Visit to Reno, 2011

[ilongstaff]

Hi all.. I'm based in the UK and am planning a trip over to the US next year just to see the Reno Air Races.
I've been onto the Reno Air Race website to find out all the information I can about the event itself but thought that it would be really useful if I could seek advice from seasoned Reno visitors and had the idea to post a request on your forum.
Is there anyone out there who would be prepared to offer some advice, some do's and dont's from their time attending previous Reno events please?
As you'll appreciate, coming from the UK, the whole event will be completely new to us so literally, any comments, advice or suggestions from your experiences would be most welcomed.
Many thanks!
Ian

[T. Adams]

Re: Visit to Reno, 2011

I'm sure many others will chime in, but if you can afford it, plan to be there the entire week, Mon-Sun. By a pit pass also. Also in the morning get there early, before sunrise, and once your in the pits, stay late, take in the after dark activites.

[JET1]

feel free to contact me

I work OPS for the races and have been doing it for 35+ years as a military participant, a fan, and as crew for 3 different teams before moving into OPS. beware it is addictive!

ramp1reno@gmail.com

[ShermB]

Re: Visit to Reno, 2011

Ian
Please check your Personal Message folder.

[Leo]

Re: Visit to Reno, 2011

Follow SHERMB's advice for passes and such, I'm sure she will steer you in the best direction!
For the rest, search the forum for all the advice the old-timers have given here.
Beyond that, take it all in, try not to concentrate too hard on video or pictures (there are so many others out there much better than we can do) so you can soak it all in.
Then be prepared to spend each and every year scrimping and saving tp attend the next years races...

[Coyote Chris]

Re: Visit to Reno, 2011

We are here to help you, Ian. Give us a few generalities, like if you will have a rent a car, be camping, staying in a hotel, max days you can stay in Reno, etc. Going through the past posts of this site will be a great sourse of information. There are past threads that deal with what new folk can expect. I have nothing against the official Reno website but there is oh so much more we can tell you and help you with.....
Chris

Here is a link from a post dated 8-9-10, "where to sit and other questions...."

http://www.aafo.com/hangartalk/showthread.php?t=8243

[AirDOGGe]

Re: Visit to Reno, 2011

And remember that Reno is a "gambling" town like Las Vegas, so you might want to bring a little more money if that is one of your interests. Be careful not too blow all your ticket and hotel money though if you do!

[ShermB]

Re: Visit to Reno, 2011

[QUOTE=Leo;85431]Follow SHERMB's advice for passes and such, I'm sure she will steer you in the best direction!

Thanks for the vote of confidence, Leo.
There is a good sized group of NAG members who come from England every year, so if I can put him in touch with them, maybe they would take him under their wing. They usually stay at the Silver Legacy, buy a week's linepass/Pit Pass and have a blast, at the races and in town.
Betty

[ilongstaff]

Re: Visit to Reno, 2011

With all the responses so far, I feel a really warm welcome awaiting us next year!

Thanks to all of you for replying, this sort of information is most valuable and will be a great help.

Look forward to being at Reno 2011 !

Best wishes

Ian

[mayday51]

Re: Visit to Reno, 2011

Ian,
There is no bad place to watch from, some are just better than others.
Being at the event will be worth it !

Each time I have been,it was a litte different. The group I was with used to set in lawnchairs in front of section 3.
(you get a two main stage show there).

Early in line (predawn) at the gate,Boy Scout coffee,early morning flights,gates open and the "land rush" is on for your place for the day.

Pit pass is a MUST. The entire bunch of racers are actually very open and friendly (consider their moment in time) and most will welcome questions and sign autographs if asked.
Be sure to visit "the litte guys" the bipes and F1s. lots to learn there too !

Just go and experience. Modify your agenda the second trip.
You cannot go wrong !

[flyingjibus]

Re: Visit to Reno, 2011

Get a pit pass.
If you can handle it, camp on site for the full experiance. Merlins make the best alarm clock.
Pack for every type of weather.
dont worry about taking in flight photos, just watch. Save your camara for the pits.
be prepared to come back!!

[Matt58]

Re: Visit to Reno, 2011

My annual trip to Reno/Stead is a "guys only" trip. The wife and kids stay home and let me make a complete ass out of myself with my brother and a select few buddies. Needless to say, we partake in just about everything that Reno can offer, including the races. If you like to party hard AND go to the races, here is what I suggest.

Lots of money. Every year, I try to do this trip on a very tight, strict budget, and the moment gets the best of me, and I have to fall back on the ole' credit card. And, every year, I leave Reno telling myslef that next year I need to bring more money.

