| Author |
Message |
David Harris (Dakharris)
Junior Member
Username: Dakharris
Post Number: 123
Registered: 6-2001
| | Posted on Thursday, February 28, 2002 - 7:28 pm: | |
I used to be on the Committee of 300 for the LBGP back in the late '80's. You might look into their package called the Paddock Club. It includes lunches and a nice tent where you can go between races. I always thought that the best seating was at the last turn where you could see the cars coming down the hill through the esses and around the hairpin and all the way up the straight to the start/finish. You can get into the garage area, but the pits are a different story. For that, you have to buy a special pass (or have a CART card), wear long pants and leave the kids behind. The pit area is truly exciting, though. Go all three days. Friday is the best for walking around as the crowds are smallest that day. By Sunday, all you want to do is plant yourself in a nice grandstand seat and enjoy the races. |
Chris D (Prohydro)
| | Posted on Friday, February 08, 2002 - 11:06 am: | |
One of the traditions that we have started is no matter where we are sitting, we walk to the first corner to watch the start. It is so cool to watch 20 900+ hp cars head into that turn together. I get goosebumps just thinking about it! We then head back to our seats, but it is worth it. |
Arnaldo Torres (Caribe)
| | Posted on Thursday, February 07, 2002 - 10:16 pm: | |
Thank you guys for the feedback. I will definitely take your suggestions to heart since I want to make the best out of the weekend for my kids. |
Richard Stephens (Dino2400)
| | Posted on Wednesday, February 06, 2002 - 10:20 pm: | |
Haven't been to the Long Beach race since about 1990 when I was in university but if it is still the same as it was then I'd recommend just buying general admission and walking around the track. We were able to see action at every corner and you are really close to the track, too.
Earplugs are definitely recommended - I was wishing I had some. I've been to some pretty loud concerts, but standing a few feet away while a whole pack of race cars goes by at a million rpm was by far the loudest thing I've ever heard in my life!
-Rich |
Brian stewart (Eurocardoc)
| | Posted on Wednesday, February 06, 2002 - 7:17 pm: | |
Do they still have the weekend Paddock Club? My wife always hung out there while I worked, they had special parking , food and drinks included, I remember it being outside of the last turn opposite Pit In. |
Chris D (Prohydro)
| | Posted on Tuesday, February 05, 2002 - 7:20 pm: | |
Just to let you know, the grandstand numbers in my post refer to the grandstand numbers at the Long Beach GP. (looked on the track map while I wrote my post) |
Chris D (Prohydro)
| | Posted on Tuesday, February 05, 2002 - 7:14 pm: | |
I haven't been down to Long Beach yet, but I go to Vancouver and Portland every year. You are going to love it.
Definately buy a paddock pass. You won't believe how close you can get to the cars and teams (and owners. I have run into Paul Newman several times). If you are nice and say "please" and "thank you", you can talk to anyone and touch the cars. Hanging out in the paddock is half the fun.
Seating: This is where it gets a little tricky. There are several ways you can go. You could buy a pricey ticket right across from the pits (grand stands 31, 30, 29, 28, 27). This gives you good straightaway action, and good pit action, but not a lot else. Or, you could buy a general admission pass, and walk around the track and look for a good spot to watch from. At Vancouver, some of the best action happens in the free viewing areas! The other option is to try and buy a ticket in one of the other grandstands (like 2, 7, 17, 18, 21) where you have a good view of a straight and a corner, preferably see them coming out of a corner, down a straight, then into another corner.
Remember, only Sunday has reserved seating. Friday and Saturday are great days to go, as you can sit anywhere and there are lots less people.
Wherever you sit though, make sure that you can see a jumbotron! Trust me, it will make the race a lot more enjoyable if you can tell what is going on. Oh, and rent a scanner if you can, at least on Saturday. Paul Tracy will have the most, umm, colorful commentary back to his pits. |
Arnaldo Torres (Caribe)
| | Posted on Tuesday, February 05, 2002 - 11:00 am: | |
I know Ferrari does not participate in CART, but since I have never been to an event like this, I thought I ask a couple of questions (for those of you who have attended similar events, or this event, in then past):
1. Anybody has an opinion for the right seating area? (Start/Finish line, versus First turn, last turn, etc.)
2. Is buying tickets for the garage pass worth it?
Thanks for any feedback. |
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