Rv's at the challenge

Mom and dad want to come to the challenge. They want to bring the puppy and the 28 foot rv. Due to health issues, they would prefer to park at the track and use the rv as trackside support and accommodations out of the heat and humidity.

Is there parking/hookups? Is there a reason we can't do this?

A couple of things: i know jack about rv. Ive never even seen where the challenge is held, nor has dad.

So, what do wr need to know to plan accordingly?

No hookups that I saw. I inquired last year and was told no at track. YMMV

No rv, or no hookups?

In reply to Dusterbd13:

No to both regarding overnight parking. IIRC rvs allowed in but couldn't stay overnight

It's been a while since I was at the track, and there's no sewer hookups, but for some reason I want to say there may be a few places on the lot with outlets, but if so, they may just be normal 110v outlets. Even if I'm right, I wouldn't bet on being able to get one.

I also have heard that while you can bring the rig in during the day, you're on generator and tanks while you're there and they kick you out at night. I would love it if there were a way to RV it, but other than boondocking in the parking lot of the Best Western or staying off-campus somewhere, I don't think there's a way to make that happen.

In $2013 I joined Aussie Steve and we came to The Challenge with his retired 1966 Greyhound Bus (Mongo) as a tow vehicle.
We kept the AC running all day at the track but we were self contained. I have not seen, nor have I looked for real RV hook-ups in the area that we use. IF, you can get near the Pavilion there are a couple of standard 110 plugs up there.

I have seen before that The Challenge rules state no overnight camping at the track. That year, we took Mongo to the hotel and left the trailer at the track overnight (which is allowed.) PArking at and around the the hotel is very tight. We left Mongo on the road right outside of the entrance of the hotel for the night and slept there (also self contained.)

You have two other options at the hotel:
1. The entrance road dead ends to dirt parking. This spot is used for semis that might be staying at the hotel. Best I can tell this is not hotel property and the dirt lot is not maintained. As such the lot has some big ruts that fill with water if it rains. I say this because we watched an RV that did not have much ground clearence go down in to a "puddle" which was much deeper than he assumed and the guy nearly ripped of the entire front bumper/fascia of the RV in the process. Like thousands of dollars of damage.

Also at the hotel there is a hotel owned, stone lot sort of dedicated to trailers. Camping has been done there before by others and the hotel is pretty cool with it if you are part of the event.

Here is a map of the hotel:
link to map
You may have to zoom out a little. Be sure to set to satellite view.

We parked Mongo right at the very edge of were pavement stopped and dirt began on the "incoming" side of the road. There is just enough room so that Mongo was "after the entrance" and not blocking the hotel entrance but we were parked 100% on pavement.

At the very bottom of the picture you will see the hotel's own stone lot that typically holds trailers. Just realize that this is a dead end parking lot and requires real navigation skills to get in and out of.

The back of the hotel (left side of the picture) is where most Challengers gather. Even here is tricky for parking a trailer due to the fact that there are little grass medians about ever 10 parking space. You might (I say might) be able to keep an RV back there for the night too.

Proper approach is to circle around to the back of the hotel making a first right turn and circling counter clockwise. Sort of think of the flow as one way. If you dont quite find a parking space you are looking for the first time around, try making a second pass around. You might find that you sort of have to "double park-in" another competitors trailer. That's just sort of the way it is and just be sure to leave contact info on how to get a hold of you if you leave the area.