A tour of Bristol Motor Speedway (photos)

[Vermontcat]

On my vacation to North Carolina last month we took a side trip to Bristol Motor Speedway in TN for a fun tour.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v103/vtcat/pets/NCtrip/bmssign.jpg

This new building has a gift shop and a museum and they offer track tours for a great price and a great experience!
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v103/vtcat/pets/NCtrip/bristolcar.jpg

This is the pacecar they used in the spring race.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v103/vtcat/pets/NCtrip/pacecar.jpg

The museum had some cool displays like this one that showed the different degrees of banking at several different racetracks.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v103/vtcat/pets/NCtrip/48car.jpg
Bristol's racetrack has the steepest!

[Vermontcat]

On the tour we got to visit the luxury suite of the track owner Bruton Smith.

This is the skylight in his suite.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v103/vtcat/pets/NCtrip/bsskylight.jpg

There is also a nice bar and comfy chairs there.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v103/vtcat/pets/NCtrip/bsbar.jpg

There is a food area to serve his guests. (up to 100 people!)
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v103/vtcat/pets/NCtrip/bssuitefood.jpg

There is a great view of the racetrack, the best seats in the house!
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v103/vtcat/pets/NCtrip/suiteview.jpg

They were repainting the walls to get ready for their next race.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v103/vtcat/pets/NCtrip/bmssfline.jpg

Just for RICHARD, a closer view of the bar, it was imported from Italy.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v103/vtcat/pets/NCtrip/bsbar2.jpg

[Vermontcat]

Next we got to go down onto the track.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v103/vtcat/pets/NCtrip/bristoltrack.jpg

Our tour van made it up to 75 MPH on the track!
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v103/vtcat/pets/NCtrip/btrackturn.jpg
You don't realize how banked the corners are until you drive on it.
It's like driving around inside a bowl!

We got to visit Victory Lane.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v103/vtcat/pets/NCtrip/vlbristol.jpg

We also got to walk up the banking on the corner of the track.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v103/vtcat/pets/NCtrip/bmstrackkb.jpg
It was really steep and hard to do on a day in the mid-90's.

That's all the photos.
Anna and Robilee I hope you enjoy seeing the races there and a sneak peak of some parts that you may not get to visit.
I expect lots of photos from your trip to the track.
:)

[momoffuzzyfaces]

Looks like you had a great time!

I love the bar!!!:D

[beeniesmom]

Wow, nice pics! Lucky you. I would love to visit Bristol or even Daytona.... I've never been to a race before but I watch them every week.
GO JR!

[ramanth]

Very cool!!! Very weird to see the track stands and infield so empty. ;)

I'll have to see if I can find it and scan it in, but my parents have a picture of them sitting on their cooler on one of the turn at Michigan International Speedway. :D

[Anita Cholaine]

Seems you had a great time!!:D I love the skylight in the suite, and of course, the cars!!

[lvpets2002]

:) All looks real nice & thank you for the adorable pictures.. Seems to have been a great trip..

[RobiLee]

Ohhhh, Thank you so much for posting these pictures! I really enjoyed them. That is so cool that you got to take a tour like that. I have been to the Bristol races twice now and it seems so weird to see it empty like that. Very cool that you got to go around the track too. The pace car that I saw at the spring race was a different car though. How nice to be able to sit in that luxury suite!

Pssst, Anna...why isn't that where we are sitting at;)

I really enjoyed your pictures, Vermont Cat! Thanks so much!

[anna_66]

OH WOW! Thanks for posting this preview for Mark and I since we've never been to Bristol. Too bad we won't be able to get on the track and ride around...I bet that was fun!

I just know we're going to have a blast! I just bought an extra card for my camera, so believe me...we'll have a ton of pictures and video to share!

And Robin, as for the seating...those seats weren't available:p

[Vermontcat]

Robilee, you are right it is a different pace car.
The one I saw said Sharpie 250 on it so maybe it was from the Busch race.
You and Anna are going to have so much fun.
I always wanted to go to a night race and I think Bristol is one of the most fun tracks with a lot of action!:)
I can't wait to see photos from your visit there.:cool:

[RobiLee]

Hey, you're right! It is from the Busch Race. I never even caught that. The four of us are leaving tomorrow and I can't wait! Its a shame you can't meet us there;). Like Anna said there will be lots of pictures to share with you though. I just bought some extra batteries for my camera and I know Anna just got a new card for hers so that means that girl is going to be able to take lots and lots of pictures and videos with her camera!