Forum: HoseHeads Sprint Car General Forum (go)
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We're still a ways off from the Nationals, but by the time mid to late July sets in, the build-up is in full swing.

Of course you go to the races, but what about the other eight hours a day when you’re not watching the races? Or, what if you just want to experience the full flavor of this enlightening cultural phenomenon? I humbly submit to you a list of ten things (in no particular order) you must do to have the complete Knoxville Nationals “experience”.

10. Drive the karts at Slideways.
Located just north of town off Highway 14, the karts look like sprinters, complete with tails and wings, and you race on an oval track. They even feature a Mini-Nationals during the week. "Get sideways at Slideways", what’s not to love?

9. Have a beer at the Dingus.
“You’ll never find a more retched hive of scum and villainy”-it’s a line from the movie Star Wars, but it applies to the Dingus Lounge the week of the Nationals. The bar itself is extremely small, but they expand out to a super-sized beer garden. By Saturday afternoon, there’s a steady chorus of cat-calls ringing out from the patrons behind the chain link fence that surrounds the garden. The only question I have is the chain link fence there to keep people on the street out, or to keep the bar customers in?

8. Have a steak sandwich at the Marion County Cattleman’s tent.
Located next to the Skate Pit, outside of turn one, this food vendor is the best you’ll find on the fairgrounds. With hamburgers, chicken and steak sandwiches, plus the best sweet-corn east of Lincoln, it’s something that no race fan should leave Knoxville without trying. You pay up for these delicacies, but the Marion County Cattlemen’s Queen usually runs the cash register.

7. Camp out in the RV ‘village’ west of turns three and four.
It’s the one place where you can be neighbors with the likes of Freddie Rahmer or Danny Lasoski for the weekend. You’re also given an all access pass to the track’s post-race nightlife. Survive staying up all night four nights in a row and you’ll have some good stories to tell your friends for years to come.

6. Watch one night from the pits.
True, you can’t see the racing as well, but to be in the middle of all that commotion, is worth it. What other sports can you buy a pass and get access to every competitor during the event? Just don’t get run over by one of the fifty push trucks, or angry sprint car drivers as they come tear-assing off the track.

For the rest please visit www.ovaloperations.com.

Thank you!

My open wheel site:  
Oval 
Operations

The Hall of Fame has MANY events during the week also, plus you can't leave the area without a trip to Kin Folks BBQ in Attica, just a very short drive south of Knoxville on highway 5.

The Nationals has many things to do in the area, and you can pick up schedules at the Hall of Fame or ticket office for many of the options.

You can be as relaxed, or on the go as much as you choose.

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The Balloon Festival in Indianola, The State Fair in Des Moines, Eat at Checkerboard in Pleasantville, The Swamp Fox in Knoxville, a turkey leg and homemade pic in front of the H of Fame.

Shop for t-shirts in HyVee parking lot. You can get some great deals Tuesday and Wednesday on last years models.

Eat at Kin Folk's

Is Udders still there up north on Hwy 14? If so I'd say that is a place you must check out.

I'll be a Knoxville virgin.....looking forward to everything except #2!

We will be taking in Husets on Sunday & then heading down to Knoxville for the rest of the week.

______________________________________________________
"The Posse has been handing it to the Outlaws longer 
than the World of Outlaws has been winning the 
Knoxville Nationals. Quaker State skills are never on 
trial." - Kevin Eckert

Thats a great list!!! I must say I've done them all, over and over again every year. The week is the highlight of the racing season for me.

Don't forget the 360 nats and the races at English Creek

Here's a couple more we have really enjoyed with the kids:

Living History Farms in Urbandale http://www.lhf.org/

Adventureland in Altoona http://www.adventurelandpark.com/

Horseback Riding at the Amboy Trail Ranch http://www.amboyranch.com/

Keep the ideas coming. We need some new ones this year!

One of the top 2 steaks I have ever had and I don't remember where the other one was. We will make it there at least once again this trip.

Racing at Sliders is great!

You must experience the downtown parade at least once.

Go to the carwash and watch them wash sprint cars. If you are lucky, they might let you scrape mud.

Join the NSCHofF and attend at least one of their members only events.

Watch a team spend most of the day working to get a car ready to race.

Walk around the trailers and count how many drivers you see talking to fans and signing autographs.

Seeing some of the friends you met at the first Nationals you attended and only see once a year.

Look up the great security staff and talk to them because they have become like old friends.

I can't wait!

t-warrior

Watch Fred Rahmer win !

Go to the "first night of the fair" instead of the friday night show.

Eat at Kin Folks.

Eat a meal at the Hy-Vee.

Have a beer at the Hy-Vee bar at 3:00 am.

Blink the lights in a suite.

Watch Fred Rahmer win !

All things I did at the nnationals.

Ditto on the meal at Hy-Vee.

Also, clean yourself up in the restroom at Hy-Vee at 5am before you start thinking about what you're going to do the rest of the night.

Wander down highway 14 as far as you can and see how many miles you can get before a cop stops and asks if you need assistance.

Pass out on the grass at the Armory.

Stay up all night and see an Iowa sunrise.

See how many racers you can spot inside Subway at 3am

Walk a local girl home at 2 am and see how many bases she'll let you reach

Enjoy a cocktail with Tony Stewart or any other NASCAR big wig that shows up

While walking around intoxicated, ask a local cop if he'll let you blow into his little machine

Wear a WoO pitcrew shirt to Dingus and have all the fans buy you drinks cause your driver did well

Wander around drunk at 4 am and pee on the drivers rigs you can't stand

Now you guys are making me want to go out this year. I better quit reading this thread.

Get hammered after the races while listening to the band, then stuff your pants full of ice in attempt to cool off. Then once the band stops, go and do beer bongs in turn 3 & 4 at the pit lizard party intill you need to sober up .Then stagger across the street to the HY-VEE for the breakfast buffet. Go and get some sleep and do it all over again later on that night.

Visit the Main Street Cafe every morning for the best breakfast on Planet Earth.

Provisionals, Fuel Stops & 
Rubberdown Tracks Suck! ©

Main Street Cafe is where Humper showed me that powdered non dairy creamer is highly flammable.

Slideways or English Creek during the day, a must is the Dingus Lounge after the races as you never know who you will run into or what you may see there. Lots of great food vendors in the area not to mention the local restaurants that have specials.

I haven't heard any reviews around town in either direction, but just an FYI... the Main Street Cafe has had a change in ownership and also a name change.

Udders is a must!! The steaks are awesome (pick your own out & grill it yourself or have them cook it) For the guys, get the waitress that looks just like Jennifer Aniston but then remember to eat your steak. For the kids big & little, the 1/4 scale nationals can be good for an afternoon of entertainment. We made it to English Creeek last year for the first time and it was a lot of fun!! $5 I think it was and a lot of racing entertainment on the little high bank track. Hauds son was racing there last year.

I think the State Fair in Des Moines is that same week also....

Any updates on Wackos. It seems to change owners nearly every year. A great place to eat and hang out having a few cold ones. I cannot believe nobody has mentioned the yard sales.