Hello everyone, I saw in the post about the stl picnic that a few of you are going to Petit this year. This will be my first time going to Road Atlanta and just wanted to know if you had any tips, what to bring, where to watch from etc. By the way this is my first post to NAM since I picked up my MCS in May. Thanks in advance

Dave

 

Welcome to NAM and the StL. MINIs

Be prepared for one of the best race events in the US (and unlike F1 they actually like race fans).
Bring a camera. Lots of photo ops (look in my sig for last year's Petit).
Rent a golf cart. It makes it much easier to get around, especially on race day when 100,000 people show up.
Watch from everywhere...it's a 10 hour race for Pete's sake. Spectator hill and the 10s are a must, but there are many other good vantage points (like the hill behind the Corvette Corral).
Don't miss the Speed World Challenge races. They are just as good as the ALMS race.
Drink lots of water.
Visit the Road Atlanta site for the PDF event schedule.
Visit the IMSA site for info.

It's Le Mans, not Lemans (or we'll put a nOOb badge on your MINI).

Don't buy any cool diecast cars in vendor village until I've had a chance to check them out first.

 

Some more Petit Le Mans stuff...

Don't miss Thursday night practice. Turn 6 is good for watching the glowing brakes.

Bring shoes you don't mind destroying. If it rains the red Georgia clay gets everywhere. I wear lightweight Gore-Tex hiking boots myself. They're just better for all the walking around.

Plan to arrive early Saturday morning. Otherwise plan to sit in traffic trying to get in.

If you rent a golf cart, don't buy a parking pass. Parking for golf cart rentals is outside the entrance checkpoint. The cool part about that is when it's time to leave, you're right there at the exit after you turn your cart in. Also -- if you have a cart -- bring a cooler and some bunjie cords and stock it with your own food and drink. You'll save a fortune and track food isn't so great anyway. People will leave your stuff alone too.

Bring some folding chairs for Spectator Hill (which faces Turn 5 at the end of the esses). The inside of Turn 5 opposite Spectator Hill is also a good place to watch.

If it rains for the Speed GT race go to Turn 2-3-4. That's where they will all crash.

Johnny O'Connell (#3 Corvette) always has a charity auction in the paddock on Friday night. BTW: if you plan to attend the driver autograph session and want to go get Corvette drivers' autographs, arrive early. The Corvette line is about as long as all the others combined. Audi and Porsche are pretty long too, but not as bad.

 

does anyone know if there will be a mini corral at the petit this year? been going to road atlanta since 1972 (oops, giving away my age) and it's been getting better (more grass, less red clay) as time goes on.

 

I've been to Petit the last two years and there have been no MINI corrals that I was aware of. In 2006 there was a BMW corral, but they cancelled it for 2007. There were no BMWs running in ALMS & they aren't returning until Sebring 2009, with a pair of Rahal-Letterman M3 GTRs.

Sebring had a BMW corral this year, but it was all BMWs. I'm returning to Sebring next March, and am hoping the BMW corral will allow my MINI because I don't want to have to mess with parking otherwise.

 

Thanks for all the great info, I can't wait! I'll only be there for the ALMS race on Sat, this will be the first trip away from the kids so I'm happy to even be going. Do you recommend a race scanner to listen in on the race or is it OK just to listen in on the FM broadcast? Trying to decide if I should spend the money on the scanners or not. Thanks again

 

Getting a scanner is worhtwhile, even if just to listen to Hindy on Radio Le Mans. I have a Undien SC230, but you can get adequate scanners for less.

http://www.racescanners.com/scanners.php
Uniden Scanner page