First vist to NHRA Pomona any tips?
Discussion
Hi!
First of all...jealous
Second of all, make sure you go to the smaller west( i think) grandstand not the massive one...Main reason being, you are SOOO much closer and the view and spectacle are that much better youll love it!
My folks went last feb, and thought it was one of the best places to view theyd ever been to, and they have been to more than a few
But, at the same time, if you like to be close to the pits and dont mind sitting half a mile away, the other side is fine
Most importantly, have a great time and hope the weather is with you
First of all...jealous
Second of all, make sure you go to the smaller west( i think) grandstand not the massive one...Main reason being, you are SOOO much closer and the view and spectacle are that much better youll love it!
My folks went last feb, and thought it was one of the best places to view theyd ever been to, and they have been to more than a few
But, at the same time, if you like to be close to the pits and dont mind sitting half a mile away, the other side is fine
Most importantly, have a great time and hope the weather is with you
Lucky, lucky you.
Unlike other events, Pomona races have one Pro qualifying session on Thursday, one on Friday, then two on Saturday.
I take Darryl's point about the west side seating. Note that it only stretches to about the 1/8-mile and the general admission (unreserved) sections are towards mid-track, but fine view. You may have trouble seeing the big screen at the finish line.
Personally, I much like the Top Eliminator Club, overlooking the start line on the main/east/pit side. If you are going all four days, I believe it is very good value at $325 (not everyone agrees). Compare that with the F1 Paddock Club: last year's cheapest was the Turkish GP's 2-day price of approx. $3340 (gasp!). Also, TEC members are required to stay seated; further up track, people often stand up when the fuel cars come on -- ok perhaps if you're 6-3 but you don't see them, only feel them go by, if you're 5-7 like me.
Don't know which direction you'll be coming from, but on Sunday especially, the Fairplex Drive route northward up from I-10 can get very slow. Worth heading on to the I-210 and taking the Arrow Highway exit which will bring you in along the north side of the Fairplex.
The Fairplex (not NHRA) charges daily for parking, starting at $10 nearest the gate and up to $40 (I think) nearest the track. If you have legs, pay the $10 and walk. Mind you, if you buy four TEC memberships (got three friends to take?) you get free parking in the VIP lot next to the pits on the north side.
Unlike other events, Pomona races have one Pro qualifying session on Thursday, one on Friday, then two on Saturday.
I take Darryl's point about the west side seating. Note that it only stretches to about the 1/8-mile and the general admission (unreserved) sections are towards mid-track, but fine view. You may have trouble seeing the big screen at the finish line.
Personally, I much like the Top Eliminator Club, overlooking the start line on the main/east/pit side. If you are going all four days, I believe it is very good value at $325 (not everyone agrees). Compare that with the F1 Paddock Club: last year's cheapest was the Turkish GP's 2-day price of approx. $3340 (gasp!). Also, TEC members are required to stay seated; further up track, people often stand up when the fuel cars come on -- ok perhaps if you're 6-3 but you don't see them, only feel them go by, if you're 5-7 like me.
Don't know which direction you'll be coming from, but on Sunday especially, the Fairplex Drive route northward up from I-10 can get very slow. Worth heading on to the I-210 and taking the Arrow Highway exit which will bring you in along the north side of the Fairplex.
The Fairplex (not NHRA) charges daily for parking, starting at $10 nearest the gate and up to $40 (I think) nearest the track. If you have legs, pay the $10 and walk. Mind you, if you buy four TEC memberships (got three friends to take?) you get free parking in the VIP lot next to the pits on the north side.
Brilliant. We on this site are enthusiasts for the drags, of course, and biased in the sport's favour. Those of us stuck here in Blighty waiting for Easter to come along will envy you.
You may love it, you may hate it, but it won't be like anything you've seen or heard before.
Be aware, this is the world's loudest sport you are attending. They get lower decibel counts on the flight deck of an aircraft carrier.
Most of us here, I guess, would be at the track at 7.30am Thursday morning and stay till close of play in the evening, and each day thereafter. But if you are planning to go only one day, I'd suggest Saturday. You get two Pro qualifying sessions and see everyone in action. Come Sunday's eliminations, non-qualifiers have gone home. Plus, if you really enjoy Saturday, you can go back again Sunday.
If you haven't looked at this stuff already, here's the event schedule:
http://www.nhra.com/UserFiles/file/EventSchedules/...
and here's the ticketing page.
https://tix.extremetix.com/Online/?siteID=2729&...
Check out NHRA's website at www.nhra.com.
It's open access to the pits -- great to get there early, watch the teams setting up and working.
