| Michigan International Speedway | Darlington Raceway |
|---|---|
| Bristol Motor Speedway | Daytona International Speedway |
I flew non-stop from Detroit to Myrtle Beach where I rented a car and made the 90 minute drive to Darlington. Some may think it would be nice to stay IN Myrtle Beach and drive back and forth, but I would suggest against that idea.
The drive is thru several smaller towns, with stop lights and many little places to get caught over the speed limit. Not a drive you want to make after a night race at Darlington, in my opinion.
Florence, South Carolina was where I rested my head for my 2 night stay. Many hotels are in Florence right off of I-95. Book your room early & you wont have a problem. It was really great having a hotel room just 15 minutes or so from the race track. For example, my race weekend saw 90 degree temperatures both days and having a hotel that close allowed me to drive back to the hotel, relax, take a shower and come back for the night races at Darlington.
I was afforded an infield parking pass, but the track has plenty of parking beyond turn 3 & 4, as well as a parking area about 300 yards from the front stretch grand stand. Many "private" homeowners open their yards to race fans to park for a fee.... well worth it too. $20 bucks or so, would get you into someones yard to park OR camp.
Seating at Darlington is great, I suggest sitting somewhere up high in the grandstands, but that's pretty much my thought anywhere I attend races. Turn 4, the frontstretch and turn 1 all have seat backs. The backstretch seating area, ( which had a roof at one time years ago), is now roof-less & you'll sit on the old fashioned concrete..... bring a cushion !!
Infield camping is limited inside the Darlington oval, so make plans far in advance to nab one of these "up close & personal" camp sites. I watched the Southern 500 from the infield & it was nice to watch a little bit in turn 2, turn one, and wander about. Check out my photo gallery from Darlington here on getracinginfo.com.
Driver's merchandise is plentiful behind the main grandstand from turn 4 to turn 1. Big display area & food also available in same area.
Once racing was over, I headed back to Florence where I found out that "beverage" sales end at midnight in some locations. If you plan is to enjoy a few cold ones after the race, keep this in mind. This law is different from establishment to establishment....I warned ya !! If you're thirsty, hopefully you'll have a fridge stocked in your hotel room.
On Sunday following the Southern 500, I got to spend all of Sunday at Myrtle Beach, with a Sunday night flight to take me home. Worked out great & you too will enjoy the "southern hospitality".
For the better part of 30 years, I've always tried to track down this one particular sports figure & at Darlington I finally got to shake the man's hand
As a youngster, I had quite a collection of autographs from my sports heroes. Over the years I've realized that the autographs didn't mean as much to me as simply shaking "that" person's hand or at times, even getting to play a round of golf with "that" person. At Darlington, he was there. He wasn't in the garage area or the media center, but I found out I'd probably have to wait "in line" with other fans who also wanted to meet him..... So I did !!
This man reached the highest level years ago & is still as popular as ever.... to many. To others, some may not even know him OR could care less about meeting him & getting an autograph.
I waited in line for almost an hour to meet this guy and there were hundreds more BEHIND ME in line. The only catch was, I'd have to buy a South Carolina lottery scratch off ticket to get an autograph.... I purchased 4 tickets !! I was pumped !!
As you see in my photo gallery here on getracinginfo.com, I not only got an autograph, but a photo with this legend as well. I was tickled to meet him & FINALLY shake his hand. I had about 30 seconds with one of my life long sports heroes. 30 years of seeing him on TV & I get 30 cherished seconds with "The Man".
In recent years he pops up during NASCAR events in Charlotte,NC..... where he now lives. But this day at Darlington, he was making an appearance for the SC Lottery.
So, on a day when the temp hit 90 degrees, seated under a small square white tent, was this 16 time World Champion. I walked up the small ramp, stood in front of his table, reached out my right hand and shook the right hand of ........ The Nature Boy - Ric Flair !
During our handshake, I remember exactly what I said to him,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,
" Flair, I've waited a long time to shake your hand"......" I from Michigan & I didnt come to see the Southern 500, I came to see YOU !!! "
He got a pretty good chuckle from that comment. Now my left hand reaches up so now both my hands are grasping Flair's right hand as I tell him "thank you for so many years of entertainment".
There it was, 30 seconds and it was over. I'm left with a great memory, a photo ( that is on this website), and an autogrpahed 8x10 photo of Ric Flair.
Now, my wife is wondering just "how long" that Flair autographed photo is going to stay on our refrigerator.
Oh yeah, some Toyota won the race they had later that night.
Getracinginfo.com offers our sincere thanks and appreciation to Chris Browning, Jake Harris & the staff at Darlington for all of their hospitality. If you're in the area when there ISN'T a race, still stop by and check it out. Darlington is a great place to reflect on how racing used to be years ago. Think of the greats that raced there. Think of the historic moments in NASCAR that happened there. Then buy a ticket for one of the truly great races, at one of the great venues in all of motorsports.
Ken Friend
Getracinginfo.com
Contributing Editor
May 2010
Listen to William Perry and Ken Friend from the infield of Chicagoland Speedway after the NASCAR weekend. We talk camping, tickets, seating, cold beverages, and more on this episode of the GRIP!
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