NASCAR Infield - "Meeting Your Camping Neighbors"

If you're new to the NASCAR camping scene or moved sites from the year before, "Meeting Your Camping Neighbors" for the first time can be an awesome, awkward or horrible moment.

"Are they quiet?", "Do they party and play loud music?", "Will they get mad if YOU party and play loud music?".  RV spaces in the infield are quite cozy so if this is your first time meeting them, then these and many other questions get answered quickly.

View from the top of our RV looking towards backstretch/Turn 3 at Auto Club Speedway, Fontana, CA.
© Photo by Paul Wilkinson

Depending on who around you arrives first can set the tone for the weekend by how they place their camp site.  I prefer to park with the RV door facing towards a neighbor's door to maximize & share the "common area" between sites.  

Others may want their privacy and have their doors facing away from you, which places their rigs on the site line nearest you, minimizing your usable space.

When I arrived at my site, my neighbors to the left ( as you look at the site from the road) had just arrived and were backed in setting up.  They were a foot over my site line with their slide outs extended.  My neighbors on the right were already in place at the far right with their door facing my site.

What made sense for me, was to pull in forward.  Since my slide outs are on the driver's side, this allowed me to park as close as possible to my neighbors on the left.  This opened the common area between myself and neighbors to the right, while allowing the maximum space for my neighbors on the left - a total WIN, WIN, WIN!  

Everyone was happy with that set-up and it worked out great.

Worked out well with us and neighbors with this set-up.

© Photo by Paul Wilkinson

Several things COULD have happened to make this story end differently; 

1.  I could have been an "A'Hole" and told the neighbor over my line to get back on his side.

2.  I could have been a "HUGE A'Hole" and backed in and screwed both myself and my neighbors to my right.

What I actually did was what any civilized "non-A'Hole" NASCAR camping fan SHOULD do . . .

. . . get out of the rig, make introductions to BOTH neighbors and communicate with them to maximize the space.  They could have easily been "A'Holes", in which option 1 and/or 2 could have easily come back into play, but that was NOT THE CASE!  

I got pretty lucky this year when I elected to change sites at Auto Club Speedway I got some GREAT NASCAR camping neighbors!  

This year we had GREAT neighbors & also met their cool friends.
© Photo by Paul Wilkinson

Even after talking to our neighbors (RV pictured on right) when they arrived the year before, they decided it was best for them to back in leaving only a few feet between us.  His generator & exhaust only a couple feet from my door.  They would only talk to us when they came out to start their generator for the rest of the weekend.  Maybe he thought WE were A'holes. but in reality they were "HUGE A'holes!"  © Photo by Paul Wilkinson

So don't be a NASCAR camping scrooge!  Get out, meet the neighbors, share a drink, a meal, laugh together and have some fun!  Remember EVERYONE is there to have a good time.  

Before you know it, instead of just being NASCAR camping neighbors, you will all become a piece of a larger NASCAR camping family and maybe even friends for life!  

Visiting my friends & neighbors that were TWO sites over from me the year before.
© Photo by Paul Wilkinson

What do you and your NASCAR family do special when you see each other at the track?

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** ©2015 The Infield Guru.  The Infield Guru is not affiliated with and does not endorse any specific track or driver.  This article is for information & entertainment purposes only. There are no guarantees regarding the availability or quantities of any of the above items. Prices are subject to change without notice. Please contact the specific track or appropriate websites for more detailed information regarding limits and expiration of these offers.  If the links fail to open for you, check your pop-up blocking software or consider calling the tracks directly.

NASCAR Camping Pet Peeves at the "Porta Shower" Trailers

NASCAR infield camping weekends can be one of the most fun things you can do.  However, several things can make a good weekend go bad
by a few inconsiderate "attendees".

Most tracks provide mobile "Porta Shower" trailers in several locations so campers can "get cleaned up".  RVs have limited size fresh & black water tanks, while tent campers have nothing and rely on this resource more than most.

"Porta Kleen" Mobile Shower Trailers Staged at Las Vegas Motor Speedway 2015.

© Photo provided by Eric Emery

Let me state for the record that I am VERY grateful they have these showers at the track, and in NO WAY do I blame the Porta Shower operators or attendants.

