first(and last) NASCAR race

[HOGFAN]

DH and I went to Richmond race last nite. never again(tho he will). I never saw such a disgusting display of drunkedness in my life. You dont dare take a child there with all the swearing and middle finger salutes. And people blowing smoke in your face right and left or spilling beer on you. Granted, alot of folks were not drunk. But they were in the minority. Why the police didnt arrest alot for public drunkedness is beyond me. NEVER, EVER again.

 

[soccerfreak_08]

My dad and I went on Christian Family Day at the St. Louis track and that is the only time I would go back...

 

[swea_pea1]

I'm sorry things were so bad for you. There were 6 of us that went, seated in three different sections, and we all had a great time. There were a couple of kids in our section, but I agree I wouldn't bring mine there. They'd be whining the whole time about the noise!

 

[plutolovr]

FYI, there are some tracks, can't name them off the top of my head, I think Martinsville is one, that have special family sections, where there is no smoking or drinking allowed. I can never understand why smoking is still allowed at a race, when you can't smoke at most baseball/football stadiums anymore. I have a feeling, with Winston being out of the sport, you may start to see a move to smoke-free facilities soon, or at least I hope so.

 

[4DisneyfansinNC]

I'm sorry you had to experience that. That's pretty much why we haven't taken our kids to a race yet. We usually will take them to qualifying though. It's not as crowded and not nearly as many drunks.

 

[Chattyaholic]

Sorry you had a bad NASCAR experience.

DH and I have season tickets for the Michigan races, we've never experienced anything really bad like that. Quite a few people smoke and drink beer but about the worst thing is the beer drinkers have to get up and walk in front of you every little bit to go out to the bathroom. A few are a little obnoxious but nothing severe.

Now last year DS and his DW went for the first time and had "cheap seats" and there were really rowdy people there, even smoking pot!

I do wish they'd stop the smoking. I get so tired of being surrounded by smokers.

 

[Evil Queen]

I like going to Homestead. Atlanta wasn't bad for us either, but Talladega, even though fun for adults, glad my son wasn't with us.

 

[stevenpensacola]

Why do you think it's called "neck"car...?

 

[The Mystery Machine]

Wow, sorry you had an awful time. DH and I have not been to a race YET! I have been waiting to go to Texas Motor Speedway since we moved here last year.

I was debating about bringing the kids and now I know I won't do it. They cannot stand smoke, so that would be a mistake to bring them!
Thanks so much....

 

[Boo'sMom]

Half of the problem is that it's a night race....fans sit around all day and drink, so by the time the race rolls around, they're beyond gone.....
Most tracks do have a family section. We've been to Martinsville, NHIS, and Vegas. They all have family sections where no drinking is allowed.
Sorry your experience was less than enjoyable.

 

[TEENEE]

I agree with Boo's Mom, night races bring out the drunks. I've been to Atlanta and Daytona and have not had a bad experience yet. If you do reconsider look for tickets in the family section and go to a day race. I'll bet you will enjoy yourself.

 

[gris gris]

DH & I have been to many races and we won't take DD until she's at least 8 or 9. Mostly though because it's a LONG day. When we went to Richmond we got there at about 8 AM and didn't leave the track until 2 AM after the race! I have to agree with Richmond though - it was probably the best race we've ever been to, but there were tons of drunks/crazies. I think some tracks have reputations - Talladega included. Others are a lot more family friendly - Charlotte, Pocono, NHIS to name a few. There are tracks with family sections as others mentioned.

I wouldn't let one experience ruin it for you. So many of the tracks are awesome. The public drunkeness & smoking happens at every track. DH & I like to drink, and Nascar is the only event where you can bring your own alcohol with you. The day they take that away from the fans is going to cost them a lot of $$.

 

[The Mystery Machine]

Gris gris...do elaborate?

You mean to me that you can bring in your OWN COOLER?

 

[SC Minnie]

DH and I went to Richmond race last nite. never again(tho he will). I never saw such a disgusting display of drunkedness in my life. You dont dare take a child there with all the swearing and middle finger salutes. And people blowing smoke in your face right and left or spilling beer on you. Granted, alot of folks were not drunk. But they were in the minority. Why the police didnt arrest alot for public drunkedness is beyond me. NEVER, EVER again.

I have never been to a NASCAR race but this sounds like my first and only experience in the Dog Pound at a Cleveland Browns game in the old stadium.

 

[wvjules]

Why do you think it's called "neck"car...?

