Daytona 500 Anyone else going?

[DotheDew88]

We got our tickets to the Daytona 500 in the mail last week. This is my first race so I am EXTREMLY excited! I was just wondering if anyone else has plans to go this year or any tips that we need to know. Also...Looking for a hot country bar there!

[Chris]

Hun,.. you all go and have a GRAND time...
Hoping the weather is nice for you.
I think I sent out all the tips I could think of in that other thread...
There's some GOOD places to eat...  NOW like the race,.. pack LOTS of patience.  All the restaurants will be busy also... almost always a line to wait to eat.
That "Oyster Pub" you can usually get a seat if you want to watch the race (if you don't have tickets) but get there early.  It's a good size place with TV's everywhere.
The Food is good and prices reasonable.

Far as a country bar... huumm  I been down there about 15 times to the race,... never remember a country bar anyway.  Might check around with the "Locals" when you get there.  Make sure it's not to 'rough'... some of them places off the beaten path can get a little rough... so make sure you check it out.

[DotheDew88]

Anyone ever been to the Rockin Ranch or the Ironhorse saloon? I found them both on Google. They're in Ormond Beach. Don't know how far from Daytona. You know a few years ago, I wouldn't have been caught dead in a country bar. Come to think of it, I probably couldn't have pictured myself at a NASCAR race either. How the times have changed!

[AfterShock]

Ormond Beach is just a couple of miles north of Daytona Beach.
Actually, it's the next door to Daytona Beach.
That's where Mark Martin used to live. Maybe still does.
Nice to have a house with airplane parking.

[KurtBuschFan]

Cheer lemme give you some advice.  My husband got us tickets for our first Christmas after we got married.  It was incredible because that just happened to be the year that Jeff Gordon won his third (and at the time I was a HUGE JG fan).  Parking is not cheap...we got to the track at 2 in the morning and parked in the middle of the trees in front of the Hampton Inn by the track.  Wear VERY comfortable shoes...we walked so much that day!  We hardly slept at all and were burnt to a wonderful crisp.  Look at the signs for the seating closely because the track personnel were no help.  We probably squished 30 people in a section that was made for 24.  We got to meet up with some people from the boards that year...and had a blast.  Those were good times!  We took this picture after all getting together for breakfast the morning of the 500. 



If you've got time, go early and hit the mall across the street.  We met Terry Cook quite by accident a few days before the CTS race.  I wanted to make a pitstop after we parked at the mall and we ran into Sears....he was doing an appearance just outside of Sears.  And keep your eyes open when you're roaming around.  We came across Mark Martin, Matt Kenseth, Kurt Busch and Brian Vickers making appearances in various places. 









And of course there was the couple that got married before the 500 that we saw at the after party.  Oh and speaking of the after party...If you haven't heard about it yet, you will.  They had this after party and breakfast thing we could attend.  You can go to one or the other (for a fee) or you can go to both (for a fee).  We just did the after party....while it was fun we were a little disappointed.  We had already made a trip to Daytona USA and paid for admission to it.  Little did we know we'd be able to wander around Daytona USA during the after party.  There were no drivers at the after party, but rumor has it the breakfast the morning after is when all the fun stuff happens.



I think that's pretty much it.  If you have any questions, feel free to ask.  We had so much fun and hardly slept, but it was all worth it.  We stayed in Orlando and it was about an hour drive to the track.  Anything about local stuff, you might ask BuschBabe about cause at the time we went she lived in the area.  We met her at a bar to watch the IROC and truck races....boy is she fun!  Sorry I rambled....and may you have a blast!  And take lots of pictures!!

Well while I'm at it...we stayed in Fort Walton Beach with my in-laws on our way to and from Orlando....I got to see a dolphin....that was so exciting.  And the sunsets were AMAZING!!!

[AfterShock]

KBFan!!!

Good Golly Gurl!
That wasn't a dolphin! 
Looks more like a Toyota Midget Sub testing the waters to see if America is ready for their competition.

Or a SHARK!!

 

[Tonyfan14]

I went last year but wont be going this year.  Hope the weather is better than it was last year for the race. Have a great time!!