SEVEN - "Porta Shower" NASCAR camping pet peeves:

1. As refreshing as it is to wash off the dirt, sweat and grime - "HELLO, this isn't a "Turkish Bath"!  Why are people spending 30+ minutes taking a shower?  Get in & Get out!  Brush your hair & put your make-up on back at camp.

2.  When you leave the showers, let the person next in line know which stall you just used.  So in the event you closed the shower curtain, we DON'T look like pervs trying to see which stall you left empty.  Better yet, just leave the shower curtain OPEN.  

3. If you're told which shower stall is available, don't go to a different stall as someone else leaves, otherwise you could get a visitor by the next in line.

4. Take your filthy pube infested, slimy bar of soap, brown stained underwear and empty shampoo bottles with you. It's a shower, NOT a dumpster! Enough said!

Internet image, source unknown.

 5. Snake the line in a direction that stays out of the way of a main path or intersection.  Making others have to ask you to get by you is just rude.  If the line is going through a main path, leave a big enough opening for people to get through. Common courtesy people!

6.  If the showers are set up next to the bathrooms - Please DON'T wash you nasty head and face in the drinking fountain....That's just GROSS!  

7.  Wear shower shoes or flip flops!  No one wants to stand in your disease infected foot puddles.

I don't even know why these things need to be said, but some camping "attendees" need to know what our pet peeves are, as I have witnessed each of the above while at NASCAR.  

What are some of your NASCAR Infield camping pet peeves?

Don't forget to SHARE this post with your friends and "LIKE" us on Facebook & to follow me on Twitter @InfieldGuru or by clicking the links on the right.  #InfieldNation, #SeeYOUOnTheInfield

** ©2015 The Infield Guru.  The Infield Guru is not affiliated with and does not endorse any specific track or driver.  This article is for information & entertainment purposes only. There are no guarantees regarding the availability or quantities of any of the above items. Prices are subject to change without notice. Please contact the specific track or appropriate websites for more detailed information regarding limits and expiration of these offers.  If the links fail to

2014 NASCAR SEASON OVER – NOW WHAT?

The 2014 NASCAR races finished in grand fashion with Kevin Harvick as the 2014 Sprint Cup Series Champion.  With the season over, now what?

Many of you living in areas with colder temperatures may be heading south or have already winterized your RV.  This is a great time to make a list of those items needed to be fixed, modified or scheduled for maintenance.  It makes no sense in scrambling around last minute to make costly maintenance, or repairs, that ruin your trip to next year’s NASCAR races.

"THEE BENNY" at Kansas Motor Speedway
© Photo provided by Dan Jensen/Thee Benny

If your RV requires service that must be completed by an "authorized dealer" - schedule those appointments early!  Depending on the time of year, you may find some service centers are so busy, that getting an appointment could take over a month just for routine service. 

For the snow birds heading south or even west - this is a great time to look at the 2015 NASCAR racing schedule to include one (or more) of those races in your trip. Don’t wait to purchase tickets for your infield camping spots or race tickets.  Despite rumors of lowered attendance, tracks located in the "fairer weather" locations often sell out of their reserved RV camp sites quickly.  Some tracks may offer less expensive outside unreserved camp sites or you can choose a nearby campground so you are near the track if you find either unavailable.

Tent campers can do the same thing.  With many tracks experiencing rain, even snow, in 2014 don’t be discouraged from attending next year’s races.  Look to replace or upgrade any gear that may have caused you issues with staying warm and/or dry so your next infield tent camping experience is even better.  With upcoming holiday sales, this is a great time of year to make those types of purchases. 

April showers at TMS flooded the
campgrounds  in 2014.
© Photo provided by Kyle McMillan

Adapting to different weather conditions can make
your infield tent camping experience more enjoyable
© Photo provided by Kyle McMillan

If you're over the tent camping thing - check out "Craig’s List" or other classified ads of those unlucky fans unable to attend next year's races.  You might be able to find a bus, camper or RV at a reasonable cost.

You can find many Buses/RV/Trailers "For Sale" on
 Craig's List or other classified web sites.
© Photos provided by Tracey Book Argue

If you have any helpful tips on prepping your ride or gear for next year’s races, please share.  Don’t forget to follow on Twitter and Facebook by clicking the links on your right.

See you on the Infield!