I've been to the Poconos and we had no problems like you describe. Maybe it was just a bad experience at that track. They're not all like that. And since it was a night race, it probably was more rowdy than most day races.

 

[rushins4]

HI,
While I am usually a lurker here, I had to jump in and post on this one! My DH and I are season ticket holders at Michigan, we go every August without our boys( adults only 5 days). But Dh and I and our 2 sons (12 and 10) have been to Daytona, Talladega, Bristol and Michigan all in the last 2 years. Yes you will see drinking and smoking at the races, and yes people will use the finger and a few other "choice" words but we go to watch the race, not the bozo's around us and we use some of the things we have heard or seen to teach our boys what is not proper bahvior! We do not put our boys in harms way but we refuse to shelter them from things that they will encounter in life anyhow. Why not be there to guide them through those situations. Like other posters have said it does depend on the track and the weather how people behave! At Daytona in February this year it was so stinkin' cold that we saw very few people drinking or raising heck! At Talladega last April(we camped at the track) it rained so much that people pretty much had to stay in their campers so it was pretty mellow. Bristol...it was a night race and yes people had all day to drink and do whatever but my boys are so into the racing they hardly notice what is going on around them. At Michigan in June 2004 (we always camp at MIS) we had the boys with us and so we were pretty choosy about where we camped and we were in our camper at a decent time...partly because it is a long day for them and for us to keep up with them all day and partly because you can see a few things that I don't want to explain quite yet But let me tell you when we go to MIS in August and it's just us adults...we let loose...the men in our group will drink all day...we stay up late and party and etc. but we alsonever do anything that we would be ashamed of...no one gets out of hand...or roudy...we just are loud, silly and stupid. I think it is just a time for people to let it all hang out because so many of them do camp at races...they only have to walk to "home" and not drive. We are like that...everyone of the people in our group have professional jobs and are decent respected members of society but we wear Nascar clothes, drink and give people a hard time about "their" driver ( all in good fun, no fighting or be mean). I would much rather spend my money supporting and taking my boys to NASCAR races than ANY other professional sporting event. I cannot stand the amount of drug using ( steriods), drinking ( how many DUI's have we heard of or traffice violations, law breaking ( some even accused of murder) greediness ( baseball and hockey strikes) that goes on in baseball, football and hockey. We do go to a few baseball games each summer ( MNtwins) because my boys both play are huge Baseball fans but we also get our tickets for nothing from DFIL's company. Anyhow DH & I think 99% of NASCAR driver's are much better role models for our boys then a great majority of other "professional" athletes! Now that I am done ranting I just wanted to show you a differnt perspective of NASCAR and hope you will give it another shot!

Brenda

 

[gris gris]

Gris gris...do elaborate?

You mean to me that you can bring in your OWN COOLER?

Yes you can, it's part of the whole NASCAR experience!! There are size limits on the cooler and you can only bring in cans (no glass). Saves you a lot of $$ buying water/soda/beer from the vendors.

Also wanted to add that the appeal to us about NASCAR is how the atheletes are actual role models for kids/families. Most of them are involved in some sort of charity whether it be helping kids/the environment/animals, etc...There's nothing "red neck" about it these days. It's an expensive sport to be a fan of (well with the exception of not having to buy drinks at the track). You don't read about too many drivers beating up their wives, taking steroids, being arrested for drugs, etc... like you do in other sports. NASCAR has a deep base in religion, there is a prayer before every race for everyone to hear. The drivers bring their families, their kids, etc.....We see a lot of kids at the tracks and can't wait until we can bring our own.

ETA: Brenda, we posted at about the same time. You & I understand NASCAR

 

[The Mystery Machine]

Thanks gris gris...good to know. I have been waiting to go to Texas Motor Speedway!!!!

You know...I think my dh needs a couple of tickets for FATHERS DAY!

 

[ntburns22]

We also love MIS. We have never really had any problems dealing with other there.

As for the Dawg Pound at Cleveland Browns stadium that is what it is known for. I would love to be there dressed as a Frye Gal. We are normally up in the nose bleed and it is a more laid back atmosphere up there for the most part.

 

[KinziePooh]

Great posts Brenda and gris gris

I have been to numerous races at NHIS and one race at The Brickyard (Indy) and have never had a problem. Of course you do see people drinking, smoking and swearing but you also meet some of the nicest people you'll ever meet. I have camped at the track a few times and have always had great neighbors. Some of them would stay up and party at night but it never got out of hand. So, for me, the good outweighs the bad. Plus, after going to my first race I was hooked and couldn't imagine not going ever again.