2012 Red Bull U.S. Gran Prix @ Mazda Raceway

[mike54]

Originally Posted by skwidd

You likely remember back to the late 80's when the central valley guys hauled the pool table to camp above turn 9 every year, set it up with the bar light strung over it between vehicles surrounded by a few couches.

I camped with those guys for several years, what a blast.

I'd forgotten 'til you just reminded me. What I do remember is the burnout contest between turns 4 and 5 and bikes on the track at night.

That and Randy Mamola getting a gal with no undies on to bend over in front of us to hold his bike up. I still owe him for that.

[High Country Herb]

Originally Posted by Dr. Greg

Yes, and make sure you're "splitting lanes" and not "riding on the shoulder." As an out-of-stater, I thought they were about the same thing. But CHP did not. Luckily they spared my son on his bike cuz he was just followin' his ignorant old man.

--Doc

I do both when leaving on Sunday. I just follow the swarms wherever they flow through traffic. It's really insane to watch, and I only do it at this event. I do pull out of the swarm and sit with the cars every few minutes, just to check myself.

There are simply too many riders to police them all, but examples will be made of some...

[rollinrob]

Camping for the first time for the races. My free place to stay in Pacific Grove is no longer so camping it is in Marina at the RV park off Reservation Road. Heading down Friday in the AM with a buddy

It was a tough choice my boss and his partner are entering a funny car at Sears Point the same weekend and we have passes to Schumachers/Gates Belts hospitality tent. Maybe next year they'll be on different weekends.

[High Country Herb]

Originally Posted by rollinrob

Camping for the first time for the races. My free place to stay in Pacific Grove is no longer so camping it is in Marina at the RV park off Reservation Road. Heading down Friday in the AM with a buddy

It was a tough choice my boss and his partner are entering a funny car at Sears Point the same weekend and we have passes to Schumachers/Gates Belts hospitality tent. Maybe next year they'll be on different weekends.

Funny Car - 2 five-second races per day
MotoGP - racing most of the weekend

I'd have to choose Laguna Seca too.

What class of funny car is he running? I'm on a pit crew for a Nostalgia Nitro Funny Car, but we don't run Sears Point / Infineon. I think our next race will be the Hot Rod Reunion at Famoso in late October. Unfortunately, we aren't doing the Night Under Fire in Ohio this year.

5.89 sec @ 258 mph!

[rollinrob]

Originally Posted by High Country Herb

Funny Car - 2 five-second races per day
MotoGP - racing most of the weekend

I'd have to choose Laguna Seca too.

What class of funny car is he running? I'm on a pit crew for a Nostalgia Nitro Funny Car, but we don't run Sears Point / Infineon. I think our next race will be the Hot Rod Reunion at Famoso in late October. Unfortunately, we aren't doing the Night Under Fire in Ohio this year.

5.89 sec @ 258 mph!

It's a nitro funny car, they actually qualified a few races ago in Texas, work in progress for sure. My boss and his partner had the LA Hooker and the Plueger Guyer Mustang (Leah Pruitt-Leduc driving) Nostalgia funny cars but those have been sold off I think..

Our work will be at the Hot Rod Reunion. We always have lots of parts to deliever

[SloCalSpode]

Originally Posted by skwidd

You likely remember back to the late 80's when the central valley guys hauled the pool table to camp above turn 9 every year, set it up with the bar light strung over it between vehicles surrounded by a few couches.

I camped with those guys for several years, what a blast.

Those guys are still attending the races. They moved upscale now and are in
the premier Chaparral campground up above turn 5. Been there every year since
MotoGP came back to Laguna Seca. Still called "The Happy Campers"
They used to camp in the infield and started the burn out contest if I remember
correctly. Remember the year of the infield riots? The "Hill people" were firing water
balloons with a sling shot. The police tried the shut down the party and things
got out of hand. Brings back memories.....
Cheers Jeff

[skwidd]

Originally Posted by SloCalSpode

Those guys are still attending the races. They moved upscale now and are in
the premier Chaparral campground up above turn 5. Been there every year since
MotoGP came back to Laguna Seca. Still called "The Happy Campers"
They used to camp in the infield and started the burn out contest if I remember
correctly. Remember the year of the infield riots? The "Hill people" were firing water
balloons with a sling shot. The police tried the shut down the party and things
got out of hand. Brings back memories.....
Cheers Jeff

Whenever the Sheriff went to shut down the topless dancing girls on the motorhomes, those guys would fire up the burnout contest to get their attention away from the girls.

