Pomona Winternationals question… (1 Viewer)

[.]

We have a lot of friends who race at Pomona so we always dump our jackets, etc. in their trailers and never need to return to our cars until day's end. As a result we save a bunch by parking out in the general lot. It doesn't take much time to walk in, even with the grandkids. That's just me though. I'll already have half a grand in tickets to pay for the entire family's entrance (big family who loves drag racing) so it also helps to have the Suburban so far away that nobody's tempted to head out for a tissue, if you know what I mean.

I’m glad I don’t have the bill for your tickets!!

If the Winternationals is like the other national events I’ve been to, usually Friday is a lot less crowded then Sat and Sun. With Pomona running nitro cars on Thursday, I’d assume Thursday’s crowd is similar to Fridays crowed at other national events. Maybe I’ll compromise and just pay for preferred parking on Sat and Sun and hope for a good, “cheap” spot on Thursday and Friday.

THis will be my 14th straight Winter Natls. Depending on how the $$$'s going I'll park in Pit-side preferred but it's $25 per day! But even preferred parking can be a good walk, that parking lot is HUGE! Most of the time I sit in Sec. 5 along the Tunnel rail PIt-side so as to get some Great pics of the cars as they head to the pits. At last year's Winter's I got talked into sitting on the spectator side on Friday for one alky session. It was 75-80 degrees to begin with, but over on that side there's no airflow what so ever. It turned into a furnace quick! I told friends Clark and Jayne I couldn't hang and went back to the other side. One thing to look forward to at Pomona is the awesome sunsets that come right over the shutdown area around 5PM!

That’s good information Joe!. I hate the heat. From what you just told me I wont be sitting on the spectator side of the track!!!

Brian, you're from MN so you most likely won't need a jacket! I went in 1996, flew out of Detroit where it was -11° F! That was on Thursday. We picked up our rental car and a map at Alamo, and went directly to the track. Temp at Pomona was in the low 60s. The locals were bundled up in fur parkas! We left our coats in the car all weekend. On Friday we had rain, so we went to the Peterson Museum (the Wally Parks museum hadn't been built yet) and did some other sight-seeing. Saturday was rainy in the morning, but the afternoon session was great, and Sunday....

One of those rarest of days...bright, warm, one of the most beautiful days I've ever spent at a dragstrip, and I've been going since the late 1950s. (yeah, I'm old!) Have a ball in Tinseltown!

Yeah, I’ll probably bring a jacket but like you said, it will likely never leave the trunk of my car. You mentioned the “R” word…. Shhhh,….. we don’t want the moisture gods to get any crazy ideas!!! If it does r@!n I guess that will give me an excuse to stick around for the make-up event the following weekend.

Who knows, I may even hit the Phoenix event on my way home just for good measure!!!

Thanks for all the info guys…. See you at the races!

Brian.

 

["Dr. Dirt"]

Who knows, I may even hit the Phoenix event on my way home just for good measure!!!

Now you're talking about having some real fun in some great weather. You'll compromise a great deal in facility however at Fireturd from the Fairplex in Pomona.

 

[Just Paul]

Have a good time buddy, Pomona is one of my favorite tracks to go to. Something about taking that turn into the entrance and coming down the hill into the fairgrounds parking and seeing that track is just awesome.

If you go to the In-N-Out, don't forget the "secret menu" not listed on the board.


"3-by-3" = three meat patties and three slices of cheese.

"4-by-4" = four meat patties and four slices of cheese.

"2-by-4" = two meat patties and four slices of cheese.

*Note: You can get a burger with as many meat patties or cheese slices as you want. Just tell the In-N-Out Burger cashier how many meat patties and how much cheese you want and that is what you'll get! For instance, if you want 6 pieces of meat and 10 pieces of cheese tell them you want a "6-by-10."

"Double Meat" = like a Double Double without cheese.

"3 by Meat" = three meat patties and no cheese.

"Animal Style" = the meat is cooked and fried with mustard and then pickles are added, extra spread and grilled onions are added.

"Animal Style Fries" = fries with cheese, spread, grilled onions and pickles (if you ask for them).

