it easier to get in, park, and then leave.

[Guest SUNTZU]

Definitely hearing protection. If you aren't parking close, I would suggest a small pocket flashlight. The porta potties are usually overflowing and some dumba$$ will tip one over. You don't want to walk through that, especially if you drive one of your BMW's, or a go kart for that matter.

Have fun, I went once on a set of free tickets, it was a good time. Watch for speed traps, coming and going. Also, some people seemed to think that they were Earnhardt on the way home, so don't succumb to road rage and sling an Icee out the window at the SOB who is "drafting" your vehicle and honking.

[Mike.357]

Im just curious; how much do you think people have to pay for these tickets?

50 bucks and up. Good seats 125 bucks or so, and up.

I am guessing guns are prohibited and it is posted on the back of the ticket. Not sure if that is legal. If I am getting freebies I am not wanting to cause trouble for the company paying my way.

You can carry a cooler in. No glass. Cans are fine, liquor in PET bottles is fine. Your own food is allowed. Track food sucks pretty much.

Get there early and see the entire show. Great for people watching. Always lots and lots of eye candy. wear sunglasses if the boss is going with you.

[mdlave]

Ok, so here's the deal; I have never been to a NASCAR style race in my life.

Not only am I not a "fan" but I have never gotten crazy about big heavy American cars driving in a circle.

I get a call today from one of my distributors.

They have VIP tickets for the Sharpie 500 next weekend.

http://www.bristolmotorspeedway.com/events/sharpie_500/

My guy offers me the tickets, which I accept.

So, what should I expect?

Anything I need to know? What should I take? Anything I shouldnt take?

Will I be ok driving one of my BMWs? or should I bring my good 'ole American build Ford Superduty?

Should I go buy one of those fake mullets?

No idea about Bristol, but I was in the luxury suite at the Nashville Superspeedway for the Toyota Tundra 200 race last Sunday. My buddy got several tickets from his work, so it sounds like a similar corporate perk deal.

We were in a nice, air conditioned skybox, with a great view, and a couple tvs showing the broadcast of the race. The snacks were chips,peanuts,etc. and they had big coolers of free domestic beer and soda.

It wasn't really the rowdy crowd you see in the stands. I'm pretty sure we were drinking more than anyone else.

Oh, and the pit girls came up for picture opportunities, but my girlfriend was already a little pissed we went to a race on a weekend night, so I didn't push it...

Hope this helps.

[BimmerFreak]

how long do these races last? It starts at 8pm.

[Guest Mugster]

I plan on drinking, so no carry.

I guess we could ride a bike (BMW or Harley) up....that may make it easier to get in, park, and then leave.

I went to one. Slept in a tent in a gravel parking lot at groud zero at the coca cola 600. It was a loooooong weekend. One of my many ex's worked IT for a coal company. They packed up a car hauler full of beer for 50 people. I mean like, completely full...I think it was on the order of 250 cases of budweiser. We drank most of it. It was hotter than hell.

I rode my motorcycle. If its not a harley, you'll be out of place. If you don't wear just the most redneck clothes you can think of, you'll stick out like a sore thumb.

Lessions Learned:

1. Shotgunning a six pack with a guy named named chicken and his buddy toe will make you puke. I don't mean 6 beers in a row. I mean 72 ounces.

2. I got woke up at 6:30 am by a guy grilling some hotdogs 1 foot from my tent. The smoke from the tent about to catch got me up. Take a smoke alarm.

3. If you nail a chick named shirly in the company RV, make sure your buddy doesn't take pics of it and post it on the internet for your wife to take a look at. If shirly is the bosses daughter, get your resume ready.

4. There's usually a shopping experience associated with this thing. Just think "redneck bangkok bazaar" and you'll survive.

[Guest SUNTZU]

Forever.

[mdlave]

Always lots and lots of eye candy. .

Aside from the hired help (Pit Girls), that wasn't my experience. Maybe Bristol draws a different crowd than Lebanon though.....

[Guest eyebedam]

ILL be there also Joe. Its my first time to Bristol but Ive been to Daytona before. Ill be in the Pits.

[NuTcAsE]

take a rain poncho to keep the puke off your back, watch out for flyin chicken bones & beer cans, if you hear a kid refer to their parents as "Aunt Mom", & "Uncle Dad" thats normal just don't feed them, pet them or stare at their 3rd ear, or extra appendages and you should be O.K.

Oh, yeah if you tell them you're here with your sister, you'll get a discount on some frilly drawers at the souvenir truck.

[BimmerFreak]

I went to one. Slept in a tent in a gravel parking lot at groud zero at the coca cola 600. It was a loooooong weekend. One of my many ex's worked IT for a coal company. They packed up a car hauler full of beer for 50 people. I mean like, completely full...I think it was on the order of 250 cases of budweiser. We drank most of it. It was hotter than hell.

I rode my motorcycle. If its not a harley, you'll be out of place. If you don't wear just the most redneck clothes you can think of, you'll stick out like a sore thumb.

