newbie infield and general questions

[bajadudes]

hello all ~
i have been lurking for a while and figured it is time for me to make my first post.
a series of fortuitous events have culminated in me going to the Daytona 500 for the first time!
we will be driving down in a 31 foot motorhome and will have 4 hotpasses/credentials. it is kinda late in the game but i was able to get red zone infield camping and i picked spot number 425 by the seat of my pants since there weren't many left and it seemed to have a nice bit of real estate attached to it. it is at the end of a row at an aisle. what kind of view should i expect from there? can any pros tell me if that extra little real estate appendage is going to be occupied by a vendor or other such thing? how did i do picking that spot?

some other general questions ~
is it easy to go in and out of the track to go shopping? we get there on the 10th and are wondering if we really need to bring everything we need. i notice on some other threads that people mention a super Kmart outside the track ~ is it hard to get to?

are we allowed to bring in a towed vehicle so that we can go in and out or is that an insane thought?

i see that there are spots along the infield fence where chairs can be set up to watch the race ~ where are the best spots?

my wife and 2 year old son will be coming down also. is it crazy to bring a 2 year old? he is an awesome kid and loves cars. i guess what i am getting at ~ is there family oriented stuff to do? some of my time will be spent in a communications support role for Waltrip racing and so I'm looking for stuff for them to do too.

we aren't 'lightweights' but just want to get a feel for what we might be in for in terms of rowdiness, noise, that sort of thing.

what exactly do hotpasses/credentials get us access to? can we go up into the stands?

thank you in advance for any answers/suggestions/advice!
can't wait to get down there! hope to meet some of you in person.
happy holidays to all!

[Nascarcamping]

Baja, furtutious?

Wow big words for here:)

Give me a few minutes and I will answer some for you, welcome to our campsite!!!

[Nascarcamping]

425 is good in that you are going to be partly on the inside race track so you should have some good supports for your jacks if you have them.

I dont know that there is any vendors that far inside the pack so to speak, you might want to check with the office but I highly doubt it.

As far as visibility, you might and I mean might get a glimpse of them at the tri-oval, and also a bit out of 1 and 2, you should get a view of them going down the back stretch and also glimpses in 3 and 4.

because though this spot is smack dab in the middle of the infield you will be also looking out over everyone else.

sound wise you will get a great stereo effect:)

[Nascarcamping]

There is a super target right across the street and volusia mall also so shopping is a breeze.

plan on not going outside though sat or sunday stay put inside.

[Nascarcamping]

I HAVE HEARD PEOPLE GOING IN AND OUT IN THE REZ ZONE, IT IS STILL NOT ALLOWED PER THERE WEBSITE, BUT PEOPLE HAVE DONE IT BEFORE AND THE GATE ATTENDANTS SEEM TO LET THIS GO EXCEPT SAT AND SUN


On Lake Lloyd bring you lawn chairs lots of room and even a few picnic tables


I took my 5 year old girl there, no problems, fan zone is good for the kids as well.

[bajadudes]

Thanks nascarcamping. I appreciate the input.

[bajadudes]

[quote=Nascarcamping;23530]Baja, furtutious?

Wow big words for here:)

[quote]


I think it also means things for 2 of us.....LOL

[Nascarcamping]

The other good thing is that because you are away from the traffic there is not a whole lot of drive by traffic where you are so it will be safer for you as well.

If you are working for Michael Waltrip ask him if he can get you into the drivers compound, there is a real nice playground there for the kids and clubhouse also:)

[bajadudes]

Hummm...not sure I want to ask too many favors. We installed new 1.2 meter sat com dishes on their haulers for High Speed Internet connectivity and a solid data connection back to Charlotte for them. We are mainly there in a support "just in case" role.

