daleclark
04-11-2012, 05:18 PM
Here's a few things to bring I've found from my past years at DGRR that will help you have a super time.
- A light coat. Traditionally it's been in the '50s at night and there's quite a lot of hanging around the parking lot and socializing once the sun goes down. Also, the awards banquet Saturday night is in an outdoor pavillion and can get a little chilly.
- A flashlight. Especially if you stay in the cabins at NVNC, it's DARK out there at night.
- Cash. There will be some vendors selling stuff like T-shirts and parts and your Visa card won't work :).
- Sunblock. Primarily if you burn easily, you do a LOT of standing around outside and it adds up.
- Adult beverages. The county NVNC is in is a dry county, the hotel bar does serve some drinks but they're pretty pricey and they may not have what you like. Much easier to load up with a 12-pack on the way in and have them getting cold in the fridge in your cabin. Of course, PLEASE drink responsibly.
- Some sort of GPS. I imagine most guys will have a GPS in their car, but if you follow a group somewhere for dinner or to the Dragon, it's easy to get separated from the pack and lost. If you put in the address of NVNC in your GPS or phone it's an easy way to get back. Pretty obvious, but it's VERY twisty and confusing up in the mountains!
- Dramamine. If you plan on hitting the Dragon and have a passenger that has motion sickness issues (especially wives/girlfriends/significant others) this can help them out. I don't think I've heard of a story of passengers having a barf, but I HAVE heard of wives making one pass through the Dragon and saying "that's enough!".
Also, before you come, PLEASE do a basic safety inspection of your car. This includes -
- Working headlights, parking lights, and brake lights. Guy last year had NO working brake lights and nearly caused an accident. Way not cool.
- Good air pressure in your tires, and good tires.
- Check your belts and all hoses to make sure they're good, if you have one that's sketchy you have time NOW to fix it!
- Check for loose gear in your car. The Dragon is quite twisty and those empty soda cans and junk in your floorboard can get caught up in the pedals and cause problems. Same goes for general gear in your car, like your camera - make sure it's safely secured before a pass.
It's not much, but seeing as how we all work on our cars and they are quite a bit older, there's the small stuff that gets overlooked.
Big thing is get ready to have a BIG weekend of the BEST car event EVER. I've been to tons of events, I've NEVER had as much fun as DGRR!
Dale
- A light coat. Traditionally it's been in the '50s at night and there's quite a lot of hanging around the parking lot and socializing once the sun goes down. Also, the awards banquet Saturday night is in an outdoor pavillion and can get a little chilly.
- A flashlight. Especially if you stay in the cabins at NVNC, it's DARK out there at night.
- Cash. There will be some vendors selling stuff like T-shirts and parts and your Visa card won't work :).
- Sunblock. Primarily if you burn easily, you do a LOT of standing around outside and it adds up.
- Adult beverages. The county NVNC is in is a dry county, the hotel bar does serve some drinks but they're pretty pricey and they may not have what you like. Much easier to load up with a 12-pack on the way in and have them getting cold in the fridge in your cabin. Of course, PLEASE drink responsibly.
- Some sort of GPS. I imagine most guys will have a GPS in their car, but if you follow a group somewhere for dinner or to the Dragon, it's easy to get separated from the pack and lost. If you put in the address of NVNC in your GPS or phone it's an easy way to get back. Pretty obvious, but it's VERY twisty and confusing up in the mountains!
- Dramamine. If you plan on hitting the Dragon and have a passenger that has motion sickness issues (especially wives/girlfriends/significant others) this can help them out. I don't think I've heard of a story of passengers having a barf, but I HAVE heard of wives making one pass through the Dragon and saying "that's enough!".
Also, before you come, PLEASE do a basic safety inspection of your car. This includes -
- Working headlights, parking lights, and brake lights. Guy last year had NO working brake lights and nearly caused an accident. Way not cool.
- Good air pressure in your tires, and good tires.
- Check your belts and all hoses to make sure they're good, if you have one that's sketchy you have time NOW to fix it!
- Check for loose gear in your car. The Dragon is quite twisty and those empty soda cans and junk in your floorboard can get caught up in the pedals and cause problems. Same goes for general gear in your car, like your camera - make sure it's safely secured before a pass.
It's not much, but seeing as how we all work on our cars and they are quite a bit older, there's the small stuff that gets overlooked.
Big thing is get ready to have a BIG weekend of the BEST car event EVER. I've been to tons of events, I've NEVER had as much fun as DGRR!
Dale