Volunteering at GingerMan this weekend for the first time, what should I know?

Our region (WOR) is co-hosting a Double Regional this weekend with Detroit and South Bend at GingerMan Raceway. As the new RE for WOR, and wanting to do more in general, I volunteered to help. I had a great time at MidOhio working the Rope Tow safety vehicle over Labor Day weekend, and managed to get some good photos too.

I've never been to GingerMan, and heard mixed reviews. Learn me... Already planning clothes from shorts to jacket and warm hat. I understand MI weather can be...fun. Anything around there? It sort-of sounds like a resort town? (Got a room at GL Inn and Suites for $60/night.)

I was just there a few weeks ago for a track day. Its actually a pretty decent facility. Its not great as a spectator's track, but other than that, I can't really think of anything anyone might complain about.

South Haven is definitely a resort town and worth spending some time exploring. Its only 4 or 5 miles from the track.

I love Gingerman. I usually camp while there. You are on the right track by packing clothing for a variety of conditions. The track food can be a bit rough but passable if you need to rely on it. It seems to be fairly windy everytime I go.

I'll be there in Club Formula Ford #27. Come on by and say 'hi'. We usually paddock on the main road closer to the front gate than the pre-grid. Red trailer.

This weekend looks to have potential for highly variable weather, so planning for that is critical. At times, rain comes and goes there quite quickly.

This is early enough in the tourist season, and with the less-than-great weekend, South Haven shouldn't be crazy busy. It can get hard to get into a restaurant there, though there are several good ones. If you get a chance, definitely drive straight through town (on the road Gingerman is on), park, and take a walk down the pier. It's pretty cool. The next closest significant town is Paw Paw, and except for the wineries there, there is no reason to go there instead of South Haven.

Spectating from the paddock area isn't very exciting. There is a dirt road that goes around the outside of turn two that gets you to the peninsula inside turns 4-7, and that's pretty good for watching.

Others already hit most of the highlights, but yes if you have some spare time, go into South Haven. It's a great little beach town, with several good restaurants, and plenty of places to grab a beer.

If you like Mexican food, Su Casa is my personal favorite (though can get busy/slow). Sherman's Ice Cream is also fantastic, and is right next to the highway on your way into town from the track, local creamery, all fresh made. http://www.shermanicecream.com/

Walking the pier on south beach, and watching a sunset over Lake Michigan on a nice evening are a great way to end the day.

The track itself is very "error friendly" in that there's lots of runoff, not too many walls to hit, and a few sandtraps where you might actually hit something. I'll second the notion that there's not too many great spectator points (unless you're up in the tower...), as the track is fairly flat, but the back section is mostly hidden by the slight elevation across from the front straight. The facility is great though, clean restrooms, small shop/concessions on site.

Excellent. Probably print this thread before I leave Friday for reference & not forgetting anything. Ice cream at the end of the day might be relevant to my interests.

Don't underestimate the sunset. Aside from the Pacific Ocean and the Florida Gulf Coast, the West side of Michigan allows for the sun to truly set into the water.

Typical South Haven South Pier:

It was an interesting weekend. I ended up working corners 9 and 5 between Saturday and Sunday. The bugs, OMFG the bugs... I got to drive the Abarth out to my corner and back, so I bought a little track vinyl decal (it counts, I made sure I made the most of it). Of course corner 9 was 2' of grass and soupy wet, made for an interesting parking experience. I didn't get stuck, but helped pull a van out on Sunday when he did.

Me looking official:

I didn't try the Mexican place, went to some Brick Oven Filling Station place & had pork something, very tasty. I definitely tried the ice cream place after I was done Saturday.

Sorry 'bout the bugs.

The mosquito is the state bird of Michigan for a reason.