NHRA in Vegas, anyone been?
Discussion
RWJ said:
A free day. Alternatively, join us for a private tour of the museum and factory at Shelby Automobiles, home of the awe-inspiring Shelby Cobra!
oh theirs another idea 
We plan to do a fly drive and take in 3 days of racing at the end of the trip, so a planned trip isnt needed as we will do this ourselves.
I guess we just go and enjoy it! Shame the fuel cars wont be running the quarter mile, but I guess we have more chance of the weather being good!
I went to Vegas in Oct 2007 - you can't really put a foot wrong. We stayed on the strip, go the bus each day to the strip, so that we could drink during the day and get drunk at night and not worry about driving in the morning.
If you have any specific questions, fire away, I'll try and help
Ian
If you have any specific questions, fire away, I'll try and help
Ian
Nice one cheers. So what was the bus service like for Costs, waiting times, journey times etc? We were thinking of keeping the hire car to get us there and back each day.
Oh and what level of grandstand seating would you recomend? I wasnt sure if you could have none and sit on the banking like Pod
Oh and what level of grandstand seating would you recomend? I wasnt sure if you could have none and sit on the banking like Pod
I read about the bus service to and from the LVMS (Las Vegas Motor Speedway) website. and then asked about the bus service again when we got to the hotel, Exaliber. The concierge there made the enquiries and gave us the info.
We got the bus from just outside the hotel, which went down the strip all the way to the bus station just north of Fremont Street. Then got a special service to motorspeed way (drag strip). It cost only a few dollors and took about 45-60 minutes - but on the sunday night took alot longer coz of the traffic on race day.
I prefered to do this, so we could have a good few beers at the track - there are beer tenders that sell you beer at your seat!!!!
As for seating, you can but general admission tickets. This will give you entry but won't garantee you a seat. There is a grandstand that you can seat where ever you won't on this ticket, but your in the sun most of the time, and it's a 1st come 1st serve basis. We bought seated tickets on the main grandstand, which is on the other side to the general admission grandstand, well worth it as you can come and go and you please. You will find that most peolpe only sit during the 'pro nitro' classes, TF, FC etc. and then there retire to either under the grandstand for shade or go shopping, eating ect., in the stalls behind.
You can buy the tickets on ticketmaster.com, that is where we bought ours.
and remember 'This is Vegas baby, you can do anything in Vegas'
We got the bus from just outside the hotel, which went down the strip all the way to the bus station just north of Fremont Street. Then got a special service to motorspeed way (drag strip). It cost only a few dollors and took about 45-60 minutes - but on the sunday night took alot longer coz of the traffic on race day.
I prefered to do this, so we could have a good few beers at the track - there are beer tenders that sell you beer at your seat!!!!
As for seating, you can but general admission tickets. This will give you entry but won't garantee you a seat. There is a grandstand that you can seat where ever you won't on this ticket, but your in the sun most of the time, and it's a 1st come 1st serve basis. We bought seated tickets on the main grandstand, which is on the other side to the general admission grandstand, well worth it as you can come and go and you please. You will find that most peolpe only sit during the 'pro nitro' classes, TF, FC etc. and then there retire to either under the grandstand for shade or go shopping, eating ect., in the stalls behind.
You can buy the tickets on ticketmaster.com, that is where we bought ours.
and remember 'This is Vegas baby, you can do anything in Vegas'
I went to the April meeting in 2005 – my first and only NHRA Meeting to date.
I rented a car - about £200 for a Mustang Convertible (or similar, which I got!) for 7 days - and stayed on the Strip, so I can’t comment about the transportation to and from the track, but to say it was dead easy by car is a total understatement (the track has it’s on exit off the motorway/highway). I didn’t drink alcohol whilst I was on site so it was no issue for me with driving.
The track and facilities are awesome, but being as I wanted to experience something special, I bought the track’s own version of a Top Eliminator Club ticket (sorry can’t remember what it was called). Cost was about $360 for all 4 days, with lunch on day 2 and breakfast and lunch on days 3 and 4.
The ticket was easy to buy, I just simply called the Box Office and ordered the tickets over the phone (001 702 6 44 44 44). The guy I spoke to was really helpful and let me select where I wanted to sit (ie how far up the strip).
When we got there, we collected the tickets from the “Will Call” Office without any hassle. In the grandstand, we found we were on the top tier (about 5 or 6 stories up and needed an elevator to get there) and most importantly the seats were under cover, as the sun was very fierce (Top Tip) where the “normal” seats are not covered
The other benefit about the ticket was that we got VIP Parking (behind “The Strip” sign) with a dedicated exit, so getting away at the end of the day was also dead easy
There is no “bank” like the Pod, so you will be at track level, if you do not want/buy a seat. However, I think you may be able to buy ticket in the covered part of the grandstand, as mine had a value printed on them (the cost varied for each day, but it was $90 for Sat/Sun)
Would I go back? Definitely (but not to watch 1000ft racing). The same type of ticket? Certainly.
Hope this helps with your plans
phil200 said:
Any info on Seating, travel plans to and from the track, where to buy tickets etc etc.. anything really. We've never been to the Vegas track so any info would be handy, cheers.
Phil where do you like to sit? Sec A is behind the starting line, Sec is about at 60' and Sec I-J are close to around 330'! The stands on the Pit side only go to 1/8 mile! Tickets are at 1-800-644-4444 or do to www.lvms.comThats very helpful, cheers guys!
