Hey everyone...I'll be going to the Nextel race at California this Sunday, and need some help. This is my first race, and any tips would be appreciated.
Also, I have pit passes and wirstbands for the "Party Zone". The pits close 1 hr. before the race (which is at 1pm), and I don't really know about the PZ. I live about 1 hr. (La Mirada, CA) from the freeway exit to California, so what time should I leave the house considering the traffice will be pretty bad?
And who should I root for? I'm not familiar with the Cali. fans, so who do they hate and who is most liked?
And any other tips/advice are appreciated. =)
2007-02-20 09:40:02 · 14 answers · asked by kmillard92 3 in Sports ➔ Auto Racing ➔ NASCAR
And oh yeah...I got the really good seats, pit passes, and PZ all for $150, so I didn't just buy stuff because it sounded cool.
2007-02-20 09:58:19 · update #1
Leave your house no later than 8:00 am. If this is your first race, there will be a lot more to see than you think. The traffic is terrible. Root for your driver. Wear his stuff. NASCAR fans are NASCAR fans. Even in California. The Party Zone no more than a tent in the parking lot. It has beer, wine, soda and food. The beer and wine is limited to two. Most of all, have fun.
2007-02-20 09:47:58 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 1⤋
GO EARLY. I can’t stress that enough! The main street getting to the track from the freeway (Cherry) will be jammed. And if you think you can beat the traffic by taking the back streets/frontage roads - forget it... they will be jammed and most will have roadblocks set up, so you'll have to turn around anyway. Just be patient.. it can take an hour or more to get from the freeway exit to the track... and the grandstands are in sight the whole time! (I think if you get to the off ramp anytime after 8 am it'll still take a long while to actually get to the parking lots.. and sometimes you end up parking in the auxiliary lots and it ends up being what seems like a mile walk from there) Best is to go VERY early and tailgate in the parking lot.. bring a lounge chair and take a nap etc. Everyone will be doing it... Best time I had was when we arrived at about 5 am... really... got good parking.. plenty of time to check out the trailers etc. and if you have pit passes, that's even better and you’ll want to spend more time.
Make sure you visit the trailers and the Nextel tent etc. They'll have cars on display. Take in the experience... it's great!
And bring water! Year before last (before they moved the race to Feb, so it may be cooler now) they ran out of water!.. had nothing for sale but beer by 3 pm. It was 101 degrees, beating sun, and believe it or not, beer does NOT do it for you when it's hot like that....
As far as rooting a driver.. everyone loves Jr…. But you should root for TONY STEWART!!!!! Go Tony!
LATER ADDITION: Someone said bring a backpack. They won't allow backpacks into the track itself. Only a soft sided bag no larger than 6x6x12. You can also carry a larger clear plastic bag. Go here http://www.californiaspeedway.com click on Fan Info, then download the Guest Guide. it will tell you lots.
Also you might want to rent a scanner and listen to your driver. You can also listen to the track announcers and the radio guys so you can get some commentary during the race.. sometimes just being there it's hard to keep track of what's going on. If you get a scanner, listen to Jr.!! Hiliarious.. you know that ad on now where he makes the comment about "sorry about that exchange in turn 3.. well clean that up next time" True! his conversation will go like: " Guys this ^&% thing is handling like a peice of @*&*&. We need to &&*@ put %@*& tires on this %@%!
...and some folks said bring earplugs. Even if you do, at least ONCE take them out.. and walk down to the lowest tier on a resart when the entire pack comes by at full throtle. IT WILL MAKE THE HAIR ON YOUR ARMS STAND UP!!!
2007-02-20 17:16:02 · answer #2 · answered by whm 3 · 2⤊ 1⤋
I would leave about 2-3 hours before u are allowed into Fontana just to be on the safe side. I'm not sure about the PZ, but as for who to root for u can pretty much go for whoever u like. If ur in Cali then maybe it would be smart to root for Gordon, Johnson, Harvick, or Mears (all Cali drivers). If u want to be like everyone else then u'll root for Dale jr and against Gordon. Have fun at the race. Wish I could go, but I have work and school. Guess I'll wait till Sonoma, ca race rolls around.
