July 2007 NASCAR
race Report
Get out the beer and the crazy wagons, we're goin'
racin'
Going to the NASCAR races at NHMS in Loudon NH is one of our most
favorite things to do. It is also by far our craziest and busiest time of
year! We buy our NASCAR Nextel Cup race tickets a year ahead of time for
this event. Our Busch series tickets, Whelen Modified race tickets, and
Craftsman Truck Series tickets are all bought the day of each race in case
they rain out.
Besides NHMS race tickets, we spend weeks ahead of time getting
beer, food and water (in order of priority) ready for the NASCAR races at NHMS here
in Loudon New Hampshire. We get the camper ready to go the weekend prior to the
race weekend and bring it to NHMS in Loudon NH on Sunday and set it up. We
leave the camper at NHMS for a few days and return again on Wednesday to
stay for the rest of the week and into the race weekend.
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Before You go to The
Track! |
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We spend Wednesday and Thursday afternoon at NHMS looking for good deals in
the tents during the day and watching the Mardi-Gras style party
stumbling down the main walkway at night. When we feel the urge for a little more
excitement, we leave our crazy "L lot" and head over to the "X Lot" at NHMS. I think they need to add a
couple more X's to that lot. The X lot is definitely the craziest lot in the
camping area, maybe more for the July race, but September's race crowd is
still a rowdy one. I'm not so sure that clothes are even required for this lot,
but don't expect to get any sleep there. The party goes all night long.
As the week goes on, the camping areas fill up. By
Friday night, the place is sold out and the party is on! Don't count on
getting much sleep at any of the NHMS camping areas at that point,
even in the "Family Lot" we find sleeping is done in small quantities
between the hours of 1am and 5am. The rest of the time there is too much
going on at NHMS to get any sleep. But that's half the fun of going!
We made sure we went to every race, starting on Friday
with the Whelen Modified 100 race. Then on Saturday, we went to the
Craftsman Truck race and the Grand
National Division, Busch East Series New Hampshire 125. I personally like
this race because my father went to school with Dave Dion at Alvirne High
School in Hudson, NH. Dave Dion drives the #29
Berlin City car in the Busch East Series. My father was suppose to hit up
Dave for pit passes for us, but my dad passed away before he called Dave about
it. I think we're going to have to settle for the grandstands. When you
listen to Dave Dion and his crew on the scanners, you really get a sense
that his team works well together, everyone keeps a cool head and they spend
their time thinking about every move. A great team! This particular race was almost a big
one for Dave. They skipped the last pit because they predicted an early end
to the race which really paid off, but Dave missed a gear near the end of
the race coming out of turn 2 and it was over. Win or lose, Dave Dion and
his team have guts and a lot of knowledge. We're huge fans of Dave Dion and
look forward to the Busch East Series races in 2007 at NHMS. Go Dave!!
Dion Brothers
Racing Website
Then of coarse on Sunday
was the NASCAR Nextel Cup Series Sylvania 300. This is the highlight of the
race weekend at NHMS for many people. The stands are crowded to capacity and
the beer and peanuts become lunch for thousands of people. Power was lost at
NHMS just before the start of the race, so that added a bit of confusion to
the event. For the NEXTEL
Cup race at NHMS, we watch (and listen to) Dale Earnhardt Jr., Kevin Harvick,
and Kasey Kahne (If you look for these three flags and of coarse Dale
Earnhardt Sr. #3 on our PVC pipe flagpole, you just might find us in the
camping area). And even though Jeff Gordon and Dale Earnhardt are friends,
doesn't mean we are routing for Jeff Gordon... We find Jeff Gordon is
a bit of a pansy and gets upset when he loses, so we make fun of him
instead. And I think we just recently threw in Tony Stewart into the same
category. These two NASCAR drivers are easy to poke fun of, so we do...
Nothing personal. The rivalry in the camping area lives on! And no, that was
not us dragging a Jeff Gordon doll behind our wagon... But it sure was
funny! When it was all said and done, Kevin Harvick took the checkered flag.
After the NASCAR race ends, the race in the parking
lots begin. I'm not so sure I don't like this part of the race weekend at
NHMS better. Watching thousands of people yelling and screaming profanities
at each other about who cut off who, only to be dead stuck in traffic in the
parking lot 15 feet further down the road for 4 hours without moving just
moments later. The funniest part of this is that just a couple hours ago,
they were all NASCAR fans high-five'n, drinking beer together and camping
next to each other. I guess that's what happens when we get behind the wheel
of our campers. Hmmm. Well, I don't understand it myself. While everyone is
fighting to leave, we grab a lawn chair and a cold beer and go watch the
fun. Then, when they are all done beating each other to a pulp, we walk to
our truck and go home. And there is nothing better than that first shower
when we get there. :)
View Photos
from the Race!
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Fast Facts About This Trip: |
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The Good: |
- NASCAR racing! That's a no brainer!
- Usually the crowd at NHMS is very entertaining.
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The Bad: |
- The traffic in and out of NHMS
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The Ugly: |
- People who get so drunk they think they throw their arm
around you and tell you they are the Spiritual "Gate Keeper."
Yeah, you know who you are! Wow!
- 100,000 people at NHMS and only 5 showers?
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Tips to Remember: |
- There ARE showers at NHMS! They are near turn 2. There are
only 5, so go there early am or late at night or the lines are
huge!
- Ice is expensive there (worth every penny when you need it
though). We bring some with us to the track but it doesn't last
long! The
ice truck delivers ice throughout the camping area's main roads
all day
starting early am. You will hear when the ice people are coming,
they have a loud speaker: iiiiiccccceeeeeeeee....aaahhhhh.....
whaaaatzuuup or something like that. Really great people (and
funny). They also have a tent set up in the L lot on the main
pathway in case you missed the truck.
- Septic and water services for camping trailers are available
in the camping areas. We use the outhouses so never used these
services, but I can imagine they are good services.
- Be prepared for a long wait to leave the track, especially
if you have a camper.
- There are two gas stations and stores just outside the track
property on Rt. 106. It's about a mile walk, not bad, but bring your wagon
for beer, ice and anything else you wouldn't want to carry for a
mile!
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Links: |
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Date of Report: September 13 - 17, 2006