The balloon fights, and the races down the hill beside the corkscrew on ice chest lids, it's amazing they didn't just bring in a wagon and haul everybody away.

[wrk2surf]

Originally Posted by skwidd

You likely remember back to the late 80's when the central valley guys hauled the pool table to camp above turn 9 every year, set it up with the bar light strung over it between vehicles surrounded by a few couches.

I camped with those guys for several years, what a blast.

you know... all us good ol boys hail from the central valley.. after all the King KR is from here.. we know how to do it on and off the track!

[High Country Herb]

Originally Posted by rollinrob

It's a nitro funny car, they actually qualified a few races ago in Texas, work in progress for sure. My boss and his partner had the LA Hooker and the Plueger Guyer Mustang (Leah Pruitt-Leduc driving) Nostalgia funny cars but those have been sold off I think..

Our work will be at the Hot Rod Reunion. We always have lots of parts to deliever

Small world. Last year (or the year before), our car was down so the owner loaned the motor to Leah for a joint effort car. She did pretty well, if I remember correctly.

[brents347]

Just scored my T2 suite tickets. Anyone else going to be in that area?

[wrk2surf]

Originally Posted by brents347

Just scored my T2 suite tickets. Anyone else going to be in that area?

probably walking past going to the hill sunday....

[Infidel]

Originally Posted by brents347

Just scored my T2 suite tickets. Anyone else going to be in that area?

I'm in T11 with a paddock pass.

[motorcyclefanatic]

Wifey and I are flying in from Flatistan on Wednesday, staying the night at my son's house in the south bay area. Thursday morning we hop on the Blackbird and head down the PCH. Last year we stayed at the Pine Inn in Carmel, this year we rented a cottage there.

Should be interesting, my wife hasn't ridden pillion since she got her endorsement in '08. I expect she'll be fine though, the FJ1200 she used to ride on out here is just a more seasoned version of the CBR1100 we'll be on out there.

My son is driving the truck down with his wife and camping at the track. Last year they did the same on his VFR and were a little cramped. She was a real trooper though, but will be much happier in the truck this year with the luxuries it affords, (at least compared to what they could carry on the bike.)

I was there in 1989 sitting just past turn four watching Kevin Magee do a burnout on the cool down lap when Bubba Shobert nailed him and both guys and bikes went flying. Terrible end to a beautiful weekend that was. Would love to see an American on the top step this year as in '89, but my money is on Lorenzo.

We'll be parking in the green lot this year, look for the Blackbird with the Florida plate. I'll be the guy with the big smile on his face with the woman that makes it immediately apparent to all observers that I married way above my station.

Cya there!

[Closed Casket]

Originally Posted by WNDRLST

I'm hoping to stay over Sunday night, and have a nice leisurely departure Monday morning for an equally leisurely ride north to Point Reyes (where I got us a B&B for the night; after 4 nights of camping, I'll be ready for a night on a real mattress, with real sheets).

Ninety hours and thirty minutes until I hit the road.

Hope you and Charlie have a SAFE, FUN, and TICKET FREE trip to CA and back! (I work with him...). Don't try to keep up with his Multi!

[bootzilla]

Decided late that I am going again this year - actually scored a halfway decent price on a room...crap hotel in Salinas, but what do you expect when you wait? At least it is close to the Reservation road entrance.

I hope Red Bull is doing the drive-in move thing on Cannery Row like they did last year - they had this great big parking lot right in the middle of the action, but it was nearly empty because nobody knew it was there...waaaay easier than hunting of a spot on the Row or one of the blocks nearby.

I'll be coming up 5 Friday from the L.A. area on a light blue R11RT with San Jose BMW emblems with my friend on one of his two crotch-rockets (either a gixxer or a S1RR)...throw up a finger if u see us out there. We'll probably be at that Carl's Jr. in the central valley around lunchtime.

If there is an ADV get-together of any sort, we'd definitely be up to stop by.