Lessions Learned:

1. Shotgunning a six pack with a guy named named chicken and his buddy toe will make you puke. I don't mean 6 beers in a row. I mean 72 ounces.

2. I got woke up at 6:30 am by a guy grilling some hotdogs 1 foot from my tent. The smoke from the tent about to catch got me up. Take a smoke alarm.

3. If you nail a chick named shirly in the company RV, make sure your buddy doesn't take pics of it and post it on the internet for your wife to take a look at. If shirly is the bosses daughter, get your resume ready.

4. There's usually a shopping experience associated with this thing. Just think "redneck bangkok bazaar" and you'll survive.

Great advice John!

I will try to stay away from Shirly. Im taking Kelly, and I dont now how she would feel about me nailing her....

Im thinking that my best infill/exfill option is to ride the Harley.

If i ride the BMW, some drunk hiillbilly will knock it over....

[Mike.357]

how long do these races last? It starts at 8pm.

3.5 hours

[Mike.357]

Maybe Bristol draws a different crowd than Lebanon though.....

We are talking Sprint Cup not trucks, and this is East Tennessee, (represent!) Way hotter woman here.

watch out for flyin chicken bones & beer cans,

only if sitting low in the turns

[Guest Mugster]

Great advice John!

I will try to stay away from Shirly. Im taking Kelly, and I dont now how she would feel about me nailing her....

Im thinking that my best infill/exfill option is to ride the Harley.

If i ride the BMW, some drunk hiillbilly will knock it over....

Just the mass of humanity and craziness is crushing. I probably won't go to another, but then, I was in a tent across the street from the track. It doesn't get more NASCAR than that.

I do remember motorcycle parking close to the track for the people riding in. They probably have some if you can get to it and/or figure out where it is.

[Guest SUNTZU]

You'll generally get to see a lot of paint swapping. My friend brings ear muffs with ear plugs as well. It is really loud, but a lot of fun. And there is a lot of eye candy as I recall. There is also a lot of things that might require eye bleach. You'll have a great time, though. The NASCAR bazaar was pretty cool. Nutcase was right, there will be puke, but not Exorcist style, just in its natural environment, at your feet. My brother was in a skybox at Atlanta, and said that is THE way to watch the race. Have fun!

[Guest Major Pain]

how long do these races last? It starts at 8pm.

The night race is the best. If you sit in bleachers get a set of headphones with radio, you can buy them at the track and listen in on driver to crew chief talk. You also get a lap by lap update. They also work as mufflers to hold the noise down. Don't expect to talk to your neighbor much during green flag, to much noise. I've been to Bristol, Talladaga and Daytona and the best so far is Bristol. Just like sitting in a football stadium, you can see every foot of the track.--MP

[BigPoppa]

And there is a lot of eye candy as I recall. There is also a lot of things that might require eye bleach.

"Eye bleach" is a new one on me. But it's too good not to use.....so, look for me to use it regularly now.

[Volzfan]

I've been going to Bristol for years now. It is the only races that I attend. My seats are not VIP but they are $56 for the Nationwide and $100 for the cup race. I would recommend renting scanners. Listening in on the drivers and crewchiefs really add a whole new experience to watching a race live. If you get one be sure tio listen to Robby Gordon whine about how NASCAR officals are mean to him. He's always good for a laugh.

I camp at a friends house that is about 1/2 mile from the track. It's fun to be there early so that you can go check out the crowd. I love to sit back and just watch the people. You will see nearly anything. I camp on this man's covered deck so no wory about rain. Also use his restroom and shower in his home. I didn't know this guy or his family until about 8 years ago but they are like family now. I've watched his 3 girls grow up. The oldest will graduate from high school next May. There are people from Ohio, Michigan, Georgia and a couple of other states that camp there and we are going to be there on Thursday to have a "Family Reunion" before the rest of the crowd gets there. It has really turned into a fabulous weekend twice a year. I think that I would go just to hang out even if I didn't have tickets.

I will pack up and leave on Sunday morning so as not to have to fight the traffic out of there on Sat. night. That is a nightmare!

As you can tell I am a NASCAR fan and I hope that you have a great time. I have watched 1 race from the skyboxes and I have watched 2 from the pits. I even sat in on a drivers meeting at Charlotte once. I would much rather watch the race from my seat than either of those. I like to hear it, smell it and feel it and you don't get that in a skybox. You can't see much from the pits but every fan should get that opportunity once in their life.

Enjoy!

[bubbiesdad]

take a rain poncho to keep the puke off your back, watch out for flyin chicken bones & beer cans, if you hear a kid refer to their parents as "Aunt Mom", & "Uncle Dad" thats normal just don't feed them, pet them or stare at their 3rd ear, or extra appendages and you should be O.K.

Oh, yeah if you tell them you're here with your sister, you'll get a discount on some frilly drawers at the souvenir truck.

I guess they would be from the Virginia side of town.