A different kind of Challenge question - family accomodations

I'll be showing up at the Challenge as a competitor this year with the Acrappy in my build thread.

I desire to bring my eldest two sons, aged 7 and 5. I intend to take a few autocross laps and definitely do the dragstrip portion.

Now I recognize this is not going to be anywhere near as dangerous as spectating Lemons. When I did that with the same two kids, albeit much younger than they are now, it was terrifying. And I wasn't driving, so I was always nearby.

Where do the kids hang out when I am physically in the car? Just throw them under the tent with JG and tell them to press all of the buttons on his laptop? Tell them he's very ticklish?

Chances are close to zero that Tunawife will attend, or that I will be able to bring the younger two kids.

If I can't come up with a good reasonable answer, I will have to try solo, which will stink because now they both have worked on it with me.

If I make it with the E36 M3AAB I'll bring my 7 yr old and we can swap for daycare duty.

bgkast wrote: If I make it with the E36 M3AAB I'll bring my 7 yr old and we can swap for daycare duty.

Deal.

Are you going to make it?

If I can swing $600 airfare, $400 hotel and $???? Auto transport.

Liklihood?

Also, $400 hotel? Can we camp at the track?

In reply to tuna55:

Unfortunately due to insurance regulations and security, camping is not available at the track.

tuna55 wrote: Liklihood? Also, $400 hotel? Can we camp at the track?

There are large empty plots of land near the track that are rented out for camping during the Gatornationals. I'm sure if you searched Gatornationals Camping you could camp 2 minutes from the track. There are more entertaining campgrounds (springs, etc...) nearby though. Honestly I think I would overstuff a room before I missed the host hotel at night.

Do you have a mini-van? If so, while you are running, you could throw the kids in there-- placate them with a DVD or video game.

The paddock area at the Challenge is very active, with cars coming and going, things catching on fire, and wheels flying off of cars at random--- not an ideal place for small children. If you have a van, or area where they can hang out (with adult supervision) while you are running, it should work ok. Although not as treacherous as a LeMons paddock---- the Challenge paddock is a dangerous place for little ones, and they obviously will need to be watched closely at all times.

The host hotel is safe---- as long as they head to bed before folks start drinking, and carrying on.

tuna55 wrote: Liklihood? Also, $400 hotel? Can we camp at the track?

Sounds like you should bunk up w/ bg.

Yes we have a van but it will be at home. I'll be driving the Honda. Not ideal. Also no sort of portable DVD or anything like that.

Budget is a huge deal. If the hotel is $400 that would probably take the challenge off the menu.

Also as much as I can enjoy adult types of entertainment I certainly wouldn't leave the kids in the hotel room while I wasn't there.

Camping may be a good option.

Though we still don't have a great choice for what to do with them while I am in the car.

The my expedience was the officials would not let my daughter ride down the drag strip with me until she was 16. That was a few years ago she is now 25. I don't know if the rules have changed.

If you let a pro driver drive your car in the autocross you only need to be away from them during the drags. The bleachers are fairly contained so someone watching them during the drags would be easier to arrange. For the price of a hotel room you could buy a tablet or two and placate them with games and movies.

I need to have a discussion with the spousal unit. If worst comes to worst and getting the SAAB to FL doesn't work out ($1,700 round trip shipping ) maybe I could join team tuna?

I think I can help.

First off- I'm pretty sure I will have an enclosed trailer with me this time, which will be on family/ shade/ R&R duty during race day. We've done it before, and it made a good family home base (Alan McCrispin's family sometimes hung out with mine). My boys are now 14 and 16, and great babysitters. We can make an event out of it, and your kids would most certainly be welcome.

Secondly, I have stayed at a cheaper hotel (don't remember details, but there is one). I have also camped (off site). I don't do these any more, because so much happens at the hotel, I want to be part of it, so I bite the bullet. But it is possible. It would also be possible to claim the floor in someone's hotel room (it's done every year, and I have done it too).

Thirdly, track officials will not allow kids in the cars. Ever. On the dragstrip, or on the autocross. And waivers don't matter. Sorry.

And the hotel should not cost $400. It should be more like $110 per night. I usually do 2 nights. Thurs is kind of cool to hang out with people (but not necessary), Fri is right in the middle of the event, and Sat can be skipped (although you want to be there for the awards ceremony). Not much happens Sun morning.

...and Mrs SVreX is planning on going this year. She's not much for racing, and great with kids.

My advice on the hotel is to keep the kids with you. The pool will be open, people will be hanging out there.

10:00 is time to retire for families. After that... well, you've been warned.

I am re-thinking this...

Find someone to double up with at the hotel. There is too much going on there to miss.

I'd offer, but we will have a full house this year.

It's not just the drinking-it's hanging out discussing cars with a massive group of people who are just as "car weird" as you. It's great fun.

i'm sending my family to orlando while i am there, because they would be bored and my wife wants to hang out with her brother.

In reply to tuna55:

You've got mail

My laptop only has two buttons. One says "magazine" and the other says "nudity." Figure they have an even money shot at not growing up weird.

But in general, the gang should be fine. There's plenty of families that make the trip. Despite the general air of oddity, it's a pretty good-natured group.

My kids have been at the Challenge since they were 12 and 10, and I realize your situation is different with them being 7 and 5. But the event in general is family friendly. There will be occasional times where you'll need to move away from the immediate scene and some folks who swear at a rather pathetic level, but for the most part it is safe. Folks are willing to help and I am sure you can get help to watch them. I hope the Mrs. makes it down. The lady folk have a strong community within the event.

My kids dig the challenge.

In reply to MrJoshua:

Nice car. ;-)

JG Pasterjak wrote: My laptop only has two buttons. One says "magazine" and the other says "nudity." Figure they have an even money shot at not growing up weird. But in general, the gang should be fine. There's plenty of families that make the trip. Despite the general air of oddity, it's a pretty good-natured group.

I will spend the rest of today trying to figure out which of the two options keeps them from falling down the "weird" rabbit hole.