Newb in need of some advice

[Buickguy3]

   Down in the lower left corner you can click on the satellite view.

[bo billary]

hi friendly people already helping out a newb in need of advice. i'm another one.

planning a first speed week (camping - as spectators) on a last minute birthday request from my other half.  but we won't be able to make the first weekend.  how does the week generally go - any tips for late arrivals? 

[Stan Back]

Go early as you can -- they field thins as the week goes by.

[Peter Jack]

After the first weekend the field drops to half or less. A lot of the competitors leave at the end of the first weekend because they've either accomplished what they wanted to or broke enough stuff that they couldn't continue. At the same time accommodation and camping spaces are a lot easier to find.

Pete

[D Wolfe]

Thanks everyone for all the information!

Is the camping at the bend tent friendly?  I would assume the truck stop in that area would have shower facilities.

The last time (which was also my first time out on the salt) I stayed at one of the casinos, this time I'm taking the cheap route. haha.

[bbarn]

Thanks everyone for all the information!

Is the camping at the bend tent friendly?  I would assume the truck stop in that area would have shower facilities.

The last time (which was also my first time out on the salt) I stayed at one of the casinos, this time I'm taking the cheap route. haha.

The truck stop has showers and I doubt very much you'd find a friendlier bunch to camp and hang out with.

[D Wolfe]

Thanks for the reply bbarn!

I was impressed with the community on the salt last time I was there.  I look forward to returning in August!

[Phil Bennett]

We're back again this year and I hope to get to the start line as well as watching on from about the 2 mile marker. How easy is it to park at the start and view all 4 courses? I wouldn't want to get in the way, just see the variety of machines setting off. Are the starts close to one another, are there spectator restrictions which are obvious so we don't get shouted at? Lot of questions for a Monday morning, better to be prepared though.

[RichFox]

I'm not a spectator, so this is only what I think. I don't believe you can park and watch all four start lines. The courses are pretty well separated and you really can only watch one at a time. I think. Most of the spectators seem to line up on course one. It's a long course, next to the pits and the only one with spectator parking. Also all the cars going to any start line will have to pass you there. Other wise I believe you can only observe one start line at a time. I think it's all layed out so that you will know where you can be and where not.

[Phil Bennett]

Thanks for the reply, although I think maybe my early morning post was a bit misleading.  I assumed that the starts would be separated quite well due to the lines of queues and the number of support/chase vehicles.  It was just whether we are able to have access to all of the start areas, and by that I mean park somewhere, have a mooch of the lines, see a few starts, then try another course.  I'm just a paranoid Englishman who doesn't want to get in the way!  I remember arriving in 2013 and not having any idea where to go so we just parked along course 1 and enjoyed the sights.  From a photographic perspective being on the east side of the starts in the mornings would be better, I know that there is no viewing area on the east side, just being the other side for the light would be a bonus.

[Glen]

As I understand it there will be no spectators allowed at the Test & Tune

[Seldom Seen Slim]

Course one is viewable from the left/west side only.  Course one and two start at nearly the same point - separated by maybe 500' and going off about 15 or degrees apart from one another.  You can see both start lines from the center - but it'll be from a distance.

Courses three and four start a mile or three from #1 and #2, up to the north/east and around the corner of the dike.  Similar spacing of those two.  No side viewing on #3 - you'd be between the timing tower and the course and there's no public space there.  #4 is a rookie and short test course - not much to spectate unless it's a buddy doing his first runs, but you might be able to go down the east side of the course.  Might not - depending on the condition of the salt there.  It'll close by Monday or Tuesday, and three closes a day or three later (leaving only 1 and 2 open at the end of the event).

[jdincau]

Quoting the BNI spectators info page
"Spectators are allowed to walk through the pits, view the vehicles, and talk to the drivers and crew members. Public parking is south of the pit area, on the west side of the race track, outside of the cones."
Theoretically at Speedweek unless you have a race support vehicle pass and a crew armband you cant go to the starting line.

[modelAsteve]

You may park between 1 and 2 walk to the starting lines. 3 is off to the right and maybe a half mile away. 4 is off to the right from 3. To get down to 3 and 4 you are supposed to have a WORKING CB and a fire ext. The first few days there will be 2 lines about a half mile long waiting to run on 1 and 2. You may walk or drive and see the cars and motorcycles and talk to the participants.
Have fun!

[hotrod]

Is the camping at the bend tent friendly?

Yes I have pitched a tent every year for the past 7 years.

Keep in mind that the bend is a dried mud flat. If it rains it turns into a gooey mud flat again, (mostly the top 1-2 inchs) but usually drains/dries fairly quickly if there is a bit of wind and sun. Takes about 12 - 24 hours to walk on and drive light vehicles on it, a bit longer for heavy vehicles.

Pay attention to the surface it is not perfectly flat and there are places which are an inch or two above the general trend, and they dry quicker if it rains. We have had good rains on a couple of the recent years events (not counting the rain out in 2014).

In both of those the flats dried out in about 24 hours. If it starts to rain significantly get off the mud flat at the bend quickly and wait it out on the shoulder of the roads.

The higher parking areas up on the hill side are better for drainage but a little more remote from all the goings on at the bend.
For some that is an advantage.