Camping and other questions for the 24?

Planning my trip for this year's 24hours of Daytona... Last year I had the wife with me, so a hotel was a requirement, but this year I'm flyin' SOLO!!! Looking at Daytona's website, I see that tent camping is permitted, but the price comes with general admission tickets... Since I'm doing the GRM package, is there another option available? I don't really feel like paying another 300 bucks for a little spot of grass...

Also, does anybody know of any other local events happening that weekend? Local car shows? autocrosses, etc?

Yes, I know the biggest car show will be at Daytona. :)

Camping is not allowed in the GRM area per track rules. They control all camping inside the track, so you would have to check with the speedway for options.

Margie

what about a cat nap in your car??? of course i'm 6'3 in a miata so not likely to happen

I used my E150 as a camper last year, you can buy them for $1K or less and they make a great tow vehicle....just a thought

IMHO it's way too noisy and crowded to camp. I saw lots of people doing it last year and they all looked miserable.

two years ago, I slept in the car for about 3 hours. it was aweful. The noise is constant though, so it actually kinda lulls you to sleep.

Ltdan12a wrote: Planning my trip for this year's 24hours of Daytona... Last year I had the wife with me, so a hotel was a requirement, but this year I'm flyin' SOLO!!! Looking at Daytona's website, I see that tent camping is permitted, but the price comes with general admission tickets... Since I'm doing the GRM package, is there another option available? I don't really feel like paying another 300 bucks for a little spot of grass... Also, does anybody know of any other local events happening that weekend? Local car shows? autocrosses, etc? Yes, I know the biggest car show will be at Daytona. :)

Use a truck or van and sleep inside. Throw a tarp over the top of a pick-up's bed and be certain to put plywood or particle board over the bed floor. Apply a backpacking mat (or inflatable backpacking mat) with a comfortable sleeping bag and you're good to go.

On one trip to the 24, I slept next on the ground next to the car. I folded a tarp and put half on the ground, the other half over me and used the mat/pad and sleeping bag. I woke up before dawn because of the silence; dense fog had covered the track and the racing was temporarily halted.

When you're tired enough, you'll sleep well enough. Campers (at endurance races) who look miserable either aren't doing it right, or they are miserable for other reasons.

FYI-

Found a few campsites within 5 minutes of the track... Booked a site at 12 bucks a night!!!!

We are hoping to fly into DIA in our Cesna. Catnaps in the pilots quarters are gonna happen. the airport is right across the street from the track!

carguy123 wrote: IMHO it's way too noisy and crowded to camp. I saw lots of people doing it last year and they all looked miserable.

I'm not being cute when I say it can't be worse than the dorm I lived in my freshman year. If I don't get frostbite and end up with a platoon of poisonous spiders biting me in the ass while I sleep, then it sounds like it would have been an improvement.