going to NASCAR in an RV

opnspaces wrote:
Make sure you have at least one if not two working carbon monoxide alarms. I know I would if I was going to be that packed in.

This is the most important tip in this thread. There have been many preventable deaths.

Make sure you have at least one if not two working carbon monoxide alarms. I know I would if I was going to be that packed in.

xaugievike wrote:
camp at 2-3 races per season...all sites I stay at are completely primitive, so my advice reflects that. Adjust as needed. Not sure how it happened, but I've become our "ring leader" for trip planning. Here's what I do.

The most important things I see for my group is to keep people fed, watered (literally...dont let too much booze spoil the ability to enjoy the race), and clean.


Pre-plan and make a menu for every meal of every day, include a checklist that includes every. single. ingredient you need. Pre-make stuff that can be pre made. These lists should include cooking tools, fuel, and utensils you'll need. Nothing worse than prepping the big meal and realizing you forgot to pack something...also removes some thought process should you have enjoyed a bit too many beverages.

Teach rookies to RV'ing that you have limited water and limited tank space. Don't be afraid to get a bit preachy to a newb about conserving water, not taking 30 minute showers, etc.

And with that, pack extra water in jugs.

Make sure you have enough fuel to power generator(s)

Make sure you have methods to secure valuable items - i've never experienced a thief at a race yet, but my stuff is also locked down. Most crimes are crimes of opportunity.

Firewood, fire ring, and method for starting a fire...as well as some dedicated quenching water

Water - bring extra...did i mention that already?

Depending on the size of your party coolers and ice will help. The RV fridge doesn't cool beverages fast enough for a large party (we have 16 people in 3 campers usually). Fridges hold the food. Coolers hold the drinks.

Pack advil

An extra canopy or two are worth their weight in gold

Wash dishes outside to save on tank space in the rig (less important if the rig has a dedicated gray tank for sink only, but if it shares space with shower water do it outside)

I think thats it :-)

Thank you for so much detail. I dry camp at a 3 day music festival and these are the tips I have been looking for.

This is the only time each year I dry camp, so I'm always a little more worried than when we are doing a FHU trip. I supply the RV for two of my friends and dh and I have only had our RV for a year. I used my parents fully stocked RV the year before we bought ours, so I'm still learning and acquiring the essentials!

Godsey97 wrote:


I will work like a dog for weeks up to the race, but once at the track I am going to sit im my chair listen to the radio or watch the sattelite TV (outside the MH) and drink JD, go to bed, wake up repeat. Oh, yeah we do go to the track and watch a race too.

I hear you on that. I've been putting in a bunch of time for a couple upcoming weekends. But we've been doing it for so long now it's nearly a science. a few people in the group have said they feel guilty about the work that goes into it for me, but really, I enjoy the hell out of it.

I've taken a weeks vacation and gone to Ky Speedway for the past four years. The first year, it was 95-103 for highs every day the entire week. The next year, I decided I was looking at State Parks Near there. I found one 20 minutes away with a 50amp hook up, water hookup, a pool, shower houses and a campground ground that had normal quiet hours. And it was cheaper than the race track campground.

I've decided that the 24hr party atmosphere, the all day genny's running, the drunks acting foolish were more than I wanted to handle 24x7 for a week of vacation. We still go to the track 3 days (Thu-Sat) but it's nice to know when I go home to the campground at the end of a long day at the track, I'll be able to take a hot shower without a wait in line, run my AC if the temps require it and sleep well without any drunk guy trying to unlock my camper door because he it looks just like his camper. Plus most of the people at the campground are race fans also so I still get to meet plenty of people and share campfires and a few drinks, stories and some fan chatter.

It's what works best for me.

xaugievike wrote:
Here's how I plan food.



I make a table with all the days we'll be at the track along with rows for breakfast, lunch, and dinner to plan out the meals.

We settle into "Island Time" pretty fast at a race, so usually we eat breakfast very late. Which means theres usually not many people eating a lunch. For lunch I usually just make stuff available and it becomes self service (making sandwich, grilling a dog or brat, etc). Then dinner is usually later - and usually very big.

Anyway, after the meals are laid out in the top table, I make the grocery list in the bottom table. Like I said in my first response, I lay out every single ingredient and condiment in this grocery list. Stuff with a # sign after it indicates I need that same thing for another portion of the menu somewhere (so i don't go back to grab bacon 4 times). Stuff with an * preceding it is something I have at home and need to pack, but not purchase (usually spices, seasonings or something).

