Road America- Vintage Races

[Garry Barnes]

Can anyone offer any adise to a first-time spectator at Road America? Where is the best location to sit? Is the in-field parking worth the $25? Are the consessions good enough and reasonably priced to where taking your own is more of a hassle? Any advise on these topics and others is welcome. Going this weekend and want it to be a positive experience. Thanks.
Garry #18531

[David R.]

Re: Road America- Vintage Races

I believe that tickets for this weekend's race include paddock admission. Ticket prices and advance pricing/super ticket pricing vary considerably over the various race weekends. This race does not have the $25 reserved infield parking; I guess its firstcome/first served. Our best spot was on the hill in north paddock area just north of pedestrian bridge, looking down to turn 14. you can see the pit entrance from there, and part of turn 5 action also. That bridge used to be near the corvette corral parking when it was on the front straight. Seating at turn 5 is about all you see, but always a lot of action/passing on that corner.
Many believe the food is the best you will find at any race track. Anywhere on the track is not far from food. The corvette corral parking is thru gate 4 at turn 3 with a grandstand near. maybe someone from Wis can advise if they are open/active this weekend.
If you go Fri thru Sunday, its enjoyable to walk the track one day and see all the vantage points that there are. You may be able to drive your car on the track during lunch break.

[mike cobine]

Re: Road America- Vintage Races

Make sure you have a map of the track.

http://www.roadamerica.com/2005/track_maps.htm

They have revamped a lot of it since I was there last, so I can't tell you a lot about facilities. I never passed up an opportunity to have my car inside a track. You could bring in a lot of stuff instead of carrying it and have a place to go if it rains. You may not need it, but you might get tired of paying the prices of water and soda and a ice chest full of Mejeir's $.30 cans of Coke might look real nice after awhile.

People tend to congregate where they can see the turns. The ones that give good action are Turns 1 -3, 5, 7, 12-13A, and 14. People fill the inside of Turn 5 partly because I think they can see Turn 14 from there and some of the main straight. A friend set an altitude and distance record in a Can Am car at 14. Totalled two Pontiacs in the process and initiated the airlift for injured drivers after his 50 minute ambulance ride. However, the outside of 5 gives a better look at cars coming into 5 at really high speed, coming nearly to a stop, and then accelerating up the hill and under the Corvette (err, whatever it is now) bridge.

The outside of Turn 5 gave better access to the paddock, where you could walk among the cars. However, since they have paved the paddock and done other things, that might be a fenced and closed section now that requires a pass. Life has changed a lot since I remember hitching rides on passing trailers to get from one section to another and walking everywhere around the track.

I'm sure the road there are no better than always, so plan on going early and taking forever to leave. And remember that the highways up there are great for generating revenue for the locals a bit far from the track.

http://www.roadamerica.com/2005/track_maps.htm

[Michael H.]

Re: Road America- Vintage Races

Garry,

Haven't been there for a few years but I know for sure you won't be disappointed. Road America is one of the most beautiful tracks in the country today and the Corvette racing has always been some of the best anywhere. At the Road America website, there was a link that, when clicked on, shows a video that will take you around the entire coarse. (haven't been there lately so I'm not sure if the link is still there) The website is www.roadamerica.com and has all the info you will need.

The food is great, much of which is home cooking and the Brat's are some of the best anywhere. (this is starting to sound like a commercial for RA) I've been to a lot of diferent road coarses and RA is by far my favorite. (bring warm clothes as it does get cool at night) ENJOY!

Michael

[Curtis L.]

Re: Road America- Vintage Races

Garry, I live 10 minutes from the track and will tell you for a fact the food is the best of all the tracks. As stated before corner #5 will give you the most thrills due to the hard braking,agressive passing and 1st thru 3rd gear acceleration. But!! There really is not a bad spot on the track to watch the races. If you are going to be in town for awhile email me. I would like to meet you and I know you willdrive past my place on the way to the track.Would also like to talk about our state chapter with you.Have a great time at the races if we don't talk before. Curt.

[Allen W.]

Re: Road America- Vintage Races

I like turn 3 and turn 14 areas. Brats great.

Allen

[Garry Barnes]

Re: Road America- Vintage Races

Guys. Thanks for all of the great advise on my virgin trip to RA. We are going with some friends that are open wheel fans, but I am sure that they will have a great time as well because they are also first-timers at this track. Thanks again!
Garry

[Tim G.]

Re: Road America- Vintage Races

You lucky dog. The first time I was on this track was in 1965 when a friend of my dad took us for a lap in our station wagon, I was nine years old. I've been there many times and there are no bad viewing spots. Last July I watched from turn 14, as they come out of the last turn and slide full speed up the main straight. The Scarabs were drifting like crazy. Turn five is great and you can watch from the hill in the shade. They have great breakfast at the stand on top of this hill, although it may not be open for the smaller events. I hope you like corn on the cob, don't bring your own food. Brats for breakfast, lunch and dinner. Two years ago when we hauled a vintage '68 Camaro race car and a friend was participating we loaded up mountain bikes and I just hit different locations around the track. Be at the starting grid for the start, run through the woods to the back straight and watch the cars hitting top speed going into turn 5 and just walk down along the fence until you get to where the action is.