Get some sleep. Each year, during a three day period, we average about 8-10 hours of sleep (not each night, total!!!). We usually post up at a blackjack table until 4 or 5 in the morning, then are head out to Stead around 8 or 9 am. Usually, by Sunday afternoon, my body tells me that I've had too much fun and not enough sleep.

Drink lots of water. We punish our bodies and I usually start cramping around Sunday mid-morning. Plus, with how much walking we do, this should be a standard practice.

Buy stuff. We walk by the same vendors, the same tent, everyday and check out everything, but I never want to carry it all day. I tell myself to buy it at the end of the day but that never works out. Then I get home and have nothing to show for the awesome weekend. Bring in a back-pack of sorts to haul around random stuff that you might need or buy. Buy what you can to remember the event, at bare minimum, a poster.

Prepare for any weather. The online weather sources have gotten much better and they can give you a pretty good idae of what the weather will be like, but in Stead, it can change in an instant. Bring sun screen for your ears, neck, face and arms, and a good hat will provide your face with some sun relief. I'm a huge fan of sunglasses so include those as well.

Bring good walking shoes or boots. We are always on the move and Stead is a big place. I have done an entire weekend in flip-flops before and my lower body paid the ultimate price for that dumb move. Good walking shoes or boots are a must.

Do the pits. While expensive, you have to do the pits to truely get a sense of the races. Seeing the teams wrench away literally feet from you is something that everyone needs to witness; it will give you a whole new appreciation for what they do.

Eat. Reno and the races offer some of the best food I have ever eaten. Definately not low carb, or low fat, but every bite is better than the next, and if you hit up a buffett, you can go back as many times as you like!

Bring a camera or camcorder. We use this daily to document OUR trip, not the races. There are very many people that are very good at documenting the races and I leave this to them. The camera helps tell the weekend story and the Flip HD helps us re-live the moments that we wish would just go away.

Obviously, a lot on my list could be changed, or could be added to or subtracted from, but Reno to us, is about GREAT friends and GREAT times. The races are just the venue to bring us all together for one helluva weekend!

[airtj]

Re: Visit to Reno, 2011

If you can find a place that sells the Blue Lizard sunscreen it's the sunscreen to bring. Also a good pair of sunglasses is a most also. If you are into taking pictures it's best to get their early in the day so that you can get pictures without people in them. Make sure you get hotel reservations early to be able to get a decent price.

[hattend]

Re: Visit to Reno, 2011

Matt pretty much hit everything.

Most important...bring money. You never have enough. Especially if you are hitting the casinos at night, eating at the race venues and buying souveniers.

Pit Passes are a must...budget for it, don't let anybody talk you out of getting one. It's only like $25 per person a day average.

Forget baseball hats...bring something with a wide brim all the way around or that has the cloth neck shade in the back. You are in a high altitude desert...sun burns you quick. Big time sunscreen...lather up early and often.

Get hotel now... I recommend the Silver Legacy. They always treat us well plus they are connected to Eldorado and Circus Circus so lots of different casinos and restaurants to enjoy all within a short walk.

bring 3 seasons of clothes... At least enough to give you layering warmth. I know it's hard to pack for a transocean visit but some things you need to plan on. Everybody raise your hand if you remember the year it was 100 degrees on Wednesday and Snowing on Sunday ...yeah ...you remember! ALL the stores were sold out of cold weather gear that year!

As others have mentioned...walking shoes. It's over a mile from the F1/Biplane/Sport pits to the static displays... you're going to be walking and walking and walking.

Have a decent zoom on your camera. Nothing sucks worse than getting home and seeing little specks that are supposed to be airplanes racing. Point and shoots ar good just make sure it has a good zoom lens. If you're bringing a camera with a $10K lens...awesome! hahahah .

Start saving now...September roars toward you come spring... I'm serious! Start saving for 2012...you'll be coming back.

Plan a day trip to Lake Tahoe. You're coming all the way from the UK, you might as well see all the sights to see. Take the chairlift to the top of Heavenly and take a hike at the top. The Sierra Nevadas are magnificent.

Enjoy!

Go Bear!
Don

[FlyKidChris]

Re: Visit to Reno, 2011

Ian,

Matt58 and Hattend have some excellent suggestions.

Coming west, you'll probably be able to adjust to the time zone changes fairly easily, but allow yourself at least a couple of days to recover whenever you head home.

Also, please, say "Hi" and introduce yourself. I think most (if not all) on this board would be thrilled to meet you and show you around - at least a bit.

First beer is on me.

Chris