"Gentlemen, start your engines!"
This weekend's Rolex 24 kicks off a full four weeks of high-speed fun over at
the Daytona International Speedway. After the 50th anniversary
running of this international sportscar competition, this 480-acre complex then
becomes home to such highly anticipated racing events as the Lucas Oil Slick
Mist 200, the Budweiser Shootout, the Gatorade Duel, the NextEra Energy
Resources 250, the Drive4CPOD 300 and –
of course, the big daddy of them all – the Daytona 500.
If you're thinking of heading over to Daytona Beach this
year to experience some Speedweeks 2012 events … Well, you may want to follow
the example of the pit crews who actually work at this track. In that – as they
load up their tractor-trailer full of equipment for the long drive down to
Daytona – these racing veterans always try & strike a weird balance between
bringing along every single thing that they'll need in case of emergency while
at the same time trying to travel light.
And speaking of traveling … The very first thing that you
should do before driving on over to the Daytona International Speedway is fill
up your gas tank. You don't want to ruin what had already been a fun day at the
races by finding yourself caught in one of those post-race traffic jams with a
gas gauge that's perilously close to "E." So do like all of the experienced
race fans do and make a point of fueling up before you head over to the
Speedway.
And while you're fueling up, make a point of stocking up as
well. Here are some absolute essentials that you must have on hand if you're looking
to have a safe, comfortable & memorable day at the Speedway:
-
Water. You're going to want to make sure that
you stay hydrated. So bring lots & lots of water along - Snacks
- Sunscreen
-
Extra Batteries & memory cards for your
camera -
A Sharpie. You never know when you may run into
your favorite drive and then have the chance to get his or her autograph -
A seat cushion. Especially if you're planning on
spending the day sitting up there in those sometimes cold, often hard aluminum
Grandstands - A pair of binoculars
-
Clorox Wipes. There will be over 150,000 people
also making use of the Speedway's porta-potties. You get the idea, right?
There are two other items that you should definitely pick up
before you head out for the track. One is a scanner (which will allow you to
follow what's actually going on over the course of the race) and the other is a
set of headphones. That set of headphones is absolutely essential because – to
be blunt – it gets loud at the Daytona International Speedway. Really, really
loud. And the only way to protect your hearing (not to mention hear what's
being said on your scanner) is by wearing that set of headphones.
Now to tote all of these items, I recommend that you get
yourself a clear, see-through backpack. Which will make it that much easier for
you to quickly get through that Security bag check at each of the admission
gates.
Now you may be thinking about bringing along a cooler along
with you to store your water and/or other beverages in. If so, you need be
aware that the Daytona
International Speedway recently placed new restrictions on the size &
types of these sorts of containers which it's now going to allow race patrons
to bring into this venue. And if your cooler is hard sided and/or bigger than
14 x 14 x 14 inches (i.e. 2700 cubic inches), you'll be forced to leave it
behind as you pass through a grandstand gate.
Okay. We've talked about what you need to bring with. Now
let's discuss how you should dress to spend the day at Daytona. First and
foremost, wear comfortable shoes. Given that you may wind up parking two or
three miles away from the Speedway itself and then have to hike over to the
venue, sandals and heels are just not an option here.
And while you're at it, ladies, ditch the purse. Remember that your goal for
today is travel light, have fun and play safe. So just stuff your cash, your
credit card and your cell phone in a fanny pack, okay?
And speaking of playing it safe … Given that people have
been known to swoon from the heat at an event like this, make sure to put ICE
(as in: Your "In Case of Emergency, please contact this person" info) on your
cell phone. The paramedics will know just where to find this information on
your phone. And that will then make it that much easier for you to get all of
the help & support you need, should you find yourself medically
incapacitated and unable to contact friends & family during your day at the
races.
Of course, the very best way to avoid any heat-related
problems is to dress properly. And given that the grandstands at the Daytona
International Speedway are infamous for their extremes (i.e. cold & breezy
during the winter months, broiling during the late Spring / early Summer), it's
wise to dress in layers. So that you can bundle up if it's a really cool day at
the track and/or shed a sweatshirt or coat if the temperature start to rise.
And given that – no matter how hot or how cold the day
actually gets – you're still going to be sitting in that strong Florida sun for
hours at a time, you really need to wear a hat to shield your face and/or prevent
a sunburn. Just not too big a hat. Because – of course – you don't want to
block the view of the person seated behind you at the race.
Okay. Now that you're properly dressed and got just the
right amount of gear, it's time to head out of the Daytona International
Speedway. Just make sure that you allow for traffic when deciding on the right
time to leave for the race. More importantly, make a point of remembering where
you parked your car.
This is also a very smart thing to do once you get up in the
grandstands. Given that it's relatively easy to get turned around at a venue of
this size and that race fans tend to dress alike, take a moment to note the row
number & section that you're seated in before you head off to the restrooms
and/or go out to get some snacks. That way, it'll be that much easier to find
your way back.
Fans crowd pit road during driver introductions prior to yesterday's start of
the Grand-Am
Rolex 24 auto race at Daytona International Speedway.
Beyond that, the only other tip that I can offer Daytona newbies is that – if
you didn't bring any food or drink along with you when you entered this venue –
the very best time to head off to the concession stands is during the race. If
you're going to try and get something to eat & drink before or after the
race or during a caution, the lines just get ridiculously long.
Oh, and one final thing. When you're souvenir-shopping at
the Daytona International Speedway (And trust me on this one, folks. You're
going to be sorely tempted to purchase something. Given all of the amazing
merch that will be on display come Race Day), you should always take into
consideration the size & the weight of the item that you're thinking of buying.
After all – once you buy this thing – you'll then have to haul it back to your
seat in the grandstands (and potentially blocking the view of the person seated
behind you) and/or carry this item all the way back to wherever it is that you
parked the car.
That – in the end – is kind of the key to having a great day
at the Speedway. Be respectful of not only the other members of your party but
also all of the other race fans around you. Always keep in mind that there are
(at times) over 150,000 other people who are also trying to have a memorable
time at the race. So while you may hit a few speed bumps / experience a few
hiccups along the along, if you're patient (and keep your sense of humor about
you), you're sure to have a truly amazing time during your day at Daytona.
So have you got everything that I've listed in the above
article? Everything BUT your Daytona 500
and Daytona
300 tickets? Well, I think I know a few folks who can help you out with
that.