First trip to Reno

[262crew]

Anyone have any tips for me this will be my first trip to the races, any museums or other aircraft related activities in the area? What about hotels and places to eat? How about the best vantage point to see the race and take pictures, what are the best days? Any help is very much appreciated

[FUNFLYER]

I go every year and I also live in Everett. PM me and we could meet for coffee and discuss. I will bring pic's. Rad

[cg51]

A great place to eat is the Claim Jumper on S Virginia street, excellent food and large portions. During race week they will be packed but well worth the wait!

[kenlyco]

I heard the Mustang ranch is fun..

[262crew]

I heard the Mustang ranch is fun..

You "heard"

[kenlyco]

Want to see some pics

[262crew]

Want to see some pics

Post em

[sdennison]

I heard the Mustang ranch is fun..

Are there a lot of P-51's there? I was hoping for a Thunderbolt Ranch where I could see a lot of jugs....

[kenlyco]

Keep going?

[262crew]

SIGN ME UP Now your sure they dont have teeth

[muddyboots]

that's not very funny. And it's gross besides.



MUCH mo better.

[262crew]

that's not very funny. And it's gross besides.



MUCH mo better.

THAT IS MORE LIKE MY FLAVOR

[warbird1]

The absolute best seat in the house for the general public (except for the actual pylons themselves, which are inaccessible) used to be in the Silver Knolls area, adjacent to the Valley of Speed. Unfortunately 2007 was the last year that you could go there to observe the races. This area is on the edge of the race course, where you could be literally within a few hundred feet of Merlins roaring by at race power. It was an AWESOME spectacle for sure, and 100 times better than the grandstands on the ramp at the airport. Unfortunately, so many RUDE and uncaring race fans tore up the area with litter, ATV's, motorcycles, etc that it pissed off the local homeowners. The homeowners went to the Police, and now you have to not only be a homeowner to go there during race weekend, but also have a sticker. I have some incredible video from there from the last 12 or so years.

That's all now off-limits and history.

Your best best is to buy a ticket for the grandstands and get up at high as you can. If you want to take pictures/video, expect people's heads to get in the way at times, unless you are at the very top of the grandstands. People get there VERY early in the morning to get those coveted top row grandstands, so if you want that, you will have to get there very early!

If you don't want to go to the grandstands, another place which is pretty good for filming is at the far extreme end of the Pits. From here, you can get decent film/video of the racers making the last turn into the home straightaway. To get there, though, you will have to buy a Pit pass, which costs something like another $25 or so, to get in, in addition to the general admission ticket. Reno is NOT cheap, you will spend many hundreds of dollars there, if you plan to stay more than a few days. It's all worth it though!

[warbird1]

I heard the Mustang ranch is fun..

That closed down a loooooooong time ago, unless you are talking about Carson City.

[Second Air Force]

Anyone have any tips for me this will be my first trip to the races, any museums or other aircraft related activities in the area? What about hotels and places to eat? How about the best vantage point to see the race and take pictures, what are the best days? Any help is very much appreciated

It's going to be our first trip out there as well, you can just wander around aimlessly like I probably will..... I am planning on running down to Tonopah to document the WWII hangars at some point. They haven't changed much since the AAF left at the end of the war other than normal deterioration.