| A number of my friends ask me about my love of | | | | towards the track. Its exciting! |
| NASCAR and they have many questions. 1) Why do | | | | I had one of the best times of my life camping at |
| you go to so many races? 2) Why do you camp at | | | | Bristol. I would never stay in a hotel again. Staying in |
| NASCAR races? 3) Wouldn't it be better staying in | | | | a hotel an hour or more from the track is not the |
| a hotel? and 4) Is camping cheaper? | | | | same. You cannot create the same atmosphere |
| Well to start off, I simply love the sport of | | | | staying in a hotel room. You do the same things |
| NASCAR. The excitement, the fun, the camaraderie | | | | you do in every other vacation: complain about the |
| and most of all, my daughter loves NASCAR. It's a | | | | pool being too cold; go out for dinner and drinks and |
| huge opportunity for father-daughter bonding and/or | | | | sit in your hotel room watching TV. Add in a race |
| a family vacation that is indeed priceless. | | | | or two, and that is your NASCAR vacation staying in |
| We started out booking hotel and race packages | | | | a hotel room. |
| through tour companies. This was the best way to | | | | My friends don't really get this, but I think if you |
| get started and we enjoyed a number of races | | | | have gone to race you know the hotel package isn't |
| together. Our first race was at Charlotte for the | | | | a NASCAR race experience. It's a race and don't |
| Coca Cola 600 and we had a great time. She was | | | | get me wrong its still exciting and fun to see a race |
| smiling the entire weekend. My daughter recently | | | | under any situation. |
| turned 18 and we still go to races. Now we camp | | | | Now let's talk about the cost. Believe it or not |
| and of course, Dad still pays for the vacation, and | | | | camping can be more expensive unless you own at |
| now pays for the boyfriend as well. Oh well. | | | | trailer or motorhome. RV dealers charge a |
| I have only gone to one race without my daughter | | | | premium for NASCAR races and require a minimum |
| and that was under the lights at Bristol. This was | | | | rental period of 4 nights to an entire week. Some |
| also my first exposure to camping at a NASCAR race | | | | places charge upwards of $700 per night for a luxury |
| and camping in general. To be honest, I wasn't a big | | | | motorhome. Then there is the cost of diesel fuel, |
| fan of camping. | | | | mileage, propane usage, generator usage, pump outs, |
| I went with a group of guys and I couldn't believe | | | | campsite and many other hidden expenses including |
| the difference. Camping turned what was going to | | | | charges for cleaning, bedding, kitchen sets and |
| race, into a week long, action-packed NASCAR race | | | | personal care packages. Renting an RV is away |
| experience. We arrived Monday and the "race" | | | | more than a hotel room per night, but when you |
| wasn't Saturday night. What was I going to do for | | | | factor in meals its about the same price and |
| an entire week? All the other races were more or | | | | camping is away more fun. |
| less an extended weekend. To my surprise there | | | | There is a huge downside to camping if you are a |
| was non-stop action from the day we arrived to the | | | | novice. You need training on how the operate the |
| day we left. We couldn't even fit in all the things | | | | RV including the generator, hot water tank, the toilet |
| we wanted to do. There were over 15 events at | | | | and holding tank and so much more. Then there is |
| the track – practices, qualifying and we took in all | | | | parking the RV at the campsite and making sure the |
| three NASCAR races and we spent a lot time | | | | RV is level. If you're novice, you need to be at the |
| walking around the haulers. | | | | campground early because parking an RV can be |
| If we weren't at the track, we were playing redneck | | | | extremely challenging. |
| games (e.g., hillbilly golf, corn-hole [what Canadians | | | | As a novice I found an easier way to camp. Pay a |
| called bean bag toss], touring the campground, going | | | | little extra and book through a tour company offering |
| to tailgate parties and experiencing some of the best | | | | a camping package. They provide you with a |
| culture in the world; and that is the "redneck" culture. | | | | worry-free and no hassle approach to experience all |
| I met some of the nicest people in the world at the | | | | that NASCAR has to offer. You can also get "all |
| campground. It included people from all walks of life, | | | | inclusive" packages where meals are prepared for |
| from your groups with a tent to people with million | | | | you. They have on-site staff to ensure your |
| dollar motorhomes. And guess what, these people | | | | camping experience is pleasurable and importantly |
| all had one thing in common – the love of | | | | maintain the RV for you. |
| NASCAR. This brought them together which | | | | If you are thinking about a NASCAR vacation, |
| created a very unique opportunity to learn about the | | | | explore all your options. Trust me, camping is the |
| NASCAR "camping" and "redneck" culture. As a | | | | better way to go. It's the ultimate NASCAR |
| Canadian, I was so surprised at what this culture had | | | | experience and with NASCAR tour company offering |
| to offer; from "redneck" foods such as deep-fried | | | | a camping package, it's the only way to go. You |
| turkey to an alcoholic drink called "apple pie" and all | | | | may think it may cost a little more, but when you |
| the fun and games. | | | | factor in the cost eating out for 3 to 5 days, |
| There is an intangible created when you camp at or | | | | camping ends up being cheaper and it so much |
| across the road from the race track. It creates an | | | | better. You can also go an less expensive route by |
| atmosphere that it simply fun, fun fun! You can | | | | camping in a trailer or Class C motorhome, but the |
| hear the cars start-up for the morning practice | | | | Class A motorhomes are beautiful. |
| session, and then see the flood of race fans heading | | | | |