Long Beach GP tickets

[Schumi]

What's the way to go here guys? I haven't been before. Now I live 20 minutes from the track.

Is it like other ALMS races where if you get the general admission you can just walk around the infield? Or are the only good spots to watch in the grandstands?

I've never gotten reserved seating at a race before- at all other ALMS & F1 I just got the infield/general tickets, but here I can't tell how great the general admission viewing would be.

[Ronbo]

I haven't been in several years, but if you want to see the race you have to get reserved seats. They open the grandstands on Friday and Saturday to general admission, but not on race day.

[David]

I'd love to go and I'll be in Long Beach tomorrow, but got plans for that weekend.

Was there a couple weeks ago, had lunch 100 ft from the track (barriers) and it was killing me the whole time knowing I wouldn't be back for the race.

[Flieger]

Originally Posted by Schumi

What's the way to go here guys? I haven't been before. Now I live 20 minutes from the track.

Is it like other ALMS races where if you get the general admission you can just walk around the infield? Or are the only good spots to watch in the grandstands?

I've never gotten reserved seating at a race before- at all other ALMS & F1 I just got the infield/general tickets, but here I can't tell how great the general admission viewing would be.

I have been going since 2007. I bought a paddock pass the first year before I found that was for Indy cars (lame) and ALMS was free ()

I always get the reserved seats. You can't get great photos from down low because of the fences, and the reserved seats are in the better spots. They give you an assigned section but they really only check in the beginning. I usually go up in the General seats near the hairpin for the first half, then go over to the other side of the track by the paddock where my reserved seats are for the finish. People are starting to clear out by then and you can pretty much go where you like.

You could probably get by with general admission, and even get into the reserved area later in the race, but the nice thing about the reserved seats, though, is that you do have the pass to get into the better grandstands.

I think the reserved seats were not too much more.

[Flieger]

Originally Posted by Ronbo

I haven't been in several years, but if you want to see the race you have to get reserved seats. They open the grandstands on Friday and Saturday to general admission, but not on race day.

Uh, Saturday IS race day.

[motion]

Death to the CrapWagons!

[Noah930]

Saturday is the ALMS race. It probably won't be super crowded, but to get into the grandstands you'll need some sort of reserved ticket seat. (At least if my memory serves me right.) You can walk around most of the track. But there will be plenty of off-limit paddock and hospitality suite stuff. I've always been a fan of turn 1.

When I was a poor student I would get a general admission ticket and then stand at turn in at turn 1. When I got a job I bought seats. They're better, as pointed out, as you have a higher vantage point to see further down the track. And you don't have to stand there all day to stake out a spot. The end of the back straight is also good for racing action. The hairpin coming onto the front straight will see a couple banzai moves, as well.

I have difficulty giving money to the IRL, though.

[agrimmitt]

Mike:
Normally one of the Porsche (check out PCA forums) regions has some type of "parking" area for just Porsche's. From there I agree with Flieger start with General admission unless the Grandstands are a good deal. Get into Long Beach early the "city" can and will close the roads and send you for a long walk. I'm not keen on leaving my car on a side street in Long Beach; have a great time!
Art

[Flieger]

There has not been a PCA Porscheplatz since 2008, in sharp contrast to the 2010 Laguna Seca race- though I was parked in turn 5 in my BMW for that race.

[Ronbo]

Originally Posted by Flieger

Uh, Saturday IS race day.

It is? Like I said, it's been several years since I've been. It was during the CART years, and race day was always Sunday.

[Zeke]

A bad grand stand seat at the LBGP is more than bad. For the 1st year attending, I'd get a general admission ticket and walk around. There's always room at the fence on the straight. Once you see the layout, you can decide if and where you might like to sit.

I hate to sit at a race. You only see a few feet of the track unless you happen to get one of the seats that is sold out for the next 10 years. Especially at Long Beach. I sat in a suite on pit row last year for part of practice. I could see 4 pits and 200 yards of straight. And only the roll bars were visible out on the track.

The best deal is a photo pass. A bit pricey, but great access. You don't need a credential, just money. The next best deal is a 2 day gen admission.

Well, the best of the best is Free Fridays. Get a voucher in several newspapers or businesses like Toyota. Go to the website for info on that. I only go on Fri, see all classes practice, cruise the pits and go home.

[Zeke]

Originally Posted by Ronbo

It is? Like I said, it's been several years since I've been. It was during the CART years, and race day was always Sunday.

There are races both days. The celebrity race is Sat if that's your thing. Also the ALMS. Sunday (4 events) is Lights, Indy, drifting and Pirelli Challenge (lots of GT3 RS's)

[Flieger]

Originally Posted by Ronbo

It is? Like I said, it's been several years since I've been. It was during the CART years, and race day was always Sunday.

ALMS is the only race I care about.

(Well, except for World Challenge now that Patrick Long is racing in that too).

[Zeke]

You guys can carp all you want about Indy Cars. They are going to be much better next year. Meanwhile, they will still set the fastest lap times of the weekend. It takes a bit of skill to drive those things between concrete walls 40 feet apart.

All of them, every class.

[Flieger]

Really?, I thought the top level P cars from last year would have been faster than the Indy cars.

The Indy cars still do not interest me, even next year. F1 is not much better with contrived passing, mandated crappy tires, and short leashes on engineers. Le Mans and sports cars are where it is at.

[450knotOffice]

On Saturday, not ALL the grandstands are reserved - just the best ones. However, There are a couple of general admission grandstands near turn one (right in the braking zone) that are literally right next to the reserved grandstand. Great place to watch the race.

[kycarguy 935]

I use to do the photo pass every year from about 1977 to 2000. Milt is right, it was a great way to see a lot.