We do the same thing. Each of our group has a "job". I am the "CFO". I plan out what the tickets are going to cost, camping, good estimate on gas and what food will be after consulting with the "Chef" once he has made his mind up on the menu. I get the total, add 10-15% for incidental price increases (fuel) we didn't count on and divide it by the number of people in the party. I collect each persons share and take care of all the "buying" or refunding the chef if he purchases something. The chef plans the meals down to the smallest detail and pre-makes what he can. We use egg-beaters as opposed to real eggs, etc. Another member of the group is in charge of "games" making sure cornhole, washers, ladder golf etc is all on the trailer. (Yes we pull a utility trailer loaded down with gear behind out MH). It seems like work, and it is BEFORE you leave for the trip. We have learned over the last 10-12 years that working hard and having the process and arrangements done ahead of time means everyone relaxes at the race and nothing is missed. The only thing we don't do as a group is adult beverages. There are too many different preferences to keep up with. Also I drink Jack Daniels, and only Jack Daniels and never thought it was right that we split the cost of alcohol when I am drinking $40/litre JD and others are drinking $12/case beer.

At the end of the trip when we are all unloading the trailer and motorhome I sit down and divy up what money is left and split it amongst everyone. Early on we would put that left over money towards "stuff" like a shower shanty, etc.

I will work like a dog for weeks up to the race, but once at the track I am going to sit im my chair listen to the radio or watch the sattelite TV (outside the MH) and drink JD, go to bed, wake up repeat. Oh, yeah we do go to the track and watch a race too.

We have met the best people in the campgrounds at NASCAR tracks.

Here's how I plan food.



I make a table with all the days we'll be at the track along with rows for breakfast, lunch, and dinner to plan out the meals.

We settle into "Island Time" pretty fast at a race, so usually we eat breakfast very late. Which means theres usually not many people eating a lunch. For lunch I usually just make stuff available and it becomes self service (making sandwich, grilling a dog or brat, etc). Then dinner is usually later - and usually very big.

Anyway, after the meals are laid out in the top table, I make the grocery list in the bottom table. Like I said in my first response, I lay out every single ingredient and condiment in this grocery list. Stuff with a # sign after it indicates I need that same thing for another portion of the menu somewhere (so i don't go back to grab bacon 4 times). Stuff with an * preceding it is something I have at home and need to pack, but not purchase (usually spices, seasonings or something).

xaugievike wrote:
camp at 2-3 races per season...all sites I stay at are completely primitive, so my advice reflects that. Adjust as needed. Not sure how it happened, but I've become our "ring leader" for trip planning. Here's what I do.

The most important things I see for my group is to keep people fed, watered (literally...dont let too much booze spoil the ability to enjoy the race), and clean.


Pre-plan and make a menu for every meal of every day, include a checklist that includes every. single. ingredient you need. Pre-make stuff that can be pre made. These lists should include cooking tools, fuel, and utensils you'll need. Nothing worse than prepping the big meal and realizing you forgot to pack something...also removes some thought process should you have enjoyed a bit too many beverages.

Teach rookies to RV'ing that you have limited water and limited tank space. Don't be afraid to get a bit preachy to a newb about conserving water, not taking 30 minute showers, etc.

And with that, pack extra water in jugs.

Make sure you have enough fuel to power generator(s)

Make sure you have methods to secure valuable items - i've never experienced a thief at a race yet, but my stuff is also locked down. Most crimes are crimes of opportunity.

Firewood, fire ring, and method for starting a fire...as well as some dedicated quenching water

Water - bring extra...did i mention that already?

Depending on the size of your party coolers and ice will help. The RV fridge doesn't cool beverages fast enough for a large party (we have 16 people in 3 campers usually). Fridges hold the food. Coolers hold the drinks.

Pack advil

An extra canopy or two are worth their weight in gold

Wash dishes outside to save on tank space in the rig (less important if the rig has a dedicated gray tank for sink only, but if it shares space with shower water do it outside)

I think thats it :-)

^He nails all of it right there^.....with one edit. Substitute "water" with "beer"

Me and 6-7 old college buddies of mine do the fall race at Talladega every year. It's a blast. Usually takes a week after to recoup.

Camping at NH race, Fresh water is $1.50 a gallon. About $35 for a pump out. They have portable toilets everywhere for you to use, and showers. Buses back and forth to track, seems very fan friendly. No generators after 11:00, they will come by and tell you to turn it off. Police keep a close eye on the campground they are there 24hrs.

I was camped at Pocono Raceway the first weekend of June for the Pocono400. I was there from Thursday at 12noon until Monday at 12noon and I had a very good time. I was camped Trackside. Camped in the infield or outside the track you still have access in and out. There is a tunnel under the track to the infield. I do think it costs extra for that in and out privilege. I suggest you arrive with a full fresh water tank and empty holding tanks. All the food and drink you need. Propane tank full. Fuel tank full. There is holding tank emptying service available but there is no drinking water delivery service available. Sites are close together so I suggest having a Genturi generator exhaust system. There will be 24hr generator use and some 24hr parties. There will be a shuttle that circles through the camping areas that takes you to the infield concert/party on Fri/Sat/Sun nights. There is a daytime shuttle that takes you to the grandstand and the Fan Fair area.
Wear comfortable shoes.
Take ear plugs.
Relax.
Have fun.