Forum: HoseHeads Sprint Car General Forum (go)
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I'm looking for a camping spot for the Nationals coming up. (yes I know it's sort of last minute but we just got a sitter for the kids lined up) The track campgrounds are full. I'm calling around to other campgrounds in Knoxville to check on them. Anyone know of something that's available? 

Thanks in advance

Scott. 

Try Van Donslers Auction Service.  He usually has sites available all the way up to the day.  Worth a shot

You might want to wait until they announce plans on July 1.  With likely reduced capacity (maybe 50%), camping spots will likely open up around town.  Then check around, the track website has contact info. for several places.

The city is trying to stop camping within the city limits for 360 &410 Nationals. They are having a city council meeting July 6 6:30pm we need all the help we can get to stop this. They tried a couple years ago. Please pass the word !!! 

Everybody saying it will be 50 percent capacity but then how is Oskaloosa running the FRC full go with no limits.? I personally think the 2020 Knoxville Nationals will go on as normal. I'm just going off facts. Oskaloosa is running full go that same week. And the track keeps advertising lap sponsors. Every local I talked to on the phone out there (not the internet) says it's on. 100% capacity.  Guess we'll find out in weeks but I'm confident. 

You may be right, things seem to be opening up rather quickly.  We live in Nebraska and the governor just opened things up quite a bit; I think his goal is to have 90,000 people packed into the football stadium by August--and if you think things were tight in Knoxville before they changed the seating, you should go to a Nebraska football game!  That being said, if things backfire on them, they may not have football with fans at all. 

As far as camping, from what I'm reading on here, there are a lot of older people like me on the bubble.  When I think of the number of elderly I see at the Nationals, if there are no restrictions, I have to believe that several are going to pass this year.  As a result, I suspect there will be a lot of cancelled camping reservations.  At this point I think there's a lot up in the air and we'll just have to wait and see.

You would be assuming the health dept. would allow it.  I have no doubts that Knoxville would run at 100% capacity if the health dept. allows.  I don't think this is about Knoxville at all.  This will be decided for them.  

Thanks for all the input. I am on a waiting list at a few places. I know everything is still up in the air

I also am looking for a spot. Have you sent in this paper application to Van Donslers? I am about to send mine tomorrow, although its frusturating to say the least there isnt some type of other way to make a reservation. 

It is frustrating. But as I've talked to him a few times over the phone, he's an old school blue collar guy. I like it. 

I have not. I talked to him and he told me that they weren't booking anymore spots until they knew the Nationals were going to happen. He didn't want to mess with returning everyone's money.

That is not accurate.  Per the City Manager, the city is not changing how camping has been done in the past, only changing the permitting process for new camping locations.  If someone has rented out spots on their property in the past, that remains the same in the future.

Have one spot available,,full hook ups,,walk to everything. NOT CHEAP,,they are down the street. 

Have one spot,,full hookups,,not cheap,,

Have one spot,,full hookups,,not cheap,,

He is a nice guy, but a frustrating person.  The last 2 times I stayed on his property, it was a cluster @#%#.  He put me in a 50 amp site, drove away, and then came back (literally 10 minutes later) and asked me "why did you take that 50 amp site?"  I thought I was on "punked"----I said, "because you just put me here."  He said, all pissed off "FINE---BUT IF I NEED A 50 AMP SITE, YOU WILL MOVE!!!!"   And, he helped me back it into the spot. ???   I had to calm him down and finally he agreed I could just stay in he spot.  I was very, very confused.  

2 of the last 3 years I stayed there, we lost power to that part of the campground because he had too much power being drawn for the service.  (words from the electric company there to repair it)

We just moved back to the North campground the last 2 years.   I had a chance to visit with the man during one of the June WoO shows when my son and I camped in his main campground.  He is a very nice guy and from what I've heard, he will give you the shirt off of his back.  But, because I felt like at any time I could pull in and not have a spot, I had to move to a different campground for the Nationals.  

How much

$2000 for 10 days

We stayed at Van Donsler's main site for about a decade.  The entire family was always pleasant to deal with and very hospitable, at least to us.  Very much enjoed that aspect of our stay.   What got tiring was, no fault of the campground, that we got tired of being cramped in there.  Too tight, a little nervous on putting out slideout out and literally having your neighbor right outside your door.  BTW-- we liked our neighbors.   The walk back after a night/morning at The Dingus was always fun.   

Ended up out at the County Park for a few years when reservations were easier there.  Finally settled back next to the track at one of the churches and have no intentions of giving up the current location.  

Jeff Wesell
Hartford, WI

2,000? Is the 40 ft Rv included?