The DisFort's Chit Chat Cafe

[WeLovePluto]

So, we get to go to Dega next month. It’s gonna be different. We’ve camped in the same spot for the 15 years I’ve been going, but that campground is closed. We’ll be much closer to the track with the relocated spot, but it also looks like much smaller spots. The campsites are cheap there (around $100). They still haven’t been very full for years.

Supposedly masks will be required outside your campsite and in public areas of the track, but not in your seat. I’m not holding my breath that it’s gonna be honored or enforced.

As PaHunter mentions, the Saturday track stuff is just stupidly priced. We only ever go if someone gives us tickets. DW tried to bargain with them for reasonable Saturday prices A couple years ago, but they wouldn’t budge. I can’t figure out why they’d rather run races in an empty track then try to get more people in who may spend some money.

One other change....they aren’t allowing you to bring in coolers. The claim is that it will prevent security from having to go through everyone’s coolers. But I’m pretty sure that forcing everyone to the concession stands is a worse covid situation than having the security check coolers. So it feels like a money making plan.

We aren’t even sure we’ll attend the race, but a kid-free camping trip will be awesome.

For the most part, NASCAR totally lost my attention with stage racing. Or at least what attention they had left after phantom cautions to set up finishes and green-white-checker finishes. But talladega in person is a whole lot of fun.

 

[Part-Time Paradise]

No coolers...

 

[rajak73]

Since I've moved to KS, I go to the KS races. I'd like to get out for one big race weekend a year at a new track like I did before kids and adulting arrived.

We've been to the KC races the last 5 years, enjoyed the weekend time. Shopping at Independence Mall, supper at Ameristar casino. Stay at WOF campground, actually a quick 30 min drive, then after the races, we tailgate until we are done eating, pack up and the parking lot is mostly empty by that time. Drive right out to interstate and back to WOF. This year trip is off of course. but will catch it on TV.

 

[rajak73]

Hey, at least the SEC is gonna try to play a 2020 season. So I should be thankful for that.

We are still waiting to find out why they cancelled the season in the Big 10. After Desmond Howard opened his big yap about telling Nebraska to apologize to the Big 10 for wanting to play, around 8 other teams are ready to play too. Waiting now for another vote. All the AD's wanted to play but I take it that the presidents voted on playing or not. All I know is Kevin Warren had better not be down watching his kid play for Mississippi State after he cancelled the Big 10 season. Bama Ed: We had choices on our season tickets, 1. Keep them for this year in case they did play any games, 2. Donate the donation to the athletic dept and get a refund on the season tickets, 3. Get a complete refund, (donation and season tickets.) 4. Push the donation and season tickets that paid to next year. We choose option 4, just push the donation and season tickets paid for next year. Will see how everything works out with Men and Women Basketball tickets and Womens Volleyball.

 

[rajak73]

or the most part, NASCAR totally lost my attention with stage racing. Or at least what attention they had left after phantom cautions to set up finishes and green-white-checker finishes. But talladega in person is a whole lot of fun.

Don't know if I really care for the stage racing but I do like the green-white-checker finishes. We were headed back to Newton, Iowa this year too for the Indy car race there, short 1 mile track with speeds approaching 180 mph, but Covid put that on the back burner until next year. One of the best times we had was 2017, took in the Brickyard 400 at Indy, museum the next day, and found out that Montoya and Serbia were testing the 2018 new Indy cars that day while we were there. Got some nice pictures. The museum was great.

 

[Teamubr]

So, we get to go to Dega next month.

What campground are you staying in this year? We used to camp in the Legends Lane section, across the field behind the Start/Finish line grand stands. There was water hookups and a morning newspaper, but not electric or sewer. Before that we stayed off turn 1/2 back in the woods. No hookups (or newspaper). Both were on site and a short walk to the stands. Friends would camp across the street or the private places further west so they could have hookups, but it was quite a hike or a long wait for a shuttle.

Lots of good times at 'dega.

j

 

[WeLovePluto]

What campground are you staying in this year?
j

Winner’s Walk 1, so right at the Turn 1 end of the grandstand.

We usually stay in West Park B. About as far from the track in it as you can get. But we have 2 spots plus some extra space at the end of the row, so it’s nice and roomy.

 

[bama_ed]

What campground are you staying in this year? We used to camp in the Legends Lane section, across the field behind the Start/Finish line grand stands. There was water hookups and a morning newspaper, but not electric or sewer. Before that we stayed off turn 1/2 back in the woods. No hookups (or newspaper). Both were on site and a short walk to the stands. Friends would camp across the street or the private places further west so they could have hookups, but it was quite a hike or a long wait for a shuttle.

