Jerry, I'm glad to hear your coming. I selfishly hope that something I wrote in the past encouraged you to join. I too was a follower of all the past years including the $1,500 in '99. It wasn't until 2012 that Aussie Steve convinced me to join as crew. I have been back every year since. People Choice winner in 2014 and "Spirit of the Event" winner in 2015. Those two are much more higher praise than where the cars actually finished.
Here's my "guide to the first timer."
Arrive to the hotel Thursday. The earlier the better. Personally, as part of the Parking Lot Build we are all arriving Weds night so we can begin work at first light on Thurs.
When you arrive at the hotel parking lot, pull your rig in the main entrance and bear right. Circle the hotel in a counter clockwise fashion. It is a tight to navigate parking lot but easy to navigate a circular path around the entire place. The GRM center of operations at the hotel tends to be the very back of the parking lot. Circle around and see if you can find a space. If you do not find the perfect spot on your first pass around then make a second pass around. Expect that you just might have to block in another rig. That is acceptable behavior.
By 5pm things will be really brewing in the back lot and that is the place to be into the dark of the night. There will be brats being grilled back there for you. I can't stress this one enough, speak up and introduce yourself. There is an odd phenomina at the event. a phenomina that comes from turning a "virtual presence" into a physical presence. Many people there know a lot about you but very few if any can recognize you. Say hello. State who you are and ask who you are speaking to. Don't just walk by a car and say to yourself, "I think I remember reading about that one." Speak up. really enjoy this transition from virtual to physical. You are not amungst strangers; quite the opposite. I think I would recognize you so I'll be sure to get you talking. At some point stop into the lobby of the hotel and get your car registered and build book turned in. Don't overdo Thursday night because Friday is a marathon of a day.
Friday: Come down for breakfast and come down early! The hotel does a continental breakfast. For $3 more you can get a made to order omlette. Get the omlette! If you are like me, you have some coffee nearly every day with this board. Come to breakfast and cease the opportunity to really have coffee with the board.
Track opens at 8am. Getting there any later than 9am and you will regret it. To get to the track, you take a route through the city so expect many traffic lights. It's not like you just jump on the Hyw and go a few exits. It will take about 20 minutes to get there from the hotel. You have to get Tech Inspected before Noon. Autox portion starts running at 10:00 and goes until 3:00-ish. You do not have to have your car at the grid at 10:00. It is sort of a first come, first served system.
Lunch at the track either means packing a lunch, or buying it from the concession stand (Like chicken tenders and fries) or making a sandwhich run (see the Hogan's reference above. Keep in mind, NOTHING is close to the track.
Dinner is catered at the track. Sonny's BBQ. After dinner and a few words from the Powers That Be and the drag strip will open about 6pm - 10pm. LONG PANTS NEEDED to be a drag strip driver. Pack a pair of jeans with you when you come to the track Friday morning. Here's a real tip...the cars do not have registered driver's. Anyone car drive the cars. Autox runs are a limited number but drag passes are not limited. Try to get a change to drive your teams car then come see me and ask to drive my car! When the day is done, then back to the hotel and drink some beer. You'll be tired. Pack a 5hr energy drink for 3pm on Friday; its a long day.
If you are trailering your car (or if like I have, you broke your car) you can keep your car and trailer at the track overnight. It is a safe place. You can not overnight camp at the track.
Saturday : car show day. Come to breakfast again! Less of a rush to get to the track but you still might have things you want to do to make the car look its best. Hang out all day. No formal dinner at the track this day but about 3:00 you head back to the hotel. grab a shower and rally back to the hotel banquet facilities for dinner and awards ceremony. After that ceremony head toward the pool with a drink in your hand and then late into the night you will hear stories of "should-a, could-a, would-a" along with "just wait until next year"!
Sunday: Come to breakfast then bug out. Pay for your room for this year and re-book your room for next year because you will be back!
Big Question: Have you yet signed up for the Banquet/Meal ticket. This is needed to get you fed dinner at the track on Friday and dinner at the banquet on Saturday. Details for this will follow.
The Formal Event Schedule