Also, if you have time, visit the NHRA Museum in the opposite, south-east corner of the Fairplex behind the Sheraton Hotel.
Afterwards, please be kind enough to take a moment to tell us your thoughts and experiences at the race -- good and/or bad. I'm sure people here would be interested to know.
You may love it, you may hate it, but it won't be like anything you've seen or heard before.
Be aware, this is the world's loudest sport you are attending. They get lower decibel counts on the flight deck of an aircraft carrier.
Most of us here, I guess, would be at the track at 7.30am Thursday morning and stay till close of play in the evening, and each day thereafter. But if you are planning to go only one day, I'd suggest Saturday. You get two Pro qualifying sessions and see everyone in action. Come Sunday's eliminations, non-qualifiers have gone home. Plus, if you really enjoy Saturday, you can go back again Sunday.
If you haven't looked at this stuff already, here's the event schedule:
http://www.nhra.com/UserFiles/file/EventSchedules/...
and here's the ticketing page.
https://tix.extremetix.com/Online/?siteID=2729&...
Check out NHRA's website at www.nhra.com.
It's open access to the pits -- great to get there early, watch the teams setting up and working.
Also, if you have time, visit the NHRA Museum in the opposite, south-east corner of the Fairplex behind the Sheraton Hotel.
Afterwards, please be kind enough to take a moment to tell us your thoughts and experiences at the race -- good and/or bad. I'm sure people here would be interested to know.
RWJ said:
Joe,
We Brits, I suspect, are genetically more inclined to save the money and walk. (Or is it just me?)
Plus, it heightens the anticipation.
Well I certainly can understand saving $$, but the preferred Parking has it's own exit! If you have ever fought the Traffic getting out of the Fairplex, you would know what I mean!We Brits, I suspect, are genetically more inclined to save the money and walk. (Or is it just me?)
Plus, it heightens the anticipation.
First visit report.
I decided to go both Saturday and Sunday.
Arrived around 7:40am Saturday to a cold and wet Pomona, used preferred parking.
Had a good wander around the pits, then around 10am the first Top Fuel starts up, so I get up nice and close (ear plugs in) and then they let rip and it feels like being hit by an earthquake and sprayed in the face with teargas (Nitromethane) - loved it.
The crew did a great job drying out the track so I am sitting in West stand section B row 4, which is cool place to feel the full force as you are oppostite the engine at the start line.
First race is Pro Stock, great fun, then came Top Fuel, with every start made me feel like I was in a car accident and I could not see down the track due to railings.
I watched all the Top Fuel then moved down a high position in the General admission area, which I enjoyed as I could apprechiate the speed.
Later in the day I found my favorite spot at fence by the finish line, seeing the cars hurtle down the track is something special.
On Sunday was in the main stand section 4 near the top, much nicer expericence as Top Fuel was loud but without the shockwave and I can see the entire track. By the end of the day I ended back by the fence.
Friendly bunch of people, great show!
I decided to go both Saturday and Sunday.
Arrived around 7:40am Saturday to a cold and wet Pomona, used preferred parking.
Had a good wander around the pits, then around 10am the first Top Fuel starts up, so I get up nice and close (ear plugs in) and then they let rip and it feels like being hit by an earthquake and sprayed in the face with teargas (Nitromethane) - loved it.
The crew did a great job drying out the track so I am sitting in West stand section B row 4, which is cool place to feel the full force as you are oppostite the engine at the start line.
First race is Pro Stock, great fun, then came Top Fuel, with every start made me feel like I was in a car accident and I could not see down the track due to railings.
I watched all the Top Fuel then moved down a high position in the General admission area, which I enjoyed as I could apprechiate the speed.
Later in the day I found my favorite spot at fence by the finish line, seeing the cars hurtle down the track is something special.
On Sunday was in the main stand section 4 near the top, much nicer expericence as Top Fuel was loud but without the shockwave and I can see the entire track. By the end of the day I ended back by the fence.
Friendly bunch of people, great show!
Yes indeed, thank you for the report. Glad you enjoyed the race. Unfortunate about the changeable weather -- it was forecast to be four consecutive sunny days.
Here's another first-time visitor who seems to have liked it:
http://m.dailynews.com/ladn/db_22845/contentdetail...
Here's another first-time visitor who seems to have liked it:
http://m.dailynews.com/ladn/db_22845/contentdetail...
The first 2 of a great many photos from last weekends Winternationals.
Courtney Force by realjv, on Flickr
Courtney Force by realjv, on Flickr
Courtney Force by realjv, on Flickr
Courtney Force by realjv, on Flickr
Edited by realjv on Friday 17th February 17:46
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