OT: Any of you ever gone to the Rolex 24?

I'm thinking of finally going to Daytona for the Rolex 24, and I'm curious if any of you have gone? I'd like to think I could be die-hard enough to stay in the stands the whole time, but I'm assuming I'll wuss out around 2am or something. Since you can count the spectators there on your hands and toes, can you bring stuff that takes up room, like a sleeping bag and cooler? Is there a nice/cheap motel nearby that I should look into?

One of the regulars in the TPTCC DTM league lives very close to the track. He goes every year. dh "doubleu" <[email hidden]> wrote in message news:QcuP9.29556$[email hidden]... > I'm thinking of finally going to Daytona for the Rolex 24, and I'm curious > if any of you have gone? --- Outgoing mail is certified Virus Free. Checked by AVG anti-virus system (http://www.grisoft.com). Version: 6.0.434 / Virus Database: 243 - Release Date: 12/25/02

i went in 1990 and 1991. saw the castrol jags and group c nissans standing right next to the fence befor the breaking point for turn 1. Whew! went to bathroom in the paddock before the 90 race and peed next to andy wallace and hurley haywood. anyway, go to the race, take some warm clothes as it gets cold and windy at night in the stands. yes people take their coolers and sleeping bags. the infield is the only crowded place. if you go in the pits wear long pants (rules). motels are off season and hooters is right across the street! have fun checking out the new daytona prototypes! "doubleu" <[email hidden]> wrote in message news:QcuP9.29556$[email hidden]... > I'm thinking of finally going to Daytona for the Rolex 24, and I'm curious > if any of you have gone? I'd like to think I could be die-hard enough to > stay in the stands the whole time, but I'm assuming I'll wuss out around2am > or something. Since you can count the spectators there on your hands and > toes, can you bring stuff that takes up room, like a sleeping bag and > cooler? Is there a nice/cheap motel nearby that I should look into? > >

