Hey, I'll be flying to see my sis in Indy and going to the US Nats over Labor Day weekend. I've got tickets for the finals and will walk in for one of the qualifying days. For the finals, I'm going to mostly focus on the races, but for qualifying I'll be checking things out. The only other drag races I've been to are at Seattle and I'm sure I'll be overwhelmed at all the things to do and see. So what can I expect? What's a must see? Any tips on maximizing my experience would be appreciated.
I, like Mr. Comet, have not been to the Indy Nationals for many many years. Any insight from regular attendees on the must sees. Do they have a display area for any old time race cars? Any help would be appreciated.
Stand around in the pits. Take a telephoto lens on a good camera w/400 or faster film for the races, so you can be the official HAMB photographer. Sorry don't know if digital cameras really work very good.
Have a great time you will be Amazed with the Nats. I been there racing there from the 70's to 2003 and still get goose bumps being there.
I try to go on friday. You get first round super stock cars at about 8 or 830 am that morning. Pro mods, comp cars plus the fuel cars. The fuel cars usually set their fast times of the weekend in friday nights session. Pretty good day.
you gotta be there for friday night qualifying. nitro cars under the lights kicks ass. my wife and i go every year and this year we are taking our daughter for her first us nationals. lots to see, non stop racing, usualy a good display of nostalgia cars in the midway. lots of venders.
To me the Hemi Shootout is the highlight of the weekend. Friday is the best day all around since all of the Nitro cars go for broke and there are more at that race than any other NHRA race. Also almost all of the sportsman cars are still there and there are always lots of cars warming up so the sound of the pits is great.
Last year the morons at NHRA ran the pro session quite a bit earlier on Friday and it was not until the final few pairs of top fuel that it was finally dark enough to really see the flames. Check the sked for this years race to be sure. In prior years the pro teams did not hit the track until after 7 pm but in 2008 the bikes were running by 5 pm. Friday does have the hemi shootout but Saturday has two rounds of the the pro cars and with luck ( a few oil downs etc) the last session may be run in the dark although with Indy now on daylight saving and also eastern time it will probably still be light until well into the evening. Going on Saturday also give you the chance to watch the teams service the cars following the early session if you are into that and not watching the sportsman cars run. You can do the same after the evening sessions if you are willing to hang around after qualifying ends. The manufacturers midway is a shadow of its former self but still worth a look and H-D will probably have their race on the rollers deal on the east side of the track adjacent to the pro pits. Roo
Film: Shoot the images and find out in a few days if the technique and settings were working for the light conditions, etc. Pay for a lab to print, or do up slides. Digi: Do above all within seconds after the shutter is released. And no film purchasing and reloading. Print what you want, e-mail within seconds after loading in 'puter. Nobody uses film anymore. (Unless you're so "old school" that it's a not about making reasonable decisions, it's about being stuck in the past.) All the people shooting professional switched from film at least 10 years ago and never looked back, quality is BETTER. If you were good with film, you're great with digi. If you sucked with film, you're good with digi. Digital RULES.
The basics don't change when upgrading to digital. Still need good glass and basic understanding of aperture, shutter speed and ISO settings. Gotta frame up the shot regardless of camera. I had shot Nikon F on full manual with Kodachrome and Fujichrome for 15 years before switching to Nikon digital, it's not even a debate, digital photography is the best way. And I was a Kodachrome 64 lover, NEVER would use 400, 200 ISO maybe, would "push" the slide film to the desired exposure. Digital solved it all, is cheaper by far and never need to buy film! Or processing, or waiting around the lab, or having wrong ISO loaded in the camera, on and on and on... Technology is a wonderful thing.
The earlier you get there the better. I've been going since '64 and like to get there on Wednesday. It's fun to watch it build. Been staying in the campground over there since the first year. It's neat to check in on the Top Fool Crew to see what they build over the weekend for the parade on Monday. It's all part of the week's experience. Go into the pits with all the John Force fans and get right up front when they start one up. See how long you stay there before you run out of O2. Do all the displays by Ford, Chevy, Schoal............etc. Make sure you see all that crap. That's where the fans go. The real racers go off at dawn each morning. Usually Super Stock or Comp. Get there early and watch the Super Stockers run over a second under their dial consistantly. See the Comp Cars demolish their indexes and see the Stockers jerking the wheels up in the early morning sun. I've heard they run Top Fuel and Fuel Funny cars but you have to have some time to get an $8.00 dollar sandwich and a $5.00 pop and visit the restroom. That's the best time because the lines are down since everyone is watching John Force click it off at 1000 foot! On Friday they've been run ning the Hemi Challenge. If they do that this year, it's by far the best racing of the weekend. Watch the Warfish, Buck Hess and the boys run 8.70's on a 9.90 dial. They're awsume!!! Oh yeah, get a couple $30,00 t-shirts. Have fun...........it's the greatest race, bare none. Now I'm pumped to go......................
I know this is not what you ask but, I was there in '69 crewing on a funny car team, I can still remember most of the events of the week, it has stuck with me for 40 years! one of the top ten events of my 58 years. Take what ever kind of camera you want but, take lots, and lots of pictures, take pictures of everything even the stuff you don't care about right now, in ten years you will be glad you did. I have been to many drag races and circle tracks over the years but one trip to Indy tops them all. Have fun...
my goose bumps start when i exit the vehicle and hear the fuel cars firing in the distance in the pits......its INDY
Back in the 60's there used to be a big time ISCA car show in downtown Indy. That's been gone for decades. Check some of Denise's posts on her trip to the Goodguys show and the rod shops she visited. You might also PM Indy native, Harley Gene who seems to have dozens of contacts at shops all around Indy.
1. Break in your walking shoes "before" you go... the parking lot is gigantic, and you will walk and walk and walk. 2. have a backpack or something to carry crap with, as there is always good free stuff, or t-shirts you have to have. without something to carry them in out of your hands, its tough taking photos. 3. digital-digital-digital, and at least an extra battery and 8gb card (or two) 4. the track runs south to north, so light is your friend if you want to take track shots... its all about positioning. but just taking photos in the pits and staging, captures it quite well also. 5. don't miss going to Longs Doughnut shop by the Speedway when you're there... its the best donut shop I've ever been to... 6. at least go and take a look at the pros shops in Brownsburg. The teams will all be at the races, but many of the nitro pro teams have their shoppes near the INDY track, and they are pretty cool to at least see how frigging big the shoppes are... 7. Hemi Challenge, some of the coolest cars on the planet...
Anyone that used to camp out at the early U S Nats in INDY, the place to camp out was the Lions Club Campground in Clermont. Me and a group of Kentucky racers & spectators stayed there in late 60s till mid 70s. Anyone rember the good times there.
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