[Chris]

Anyone ever been to the Rockin Ranch or the Ironhorse saloon? I found them both on Google. They're in Ormond Beach. Don't know how far from Daytona

hhuumm I forgot about the IronHorse Saloon.  From my recollection it's more of a Biker Bar. (Iron Horse)   We never went in,.. but ther is a LOT of stuff to see out in that area.
NOW,.. we never went on a "Race" weekend,.. we went on "Bike-tober Fest"  SO naturally there were a TON of bikes there.
Where this is on on the "mainland"... Have to cross the intercoastal waterway, and get back on the florida mainland... I forget what hwy.  I am sure the locals can tell you.  Theres a lot that goes on out there.  we spent 3 hours or so looking around and could of stayed longer.

NOW I forgot something else "unique" maybe you could see.  When you get over on the mainland is where the "Marina" is.  Many of the owners and drivers have their big yachts down there for speedweeks.  We were down there one year,.. and saw Dale Sr's "Sunday Money".. Last time we were there,.. We saw Penske's big boat,.. Rusty was there for some big shin-dig on his boat,... Seems Ganassi or Sabattis has one there, I forget who all had ones there normally.  
NOW this is a fairly nice restaurant kinda off the beaten path (again ask someone how to get to the Marina)... when you drive up (if you go all the way to the main door) they have valet parking.  Just find a place to park somewhere in the parking lot, and walk around back to where the big boats are.

As far as the "Fly in Complexs"... I doubt you'll be able to get into one of those.  A buddy of mine has a brother who owns a house in the complex where Martin 'did' live.  It's a REAL swanky place.  ALL the house have their own private garages for their personal planes.  It's kinda funny,... there are taxi ways all over the place.  You can land on the main run ways,.. then taxi right back to your house.  The taxi ways all run behind all the homes.  Anyway,.. you just drive down the taxi way.. then hit the garage door open button, and the HUGE door opens (big enough for you to park your plane in)
This guy I know .... we saw his house last year during speedweeks... I think he paid around 3+ million for it.    It has these huge (high) ceilings, a swimming pool, ... well you name it.
Currently (well last year) Mike Skinner lived there, and did hhuummm a couple other NASCAR drivers,.. can't place who right off the top of my head.
ANYWAY most all the places are gated and guarded 24 hours a day,.. so someone that LIVES there has to be expecting you and they have to notify the guard you are coming before you can even get in to drive around.

[KurtBuschFan]

KBFan!!!

Good Golly Gurl!
That wasn't a dolphin! 
Looks more like a Toyota Midget Sub testing the waters to see if America is ready for their competition.

Or a SHARK!!

 

Nope...that wasn't a shark...it was most definitely a dolphin.  Prior to taking that picture, I had used the binoculars my father in law had and saw the bottle nose that's a trademark of a dolphin.  Boy what a memorable trip

[DotheDew88]

Thanks for all the info....I'm ready to go. We're having our coldest temps in 7 years here in Ohio....I think the high temp for Sunday is 8!  Looks like the folks in Daytona were lucky last night. Those twisters and the pictures coming out of Florida today were devastating. My heart goes out to the ones who lost their lives, and to their famlies

[Bubba]

Dang KBF you gotta pay for parking? I'm going for the ARCA race but because I waited til too late I didn't get my creds through the track I got them through ARCA. How much is parking? (I'm a cheap sob). LOL I haven't gotten a hotel yet either (I never do.....). It's gonna suck enough having to walk my fat ass from the parking to the garage/pit area but to pay for the inconvenience is almost more than I can bear tio think of.............

[DotheDew88]

Good luck with the hotel thing...We reserved ours about a month and a half ago. The closest we could get was Lake Mary about 35 miles away. The hotels in Daytona are all gone. Alot of them have a seven day minimun and start at 200 plus a night. Parking can be free if you grt there early enough. I've heard anywhere from 40 to 50 bucks.

[Bubba]

I'm there this week not next lol. It should be better. Only thing going on is the Bud shootout and the ARCA race.

[KurtBuschFan]

Well I didn't see parking for less than 20 on race day...but you're right...that was Daytona 500 weekend.  When we went the Thursday prior we had to pay 5 or 10 to park in the mall parking lot across the street.

[Chris]

I'll agree Bubba...
Should be "better"... but no picnic the ARCA weekend either.
Local places close to the track KNOW this is gonna draw a crowd...
The ARCA race,.. then the BUD shootout.  I'd say parking is gonna cost the same as on race weekend.
I know last year it cost some less on Thursday for the 150's as it did for the 500 on Sunday.