Forum: HoseHeads Sprint Car General Forum (go)
Moderators: dirtonly  /  dmantx  /  hosehead

Heading to the Grove for first time....how is parking,my seats are on the front stretch...if I park on back is there a way around to the front??  Also where do they park merchandis trailers?.....thanks for any advice

Welcome, if you are coming for The National Open you will have a good time. Yes you can park on the back and travel over the brand new bridge into the infield (where the merchandise trailers are parked). After spending your money, take the first turn tunnel over to your seats in the front stretch. Enjoy!

Thanks

Do they allow you to watch from the bridge or is it closed while the races are on?

Even though I may not know you, I 
care what most of you think!

No and as far as I know never have.

Williams Grove in the fall with the leaves starting to turn, crisp night air, Outlaws vs. Posse, is pretty awesome. 

I need to go to "will call" for my tickets.....should i try to park in the front ....

Tell us more about the new bridge please. 

The new bridge going from the back stretch into the infield, was installed at the begining of this season, repacing the 70 year old original bridge. It is in the same area, but it a lot higher and wider. The old bridge was moved ten miles down the road to The Eastern Museum of Motor Racing in York Springs, Pa. If you have never been to the museum, I would highly recomend going while in town for the races at The Grove.

Tickets can be picked up in the speedway office. On your way up the steps, take in some of the cool memorabilia hanging on the wall. Especially the autographed checkered flags from Bulls of New Chester. A lot of the greats are represented there. Some who are no longer with us. Give yourself lots of time if you can. Get there early and buy a pit pass. It's worth it. Once engine starts get called, I'd recommend leaving the pits or standing near the board where they post line ups on the frontstretch. It gets hectic and there's not much room. Once warm ups/time trials start, stand along the fence going into turn 3. Watching them haul ass down the drag strip and sail into that tight corner gives you a whole new respect for what they do. 

Cool! From photos I can see that it's wider. The bridge abutments seem to be outside the catchfence on the new bridge while they looked to be inside on the old one. It's hard to gauge how high the bridge- old or new- is aboove the racing surface. How high would you say it is now?

The new bridge is 19 feet high in the center while the old bridge was 13 feet.

Parking in the front is probably easier for your first time and you'll have to walk there anyway to pick up your tickets. Get there early as those spots tend to go quickly as the front stretch parking is much smaller than the backstretch. Worst case is you can walk over from the back but it will be easier to get a spot in the front parking lot. 

If you are coming for the National Open, come check out our Chili Cookoff Saturday Morning in the back pits. It is from 10am to 1pm, and is a great time with lots of people. We had 17 cooks last year, driver judges mixed with fans. Lucas Wolfe Merchandise van will be there inside also EMMR has a auciton going on. If you have any questions, feel free to ask. We also sell our merchandise in turn 3 and prior in the backstretch parking lot. Keg Kickball is a yearly tradition between Beerhill and Maryland. That happens at noon on saturday, and goes for a few hours! Have a great visit, you are going to enjoy yourself! - James

I'm actually surprised that the old bridge was not hit more times than what it was being only 13 ft. above the surface!!

I've never been to Williams Grove (bucket list) but 13 feet is not very high at all. I've seen many cars go up to the top of the wall and a couple over the wall at Knoxville in the corners, and even on the front stretch I've see them higher than the flagstand.and although I have never measured them, I would guess their walls to be close to 13 feet, more or less? Just amazed that more cars never hit that bridge...  Sidenote: I always thought that bridge was cool as hell. Especially the speed shots (videos) taken from it.