I'm taking my father in law and mother in law with us. They are big big NASCAR fans and he is pissing in his pants with joy that we got the hot passes and are going. Still not exactly sure what "hot passes" mean.
All my father in law can tell me is it's good.....and i don't want to seem like a geek asking my contact at MWR exactly what "hot pass" means.

well OK I guess i just made myself look like a geek......:rolleyes:

Thanks again for the advice. If I get a chance and it seems appropriate I will ask. I just want the little tyke to have fun.

You mention safe...safe from........?

[Nascarcamping]

a hot pass is wild, that means access to anything all race long wow those are golden!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

you will have fun!!!

no shorts or sandals in the pits!!!

[Bent Jorgensen]

And no kids under 18 in the Pits (SORRY)

[bajadudes]

Thanks for the tips...I guess the hot passes makes up for the somewhat less than perfect infield spot....it's still the infield and we are looking forward to it.

[Shirley]

Hot Passes, Those are "SWEET", meaning you can get into the garage's when no one else can. Like when the drivers are there. Just act like you are someone important and show your hot pass at the gates they will let you in.

[bajadudes]

Thanks Shirley...we are looking forward to it....I think I better start Getting the 2 year old used to wearing ear protection...I wonder how naps are going to go over?

Does anyone know if you are allowed to bring in a towed vehicle or extra car besides the Motor home?

[Bent Jorgensen]

You are in the Red Zone so yes you are allowed to tow a vehicle in and come and go as you please....I am new at this also but that is what I been told...

I see by your Screen name that you must be an owner of a Baja???
I own a 2005 28 foot Nordic Heat with close to 600 HP and use it mostly on the Mississippi

[Buddlite]

Check out this link for Daytona "rules"

http://www.daytonainternationalspeedway.com/rvcamping/

While you might be able to drive in and out of red zone, depending on who is minding the store. here's the "official rules".

[minabruuke]

As far as going into the grandstands with your hotpass..you can walk pretty much anywhere with that. However, a hotpass doesn't give you seats in the grandstands so unless you manage to find unsold seats up there you aren't going to be able to watch from the grand stands. However, you can watch from the pits with a hot pass which is very exciting. Of course you can't see the entire track from there but they all have several screens on their pit boxes so you can see the rest of the race not visible from the pits on those. I really would recommend doing that since you may never again get that opportunity(though that is just my opinion). Though your child will not be able to go in the pits when the track is "hot" (meaning during the races(unless your a driver then you can have your kid)but there are times you may be able to take a kid out there especially with those type of credentials). I wouldn't really consider the pits(or really even the garage) a safe place for a child anyhow. Especially during the race when accidents can happen..lug nuts go flying, tires get tossed behind the wall sometimes too nonchalantly, gas gets spilled(especially when the car of the pit you are in has an axel break and the guys don't want to take the time to nicely set down the smaller tank to measure the gas remaining in the can and instead just pretty much toss is on the ground...though I have to say the gas they use is much clearer and less potent smelling(at least in my opinion)if you couldn't guess I had gas dumped on me lol). I'm not sure if they will allow a 2 year old in the garages or not actually???
as far as where your child and whom ever want to stay with your child should watch the race, your best bet from the infield would be to just try on top of you RV..well that is what I would assume but I don't know the track so I'm not a good judge of that.
They have the fandeck over the garages I think...I haven't been there so I'm not sure but I would guess you could see the track pretty well from there and with a hot pass you should be allowed there during a race so maybe you could take chairs and sit up there...just an idea maybe someone else can chime in and let you know if they think that could work...

[Bent Jorgensen]

Is it true that the red zone has Cable tv ???Also is there any wireless in the infield

[Nascarcamping]

Lake Lloyd has cable tv chanell 10 i think is a live feed no delay its really cool.

brightspot has free wi-fi but in the past it has been very spotty and iffy at times.

[arca_anthony]

Hot Passes make you the KING!!! Are the Hot passes for the Cup/ Or what races? You will have to go to the NASCAR crediental Trailer to get signed in for those.
Anthony