I had planned on sleeping in the back of my covered and carpeted pick-up truck bed. But, things may get uncomfortable with my crew chief and myself within the pickup bed. If I was Franza and had a wife as a crew chief that wouldn't be a problem, but I am not so lucky

Anyway, I am looking into tents and looking for suggestions like:

1. What are your experiences of camping at the track?
2. Since it is two of us, I will buy a tent for 3 or more...the room would be nice. What type? Dome, Cabin?
3. Where to buy? I am looking on the Walmart and Campmor websites so far.

If this is too off topic, any suggestion on camping websites?

 

Dave - DON"T buy a cheap house-style tent from a bulk store. They SUCK in bad weather. Buy the biggest decent tent you can afford from a reputable company. A separate rain fly is a wonderful thing - take it off to cool the tent on summer nights. The more mesh the better - it's your sleeping bag that keeps you warm. Get a good ground pad - or heck - you;re car camping so get a superthick foam pad and cut it to fit the entire tent floor. You NEED a good night's sleep before racing!

I am currently weak and woozy from hunger so ignore me if I am rambling ...

Try here for great deals: http://www.sierratradingpost.com

 

Forget the foam...inflatable bed is the way to go...

Get the largest tent you can afford since it's not like you have to carry it around.

I have a 6 person dome tent and it has worked wonderfully, the biggest plus it the ability to stand up inside, which makes changing into driver's suit much easier.

HTH,

Matt

 

Inflatables = comfortable but no more so than THICK foam ... but Inflatables can DEFLATE and offer NO INSULATION from icy-cold paddock ground.

 

http://www.sierratradingpost.c...88004
Heres one that says its for eight people...

 

Just get a room, You have a warm shower a nice bed and TV. And its only $45. Thats $22.50 a person.

 

Personally, if the weather is nice I PREFER to camp at the track: Never late to the drivers meeting, right there where the fun is, etc. Showers are just gravy on that tasty meal, where tracks have them.

K

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by JoeLee &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Inflatables = comfortable but no more so than THICK foam ... but Inflatables can DEFLATE and offer NO INSULATION from icy-cold paddock ground. </TD></TR></TABLE>

Lol....8" of air offer a lot insulation from the cold

 

REI-brand tents *will* keep you dry no matter what and are reasonably priced. See rei.com for more info. Be sure to put a tarp under them if you're camping on tarmac to avoid abrading or tearing the floor.
-Adam

 

Sorry - I got so excited about camping that I didn't answer the question. Drrr.

We actually have an REI Camp Dome and love it. Room for two people and two dogs plus all of our stuff, and you can actually stand up in it. Packs into a bag about the size of the average sleeping bag.

K

 

You got some good response Dave.

And this is from an old retired Boy Scout and avid camper.

Thanks for askin though,,, Now I'm really insulted.

But, foam padding is a better insulator than the air mattress.

Best of luck though as always, hope to be camping with you guys by 2006!

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by 1GreyTeg &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">But, foam padding is a better insulator than the air mattress.</TD></TR></TABLE>

Yep.

And not only that, foam doesn't need a foot pump

Spend your money on the sleeping bag - a bad bag is a terrible thing. ALWAYS use a tarp - keeps ground condensation off the bottom of the tent. I also prefer (especially for car camping) dome tents of the "plus-one" variety. Got a pair of people? Get a 3-man.

Propane lanterns are nice to have, and relatively cheap. Bring a nice camp stove (one of those old-school metal Coleman two-burner jobs) and eat like a king

Just a comment or two from one of h-t's many Eagle Scouts

 

I camped at Road America last year right above the paddock. Waking up in the morning to the sound of porsches, ferraris, and big v8s... couldn't ask for anything greater.

As far as a tent goes, I was rather foolish bringing a three room tent for just myself last year. The tent was big enough that when erected, it could've fit my 2001 civic 4dr. I don't remember the brand of it though, but it works well in the rain too, no problems at all.

 

Dave Im a jack of all trades

&lt;--- former boy scout

we'll go tent shopping this weekend perhaps, call me

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by ITAcelica &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Just get a room, You have a warm shower a nice bed and TV. And its only $45. Thats $22.50 a person. </TD></TR></TABLE>

To me, you miss too much of the camaraderie by not camping at the track.

My family has used this
http://webpages.charter.net/k....1.jpg
for the last 15 years or so. I believe the brand is Hillary, bought at K-mart.

There was plenty of room for me and my 6' son, with 2 air mattresses.

Keith, who mostly camps with the antique Winnebago these days...