I want my first time to be special...

Well, I talk a lot of smack about go-fast-turn-left racing, so I decided to bite the bullet so to speak. My father and law and I purchased tickets for the kentucky motor speedway 2011 season opener with the Meijer 300. I suppose I cant knock it till I try it right? plus its racing, so I suppose theres GOT to be some element I would enjoy. I have no idea at all whatsoever...not even the slightest faint little tiny teensy weensy inkling about what the berkeley will be going on there. How should I go about maximizing my fun factor while minimizing my wallet depreciation? We plan to get there early in the day so we can see the cars and meet some drivers. What else should I look for? When I was a kid I used to like getting the scorebooks for the ball games my dad would take me to, is there a similar item for a race event like this? Anyone been to KMS and want to share any secret spots etc with us noobs?

Two words: Cheap beer.

Two more words: Beer Helmet

Five words: Cheap beer in beer helmet

a buddy of mine went to a race and said that the headsets are a must. otherwise you're just watching cars drive in a circle, but with the headsets you get race control, team communications, etc, and it becomes much more interesting.

also, cheap beer.

Tube tops cheap beer in beer helmet.

Sun screen, a hat to shade your neck and face, shades, and a bleacher cushion. Check to see if they allow coolers. If they don't expect $10 sandwiches and $12 beers.

At MIS Infield passes are the big deal, pit passes are awesome as well. You will never get the awesome seats we had a few years back when I called Sanyarcosean from the spotters deck. Technically a NASCAR race is just a giant automotive amusement park where you do not get to ride the big rides. Pretty good food, lots of beer and a bunch of boobs to look at (either chesties or dumbasses).

I like NASCAR racing, it's best on a couch.

20yrs ago when I last went the infield at Pocono was a 60k person kegger with live amateur sex shows, mud bogs and a good bit of bare knuckle brawling. It was kinda awesome but we vowed to never return when they banned the dirt bikes and UHaul with 20 kegs in it. I kept my vow.

Wear comfy shoes, as you'll probably be doing a LOT of walking. Bring a pillow-type-thing fer yer butt. Get good and hammered before the race. DEFINITELY buy or bring an AM/FM headset so you can hear what's going on, it makes the race slightly more fun to watch.

Lastly but not leastly, bring a berkeleying book, because you're going to be bored out of your freaking skull after about the first half-hour.

If you really want to entertain yourself, go to vendor row, find the guy airbrushing shirts, and ask him if he can spray you one with a unicorn, a rainbow in the background, and the words "Dale Earnhardt Deserved to Die."

Watching the other fans is about as fun as watching the race. We were on the back streatch for Talledega a few years ago and I don't think I actually watched 20 laps of the race for laughing at everyone in the stands.

jlm_photo wrote: Watching the other fans is about as fun as watching the race. We were on the back streatch for Talledega a few years ago and I don't think I actually watched 20 laps of the race for laughing at everyone in the stands.

Like I said "boob watching".

I remember this Lambo tech telling me this story of some drunk jumping in the pacecar during a race in the 80's at Talledega and took it round the track...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ICi3kIzSIZg&feature=player_embedded

poopshovel wrote: If you really want to entertain yourself, go to vendor row, find the guy airbrushing shirts, and ask him if he can spray you one with a unicorn, a rainbow in the background, and the words "Dale Earnhardt Deserved to Die."

You'll want this on a t-shirt for maximum hilarity.

I actually enjoyed the 3 or 4 NASCAR events I have been to. Its like a Frat party on steroids with loud cars driving through the living room.

Before you go there, go see some real stock car racing at your local dirt track.

Seeing as I only live about 30 minutes from 'dega I figured I should go see a race. I've been to two races now. One I paid for, one I got a free ticket to. It's fun. Did it turn me into a NASCAR fan? No.

John Brown wrote: Technically a NASCAR race is just a giant automotive amusement park where you do not get to ride the big rides. Pretty good food, lots of beer and a bunch of boobs to look at (either chesties or dumbasses).

This about the amusment park and no rides is spot on.
I have been to many events and that is what they are - events. Arrive early, to avoid the killer traffic and stay late - same traffic. Do sort of the tailgate party thing before and after. I have had some good times this way.
I lived with a girl for 5 years who's family were big nascar fans. I have been to Daytona (the year Dale won), Bristol about 5 times, Teledaga and MIS a ton of times (MIS sucks the most.)
I have driven past KMS many times. I really expect the traffic jam to start at I-75 and be ultra slow from there. It just seems to me that the roads are not up for handling the crowds.

poopshovel wrote: If you really want to entertain yourself, go to vendor row, find the guy airbrushing shirts, and ask him if he can spray you one with a unicorn, a rainbow in the background, and the words "Dale Earnhardt Deserved to Die."

I LOL'd, struggling not to spew a mouthful of Triscuits onto my screen...

John Brown wrote:

jlm_photo wrote: Watching the other fans is about as fun as watching the race. We were on the back streatch for Talledega a few years ago and I don't think I actually watched 20 laps of the race for laughing at everyone in the stands.

Like I said "boob watching".

I'm too old for cheap beer.

Boob watching on the other hand - Never too old for "boob" watching.

I suspect I might be thinking of a different type of boob though.

The only NASCAR race I've been to is the inaugral Busch race in Montreal. I suspect comparing Montreal to Kentucky is an apples to oranges comparison, but I am willing to be proved wrong

The race will be boring, the 22 or the 60 will probably win. Do what I do and try to guess in which order the guys with no tire money are going to park. I'm going with 92, 90, 91, 61, 49, 73, 89.

If you do it right you will have 2nd degree burns from sun exposure and won't know who won until you get home.

Bring a 9mm. Fire it into the air randomly. You'll fit right in.

Seriously though, it's a good time. And it is actually fun watching the cars race each other. You'll have a different perspective when you get home.

I highly recommend comfortable hearing protection. Seriously. Don't forget that. It's a bonus if it doubles as a radio receiver (and hey, why not a transmitter too?).

Bring a variety of sandwiches and drinks (it doesn't HAVE to be beer), and be prepared to stand up every time the yellow flag waves and for the entire duration of said yellow flag for some reason.

Have fun!