Forum: HoseHeads Sprint Car General Forum (go)
Moderators: dirtonly  /  dmantx  /  hosehead

So we are going on vacation to PA and happen to be in the area Saturday of the final night of the Open. I tried calling ticket office and just got a recording. So my questions we don't have tickets yet are they still available? Does this event sell out I see online the lower sections are general admission does that just mean they are only available at the gate the day of the race. Do people sell them out front like at Knoxville Nationals? What's parking like we aren't camping just driving in for the day. Thanks for any help looking forward to my first PA race.

I'm not a local but usually get to the natty open. Been going for 15 or so years and haver never had any trouble getting tickets the day of the race. I don't think I've ever seen anyone selling tickets outside the gate but you might find some. As far as parking I believe they open the amusement park across the street for additional parking. But I'd guess it may be a wait to get out as there is only one exit. 

Off topic but if your a "car" guy their is a large swap meet going on in Carlisle the same weekend. 

There are a ton of fun things going on at the track on Saturday if you want to take in the whole experience. The National Open Benefit meal and auction is open to the public and you get a great BBQ lunch for a small donation. There is also the Pennsylvania vs. Maryland keg kickball game at noon in the back parking lot which is always entertaining. Also if you get there earlier in the day parking isn't as much of a hassle.

As far as seating goes, you can bring chairs and sit up against the catch fence in turn 3, or sit in the turn 3 bleachers with a general admission ticket. There are seats lower in the backstretch and frontstretch bleachers but seing over the trailers in the infield can be rough. You may have better luck calling the track office Friday to get reserved seats, they are usually there all day on race day. 

If you enjoy a beer or 2 with the races be sure to bring your own, the track doesn't sell beer. No glass bottles, cans only. 

They're hard to get on the phone. I just called & got a message too, keep trying. I think they're around in the AM, they told me earlier in the summer but I fergit....If they're around, they answer

I go for reserved seats cause haulers are in the infield & lower seats have blocked views from some angles

Was a 1st timer fron NorCal in 2009. It may take making some new friends to sit high enough to see over the spectators that are crammed on top of the haulers. Bring beer! 

Experiencing turn three is a must, it’s a drag race into a tight set of turns. At least watch one heat from turn three. Williams Grove is a treasure when it’s right.

depends on what kind of a person you are as to where to sit or stand at the grove

if you are a beer drinking mad talking person by all means turn three is the place to be and yes bring plenty of beer..been there

if you just want to be there and party go in the infield....bad place to watch ....haulers are in the way on the front stretch and you can only see the tops of the wings go by.  but lots of party people there.

if you wanna see the best of the best ( posse ) race the best of the best ( outlaws ) find a seat on the front stretch sit down and hold on . it is intense when the green flys and they thunder by you into turn 1..  come out of 2 and its a drag race to turn 3. a lot of slide jobs between 3 and 4 and thunder back down the front stretch.

wish i was going again

have fun

You'll definitely want to get some reserved seats to save yourself a headache and also see over the haulers. The GA seating fills up quick and they are the lower rows. Keep trying the phone. You can always get seats the day of the race at the track office but finding 2 or more seats together might be a problem last minute. Warning: If you are a big person, WG seats are TIGHT. Have fun, the National Open is a great atmosphere.

A

" Have fun, the National Open is a great atmosphere.".... yep, fans are intense, like a football game.

At lots of tracks, everyone is cheering for different individuals. At the Grove its "home team vs. Outlaws"

But you probably heard that before....

You can buy general admission the day of the race. Don't listen to people about not being able to see over the haulers. That's overrated. Unless you sit in the first couple rows of the grandstands you'll see plenty. And unless your camping or there at noon, your going to have to walk a little to get to the gates. Once again, not a big deal. My advice is to buy GA tix and just walk around and watch from different spots. There's plenty of good spots to watch. No you won't be able to see every part of the track, but like i said that's overrated. The atmosphere is awesome. The place will be packed. The weather looks good. Unless your one of these people who complain about every little thing, you will have a blast. Williams Grove is IT as far as local tracks go. Have fun and drive safe.

Thanks everyone for the tips, been wanting to get out to some different tracks for awhile I'm at Knoxville weekly. We're also going to the NHRA race the next day pretty excited for my week in PA.

Called & got my tix this morning

Still questioning my sanity for driving from Connecticut to Eldora, back to the Grove, then out to Colorado... oh well, you only live once....

if it is your first time at NHRA event ..... make sure you have hearing protection and stand by the fence when the top fuel guys go by  you won't regret it

Everyone has great suggestions.  I disagree with those who say that reserved seats aren't needed.  They are needed, and get up as high as possible.  Seeing the cars getting Into 3 is always a tough spot to see.  I remember that the Mark Kinser/Keith Kaufmann crash happened in that blind spot back in the late 90s.  The trailers are tall, then all the people on top of the trailers come feature time makes it even harder.  Higher the better!

Also, stand in turn 1 during hot laps.  The track normally has plenty of bite then and those guys just bury it down into the corner.  Nothing cooler.  Bettet yet, get a pit pass and stand in the pits down at the far end of the front straight.  Closer to the track and you get a better view of the cars pushing off.  I think a pit pass upgrade is only another $5 on a reserved seat.

The atmosphere is amazing.  Tension is palpable on Saturday night.  It's the best weekend of the year.

Have fun.

Get there early and walk around and enjoy the atmosphere. There is no better racing then the Outlaws Vs the Posse

The hoops they make you go through to buy a reserved seat is ridiculous. Almost every other track you can buy them online. Which is why the best seats in the house are often empty while the infield and beer hill are absolutely packed.

It looks like getting tix is the least of our problems. Weather report for upcoming weekend is not good at all. I hope itswrong

Yep, same forecast as last year, and as we get closer it keeps getting worse. 

a one day show will help the WoO also rans to minimize the points assault by Donny Schatz as the only Outlaw to run top 5 each night...

Lincoln 1845 ft/.35 mile T1=118MPH 
Eldora 2287 ft/.43mile T3=135MPH
Port 2716 ft/.51 mile T3=TBD
Grove 2792 ft/.53 mile T3=135MPH
Selinsgrove 2847 ft/.54 mile T1=136MPH
"I didn't move to PA from El Paso in search of better 
weather." Van May

So what happened?

I just realized today that summer is over....

Yeah really. Fuck this shit. Excuse my French. Gotta love taking my last week of vacation specifically for this race and now it looks to be a one day show on Sunday. Again. I'm pissed. I'll fight anyone in this forum right now.