Daytona 200 - best place to watch race at track?

[R Doug]

I'm going to attend my first Daytona 200 this year.  Where's the best place to watch the race?  I would like some veteran feedback before acquiring tickets.

Thanks.

[Orson]

Well, I haven't been since the 1980s, so things may have changed.

Back then, I had some people tell me that turn one was a good place to sit because you can see the braking duels as they come off the 180 mph fron straight.

Do they even use the oval anymore?

[BMW_Ken]

I purchase general admission infield ticket and watch from the international horseshoe area.  Usually the bleachers toward the end of the short stretch at the international horseshoe.  You can see about 3/4 of the track and also have view of a jumbotron to watch them come through the trioval into turn 1.

I have gone for 5 of the last 6 years.  My end of winter ritual.

[motodog650]

I'm going to attend my first Daytona 200 this year.

Same here. Been threatening to go the last few years but I'm gonna pull the pin on it this time around !!  

[R Doug]

Well, I haven't been since the 1980s, so things may have changed.

Back then, I had some people tell me that turn one was a good place to sit because you can see the braking duels as they come off the 180 mph fron straight.

Do they even use the oval anymore?

They do still run the oval.  A chicane has been added on the back part of the oval.  Other than that, I believe the course is still the same.

I purchase general admission infield ticket and watch from the international horseshoe area.  Usually the bleachers toward the end of the short stretch at the international horseshoe.  You can see about 3/4 of the track and also have view of a jumbotron to watch them come through the trioval into turn 1.

I have gone for 5 of the last 6 years.  My end of winter ritual.

Excellent feedback.  I just acquired GA with grandstand access tickets.  Thanks.

Same here. Been threatening to go the last few years but I'm gonna pull the pin on it this time around !!  

That’s my thought.  I now live within a fairly easy day’s ride to Daytona.  So, why not make a weekend out of, I thought?  I already have a hotel booked.  DogBoy is in the running to split it with me right now.  If he’s not able to go, I’d love to split the room.  The freakin’ rates are shocking.  The Super 8 I booked for two nights is something like $475!  It gets worse the closer to the BikeWeek action you get and the closer to the track you get.  Most of the hotels around the track were booked.  My Super 8 hotel is newly constructed and is about 12 miles north off I95 next to “Destination Daytona.”

[Orson]

Try to get a copy of the AMA magazine that lists all the events.

The Alligator Enduro is on a Thursday and there is flat track and motocross. The NHRA drag bikes are in Gainesville the same weekend.

[Orson]

Try to get a copy of the AMA magazine that lists all the events.

  I fergot we have that thing called the innernet now

[R Doug]

The Alligator Enduro is on a Thursday and there is flat track and motocross. The NHRA drag bikes are in Gainesville the same weekend.

I can't get the add'l time off to make it to the flat track races.  I want to, but can't for this trip.  The motorcross race kicks off Bike Week and is the weekend before the 200 race which ends Bike Week.  

[HanksXXX]

I didn't realize you were  into the Harley thing, along with traffic, crowds & police presence.

As a Daytona 200 veteran (40+ years), I can offer a lot of suggestions.
Feel free to PM me your phone number and a good time to call.
You helped me out with a WV trip  3 or 4 years ago...time to return the favor.

Hank

[R Doug]

I didn't realize you were  into the Harley thing, along with traffic, crowds & police presence.

Hank, thanks for the offer.  I'll be contacting you before the trip for sure.  

As for the Bike Week experience, I'll most likely stay far far away from the main area near the beach.  But, I'm sure I'll be close enough to see a lot of low and slow riders clogging the highways and byways.  

[HanksXXX]

Hank, thanks for the offer.  I'll be contacting you before the trip for sure.  

As for the Bike Week experience, I'll most likely stay far far away from the main area near the beach.  But, I'm sure I'll be close enough to see a lot of low and slow riders clogging the highways and byways.  

