Coca Cola 600 on a Dime

A few weeks ago I wrote an article about Speed Week culminating in the Daytona 500 and the beginning of the 2013 NASCAR season. After attending for 7 years in a row and giving it some thought, the Daytona 500 isn’t so expensive and much more attainable than you think. It’s an exciting trip and the Coca Cola 600 in Charlotte, North Carolina is just as exciting. This year’s race is from May 23 – 26. You can turn this trip into what you want it to be; a trip to remember with the guys, a unique and unusual trip for you and your girlfriends (and Charlotte has an American IKEA). It can be a family trip, with seating set aside just for families (as almost all NASCAR tracks have). The weather is almost always great (as in comparison to Northern New York State). Almost always.

Let’s look at the tickets first. You can save year round and still purchase groups of 2 to 8 tickets together a few days before the race. Tickets for Friday’s race (close to front and center) begin at $50.00, for Saturday $75.00 and up, and by Sunday, the big race, front and center can cost from $150 and up. While these prices certainly add up quickly, tickets can be purchased in either outer section and you would still have an excellent seat. If you feel adventurous and like to take chances you could park just about anywhere and walk to the track, it’s that close. Just as you walk in people will be offering tickets at below the face value. For every 10 groups of people attending Charlotte, one group will have people who couldn’t make it, backed out or just didn’t want to go. Don’t count on getting seats together but you never know.

Charlotte has the best set up of any NASCAR track for the entry to the track and leaving the race. You can park alongside the track for $20.00 to $40.00 a day. After the race, shuttles will run until everyone has made it back to their vehicle. Don’t worry about security; there is plenty of that around. In the parking lot, on your way to the track, at the track and everywhere you turn.

Years ago, if you wanted to attend the Coca Cola 600, you had to book a hotel a year in advance and if you didn’t and arrived without one – well you didn’t get a room because virtually every hotel was booked within a 50 mile radius. Now you can arrive the day of the race and book right at the hotel. Better rates are always found online or by calling ahead (at least two weeks). In and around the track has numerous hotels, branded and independent but hotels will raise their rates for the Coca Cola 600 weekend. However, for the small independent hotels found in Harrisburg, Concord and surrounding towns we did not see one “No Vacancy” sign at all.

If you want to stay in downtown Charlotte the drive is at least 40 minutes away on any given “no race” day. Charlotte has a thriving and vibrant downtown with great restaurants, museums and there is always something going on. Uptown will be the place to be for NASCAR driver appearances and signed autographs and demonstrations – all free. The Spraygounds open this weekend, a perfect place for small children to romp under the spray of water in a park setting, also free. There is a world-class zoo 40 miles east of Charlotte with a reasonably priced entrance free. If you’re into running you can join the Patriot Festival and their 5K run or walk-a-thon for a minimal fee.

Now for food, that may be a bit more of a challenge money wise, especially if you or one of your family members is following a special diet. There are all kinds of restaurants for any type of budget as in any American or Canadian city, but eating healthy is a lot more difficult while traveling. You could ask for a room with a fridge and microwave or a kitchenette and purchase and cook your own food. The other option is once again throwing caution to the wind and enjoying every North Carolina style BBQ pulled pork sandwich you can find while in the south.

If you drive, the farther you drive down south (15 hours), the cheaper the gas becomes. Heck, once you leave Akwesasne the gas becomes cheaper! Once you drive through Pennsylvania and into Virginia you will really notice a difference. It’s a beautiful drive all along the way. As far as flying, book your trip at least 49 days ahead and try to fly out on a Tuesday or Wednesday. If you can fly home on Monday, it brings the price of the ticket down just a bit more. And which airline? Check every website you can for the best price.

If you want to splurge on anything choose that one thing before you leave. It may be a special meal, seats at a certain race during the weekend, or changing hotels for one night to spend a luxurious night at a resort or spa. Plan ahead, because every turn you make someone is selling something and you could easily spend hundreds on t-shirts, replica cars, hats, photos, not to mention soda and sandwiches. Purchase a nice cooler and take all your snacks and drinks in yourself. A $4.00 soda and $8.00 hamburger add up quickly.

It’s a great travel experience. The Charlotte International Motor Speedway holds over 160,000 people and just that in itself is an experience. You will see every walk of life there, rich and poor, north and south, gays and straights, long hairs and crew cuts. It’s a slice of life worth watching at least once. And the sounds – you have to stand track level at least for a few moments to hear, feel and see the extreme rush of racecars flying past you. Actually they go by so fast you can hear and feel them, but good luck really seeing them. And as for the food, they do have some weird things I haven’t even tried yet – yellow corn and cheese patties anyone?