"Protein Style" = for all you low-carbohydrate dieters, this is a burger with no bun (wrapped in lettuce).

"Flying Dutchman" = two meat patties, two slices of melted cheese and nothing else - not even a bun!

Fries "Well-Done" = extra crispy fries . . . even better than the regular!

Fries "Light" = opposite of fries well-done, more raw than most people like 'em

"Grilled Cheese" = no meat, just melted cheese, tomato, lettuce and spread on a bun.

"Veggie Burger" = burger without the patty or cheese. Sometimes we call this the "Wish Burger."

"Neapolitan" Shake = strawberry, vanilla and chocolate blended together.


Anyways, have a great trip. I am heading to the "Blast Off" test myself.

 

[.]

Now you're talking about having some real fun in some great weather. You'll compromise a great deal in facility however at Fireturd from the Fairplex in Pomona.

I know what you mean about the Firebird facility. I actually lived there for a few weeks about 3 or 4 years ago. I was there with a friend who was running S/G at the national and divisional events on back to back weekends. We had the motor home setup in the pits and didn’t have a “city car” with us so we were pretty much stuck at the track during the off week between races. (Except for driving the “super golf cart” to the casino across the street but that is a whole other story that would take hours for me to type with my 2 fingers)

Firebird was fun, the racing was good but the facility wasn’t the best I’ve ever been to. I hear Vegas is nice but I'm still partial to Route 66 in Chicago.

I need to see how things go but Phoenix is about a 50/50 chance as of now.

Have a good time buddy, Pomona is one of my favorite tracks to go to. Something about taking that turn into the entrance and coming down the hill into the fairgrounds parking and seeing that track is just awesome.

Anyways, have a great trip. I am heading to the "Blast Off" test myself.

Thanks Paul!!

When you say “Blast Off” are you referring to the Vegas or Phoenix test session and, what weekend is the blast off scheduled for?

I think I can hear a Double Double screaming my name

Have fun at the Blast Off.

Brian.

 

[Just Paul]

Vegas-January 19-22

 

[Toejam]

I'd love to go to the Vegas test session, but the Flights/Hotels are more than Double going to Phoenix. So that will be my Fireturd experience for '07!

 

[Doug in the woods]

Ah yes In N Out burger-one in Vegas as well

In n Out has a stand in Vegas and I think I heard in Arizona.
GREAT burgers. Everytime I visit S cal my wife and I must have a burger from In N Out.
A few facts= they are privatly owned-no franchices
NO FREEZERS on site, all meat is fresh
They pay their emploiees really good, better than min wadge.
fries are fresh cut
the first stand is next to the 10 freeway in ?? the university of In N Out is across the freeway, same street??
As for the El Mercado, is that the little taco stand behind the starting lind , behind the bleachers on the road that goes parrell with the strip?? great burrittos
I used to live in La Verne, could walk to pits in ten miniutes from front door until they closed it to ped traffic.
Last time I was there the town has changed dramatacally. restaurants not real sure of.
theirs a great little coffee shop in downtown La Verne across from hardware store that has? great food.
nice mexican restaurant on foothill north side of street just before you leave La Verne. name?? I know Shelly Anderson used to recommend it when NHRA sent out their fan guides.
have a great time at the winternationals

 

[pomona99]

Brian, I am envious of you.. I have been to the Winternationals 6 times since 1993 and had a ball each time.
I would suggest an evening or two at the NHRA museum after the races. It is adjacent to Pomona Raceway just a little bit south on McKinley Ave. The musuem exhibits are wonderful and usually during the Winternationals weekend they host all sorts of social events for racers and fans alike. You never know what hall-of-fame racers you might run into there.
Last year you could park at the museum for 22$, ride a tram to the Pomona pits and come back the same way (it was about a 10-15 minute ride at most). Doing this you completely miss the stress of the usual traffic jam leaving the Fairground parking lots. And it can be a long walk to your car if you park in the main lot.
I agree on the previous idea of buying your Sat-Sun. tickets in advance. Thurs-Friday you can get at the gate if you get to the track early enough.

