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Beginner's Guide to Nord Stern's Loonacy Club Race
Are you a member who has seen all the information about the Club Race in
Nord Stern, but has never taken
in the event? Not sure what you need to do to attend, what goes on, and
how to go about taking it in? Here
is a quick and dirty guide to attending your first 'Loonacy'.
Where? Brainerd International Raceway. 6 miles north of Brainerd/Baxter
on Highway 371. If you don't
dally, you can make it in 2 hours from Maple Grove. Enter at the main
gate. You can't miss it.
When? July 25-27, 2008.
Practice on Friday.
Saturday features practice, the practice starts
and fun race, then a 60 minute enduro.
Sunday morning is qualifying and in
the afternoon the sprint races.
Late Sunday is our famous 'Total Loonacy' inverted start race
(handicapped start with
the slower cars
getting a head start.)
How much? There is no charge for admittance. You will be asked to sign a
waiver of liability and that's
it. If you are a Porsche enthusiast, there is simply no reason to miss
out on this.
What do I do? The first thing you want to do is turn left after the gate
and follow the road to the paddock area where all the cars are. Park
anywhere and wander around to check out the cars. Check out the information tent and the displays there. Be sure you get a schedule so you know what is going on.
Then go check out the cars. Not
just the race cars, but also the transporters and the other spectator's
cars. There is a lot to see. Don't be
afraid to strike up a conversation with anyone you meet. We are all
enthusiasts and love to talk about our
hobby!
Where do I watch the races? Feel free to go almost anywhere in the
paddock and the infield. The
exceptions are the hot pits and the track itself. Be sure to climb the
stairs and watch a bit from the top of
the main tower building. You'll get a great view of much of the track.
Make your way into the infield.
There are two ways to get into the infield. Next to the main tower is a
pedestrian tunnel that goes under the
track to the grandstands on the other side. From there you can go
anywhere, but remember the track is 3
miles around so it's a pretty good walk to turn 3. The other alternative
is to drive around the infield. Just
go back toward main gate and when you get close to the gate you will see
a bridge on your left. Go over
the bridge and you're there. The top of the grandstand at turn 4 is an
awesome place to watch because you
can see much of the track.
What do I do after the races? Come back to the paddock and visit with
the drivers. They will be excited
about the race they just ran and will be more than happy to talk about
it. The only stupid question would be,
'Are you having fun?'
What do I need to bring? Bring your camera, sunscreen, an umbrella or
raincoat, maybe food or drink
but the concession stand is open. Alcoholic beverages can be brought
into the track, but cannot be
consumed until after the last checkered flag falls for the day. This
includes all areas of the track. Where do I stay?
Rooms are tough in the Brainerd area at this time of the year. Start
calling soon. Can I camp? Camping is readily available in the paddock and in the
infield and also free. There areshowers available. Motorhomes are welcome.
How can I spend my money? Check out the information tent. There will be
several 'Loonacy' items for
sale there as well as impressive displays of Porsche merchandise from
Carousel and Maplewood Imports
(including new cars!). On Saturday afternoon there will be a huge silent
auction of Porsche and other stuff
with all the proceeds going to Courage Center. A live auction of the
really cool stuff takes place at 6:30
PM on Saturday and is extremely entertaining. Help us support this great
organization. The auction would
be worth the trip alone. How can I get on the track myself? Simple. Buy a race car! However, if
that isn't in the cards, on
Saturday and Sunday at lunch time we will offer parade laps of track at
a nominal speed, but you get the
view the racers get. Only quieter. If you want to participate in the
parade laps, go to the information tent
and pickup and complete the proper form. We ask that you make a cash
donation to Courage Center and
suggest $20 as the amount, but of course you are free to give as much as
you like. If you want to go a little
faster ask anyone about Nord Stern's Driver Education program.
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