Lots of good times at 'dega.

j

I did a Half Marathon at Talladega several years ago. Start Line was in Pit Row, Finish Line out on the main track past the tri-oval (I felt a little like Ricky Bobby at the end of Talladega nights). Sadly they don't run that race anymore (haven't for several years) but to jog on the apron around turns 1&2 and 3&4 and stare up, Up, UP into those huge paved STEEP corners makes you marvel at the blessing of Physics.

However I do hear the overnight activities can get pretty rowdy (or used to) in some portions of the non-family camping area. At least that's what some of my co-workers used to say about the 70s and 80s races there.

Bama Ed

 

[Teamubr]

Winner’s Walk 1,

We walked past Winner's Walk on the way to the track. It was always sold out back when we were still
going.

I did a Half Marathon at Talladega several years ago. but to jog on the apron around turns 1&2 and 3&4 and stare up, Up, UP into those huge paved STEEP corners makes you marvel at the blessing of Physics.

The banking is amazing. The safety crews have repelling gear at the top in case a car manages not to slide down the hill and they have to get to it.

It also plays havoc with car setup. No where else that we ran (other than Daytona) had vertical load on the suspension like that. Springs have to be stiff enough to handle the compression loads, but still compliant enough to get through the infield sections.

However I do hear the overnight activities can get pretty rowdy (or used to) in some portions of the non-family camping area. At least that's what some of my co-workers used to say about the 70s and 80s races there.

Or the 90s. Don't ask about the grocery cart races. (Think Animal House scene on steroids)

j

 

[WeLovePluto]

I don’t know what the normal status of Winners Walk is, but they closed all (or most) of the outer campgrounds for this race. Which I guess says something about how many campsites they were able to sell ahead of time. But it was after covid started.

I did the driving experience last summer. It’s amazing that 150 didn’t feel scary at all. It’s also crazy how hard it was to look more than a few feet ahead of your car in the turns.

We go to the infield some times. It hasn’t been all that wild. Probably tamer than a normal Bourbon St weekend (not that I’ve done a lot of that in the last bunch of years either.)

I hear a lot of the debauchery has moved to North Park.

 

[Teamubr]

I don’t know what the normal status of Winners Walk is, but they closed all (or most) of the outer campgrounds for this race. Which I guess says something about how many campsites they were able to sell ahead of time.

I did the driving experience last summer. It’s amazing that 150 didn’t feel scary at all. It’s also crazy how hard it was to look more than a few feet ahead of your car in the turns.

At speed, the banking isn't as noticeable. The strangest part is you can't see very far into the corner because you need to look through the roof.

The last time I was at Talladega was probably 2007 or so. That's when I started driving and I only went to Gateway, Kansas and Bristol after that.

j

 

[tiggerdad]

The people I raced with in NASA

 

[Teamubr]

View attachment 525211

Michael,

That's exactly it.

Except like this.



https://www.nasaproracing.com/

I always wondered if they picked that name just to confuse people.

j

 

[jbrostek]

I went to one NASCAR Cup race back in early 2k. It was ok, but really not my thing and I didn't enjoy the experience as much as I had hoped. I found it much better on TV and in person. Now INDY, F1GP (worked for both DC and Baltimore races), Daytona 24, LeMans, back in the day Speed World Challenge, that was my kind of racing and I went to so many events in the region.

 

[FtW Mike]

This came from From Tee Time Golf Cart Rental and is the best representation of how I feel today when I think of my friends and brothers and Sisters in the NYPD and PAPD that gave the last full measure of devotion

 

[WeLovePluto]

In 2020 news...tomorrow is the kids first day back to in person school. Except now there’s another hurricane taking aim at us, so schools are closed.

 

[Stratman50th]

So sorry ya'll are getting nailed again. Watched it go by the last couple days and saw it was probably going to be a hurricane by the time it hit land again.

 

[WeLovePluto]

The last 2 missed us in NO. The first one really just fizzled out. The second one did a lot of damage in the western part of the state.
There are a bunch of people that are staying in NO while Lake Charles gets back on its feet. This certainly sucks a lot for them.

 

[jbrostek]

I hope that NO doesnt get hit too hard.

 

[Teamubr]

Looks like Michael and Ed are in the direct path. Hopefully just a bunch of rain. Winds should be down somewhat by that far inland.

Stay dry!

j