Sprint Week Suggestions
 

I am hoping to come to sprint week (first visit) and was looking for suggestions on hotels and any "must see" suggestions.

Thanks!

Re: Sprint Week Suggestions
 

If you've never been to Indy, make sure you stop by the Speedway, it's one of the most epic things you'll see, even when absolutely nothing is going on.

Re: Sprint Week Suggestions
 

Consider one or more of our state parks. We have parks in every area of Indiana.

Re: Sprint Week Suggestions
 

Good point Danny. Especially if you bass or crappie fish.

Re: Sprint Week Suggestions
 

I'll second that. The best bus ride ever.

Re: Sprint Week Suggestions
 

I've tried two methods, and I'm still not sure which I like best.

Sometimes we have stayed in one motel near the Indy aerodrome. That means we get to unpack once, but the drives to the outlying races are a pain in the nose.

Other times we have stayed in motels near the tracks. This means you're back in your room having a beer at an early hour, but it also means you have to pack up and move every day.

I think I'll probably sick with the one motel method.

Re: Sprint Week Suggestions
 

Go to the various track websites; most have "recommended" hotels that offer discounts if staying for the races.....do go to Indy, and plan on spending at least half a day at the IMS museum.

Some of the teams have shops in the Brownsburg area, just west of Indianapolis; you may get an informal tour or two.

Speedweek is one of the best experiences that you'll have....do not miss Kokomo!

Re: Sprint Week Suggestions
 

I think many of the locals on here probably haven't stayed in hotels in Indiana. I would use www.roomatlas.com to find a place to stay. Just enter the city you are staying in, and they show you the different options you have. I did just stay at the Gas City Best Western, which is so close you can hear the racecars on the other side of the interstate. (Mods kept flipping on opening night, and it was a little to cold to hang all night). It was $80 and a pretty decent room. I've stayed in all kinds of hotels in the state, as I get older the cheaper ones freak me out. You could bring a tent to cut down on some of your expenses. I think most of the tracks have free camping, a local could tell you that for sure. I also paid about $106 for a Holiday Inn in Bedford, south of Bloomington (who was out of rooms). I have an aversion to certain stinky hotels, and if you stay in hotels as much as I have you would too.

As for attractions, the museum at the speedway is a must see. I have driven by probably a million nice places, I just choose to go to the racetrack and hang out rather then see anything.

Also if you've never been to Indiana before, and depending on when and how you are departing, Winchester Speedway has a modified and late model race on Sunday afternoon, July 18. Not sprints, but Winchester is a bad fast track no matter what is racing on it.

Re: Sprint Week Suggestions
 

The way things are shaping up, you won't get a lot of downtime. North Vernon added a date on an off day for USAC, so add another race.

Also on July 8, Champ Cars at Illiana. The PRA show a few years back was excellent, and I would expect the same. It may be pavement, but the Champ Cars are great to watch.

Re: Sprint Week Suggestions
 

I have a suggestion move it to minnesota I have 7 tracks in mind.LOL!!!:32:

Re: Sprint Week Suggestions
 

Close to Brownstown Speedway

All area motels are in Seymour IN, less than 15 miles from track.
Area code for all is (812)
Official Stay of Brownstown Speedway - Fairfield Inn & Suites - 524.3800
All State Inn - 522.2666
Days Inn - 522.3678
Ecno Lodge - 522.8000
Hampton Inn - 523.2409
Holiday Inn Express - 522.1200
Knights Inn - 522.3523
Motel 6 - 524.7443
Super8 - 524.2000
Quality Inn - 522.6767

Re: Sprint Week Suggestions
 

I stayed at the Days Inn in Seymour a couple of years ago. A nice clean room with no smell and it really is close to Brownstown.

Also, apexonephoto I understand your concern for "stinky" hotels. I believe that smell is curried rat!:18::10::5:

Re: Sprint Week Suggestions
 

Before I started shooting races, I travelled a lot for work. I never understood the whole attraction to the hotel/motel industry for some people. I lived in the same Holiday Inn up here in Canada for 9 months, so I got kinda spoiled.

Back in 2000 I was working the afternoon shift (which I think you guys call second shift) at Navistar in Indy, I happened to go into Steve Schmidt Competition Engines (pro stock drag racing) one day and I got a complete tour, engines on the dyno and everything. But I think the trip to the Speedway museum is what got my enthusiasm for racing back. I know it's a little north of Indy and not exactly racing related, but I think the Auburn Cord Duesenberg museum is pretty cool.

Monday, July 12 is an open date for the UMP Summer Nationals, which is a month long series for dirt late models also known as the hell tour. They may end up making up a rained out event that night, as they have 25 events from June 16 until then. I would keep an eye on this site:2010 July Oval Track Schedules, and http://www.thehelltour.com/ if any ISW races should fall victim to inclement weather as a back up. I know it's dirt late models, but it's better then sitting in a hotel.

Re: Sprint Week Suggestions
 

If you have kids...
Holiday World before Haubstadt or Bloomington

Re: Sprint Week Suggestions
 

Gotta eat at "The Log Inn" in Warrenington before or after the Haubstadt race.

Re: Sprint Week Suggestions
 

I'll second that. Very affordable, clean park with a great water park and free soft drinks.

Re: Sprint Week Suggestions
 

Myself and a buddy are hitting the 1st part of Sprint Week and sharing the motel expense which helps a bunch on overall spending. Usually we stay close to tracks but if they're full usually you can find something reasonable on the way to the next track. It just takes a little internet research.

There are times I plan to tent camp this year either at the track or a park if close by. Gas is just about $3.00 here in Michigan, so if I can save a few bucks, I'll give it a try.

Re: Sprint Week Suggestions
 

No new suggestions. Gas is 98 cents a litre ($3.70 a gallon) in Ontario. Which is a good reason to go to the US for a race every weekend!

Re: Sprint Week Suggestions
 

If you are going to stay in one hotel most of the time, I have had luck on priceline getting a room very cheap, around 25 dollars a night for Extended Stay Suites many times when I was working over by the airport. The rooms are very clean, you have a kitchen and are pretty well centrally located to within an hour to hour and half of almost all tracks except Haubstadt. Don't know what your plans were as far as money you wanted to spend, but just throwing this suggestion out there. :22: