VIR trip, camping, maybe kids, IMSA 27-28Aug! Need info!
06-22-2022, 04:49 PM
#1
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VIR trip, camping, maybe kids, IMSA 27-28Aug! Need info!
A few buddies are planning 27-28Aug IMSA man-trip (all ex-Navy pilots and assorted douchery)... may include a few kids. I've never been to VIR. Vehicles are a Dodge 1500 w/pop-up camper and a Sequoia w/24' bunkhouse. We definitely want to be able to have a few drinks in the evening, so the "family" area is no-go. I understand there are no sites with hookups, but boondocking for 2 nights not a problem.
https://virnow.com/lodging/camping/
Who has been and where do I want to reserve?
How are the bathroom and/or any shower facilities.
What is the food on-site like?
Is it a drunken idiotic frat-house vibe after sunset?
Weather late Aug?
Are fires permitted (Solostove?)
It's 200 miles from my house in VaBch out 58... what's traffic like on Friday afternoon. If we leave 1200'ish, can I make it in 4hours
Is renting a golf cart for 2 days worth it? NationalCarts says $580 for 5days on their website.
I need all the info you have... what to do and not do? Any special passes to buy or things for kids not to miss?
This is on the VIR website.. special rules for August:
https://virnow.com/lodging/camping/
Who has been and where do I want to reserve?
How are the bathroom and/or any shower facilities.
What is the food on-site like?
Is it a drunken idiotic frat-house vibe after sunset?
Weather late Aug?
Are fires permitted (Solostove?)
It's 200 miles from my house in VaBch out 58... what's traffic like on Friday afternoon. If we leave 1200'ish, can I make it in 4hours
Is renting a golf cart for 2 days worth it? NationalCarts says $580 for 5days on their website.
I need all the info you have... what to do and not do? Any special passes to buy or things for kids not to miss?
This is on the VIR website.. special rules for August:
- There will be no tent camping permitted in the Turn 17 “Hog Pen” area, unless a reserved space along the fence has been rented.
- Vehicles are not permitted inside of the roped off general camping area along the Bridge Straight between turns 6 and 7 on the inside of the track.
- RV spots #1-8 in the South Paddock no longer have any type of hook up and are not primitive spaces, though they are on pavement.
- EZ UPs or tents are not permitted within 50 feet of any fence or in front of any hospitality viewing area/tent (Turns4-6).
- General Camping is permitted in the field on the right just before the bridge, Patriot Woods, Family camping area (Except for designated reserved camping areas along the fence), South Paddock (Turn 12 area) and the bridge straight (Turns 6-7 inside the track).
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06-25-2022, 09:41 AM
#3
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Sam,
I wish I could be more help, but despite spending probably 250+ nights at VIR, I have never camped there, and have never gone there specifically to attend a spectator event. The closest I got to doing that was a few years ago. I don't even remember the event. The club I was instructing with Mon-Tues was allowed to show up Sunday to watch the races, free of charge. The place was packed.
During the day, you can get breakfast and lunches at the Pagoda Grill. Beer, ice, snacks, etc. It's just expensive. The biscuits are good. I like the pulled pork sammich, but be careful--they put cole slaw on top of the pork unless you say otherwise. The grandstand east of the Pavilion by the Pagoda is shaded and has a good view. If I were camping, I'd try to be in the area marked "Spectator Parking and Viewing" south of the Pavilion, right next to where the map says "North Course". It will be packed, but parking is marshalled there, you shouldn't get blocked in, and it's close to the road so you can easily get to the other parts of the track. You can easily walk to several different spots from there.
If you want it less packed, there is some flat parking area on the other side (east) of the track by The Lodge. If you're going to rent a cart, where you park may not matter, but there's nothing useful to a camper over there. You'll certainly want to observe from Oak Tree, and unless you're camping near it, it's a pretty long walk from most parking areas. I'd say a cart will be highly appreciated.