Yes I've been, and you are right, if you go to the main (frontstretch) grandstand you will wuss out shortly after midnight (cold with wind and/or rain does it). Dress very warmly in layers as they say, wear warm gloves. Or if your from Canada, hell break out the T's and shorts. The temp can be anywhere from 32 to 80 degrees. The higher in the grandstands you go the worse the wind is. The wind is the killer if it is coming from the north. The metal grandstands get very cold, bring something to sit on, (thick seat cushion). But lately we have been getting wind from the south and southwest and nights have been 70 degrees then. But Feb 1 is a month away, January is the coldest time of year here. Bring sunblock because if it is a cloudless sunny day the sun can give you a burn still. Seek shade every couple of hours if your real pale. Umbrella? Did I mention to bring that too? Although umbrella are not allowed in the grandstand seating areas. As far as what you will be able to bring into the frontstretch grandstands nowadays with the new security requirements check the Speedway (DIS) web site (sucks). I haven't been in the grandstands for years for the 24hr, but remember around 7 years ago they (security/nascar ushers) started giving us crap about all the stuff (Hard Liquor) that we used to bring in. :-)) Walkouts and returns at the Front Grandstands? Check for walkout passes at the gates. If you go into the infield BRING FIREWOOD ! ! ! The locals save all kind of junk all year long to take into the infield, mostly burnable. LOL 2 day 1 person grandstand package is $15.00 (no pits). 2 day 1 person infield package is $30.00 (pits, no "Hot Pits"?) 4 day 1 person package $75.00 (no "Hot Pits") pretty much with this you can walk anywhere, infield/grandstands. 2 day infield car package is $75.00. You can drive in and out on this pass, (I'm told by the DIS phone sales person). For 1 person I believe. Infield Walkouts and returns are allowed, make sure you get a walkout pass. A MotorHome is the way to go for the infield but very expensive. $600.00 w/2 people for a 2 day stay. + $75.00 every extra person. But infield walk-ins are only $30.00 (2 day pass) so drop off the extra people at the tunnel (front of speedway) and have them walk in to save some money and meet you inside. Most Motor homes have to enter in the backstretch area of the speedway. I'll tell ya they ain't to bright down at that Speedway. And what's this about the SuperStretch 500/Bush Ticket Package? Motorcycles are not allowed into the infield for racecar events, BOOOO! Most of this is from talking on the phone with a ticket rep, and from memory. Subject to change as they say. Why I can't get this info of their website is beyond me. But dumb me, I was out at the track last weekend and didn't grab a bag full of info from the information stand. But then again Daytona USA was (as usual) a Zoo. BTW Paddock Suites admission for the 500 is now $1,000 per person. Nice/cheap Motel rooms? HA! Bring "Bags-O-Cash" with ya! Most people that come too the 500 now stay in Orlando, (just watch the traffic cams on I-4 at 5:30 in the morning of the 500 ) as they can get better rates there. Cruise A1A "Beachside" on the north of Daytona City limits, (Ormond Beach) and watch the Motel signs for rates. But be careful some of the rates are for "X Rooms Available at this rate" South of the City is Daytona Beach Shores (Don't drive over 35) which is more Condo High rise's and so is the price. Around the southern causeway bridge (Dunlawton Ave) are some motels worth checking out. Stay away from Ridgewood Ave. (US 1), especially North Ridgewood Ave. "Crack Alley" as they say. Holly Hill ain't much better. De land is a quiet City about 15 miles west of the speedway and you may find more reasonable rates there, and it is closer than Orlando. Most of anything right close around the speedway is booked up even for the Rolex 24hr. But who knows call around and check for cancellations, come a day early, get a map and drive around. One of our favorite pastimes is to drive up and down A1A Saturday night before the 500 and count all the "Vacancy" signs lit up at the hotels. Most a week before the race try to get you for a 5 night minimum at $300 to $500 a night. This will drop to a 3 night minimum the closer the 500 gits. Traffic for the Rolex starts to pickup around 9 to 10 am on International Speedway Blvd. (ISB - US92). Most roads are like city blocks. Mason Ave. or LPGA Blvd. to Bill France Blvd. or Williamson Blvd. is a good back way from the North to get to the front of the speedway. Beville Rd. (SR400) to Williamson Blvd. to Midway Ave is the way to get too the back of the speedway. Nova Rd is a North/South alternative to US1/Ridgewood (less homeless people) although it can get jammed up with just the local everyday traffic. Good Luck, and stay warm. Some Links; DIS Security page. http://makeashorterlink.com/?W1D3217E2 DIS FAQ http://makeashorterlink.com/?H2F3117E2 As of course the DIS ticket policy page/popup is not working. DAB Police Special Events Safety Security http://www.ci.daytona-beach.fl.us/police/special_events_safety_security.htm or if that wraps, http://makeashorterlink.com/?I224137E2 DAB Police Pepsi 400 Traffic http://www.ci.daytona-beach.fl.us/police/06_19_02_2.htm Local Newspaper "Speed Magazine" Good for latest info. http://www.news-journalonline.com/speed/ Rolex24-Preliminary Schedule also in a .pdf format. http://www.grand-am.com/ http://www.rolex24hr.com/ doesn't have much info. Hotels? http://www.discountdaytonahotels.com/daytona/rolex_24_hour_race.htm -- Daytona Beach - Winter Speed Carnival 1903 - 1935 1919 - Ralph DePalma Driving Champion and winner of hundreds of races, sets new 1 mile record driving 905 cubic inch V-12 Packard on beach at 149.875 mph. DePalma also sets World Records for distances of 2 to 20 miles and standing mile. His standing mile record of 92.713 mph is unbroken for 36 years.