 

[Michelle Read]

Wow - glad I read this. Even as a regular I picked up some good info.

Key - phone number for El Merendero to call ahead and order. I have had to sit and wait for food for quite a while there on occassion. As usual, Darr has the info you need to know.

Also key - - the 'other' menu for In N Out. I always heard people refer to different items not on the menu, but never knew what it all meant. Thanks for that !

 

[.]

ahhh.... my favorite track!
Tickets: didn't have to wait 5 minutes even for the line at tix booth on Sat of this past finals. I have been very fortunate these past few years with finding "deals" on tix in the parking lot

El Merendero: go between 7 and 8 am on Sat or Sun if you wanna rub elbows with the teams and some of the big stars

Avoiding the traffic jam from the 10 fwy to the parking lot: try to get to the entrance by way of Arrow hwy or White ave. and slink in from the sides.

Sunday night mass exodus horrendous traffic jam from the parking lot: either beat the rush by standing near the bleacher exits for the final and running to your car or hang out in the pits for a couple hours.

General admission: Westside stands(small bleachers) meander over there and try it for a bit. Won't hurt, but you will not really be able to see the motel6 vision.

For fun after the races, try speedzone in Puente Hills
Speed Zone

In & Out? Give Tommy's a try too. The chili is great.

nearest is Chino

 

[.]

I'll probably gain about 20 pounds on this trip with all these burger and burrito joints on my list of…. “places to make a pig of myself”

 

[Harry Mannback]

Plenty of In-n-Outs here in Las Vegas, But Tommy's! I have not had a Tommy's burger in years! A true gut bomb but worth the pain.

Don't forget, more testing Feb 2-4 for the last chance test session and the pro-stock showdown.

 

[crewcheif gt/aa]

Hey Brian
Just read thru all the posts. I live in Menifee ca. about 5-10 miles from where you will be staying. I crewchief on a superstock team. We will be in pomona and I am extending you an invite to our trailer for refreshments. P/m me and I will give you the detailed info on what to look for in the pits. Have a safe trip and see you there.

 

[None]

You have got to try La Paloma on Foothill-Mexican, Johnny's at Arrow and Garey-Hamburgers, and Top Hat on Central in Upland-Pastrami.

 

[Mike]

Brian, while you are in Murrieta have your cousin take you to the Swing Inn in Temecula for breakfast(get there early or you'll wait) and to Richies Diner in Muurieta for any other meal. If you can get him to buy I'll join you(LOL) If you just want a cold beer, Joanies Cantina in old town Murrieta is great.


Anyone hungry yet???????????????????????

 

[.]

Brian, while you are in Murrieta have your cousin take you to the Swing Inn in Temecula for breakfast(get there early or you'll wait) and to Richies Diner in Muurieta for any other meal. If you can get him to buy I'll join you(LOL) If you just want a cold beer, Joanies Cantina in old town Murrieta is great.


Anyone hungry yet???????????????????????

Mike,

My cousin from California is in town this week for a belated family Christmas. I asked her and her husband if they knew about the places you’ve mentioned and they both smiled and said “oh yeah, we know where those places are”

They moved to Murrieta from Minnesota just over a year ago so I wasn’t sure if they would know.

Maybe I’ll meet up with you at Joanies Cantina some evening after the races for a beer?

 

[.]

Hey Brian
Just read thru all the posts. I live in Menifee ca. about 5-10 miles from where you will be staying. I crewchief on a superstock team. We will be in pomona and I am extending you an invite to our trailer for refreshments. P/m me and I will give you the detailed info on what to look for in the pits. Have a safe trip and see you there.

Ken, I sent you a pm.

 

[Mike]

About 5 min from my house. Sounds like a plan.

 

[Mike]

Brian, you all set for Pomona???????????

 

[.]

Brian, you all set for Pomona???????????

I’m ready Mike!!!

I’m leaving the Twin Cities on February 2nd, Stopping in Las Vegas for a few days then heading to my cousins house in Murrieta on Wednesday the 7th and I’ll be at the tack by Thursday the 8th.

I’ll send you a PM when I get into town.