There will be plenty of porta-potties, but there are only three showers in the Pagoda building men's room, IIRC. I've never used one. I believe "E" on the map, "Grid Restrooms", has some showers, but I don't know if they are available to spectators during the race. I've never been in "F", the "South Timing Tower", but I suspect there are showers there, as well.
The Oak Tree Tavern should be open, but COVID really did a number on it. They relied on locals to keep the place operating in the black. They'd have specials like two dollar Coors Light pounders. Not my thing since the Tavern does have great beers on tap and local wines available. Hard liquor, too. Unfortunately, when COVID hit, they had to make track events private events--no spectators allowed. The locals couldn't get into the campus. The operating days/hours were cut and the menu offerings reduced. It's gotten a little better as the COVID scare has passed, but I haven't been there in a while, despite having attended five VIR events already this year. You should go just to say you've been there.
The pizza at Aunt Millie's in Milton, NC, is great. I also like the stromboli. They have Sierra Nevada Pale Ale on tap. The Mill Town Eatery is next door. I've been there once. I enjoyed the food and they have a decent selection of microbrews for a small town place. Milton is about five minutes from the VIR gate. Population is about 6.
There's a mexican place in South Boston that's not bad. About 30 minutes from VIR. I've also eaten at "Cotton" and "The Bricktown Brewery" in Danville. About 25 minutes from VIR. I highly recommend the seared Ahi Tuna with Wasabi cream sauce at Cotton. There are more restaurants in Danville, but I haven't been to any.
There's a dollar store maybe 10 minutes from VIR that has everything--beer, wine, ice, snacks, etc.
I'm about a half hour north of you outside Hampton. I take the James River Bridge across, go through Smithfield, and take the backroads to Courtland to get to 58. The worst part of your trip will be VBeach to the other side of Suffolk. After that, 58 is a pretty easy drive. Don't speed, especially near the end of the month.
I'm hopeful this helps,
Retired B-52 Radar Nav
I wish I could be more help, but despite spending probably 250+ nights at VIR, I have never camped there, and have never gone there specifically to attend a spectator event. The closest I got to doing that was a few years ago. I don't even remember the event. The club I was instructing with Mon-Tues was allowed to show up Sunday to watch the races, free of charge. The place was packed.
During the day, you can get breakfast and lunches at the Pagoda Grill. Beer, ice, snacks, etc. It's just expensive. The biscuits are good. I like the pulled pork sammich, but be careful--they put cole slaw on top of the pork unless you say otherwise. The grandstand east of the Pavilion by the Pagoda is shaded and has a good view. If I were camping, I'd try to be in the area marked "Spectator Parking and Viewing" south of the Pavilion, right next to where the map says "North Course". It will be packed, but parking is marshalled there, you shouldn't get blocked in, and it's close to the road so you can easily get to the other parts of the track. You can easily walk to several different spots from there.
If you want it less packed, there is some flat parking area on the other side (east) of the track by The Lodge. If you're going to rent a cart, where you park may not matter, but there's nothing useful to a camper over there. You'll certainly want to observe from Oak Tree, and unless you're camping near it, it's a pretty long walk from most parking areas. I'd say a cart will be highly appreciated.
There will be plenty of porta-potties, but there are only three showers in the Pagoda building men's room, IIRC. I've never used one. I believe "E" on the map, "Grid Restrooms", has some showers, but I don't know if they are available to spectators during the race. I've never been in "F", the "South Timing Tower", but I suspect there are showers there, as well.
The Oak Tree Tavern should be open, but COVID really did a number on it. They relied on locals to keep the place operating in the black. They'd have specials like two dollar Coors Light pounders. Not my thing since the Tavern does have great beers on tap and local wines available. Hard liquor, too. Unfortunately, when COVID hit, they had to make track events private events--no spectators allowed. The locals couldn't get into the campus. The operating days/hours were cut and the menu offerings reduced. It's gotten a little better as the COVID scare has passed, but I haven't been there in a while, despite having attended five VIR events already this year. You should go just to say you've been there.
