Planning our first weekend at Dover-Spring of '08

Hey Zap! I'll make sure Sadie and Jerry stop by to give some advice. They are old pros around that track. (Are you staying over in Dover? Let us know more about your trip.) If your son is 8 he might like to see the pit stops, and the green and checkered flags wave- so frontstretch might be better for him. (My preference is up high on the fronstretch.) You really can't get a bad seat at the track. Just keep in mind the bridge, there are certain seats in the back that have slightly restricted views.

Since it's your first race, I think renting a scanner is a good idea. I don't think you need a Fanview one at a track like Dover, you can see everything. If not, definitely ear plugs- it gets LOUD!

Since Sadie, Lauren and I are planning on going bring a poncho and take the next day off from work- it might rain. There's plenty of time for more advice. We get so excited about it, we'll probably start talking about it in February :)

Here are some thoughts.

1) Sit up as high as you can, preferably on frontstrech or in 1 or 4. But anywhere high is great.
2) Get seat cushions and scanners. If you can, make sure your scanners hook up together with mics so you can talk to each other.
3) unless you're camping, park outside track property facing the direction you want to leave after the race. In other words, come in, make a U-turn and pay someone $15 to park
4) get there really early on raceday. Traffic can be tough.
5) try to get a package with pit passes--that's something your son will never forget.
6) Make your you give us your contact info so we can say "hi" at the track 'cause we'll be there.

Bass- No doubt, I'll reach out to you guys. I look forward to meeting you.
Kerry- Thanks for the heads up on the scanner and views.

We will be camping, arriving on Friday. We plan to attend both the Nationwide and the Sprint races. I wanted to begin inquiring now, so we didn't miss anything requiring action in advance. Especially anything involving my son, such as opportunities to get close and possibly meeting some of the drivers. He'd be ecstatic if somehow he could shake hands with Jeff Gordon. This is unfamiliar territory to me, so I appreciate everyone's guidance. I don't know what is available and what is unrealistic.

Wait, I've got more.

- Don't depend on the ATMs at the track. Get cash before you get there. The lines for the ATMs take forever because it's a bunch of drunk people trying to remember their PINs.

- Bring boatloads of sunscreen. Just ask Lauren.

- Sign up for Dover's email newsletter. They send information about race-related events with all the details you need to plan the weekend. They usually do a cooking show with a driver and some other cute things. You can sign up on their website.

Zap, I'm so glad you picked Dover. It really is the best. We've seen some amazing races there. I look forward to meeting you.

You should consider doing the charity walk-around where you get to walk the track with the drivers. While I've never personally done it, and I'm sure the drivers themselves are still hard to access, it's a very steeply banked track and would probably be really neat to walk.

We used to always get tickets in Turn 3. The seats are cheap, they don't sell out, and it seemed like all the action happens there. Then last year, I paid an extra $10 per ticket to sit on the frontstretch just after the finish line. But we were much more crowded and didn't feel like we got to see as much action. I think we'll be moving back to turn 3 next year. I will warn you, however, that the Monster Bridge slightly obstructs your view. It never bothered me, though, since you get such a great view of turns 3 and 4 all the way to the finish line.

My biggest, most important advice is to buy the ticket insurance. Last year, we all got hosed in the Spring race because we were unable to return for the postponed race on Monday. It is absolutely, positively worth the extra $6 or so per ticket to buy the insurance.

You should have a great time. Definitely take your son to the Kid's Zone on saturday. Pretty sure its free with tickets, check it out, a fun area for a boy his age. Lots of info on it on the Dover site.

I am a fan of the turns, not a front or back stretch guy. 3 is definitely the least expensive, some of your view of the back stretch can be blocked by the Monster Bridge on the track, not many seats, but it can happen, so higher is better for sure.

All of the advice so far is mint, particularly the newsletter. Keeps you current on what they are planning.

If you have a choice for camping on the property, the nearer the property the better for a family experience. If you travel deep into the back lots, - especially on saturday night late, it can remind you a bit of Talledega and not be the best family feel. I think they even have a family section, ask about that if you call the track.

Meeting Gordon will be mostly luck, sadly, he is a tough find but it definitely happens. If you can send me your address, I think I can get my hands on an autographed Gordon hat for your son.

Enjoy Dover.

I will be going to my first Nascar race at California Speedway the weekend after the Daytona 500. I got a lot of good advice from Jason Bunch. If you get there on Friday early enough for Cup qualifying...that will probably be you and your son's best opportunity to get autographs or a chance to get a pic with a driver if you have a pit pass for qualifying. I guess your chance for those opportunities are slim to none on race day. Hope you guys enjoy yourselves at Dover...and take some pictures! :)

Hey Zap! Glad to hear you'll be coming to Dover in '08. Lots of really cool things are on tap for 2008 at Dover -- including the fact that it'll be our 40th anniversary season! Anyhow, to echo what Sadie said earlier, be sure to sign-up for "Beyond the Track" on Dover's website, mainly because it'll keep you "in-the-know" from a few months out right up until race weekend. It'll have announced autograph sessions, special offers, etc., all good info for a fun weekend at the track.

Also if you have any specific questions, feel free to drop me a line. But just quick advice, like others said, seats high in the turns are always prefered by the die-hard fans, be sure to get to the track early (don't worry though, there's plenty to see and do), and if you're here on Saturday, stop by the Kid's Zone.

Just about 185 days to race weekend! But who's counting?

IF YOU CAN , GET ONE OF THE "TAKE A KID TO THE RACES" PACAGES ON THE DOVER WEBSITE , YOU GET TO MEET A DRIVER , LIGHT FOOD , SODAS IN HOSPITALITY