2007-02-20 10:46:08 · answer #3 · answered by nascargirl1036 2 · 1⤊ 1⤋
Leave Early!!! If you do nothing else suggested in this reply, leave early! When I go to races I get up at 3:30 in the morning and then head off to the track. You will deal with traffic for hours getting into the track and then you will want to check out the millions and millions of things there are to do there before the race. You will be surprised at how big the track and everything really is, so be prepared to walk awhile to get to everything, especially considering you have those passes that allow you to go in and see even more.
Be prepared to deal with traffic for hours after the race too. Don't get me wrong, going to races is a very great thing and I love it, however give yourself enough time getting there and leaving after the race.
2007-02-20 14:43:04 · answer #4 · answered by Jamie McMurray Fan 3 · 1⤊ 1⤋
Wear comfortable shoes! There's a lot of walking involved. Also, a backpack would come in handy. You can use it for souveniers, a program, t-shirts, samples, etc. Oh yeah, a camera.
I've never been to a track that didn't have camping nearby. I'd recommend for you to find out what time the track opens and get there as soon as possible. You won't be bored. There will be plenty to do. You don't go JUST for the race, you go for the whole experience.
It doesn't matter who you root for. You won't be there to please the California fans, you'll be there to enjoy yourself. Besides, it's safe to say that all drivers have some fans who love them and others who hate them.
HAVE FUN!
2007-02-20 19:34:19 · answer #5 · answered by Dippy 7 · 2⤊ 1⤋
I don't know who to vote for but I would leave no later then 10:00 Am the FWY'S are a mess on weekends. That way you get there early. Maybe pack a lunch to tail gate there or Yahoo map some restaurant's near by. Have fun!
2007-02-20 09:51:31 · answer #6 · answered by Barbara 4 · 1⤊ 1⤋
California is super and a heat/warm state, the financial device is getting undesirable there, value of residing is bigger, I enjoyed the seashores nonetheless..yet i does no longer stay there.. BQ- Indiana is a superb state from what i've got study and the Race song is there so possibly sometime i'll circulate there..........???.......
2016-09-29 09:37:27 · answer #7 · answered by gloyd 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I live in California and I root for Carl Edwards. I also support Jeff Gordon, Jimmie Johnson, Jaimie McMurray and Kasey Kahne. If you're going to be at the California Raceway you gotta root for these guys.
- bet you can't figure out how I pick my drivers :-)
2007-02-20 11:40:03 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 1⤋
WISH I WAS GOING, BEEN TO SEVERAL DIFFERENT SPEEDWAYS, MARTINSVILLE,TENN,NORTH CAROLINA, RICHMOND, BUT THESE ARE CLOSE BY , JEFF GORDON HAS 4 CHAMPIONSHIPS,57 POLES,75 WINS,GREAT DRIVER THAT MOST PEOPLE LOVE HIM OR HATE HIM!! JIMMY JOHNSON IS COOL AND WON THE CHAMPIONSHIP LAST YEAR, KASY KANE IS A CUTEY AND HAVE WON A LOT OF RACES LAST YEAR, MARK MARTIN IS A GREAT DRIVER BUT HAS THE WORSE LUCK THAN ANY DRIVER I KNOW!! WHO EVER YOU GO FOR HAVE FUN AND DON'T FORGET THE EAR PLUGS
2007-02-28 09:31:47 · answer #9 · answered by DIANA JEFF GORDON FAN 4 · 0⤊ 1⤋
leave PLENTY EARLY!! its crazy!! and bring an mp3 player while you wait and also cheer for Dale Jr,Kasey Kahne, Tony Stewart, Kevin Harvick, Martin Truex Jr, Montoya, and Denny Hamlin!!!!!! but definately Dale Jr!!!! you will have A LOT OF FUN! and bring heavy duty ear plugs!! you will understand once you get there!!
2007-02-21 03:36:19 · answer #10 · answered by tls_2007 2 · 1⤊ 1⤋