Beautiful!!! Thanks a TON for the information! This is more than I ever hoped to get from multiple people combined! "REDLINE426" <[email hidden]> wrote in message news:76MP9.769$[email hidden]... > Yes I've been, and you are right, if you go to the main (frontstretch)grandstand you will wuss out shortly after midnight (cold > with wind and/or rain does it). Dress very warmly in layers as they say,wear warm gloves. > Or if your from Canada, hell break out the T's and shorts. The temp can beanywhere from 32 to 80 degrees. > The higher in the grandstands you go the worse the wind is. The wind isthe killer if it is coming from the north. > The metal grandstands get very cold, bring something to sit on, (thickseat cushion). > But lately we have been getting wind from the south and southwest andnights have been 70 degrees then. > But Feb 1 is a month away, January is the coldest time of year here. > > Bring sunblock because if it is a cloudless sunny day the sun can give youa burn still. Seek shade every couple of hours if your > real pale. Umbrella? Did I mention to bring that too? Although umbrellaare not allowed in the grandstand seating areas. > > As far as what you will be able to bring into the frontstretch grandstandsnowadays with the new security requirements check the > Speedway (DIS) web site (sucks). I haven't been in the grandstands foryears for the 24hr, but remember around 7 years ago they > (security/nascar ushers) started giving us crap about all the stuff (HardLiquor) that we used to bring in. :-)) > Walkouts and returns at the Front Grandstands? Check for walkout passes atthe gates. > > If you go into the infield BRING FIREWOOD ! ! ! > The locals save all kind of junk all year long to take into the infield,mostly burnable. LOL > > 2 day 1 person grandstand package is $15.00 (no pits). > 2 day 1 person infield package is $30.00 (pits, no "Hot Pits"?) > 4 day 1 person package $75.00 (no "Hot Pits") pretty much with this youcan walk anywhere, infield/grandstands. > > 2 day infield car package is $75.00. You can drive in and out on thispass, (I'm told by the DIS phone sales person). For 1 person I > believe. > Infield Walkouts and returns are allowed, make sure you get a walkoutpass. > > A MotorHome is the way to go for the infield but very expensive. $600.00w/2 people for a 2 day stay. + $75.00 every extra person. > But infield walk-ins are only $30.00 (2 day pass) so drop off the extrapeople at the tunnel (front of speedway) and have them walk > in to save some money and meet you inside. Most Motor homes have to enterin the backstretch area of the speedway. I'll tell ya they > ain't to bright down at that Speedway. And what's this about theSuperStretch 500/Bush Ticket Package? > > Motorcycles are not allowed into the infield for racecar events, BOOOO! > > Most of this is from talking on the phone with a ticket rep, and frommemory. Subject to change as they say. > Why I can't get this info of their website is beyond me. But dumb me, Iwas out at the track last weekend and didn't grab a bag full > of info from the information stand. But then again Daytona USA was (asusual) a Zoo. > > BTW Paddock Suites admission for the 500 is now $1,000 per person. > > Nice/cheap Motel rooms? HA! Bring "Bags-O-Cash" with ya! Most people thatcome too the 500 now stay in Orlando, (just watch the > traffic cams on I-4 at 5:30 in the morning of the 500 ) as they can getbetter rates there. > > Cruise A1A "Beachside" on the north of Daytona City limits, (Ormond Beach)and watch the Motel signs for rates. But be careful some > of the rates are for "X Rooms Available at this rate" South of the City isDaytona Beach Shores (Don't drive over 35) which is more > Condo High rise's and so is the price. Around the southern causeway bridge(Dunlawton Ave) are some motels worth checking out. > > Stay away from Ridgewood Ave. (US 1), especially North Ridgewood Ave."Crack Alley" as they say. > Holly Hill ain't much better. > > De land is a quiet City about 15 miles west of the speedway and you mayfind more reasonable rates there, and it is closer than > Orlando. Most of anything right close around the speedway is booked upeven for the Rolex 24hr. But who knows call around and check > for cancellations, come a day early, get a map and drive around. > > One of our favorite pastimes is to drive up and down A1A Saturday nightbefore the 500 and count all the "Vacancy" signs lit up at > the hotels. Most a week before the race try to get you for a 5 nightminimum at $300 to $500 a night. This will drop to a 3 night > minimum the closer the 500 gits. > > Traffic for the Rolex starts to pickup around 9 to 10 am on InternationalSpeedway Blvd. (ISB - US92). > Most roads are like city blocks. Mason Ave. or LPGA Blvd. to Bill FranceBlvd. or Williamson Blvd. is a good back way from the North > to get to the front of the speedway. > Beville Rd. (SR400) to Williamson Blvd. to Midway Ave is the way to gettoo the back of the speedway. > Nova Rd is a North/South alternative to US1/Ridgewood (less homelesspeople) although it can get jammed up with just the local

