Petit @ Road Atlanta ... any suggestions ?

[Kristof]

Well, it might be early, but I'm planning all my roadtrips for 2011 already  .

Decided to head back to the States after skipping last year, and the Petit at Road Atlanta is on the menu.  We'll combine it with a few days in New York, if I can get enough days off at the job even combine it with a road trip through Washington.  Anyone have some suggestions for some good hotels not too far from the track ?  Buford and Gainesville have already been recommended by Fax, which seems more than ok to me. 

Also what's the track like to take pictures ?  On the footage I found on youtube, it seems like there's a lot of high fencing, was hoping it would be like Sebring, where you don't need to be next to the track to take some great pictures, but it seemes like it isn't that good ... or am I wrong on that one ?  I'll carry lots of photo-stuff with me, but it has to be worth it walking around with allmost 20 kg on my back.  Don't know if it's easy to get "acces" on an ALMS race (withouth having a press card), should make everyting a lot easier to get some nice footage.

2011 will be autosport heaven ... Le Mans 24h and Testday, Petit, ILMC @ Spa, VLN, BTCC, 24h Spa (crazy weekend : first 6h VLN race at the Nurburgring, then head to Spa to watch the race at night), 24h Ring, F1 test @ Barcelona, F1 am Ring and Spa, thinking about going to Paul Ricard again ... Happy motoring 


Any tips and hints welcome !  Thanks !!!

[Chris24]

You have nothing to worry about regarding viewing or photography at Road Atlanta.  There are a few fences in places you would expect them to be, but nothing worse than the odd places like at Sebring. Most of the viewing areas either don't have the fences or you can get above them on the viewing bankings.  The track is a wonderful place but hard on the legs as its very much up hill, down hill wherever you walk. I can ask my mate about hotels as he stays about 25 miles away and drives in.

All the following shots are from the spectator side of the fences.

[Chris24]

Some more

[Chris24]

A few more

[Chris24]

More

[Chris24]

Another 4 including Lee Self

[S.H.M.]

Great Track,the Branchs Hatch of the States,had 6-trips to Petit. best place to stop is Gaineville,just 20 mins from the track.
  Chris 24, you should be asleep, know wonder your fexi is crap.

[Chris24]

Last two, so as you can see you are going to be ok from the spectator areas if you can't get photographer credentials.

[Chris24]

Jesus Christ ! Mark has actually posted on Club Arnage for the first time ! About time.  Mind you seeing yourself on the forum perhaps prompted you to post finally.

OK, maybe i should be in bed but you should be working ! Not reading the internet. For your information I was in at 7.20am on Monday, and 7.35am on tuesday, so flexi is the best its been in a while. Went downhill today though and got in at 8.39am, so normal service resumned. LOL !

[S.H.M.]

Dinner Time, Chris, Dinner Time,and as for MY FIRST POST, i do know about Petit, as i went to the First one in 1998.

[Chris24]

And a rather wet one in 2009 ! Brew time for me and then off to bed. See you later this month for the meal.

[S.H.M.]

True,2009 was a tad damp, but 2010 was GLORIOUS, Chris, with these posting am i know longer a " LURKER ".

[Canada Phil]

Hi Dettore,
              As shown above plenty of places to take photo's. As already mentioned the infield is very hilly however you can drive your car around and even find parking. This option requires you to not drink of course. There is a shuttle service that does a loop though it never arrived when i needed it 
Rental golf carts if you get there early enough are a great option
Paddock is wide open to spectators. You are allowed on the grid/front straight for close ups of cars and drivers. Friday night auction on the podium is great entertainment even if like me you do not buy anything.
3 full days of cars on track makes it well worth doing.
Phil

[S.H.M.]

Dettore, 2-Motel to check out in Gainesville, Super 8 and Gainesville Inn & Suites, stayed at both, O.K for a couple of nights.

[Boorish Grobian]

Trust us on this, no worries about locations to photograph from.  Road Atlanta may be the most spectator & photographer friendly circuit in North America.  As Chris said, debris fencing where one would expect it, and also not in some areas where one would expect it.  The turn 6 & 7 complex allows spectators to get ridiculously close to the action without having to shoot through fencing, you are quite literally standing with the marshals.
But as mentioned by Chris & Phil, Road Atlanta is extremely hilly, none of it is flat, and lugging heavy equipment around will be character building.  Kirsten & I tend to park in one location for a while, walk around a bit, then pick up anchor and drive to a different portion of the circuit, repeating the process several times, usually ending up by turn 2, 3, & 4, with Lee, Randy, Phil, and the rest of the T-10 gang for the finish.
Fax