Watkins Glen Racing

[Kaos]

Anyone ever gone to one of the races at Watkins Glen? There track is off and running for this year. I've never been to one but I did once go to a race in the Poconos and although I truly have no interest in racing, the noise of the cars speeding past and the crowds excitement is truly contagious. I would highly recommend anyone who's never been to one, you really should try it even if just once!

[unixgeek]

Funny you should ask - I've been at the track the last three weekends ina row, went down for the Porsche Clash, the Grand American Rolex series, and last weekend - the Historic Sports car races. What a blast! If the funs allowed, I'd be down again this weekend for a drivers Ed. Sadly, I'm poor right now, can't afford it.

Me and the whole crew will be back down for the IRL weekend, and the Vintage weekend in september. I have to say that the Vintage weekend is one of the best weekends at Watkins - on friday they close down the streets and run the cars on the original course that used to run through the streets of Watkins.


Jim P...

[Kaos]

Thats cool that they do the old track! Do you just go for the day or camp out and do the whole tailgate thing like that?

[unixgeek]

we camp every opportunity that presents itself.

The track is a great place to camp at, but be prepared - it's primitive camping - there are no hook ups for those with campers. About 10 years ago they put city water and sewer up there. That was the single best improvement made to that track in the last 60 years!

[Kaos]

That makes it real camping then! LOL I have family members that say they love to "camp"...there "camping" includes huge RV's with a/c, stove, shower etc. i keep telling them thats NOT camping, you have to rough it to be a real camper IMHO

[diane7]

My Sister and Brotherinlaw go Camping in Zim.
You have to Dig a hole for your toilet and Cover it up again,i n the Bush ;-)

[Kaos]

^Ok that might be alittle too intense of camping for me :Puking_Smiley:

[Rebecky]

I haven't been to the Glen in about 5 years. The first time we went, it was for the NASCAR event about 14 years ago. We camped and had a blast! We got there late, and had to set our tent up in the only place we could find in the dark. We were on tree roots....but I had so much to drink I didn't find it hard (no pun intended) to sleep.

That first night, the parties on the infield were crazy!!! They were having cooler races on the bridges that cross over the track. They lubed up the ramps to the bridges and ran and jumped on their coolers and slid all the way down. People were setting off 1/4 sticks of TNT.....one group brought a couch to their campsite that was obviously meant for the bonfire. There were a couple of girls sitting on the couch and some guy came up behind them and started chopping at the couch with an ax, right between them! We quickly removed ourselves from that campsite. lol

The NASCAR races are awesome. Ed used to get hospitality tent tickets and we would get free food, drinks and other goodies. The hospitality tent was right on turns 10 and 11 (right before pit row) on the infield. We also got grandstand seats with the package, but we never used them because the view was so much better at the tent. Love the roar of the engines as they speed by, the smell of the rubber on the asphalt, and the overall atmosphere! Man, I miss it!

I haven't been to any other type races there, other than the Busch North that race on the Saturday before the NASCAR race. Kiddos are a little young now, but maybe in a few years we'll bring the whole gang up. No parties tho....lol

[Raven]

My dad when he was young used to motorcross race at Watkins Glen. From what I here he was quite the rebel. :rolleyes:

[unixgeek]

There havn't been bikes on the glen in at least 10 years, probably longer. It's too bad, but I doubt ISC (the owners of the track at Watkins) will ever allow them there again due to liability issues. Bike riders tend to get seriously hurt at this track.

it's a wicked fast track for bikes.

[Raven]

My dad is 82 so, its been more than 10 years. :p

There havn't been bikes on the glen in at least 10 years, probably longer. It's too bad, but I doubt ISC (the owners of the track at Watkins) will ever allow them there again due to liability issues. Bike riders tend to get seriously hurt at this track.

it's a wicked fast track for bikes.

[VinnyBrooklyn]

There are people that want to make Watkins glen into one of the final ten races for the year because there is no road course races in the final ten races.