camping and auto racing events

Back when I could get a press pass, or at least a press pass, I would pitch a tent in the infield for 12-24 hour races. But I usually stayed up the whole weekend anyway. Only the best equipped teams brought RVs for shelter, and paid more for their space

But that was 40 years ago, times have changed.

Just check the Track web site. There should be a thread for camping inside the track.. We have been to a few NASCAR races and saw the "insiders". I checked into the cost of it you may want to look at that also. Most tracks don't have hook-ups you would probably need a generator. They come and pump out your tanks if needed. And, you need to be in the "infield" usually a few days ahead. Park your vehicle outside the track if you need to leave. All this is because they need the track for practice and time trials and don't allow anyone crossing the track.. good luck happy RVING

Don't do NASCAR and far from the PN, but when we go with our son-in-law to his track (Virginia International Raceway...VIR...near Danville, VA) we camp in the pits. Electrical hookups, no water or place to dump, but if you carry your drinking water and camp near the restrooms, then it's great. Loved it when we went for the first time this summer and plan to do it again in '14, as much as he races:)

My RV is a fixture at several road courses. I love Petit Lemans, but I did not make it this year. I think I should be back next year.

Anyway, it is not in the Northwest, but anyone into racing that can get to Florida should go tot he 12 Hours of Sebring. Best sports car race in North America.

If you are in Wisconsin check out Road America. Fantastic track. They host NASCAR Nationwide and sports car events.

Virginia International Raceway is like a country club. It also has good trackside camping.

Barber Motorsports park just outside of Birmingham, AL is a spectacular track. You can camp on sight, but they do not have any trackside spots. They have an Indy race, and several motorcycle events a year. Still worth the visit. Even if you are just driving by STOP there. They have an incredible motorcycle museum that is a must see.

Now on to the Northwest. I have never traveled up there, and am not familiar with any big races up that way, but Portland has a track that will host some racing.

The in Northern Cali, Sonoma, is a road course that hosts for NASCR and Indy car events.

South to middle of California you have Leguna Seca in Monteray, one of the tracks I really wnat to visit one day, that hosts the same series as Petit (well kind of with the two big road racing series "merging" it is all now under the USCR banner and not ALMS or Grand Am).

If anything else pops in my head for the Northwest I will post, but sadly that area of Washington state and Oregon seem to be left off major race series schedules.

I'm about 7 miles down the road form the New Hampshire Motor Speedway. Weekend before a race I see a number of RV's haning out in the Concord Walmart. Apparently they open the track to RV'ers the Monday before a race weekend. I see motorhomes flowing into the track all week.

A large number of the RV's leave the end of the race and the remaining will head out Monday morning.

Prob. differnt at each location.

I was at the Petit le Mans this past week and the camping was great. This was my 4th year at a site right on the track at turn six. I will be back again for 2014.

There is usually a vast amount of camping options at most race tracks, particularly NASCAR events. Beside facilities on track property there are usually landowners around the track area that create temporary campgrounds for the event.

There were a lot of campgrounds that sprung up around the F! track in Austin for the race in 2012. We chose to stay in a nearby campground as we wanted full hook ups.

We camped for 15+ years at Bristol. Very limited hotel availability there and for years I would guess more than half of those attending were camping at or near the track.

At some tracks you can camp in an area where you can actually watch the race from your campsite, or on top of your RV.

Do a little searching and you will find websites with guides to race tracks that include camping info.

Fellow I know at works own a CLASS C. He not married and completely enjoys the bachelor lifestyle. His style of camping is not the 'traditional' camping. His entire quest in life is NASCAR Racing. Al amost EVERY week-end he takes off and goes to a race somewhere. He travels from Florida to Maine and everywhere in-between. He takes some of his buddies and have the time of their lives.

He "camps" inside the track whenever possible. He talks about sitting on the top of the camper and being able to see the entire oval. Sometimes he sits in the stands, and sometimes he parks outside the track. I do not have a list of which race tracks allow parking inside the track, but I do know, many do.

I don't know how he figures all this out, I'm not a race fan. But I'm sure the track's internet home page information would have all that published somewhere.

So to half-way answer your question, yes ... tracks do allow race-side camping. Where? that I don't know.

I am thinking that maybe the RV's belong to the racers.
I looked for Washington Racing and found lots of tracks but very few with onsite camping.
A couple tracks list campgrounds in the area.