The pizza at Aunt Millie's in Milton, NC, is great. I also like the stromboli. They have Sierra Nevada Pale Ale on tap. The Mill Town Eatery is next door. I've been there once. I enjoyed the food and they have a decent selection of microbrews for a small town place. Milton is about five minutes from the VIR gate. Population is about 6.
There's a mexican place in South Boston that's not bad. About 30 minutes from VIR. I've also eaten at "Cotton" and "The Bricktown Brewery" in Danville. About 25 minutes from VIR. I highly recommend the seared Ahi Tuna with Wasabi cream sauce at Cotton. There are more restaurants in Danville, but I haven't been to any.
There's a dollar store maybe 10 minutes from VIR that has everything--beer, wine, ice, snacks, etc.
I'm about a half hour north of you outside Hampton. I take the James River Bridge across, go through Smithfield, and take the backroads to Courtland to get to 58. The worst part of your trip will be VBeach to the other side of Suffolk. After that, 58 is a pretty easy drive. Don't speed, especially near the end of the month.
I'm hopeful this helps,
Retired B-52 Radar Nav
Last edited by poormxdad; 06-25-2022 at 10:51 AM.
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06-26-2022, 02:42 AM
#4
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^Awesome rundown... those tips are priceless. I really hate sweaty sleeping... hot and shitty all day and then go to bed stinking in the heat. Maybe cooler In a pop-up camper.
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06-29-2022, 10:19 AM
#5
I also cant speak to attending a spectator event at VIR, but do "camp" in the paddock in my trailer in events there. Obviously that is quite different than truly camping in the designated camping areas, but I can at least answer a couple things.
It's definitely going to be extremely hot and muggy. Very few spectating areas are in the shade. I don't know what provisions they provide for actual spectator events, but really the only shaded bleacher area within walking distance of the paddock is at turn 3-4 under some trees near the concessions area. If you are planning on going over to South Paddock it would be best to use a golf cart, it's a very long walk. I can't speak to the spectator areas in the South Paddock.
There are showers in the North Paddock in the main building between concessions and TMI. Expect it to be a cold shower, the hot water runs out quickly and I imagine there will be plenty of people using them. There are outside showers on the exterior of the bathrooms at the top of the paddock next to the false grid. Almost a waste to use them in August though because as soon as you finish showering you'll start sweating again from the humidity. There are also a couple showers in the basement of the middle garage, but I imagine those will be off-limits to spectators.
I believe above ground commercial fire pits are allowed. There is a really good FAQ page on VIR's site that should be able to answer stuff like that for you.
No idea what the after hours partying is like, but if it turns into anything like Hyperfest usually does it'll be raucous and disorderly. Maybe less so in the designated "family areas."
It's definitely going to be extremely hot and muggy. Very few spectating areas are in the shade. I don't know what provisions they provide for actual spectator events, but really the only shaded bleacher area within walking distance of the paddock is at turn 3-4 under some trees near the concessions area. If you are planning on going over to South Paddock it would be best to use a golf cart, it's a very long walk. I can't speak to the spectator areas in the South Paddock.
There are showers in the North Paddock in the main building between concessions and TMI. Expect it to be a cold shower, the hot water runs out quickly and I imagine there will be plenty of people using them. There are outside showers on the exterior of the bathrooms at the top of the paddock next to the false grid. Almost a waste to use them in August though because as soon as you finish showering you'll start sweating again from the humidity. There are also a couple showers in the basement of the middle garage, but I imagine those will be off-limits to spectators.
I believe above ground commercial fire pits are allowed. There is a really good FAQ page on VIR's site that should be able to answer stuff like that for you.
No idea what the after hours partying is like, but if it turns into anything like Hyperfest usually does it'll be raucous and disorderly. Maybe less so in the designated "family areas."
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