Camping to Guide to North American Race Tracks
At June 6, 2005

TV reception in the paddock was measured with our "Satellite Dish", a set of standard rabbit ears mounted on the roof of the rig.

Summary:

TrackRatingPetsCampingTV ReceptionShowers
BeaveRun*****YesFree, no electrictyGoodYes
Grattan*No$15 in PaddockfairYes, +Swimming
GingerMan****Yes$5/night in PaddockABC, NBC, CBS, FOX, moreYes - Coed
Homestead**QTFree outside track ABC, NBC, CBS, FOX, moreNo
Lime RockZeroNoFree in Paddock(weak)Yes - Coed
Mid-OhioZeroNo---
Mosport*****YesFree in PaddockABC, NBC, CBS, FOX, moreYes
New Hampshire International Speedway*****YesFree in PaddockABC, NBC, CBS, FOX, more (all weak)Yes
Road America*****YesFree in PaddockABC, NBC, CBS, FOX, moreYes
Road Atlanta***NoFree in PaddockABC, NBC, CBS, FOX, moreYes
Roebling Road*****YesSometimes a $10 fee for electricity, Free camping in PaddockABC, NBC, CBS, FOX, moreYes
Sebring***QTFree in Paddock3 channelsYes
Summit Point*****YesFree in PaddockABC, NBC, CBS, FOX, UPN, PBS, WB, moreYes
Watkins Glen***QTFree in PaddockfairNo
Virginia International Raceway****Yes$25 per weekend for non-club members in the PaddockABC, NBC, CBS, FOX, UPN, PBSYes

Details in order of ratings, alphabetical within ratings group:

Five Star (*****) Accommodations

BeaveRun


BeaveRun - Good track food, good showers, friendly track management, and free camping in the Paddock. Choice of gravel or grass paddock. No electricity yet, but the facility is still under development.

New Hampshire International Speedway


New Hampshire International Speedway - Good track food, good showers, friendly track management, and free camping with electricity in the paddock. Choice of gravel or grass paddock. The garage rental is worth the price. You can paddock right outside your garage. Weak TV reception.

Mosport


Mosport - A wonderful place. Good track food, scenic views from the paddock, most TV Channels, showers, free camping in the paddock. Choice of paved or grass paddock. Try a McMosport for a taste treat!

Road America


Road America - The paddock is large with several tiers. The upper tier is paved, the second tier surrounds the gas pumps, is most convenient to track services and showers, and has paved roads with grass pads. The best place to set up is in the second tier. Good track food, numerous TV Channels, showers, free camping in the paddock. The food concessions close too early in the day.

Roebling Road


Roebling Road - The paddock is in a scenic pine woods. Good track food, numerous TV Channels, showers, free camping in the paddock.

Summit Point


Summit Point - Good track food, numerous weak TV Channels, showers, free camping in the Paddock. Choice of paved or grass paddock.

Four Star (****) Accommodations

GingerMan
GingerMan- Looses one star for the $5 per night camping fee, but otherwise camping at GingerMan is first rate. The paddock is large and gently sloping, with paved roads, and grass pads. There is also a back paddock that is nicely wooded which provides more room and a campground atmosphere. If George (my friends call me BigButt) is cooking the food, it is the best anywhere. Try his pork ribs and especially his pork sirloin. George cooked for General Westmorland. There are four coed showers, and Walmart and a laundromat are only 7 minutes from the track. The track staff is most pleasant and helpful.

Virginia International Raceway


VIR - The newly refurbished racetrack sets the standard by which all others are judged. Previously we gave the track a six-star rating, but since then, they have added a camping charge for non-members of the VIR Club, so now the track has a four-star camping rating. Great track food, scenic views from the paddock, fair TV reception, showers, camping in the paddock. Country Club atmosphere. We showed up early and the track guards opened the gates for us. The staff bends over backwards to make you welcome.

Three Star (***) Accommodations

Road Atlanta


Road Atlanta - Looses two stars for no pets. Scenery is nice. Good track food, several TV Channels, showers, free camping. The atmosphere in the paddock is similar to that of a truck stop.

Sebring


Sebring - Looses one star for poor TV reception and another for no showers in the main paddock. Electricity is available for $15 per event. Showers are available in the SCCA club paddock, bring your own flashlight as the lights may be turned off. Good track food, free camping in the paddock. Pets are "sort of" permitted, although rules say no. Great classic atmosphere.

Watkins Glen
Watkins Glen - Looses two stars for no showers in the Paddock. The paddock is large with a paved truck-stop area similar to Road Atlanta surrounding the garages. Two lower grassy paddocks provide more room and a campground atmosphere and are still close to services. Good track food, but only fair TV reception, free camping in the paddock. Pets are "sort of" permitted, although rules say no. Atmosphere rivals Mosport.

Two Star (**) Accommodations

Homestead


Homestead - Looses two stars for no camping in the paddock, and another for no showers. Camping is permitted outside the track, near the competitor gate. Good track food, good TV Reception. The garages are worth the price.

One Star (*) Accommodations

Grattan


Grattan - Looses one star for camping fee and another because you can't enter the paddock the night before the event, and two more for no pets. Good track food, several TV Channels, and showers. Grattan is proud of its swimming pool, but it is a long way from the Paddock, and not often used. Paddock is not open the evening before the start of an event, and you must camp outside the gates the first night.

Zero Star (Zero) Accommodations

Lime Rock


Lime Rock - In 1998, Lime Rock lost one star for lack of TV reception and had a four star rating. Since that time, track management has changed making Lime Rock the unfriendliest track east of Ohio. Don't waste your money at Lime Rock.

Mid-Ohio
Mid-Ohio - Track management is unfriendly to campers and dog owners. Don't waste your money at Mid-Ohio. Unfriendliest track east of the Pacific Ocean.

[ Vintage Garage Home Page]