Gentlemen - Start your engines! (NFR)

[Ron C]

Thanks to Westernbass.com forum frequent flyer mn, I will be attending my first-ever live NASCAR race this Sunday at the California Speedway in Fontana. Mike generously provided me with some GREAT tickets to this weekend's Sony HD 500 race and I am amped! The only down side is that I will miss the Dodgers/Rockies game this Sunday. Oh well, the Dodgers will just have to win without me.

Who will I be rooting for at the race? Well, I have to go with our So. Cal (El Cajon) native and current Nextel Cup points leader Jimmy Johnson (Sorry mn).

Good Racing!

Ron C

PS: GO DODGERS!

[Ray L.]

TONY STEWART IS THE MAN

[DL]

Ron, I'll be there. Call me with your schedule, maybe we can hook up for a sodi...

[Ron C]

nm

[propgun]

I'll be there to guys I'll be down in the pits from noon on give a shout for lil E

[Guy Williams]

Can you say 105 in the shade!!!!!
Guy Williams

[Rick G]

Guy, you were right on on the temp. But those cars sure do hual ***. Rick G.

[propgun]

Yup he was right about the temp but what a good clean race

[mark poulson]

How does the Calif. Speedway compare to the old tracks at Ontario and Riverside?
Ontario was the best oval track I ever went to. Great seating, great facilities, even the food was good.
Riverside was fun. We used to rent a motorhome, and camp out on the south side for the weekend.
Is Calf. Speedway user friendly, I mean can you have a good time there?
I remember one year at Riverside the CHP parked their cruiser by the bathrooms and went on a foot patrol. While they were gone, someone used a stem puller to flatten all four of their tires.
When they came back, they looked around, looked at each other, and started to laugh. Everyone around laughed, too, and, miraculously, four stems and a portable compressor appeared.
Fun times.

[propgun]

Mark don't know much about the old speedway as they are before my time. The new speedway is very much user friendly with getting in and out and the trains right there to take you out as for the practical jokes. Todays police most likly wouldn't laugh at it just asume bust a few heads for it. no tolorance any more. But love the speedway 2mile D oval track is fast and wow.

[Rick G]

After being there yesterday for 9 hours, I have come to the fact that bassfishing has a LONG way to go to get to the same level as Nascar as a spectator sport. This was my first ever race in person and it was pretty cool. Lucky for us our seats were in the shade and up high and we could see the whole track. By far Dale jr. and Jeff Gordon are the most popular, the Fanzone was packed and the traffic was not as bad as I expected. Great marketing and passionate fans can really do alot for a sport. Rick G.

[Ron C]

What a Day!!!

Like Rick G, this was my first ever live NASCAR race. Man that was one awesome experience, to say the least. I got there around 9:30 AM and it was already 95 in the shade. Once the gates opened, I spent the next three hours in Ferguson Racing hospitality tent in Chalet Village, which included a trip to pit row. While there, I got to see the number 9 car being rolled out from the garage, which ended up being the winning car driven by Kasey Kahne. I also got "up close and personal" (well, sort of) with the number 8 car, which finished second with Dale Earnhardt Jr. at the wheel.


The race was outstanding and I will say this much; Dale Jr. is FEARLESS (just like his dad). He made several unbelievable passes during the race. While he and Jeff Gordon had two of the fasted cars on the track yesterday, Kahne's car was THE fastest car, hands down. Mid way through the race, Kahne (who was leading the race at the time) was penalized for speeding on pit row and had to go to the back of the lead lap (33 cars). Thirty laps later he was leading it again and won by nearly 3 1/2 seconds over Dale Jr.

As far as comparing the California Speedway to the old Ontario Motor Speedway, there is NO comparison Mark. This speedway blows the doors off of Ontario (which I really liked). The grandstands at the California Speedway seats 92,100 (and they were full), while Ontario seated (only) 50,000. I have many great memories at the Ontario Motor Speedway (I witnessed four California 500 Indy Car races there).


Aside from a major hike up the grandstand stairs to my seat, the California Speedway is (as Rick said) VERY user friendly; Big and numerous restrooms, tons of concession stands, plenty of parking, and a GREAT mister system under the grandstands. My seats were three rows down from the very top, which allowed me a full view of the entire track.

They had a fly-over by two F-117 Stealth Fighters, which was absolutely awesome! And then there was the Grand Marshal Kelly Clarkson, who wasn't too shabby either. I got to see her when she first arrived at the speedway Administration Office that I happened to be standing in front of at the time (she is tiny, but cute as a button).

This was definitely a day that I will always remember! I again want to thank mn for the tickets and for making this special day possible. I owe you Big Time Brother!

[propgun]

Hey Ron,
Was that or was that not a heart pounding feeling when those birds flow over head during the anthem and the Gun ship that took a lap around the track wow what a feeling. I was in the suits above pit row behind office depot car what a race.

[mark poulson]

Ron,
Great pics!
92,100!!!
Man, that place must seem huge.
And full! I went to a lot of Ontario races where the stands were only half full. Good to see the support. Maybe they won't have to sell this one off to build condos.
I really liked the seats higher up, so I could see the far side passing and racing.
Do they have full barrier fences to protect the fans from flying debris?
The last race I went to at Ontario, there was a first turn crash and someones front wheel assembly wound up in the stands. Bad scene.
My youngest, who is 11, was bugging me about seeing a Dodger game this season. Maybe I can get her to go to the races, too. Kind of a bargain-type deal, although she usually outfoxes me on those negotiations.
How far are the restrooms from the top rows? That's a real concern for 11 year old and 59 year old bladders.

[Ron C]

...I just sent you an e-mail with a short video clip that I shot of the F-117 flyover. Man, that sent chills down my spine! AWESOME!

[MN]

Glad you had a good time Ron.Unfortunatly i could not make it this time,hell i even fell asleep in the recliner half way through the race.

The first time i went down there i was floored at the size of these track's and how many people attend.Heck the stand's were full and still a ton of people walking around.

If you want more for next year let me know perhap's the spring race will be cooler i can get them for Phoenix to now that is a good race.The track is basicly flat so there is more close raceing

Later

[Ray L.]

Phoenix is great and so is Vegas. If you want to see great racing though you need to go to Bristol. Short track is the greatest.

[Ron C]

...short track races - Destruction Derby at it finest! The key to finishing well at Bristol is to not get wrecked. 43 cars start and maybe 25 finish. I remember watching Dale Sr. take out Mark Martin on the final lap once. It was a payback for a few races earlier in the season.

Good Stuff indeed!

Ron C