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> everyday traffic. > > Good Luck, and stay warm. > > Some Links; > > DIS Security page. > http://makeashorterlink.com/?W1D3217E2 > > DIS FAQ > http://makeashorterlink.com/?H2F3117E2 > > As of course the DIS ticket policy page/popup is not working. > > DAB Police Special Events Safety Security >

http://www.ci.daytona-beach.fl.us/police/special_events_safety_security.htm

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> or if that wraps, > http://makeashorterlink.com/?I224137E2 > > DAB Police Pepsi 400 Traffic > http://www.ci.daytona-beach.fl.us/police/06_19_02_2.htm > > Local Newspaper "Speed Magazine" Good for latest info. > http://www.news-journalonline.com/speed/ > > Rolex24-Preliminary Schedule also in a .pdf format. > http://www.grand-am.com/ > > http://www.rolex24hr.com/ doesn't have much info. > > Hotels? > http://www.discountdaytonahotels.com/daytona/rolex_24_hour_race.htm > > > -- > Daytona Beach - Winter Speed Carnival 1903 - 1935 > > 1919 - Ralph DePalma Driving Champion and winner of hundreds of races,

sets

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> new 1 mile record driving 905 cubic inch V-12 Packard on beach at 149.875 > mph. DePalma also sets World Records for distances of 2 to 20 miles and > standing mile. His standing mile record of 92.713 mph is unbroken for 36 > years. > > >

Your welcome. You didn't say how you planed to arrive at Daytona (fly or drive) as there is another alternative to Daytona International Airport other than Orlando (OIA). Daytona can be very pricey most times of the year. The exception's being just before a major event as more flights are booked the rate will go down. Testing (free) for the Rolex starts Friday, and last night I noticed quite a few large jets landing, so it's going to get pretty busy after this weekend. I hope we have gotten all this rain out of the way, as December was the 2nd rainest month on record, (at least by the Orlando news stations) but it's good to keep the brush fire away. :) 1907 - Daytona Beach Florida Glenn H. Curtiss rode a V8 powered motorcycle to a 136.30 mph record in the measured mile. The Chicago Daily News headline reads: "Fastest Mile On Earth, Bullets Are The Only Rivals Of Glenn Curtiss"

Well, I was hoping to do this as thrifty as possible, but because of the motel situation, I may end of skipping it. I was going to drive (from Nebraska, hehe) 2 days there and 2 days home. I kinda think I'm one of a dying breed of traveller that enjoys driving over flying. Call me crazy. I'm not totally ruling it out yet, so I've saved your information in case I need it ;-) Thanks again "REDLINE426" <[email hidden]> wrote in message news:R%FQ9.9322$[email hidden]... > Your welcome. > > You didn't say how you planed to arrive at Daytona (fly or drive) as there > is another alternative to Daytona International Airport other than Orlando > (OIA). Daytona can be very pricey most times of the year. The exception's > being just before a major event as more flights are booked the rate willgo > down. > > Testing (free) for the Rolex starts Friday, and last night I noticed quitea > few large jets landing, so it's going to get pretty busy after thisweekend. > I hope we have gotten all this rain out of the way, as December was the2nd

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> rainest month on record, (at least by the Orlando news stations) but it's > good to keep the brush fire away. :) > > 1907 - Daytona Beach Florida > > Glenn H. Curtiss rode a V8 powered motorcycle > to a 136.30 mph record in the measured mile. > > The Chicago Daily News headline reads: > "Fastest Mile On Earth, Bullets Are The Only Rivals Of Glenn Curtiss" > > >