I like to sit roundabout level with the christmas tree.
Good point about the covered seating, never thought of that. As said were there late Oct so the temps may not be too bad then, around 21c/70f, bearable in the sun do you think?
Cant decide if we should leave the car and get the bus in, saving on car hire costs, or keep the car and drive in each day, saving beer costs
Looking at the ticket prices it looks to be cheaper to buy the 4 day weekend pass than it is for just 3 days. Weekend is $145 to 3 days $174 (though maths isnt my strong point!)
So is their lots on besides racing at the Vegas track?
I like to sit roundabout level with the christmas tree.
Good point about the covered seating, never thought of that. As said were there late Oct so the temps may not be too bad then, around 21c/70f, bearable in the sun do you think?
Cant decide if we should leave the car and get the bus in, saving on car hire costs, or keep the car and drive in each day, saving beer costs
Looking at the ticket prices it looks to be cheaper to buy the 4 day weekend pass than it is for just 3 days. Weekend is $145 to 3 days $174 (though maths isnt my strong point!)
So is their lots on besides racing at the Vegas track?
Edited by phil200 on Wednesday 1st July 13:43
phil200 said:
Good point about the covered seating, never thought of that. As said were there late Oct so the temps may not be too bad then, around 21c/70f, bearable in the sun do you think?
KingNitro is probably better placed to answer this than me, but whilst I was there it wasn't particularly hot, it was that the sun was fierce from a cloudless sky....phil200 said:
So is their lots on besides racing at the Vegas track?
The track is in the middle of a Desert, so there's phil200 said:
Thats very helpful, cheers guys!
I like to sit roundabout level with the christmas tree.
Good point about the covered seating, never thought of that. As said were there late Oct so the temps may not be too bad then, around 21c/70f, bearable in the sun do you think?
Cant decide if we should leave the car and get the bus in, saving on car hire costs, or keep the car and drive in each day, saving beer costs
Looking at the ticket prices it looks to be cheaper to buy the 4 day weekend pass than it is for just 3 days. Weekend is $145 to 3 days $174 (though maths isnt my strong point!)
So is their lots on besides racing at the Vegas track?
Phil, if you want the Christmas Tree you Sec B, but try to get Row 20 or higher. The P.A. Speakers tend to block your view if you sit in Row 10-12! Oct temps can range from the 60's-80's, but bring a coat it can get Cold there at Night! Parking is plentiful and FREE, not like most tracks where you have to sit in traffic for an hour! Here are my pics from April from there!I like to sit roundabout level with the christmas tree.
Good point about the covered seating, never thought of that. As said were there late Oct so the temps may not be too bad then, around 21c/70f, bearable in the sun do you think?
Cant decide if we should leave the car and get the bus in, saving on car hire costs, or keep the car and drive in each day, saving beer costs
Looking at the ticket prices it looks to be cheaper to buy the 4 day weekend pass than it is for just 3 days. Weekend is $145 to 3 days $174 (though maths isnt my strong point!)
So is their lots on besides racing at the Vegas track?
Edited by phil200 on Wednesday 1st July 13:43
http://kingnitro.smugmug.com/gallery/7831502_M5CrC...
Edited by Kingnitro on Wednesday 1st July 19:22
This is excellent advice, cheers. Higher seat it is then
Good photos too... I think I'll go for a few bud lights too
The jury is out with taking the car or bus, and covered seating... Afterall we would like to see the sun, but not too much and I see your point about it being relentless cloud free sunshine.. hmmm
Oh and with the things to do while at the strip, I meant trade stalls, shops, places to eat and drink amongst exhibition vehicles etc. But your pics have answered that perfectly
Feel free to throw in any Vegas tips too, I like the idea of a Shelby visit
Good photos too... I think I'll go for a few bud lights too
The jury is out with taking the car or bus, and covered seating... Afterall we would like to see the sun, but not too much and I see your point about it being relentless cloud free sunshine.. hmmm
Oh and with the things to do while at the strip, I meant trade stalls, shops, places to eat and drink amongst exhibition vehicles etc. But your pics have answered that perfectly
Feel free to throw in any Vegas tips too, I like the idea of a Shelby visit
phil200 said:
This is excellent advice, cheers. Higher seat it is then
Good photos too... I think I'll go for a few bud lights too
The jury is out with taking the car or bus, and covered seating... Afterall we would like to see the sun, but not too much and I see your point about it being relentless cloud free sunshine.. hmmm
Oh and with the things to do while at the strip, I meant trade stalls, shops, places to eat and drink amongst exhibition vehicles etc. But your pics have answered that perfectly
Feel free to throw in any Vegas tips too, I like the idea of a Shelby visit
One more thing, since Vegas has the Suites that run parellel with the track, your in the shade by 3 PM each day! Pretty nice especially if it's in the 80-90's!Good photos too... I think I'll go for a few bud lights too
The jury is out with taking the car or bus, and covered seating... Afterall we would like to see the sun, but not too much and I see your point about it being relentless cloud free sunshine.. hmmm
Oh and with the things to do while at the strip, I meant trade stalls, shops, places to eat and drink amongst exhibition vehicles etc. But your pics have answered that perfectly
Feel free to throw in any Vegas tips too, I like the idea of a Shelby visit
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