Daytona Pitt Setting Up

[dnrg271]

So I've been away from racing for a short while.  And when I was in it, I never had the privelage of participating at a track like Daytona.  The nicest facility I was ever involved with was Putnam Park.

Is setting up a pit area at Daytona the same as at the small tracks?  Pull in, park, unload, pop up a tent and go racing?  Or am I missing something...is a garage something that is needed or is it simply a luxury?  Also, given that my intention is to have just a pop up tent area, is everything secure to leave the bike behind at night or with bike week running and the popularity of this event is that just a bad idea?

Any insight from some vetern Daytona participates would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks.

[MudDawg]

Garages are a luxury.

General pit area is a paved parking area near the garages.  If you aren't in a garage...bring your own power supply.

Just a bit of hard won advice fro Daytona...expect annoying delays getting your trailer into the pits, out of the pits, guards from hell, etc.  Smile, say thank you, bring donuts, smile, repeat.  :-)

Expect everything to be expensive...it is.  And during bikeweek it's not going to get cheaper.

And last I knew the Ramada across from the track still had rooms. (I booked mine tonight already!!!)

[GSXR RACER MIKE]

The actual pits at Daytona are a restricted access area for those with the correct pit passes only, they also have very strict rules on EVERYONE being out of the pits 1 hour after the last checkered flag. The actual pit area is surrounded by a tall fence and is guarded, no one gets in all night long. You can't camp at your pit sight at Daytona, in fact I don't know how camping works at the track or if it's in the infield portion of the track or not, but I would imagine they rape you for it financially? You don't have to have a garage, but beware that the entire pit area is paved so your not going to be putting stakes into the ground for anything.

[dnrg271]

I live about 50 miles away so thought I would just commute everyday, but maybe a hotel isn't a bad idea either (I assume 50 miles during bike week may very well be a 2 or 3 hour ordeal).

Are sand bags for holding down a tent okay, especially for leaving it up over night, or do most folks drop them down everynight / pack and unpack everyday?

Anyone with a generator willing to share power for tire warmers?

Thanks for the feedback.

[funsizeracing]

In the fall, the guards weren't letting any vehicles into the pit area, so you had to unload your gear and then pull the truck out of the pits.   We left our stuff there but lowered our pop up because it can get windy there.

[MudDawg]

That's typical guard behavior.  No cehicles in the pit area after the first day.  Bring a rolling cart to cary stuff in.  It definately helps.

[yetidave]

I'm sleeping in the toy hauler in the infield (bought a spot with hook ups). Will they let me take my bike from the pits to the camper every night? How about working (changing tires etc) on the bike at the toy hauler at night? It sounds like the guards are a bunch of tools, I just don't want run ins with these people all weekend.

[MudDawg]

If you are camping there then you should be fine.  The pit areas are closed and patroled 1 hour after the last race.  It's always a rush to get out in time.  Same deal for coming into the track in the mornings...park elsewhere and walk in with whatever you need.  Annoying...but with the number of people/trailers/vehicles and limited space...it keeps the fire lanes open.

[yetidave]

Thanks man.

[MudDawg]

De nacho!

Oh yeah...the mexican place just east of the track ihas good food.  :-)  Same for the Olive Garden next door to it.  Carabas is in one of the strip malls near the track as well.  And for non-track lunches...Checkers rules! 

:-)

[yetidave]

Cool. I'll have plenty of steaks and beer. Look for the black Hobbi toy hauler with PA tags camped next to lake loyd in the infield.

[MudDawg]

I believe I'll be #511 this year.  I should be in one of the open air garages, white 8X16 trailer.  I'll be running lightweiht races on my new Duc....or on my old standyby SV's.  :-)

Think Shamu on an SV....that would be me.

Keener