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

Absolutely agree with everything you said. I pay for parking every time income over for the nationals, not a big deal at all.I just wish I could attend more than one event a year. I wish it was in my backyard!!

Where I live, places like PAS, Ventura, Irwindale, Kern all charge for parking.  Places like Tulare, Oildale, Santa Maria and Hanford do not.

I tend to spend my $ where tracks are $ friendly ie Tulare , less so at PAS ($8 parking, $25 ticket) and Ventura

Pretty simple - don't want to pay the Fairgrounds - Don't Pay - park on the streets someplace and walk - I have always parked next door at Ready Mix and paid the money to the Lions Club.

Iowa State Fairgrounds - while they do charge during the State Fair - they don't charge the rest of the year, big problem is I'm not paying the promoter to see 5 or 6 305's (that was the first night turn out of sprint cars - hopefully that will improve). BUT ALSO remember this the Iowa State Fair Board would like to blade up the track and make more parking, so they can make more money during the State Fair. I know that the promotors are planning on redoing the track but as the Fair Board says they make their money off concerts not races.

These people complaining about paying $5 to park on a fairground are coming across as spoiled and petty. I would gladly pay $5 to park to get to see the show you knoxville regulars have. We are stuck with either going to a track that runs a bunch of bull shit 305's or having to drive a few hours to watch a handful of 360's. I have paid to park at Knoxville every time I have been for the last 15 years. I do it with pleasure! I have been to several tracks that charged to park. Most are $2.00. 

305's are the herpes of sprint cars

In response to the original question, the dirt tracks I've been to are free parking.  One (Eagle) has a "preferred parking permit" for $100 for the season.  Which, if you get there early, you can park just as close for free.  Or, if you get there late, you can be like some jerks and park on the end of a row half way on the road or just park behind other people and block them in.  

From the looks of a lot of people in the stands, more of them should consider walking a little more anyway and maybe save an extra $5 or $10 by making less trips to the concession stand.

Personally, even when I go to the store I purposely park far from the store.  I get some extra exercise, save the close spaces for those who don't get around so well, and avoid getting door dings on my car.  

Finally, do people really stoop so low as to borrow handicapped tags so they can park closer???  That's pretty disgusting! 

After driving 4 hours to get to the track, and using 20 gallons of gas round trip, what's 5 bucks more if I don't feel like walking a couple of blocks or more to the track, or if I am running late like normal? I always thought they should save some close up spaces until after the singing of the National Anthem. Nothing is worse than running late, hearing the cars on the track and still having a half mile walk to get there.

Now to answer the question, at all of the tracks I have been to in Missouri, such as State Fair Speedway, Warrensburg, LA, California, Valley, Wheatland, Moberley, Pevely, and Lake Ozark, they have all had free parking.

Lakeside and Belleville in KS. and I-80 and Eagle in Neb., the Warren County Fairgrounds in Indianola have all been free too. As far as dirt tracks, Knoxville is the only place I have payed for parking, but it's still my favorite destination.

If paying $5 to park would lead to us getting that kind of sprintcar show every week in little rock/Memphis I'd be first in line to pay it. You guys don't realize how good you have it.

There is no replacement for cubic displacement 

Trust me Kevin I do appreciate what we have in Knoxville. I consider the place Hallowed Ground and appreciate each time I get to visit but many people that go to Knoxville weekly travel long distance. If I were 25 miles away it probably wouldn't be a big deal. $10 bucks for gas, $5 for parking, $15 to get in and $10 for a pork T, Pop and a 50/50 ticket=$40 not to bad (wife happy). Add $35 to gas now your at $75 (wife not happy)... Makes it tough unless you got a Silver Spoon hanging out of your Dairy-Aire. I use to go every weekend, now I'm lucky to make 4-5 Weekly shows a year. 

I am a custodian, the son of a blue collar working man. No silver spoons in my family. I drive 65 miles one way to Knoxville every week. Park FREE off turn 3. Pay $25 for a pit pass so I can walk around and see whats going. Get chicken bites, fries and a soda. Later get a popcorn and anouther soda. $5 for 50/50 tickets. Total? Don't know. I only use my vacation time to go to races and save money all winter so I can go to races all summer!