You ought to get in touch soon...
Where you're staying is right smack in the middle of a giant CF.
From there south on RT 1 is where all the giant  Harley bars are and the traffic, parking, police, etc will add to the bike week experience in a bad way.
Rt 95 south isn't bad but it's a major interstate that's congested that week.
I can help you with back ways into the track to avoid congestion, suggestions for better places to stay, a couple of decent rides, etc.
You ought to wander down Main Street  at least once to take in the sites and there are ways of getting there that avoids 90% of the traffic.
The Frances built a short track stadium on the west end of the track and without checking the schedule, there used to be racing from Wednesday nite on...
Short track is great fun and I'd rate it as a must see.
They also used to change the infield portion of the track for different classes but it's been 3 or 4 years since I've been there so I can't say for sure.
I always liked the infield for the party atmosphere and for the people you'd meet. Going back years, Earl Hayden used to bring these snot nosed little kits to the races every year and park the camper along the fence..we hung out up the fence from them and saw what is now "Earl's Race Team" grow up...great fun....
Man, I gotta stop...I hate typing but love the subject....PM your contact stuff, sit back with the beverage of your choice, and I'll do my best to make sure you have a good experience.

Back in the good old days of Cycle magazine, Cook Neilson wrote an article entitled "The Rites of Spring"...anybody remember it or even have the copy of Cycle that it appeared in?
He nailed it....just what it meant to us to look forward to and finally go to Daytona...damn!

[Mac]

Also, if you go to the main grandstands, beware the fence nazis.

[oldenslow]

The last time I was there was '86.  I'm sure it's changed, but we liked to park and watch from inside the track.  We usually sat where they exited the infield out onto the oval.  From there you could also see them come off the oval, some of the infield, them exiting the infield, and just about where they had to come off the oval into the chicane.

[HanksXXX]

The last time I was there was '86.  I'm sure it's changed, but we liked to park and watch from inside the track.  We usually sat where they exited the infield out onto the oval.  From there you could also see them come off the oval, some of the infield, them exiting the infield, and just about where they had to come off the oval into the chicane.

There's a new tunnel entrance right there, around the exit of Nascar 1, that can be reached by a back road which avoids all kinds of congestion. It also allows a quick exit after the race and an immediate entrance to RT 95 for those heading north. You'll be in Jacksonville by the time the infield empties out...

That's the same corner where James Adamo lost his life years ago...

[nantahala]

BentAero and I had good seats for the SX last year.  





Matt

[old fart]

I'm with Ken BMW. no need to buy seats in advance. they will charge you a handling charge even for will call.

[CMS_Sprint]

Glad to hear you're making the trip. It's a great weekend of racing! You're chosen hotel does put you in the middle of the air cooled twin world, but not to worry, it's part of the experience! Make sure you get over to main st to check out that scene as well, otherwise it's not the complete bike week experience.

As far as tickets go, all you need is the general admission ticket. That gets you anywhere you want to be. The grandstands outside both of the horseshoes are my preferred places to watch.The actual grandstands might be pretty cool for the start and a few laps. If you need some more local knowledge, send me a PM and we can connect.

[OSJ]

Mrs. OSJ and I went in 1997 ( the Russell years   I hated him!) We sat in turn one and it was AWESOME!  

[nnjhawk02]

That's the same corner where James Adamo lost his life years ago...

I guy I knew when I lived in NENJ, was his mechanic up until 1992, Jimmy's death affected him greatly.

He's still involved w/ motorcycles, but on the small scale - he restores Honda CT70s and others & from what I hear, he's the man to see to restore a small Honda.

motoenzo.com

Back to the program - is anyone from the NE heading down to Fla & have space to carry me & my VTR some of the way?

I'm looking to transport the moto - at least to NC before the 200, don't mind riding back up north after that...

[R Doug]

I still have a room avaialble to share.  

The hotel is the Super 8 at Ormond Beach just north of the track.

http://www.super8.com/hotels/florida/ormond-beach/super-8-ormond-beach/hotel-overview?reg=Local-_-all-_-S8-_-all&cid=IP_Local&wid=local