100th edition of the Indy 500 in 2016 - Anyone else planning to go?

[Werner]

Best to kick back, fire up the grill, relax with some cold beer, and watch the scenery go by.

Sounds like a plan!

[Boorish Grobian]

We are confirmed for J Lower,  Section 12, Row J.  Wohoo!
Roll on May (we're expecting four inches of snow tomorrow, May can't get here soon enough).
This gives a good idea of the view from J.
http://indymotorspeedway.com/standmap_j.html
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[Dirk3D_NL]

excellent news

our travel plan is materializing as well

we are flying into Portland Oregon on the 18th, and from there travel east

[Boorish Grobian]

Portland is a beautiful city, and has some of the best breweries in the county. Be sure to sample some Rogue Dead Guy Ale while there, it's from nearby Newport.
I got a text from Matt Harper telling me he, and brother Dave will be attending the 500 as well, so CA will be well represented at the Memorial Day classic.
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[Dirk3D_NL]

great news, will definately try the local brews

[Chris24]

Rogue Dead Guy, pretty sure that is what I had a pint of on St Paddy's day last year in Miami with Smokie. Strongest and most expensive beer on the menu as it turned out. Geoff nearly had a heart attack when he got the bill.

[Boorish Grobian]

Is this the stuff Chris? Yum!  They must have really marked it up at that pub, because it's usually pretty reasonable.
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[Dirk3D_NL]

Fax, Matt, Phill, any suggestions on flights from the oregon/washington state area to the indy area around the 26th of may? looking at roadtrip connections but struggle to find something for a decent price on european sky-scanners. i have reviewed
seattle-chicago (ok, but with united)
seattle-detroit (expensive)
seattle-st louis (stopover)
seattle-fort wayne (stopover time)
seattle-louisville (stopover/expensive)
missoula-chicago (no go)
anything to indianapolis airport is stopover, anything from portland as well as far as i can see

trying to tie in our flight into portland and trip to yellowstone into something efficient...
any airports i am overlooking?

thanks!!

[Canada Phil]

Hi Dirk3D,
              Although the US airlines offer some very reasonable prices it comes with the
drawback: You can't get there from here    Direct flights even between major cities are hard to find.  I am only familiar with the airlines serving the eastern states perhaps some one with west coast experience could comment.
If making connections I always stay with the same airline as it makes transfers easier and they may even hold a flight for you. especially if there are a few people travelling together.

Phil

[Boorish Grobian]

Hi Dirk,
You may want to see what flights are available into Cincinnati.  Delta has a lot of flights into CVG, and its a painless one and three quarter hour drive from CVG to Indy on Interstate 74, around one hundred miles.  I think Chris is flying in and out of Cincy. Dayton or Columbus are other options to consider as well.
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[Dirk3D_NL]

thank you for the response guys, much appreciated! we will figure something out

[Chris24]

Yes i am flying into and out of Cincinnati.

[Dirk3D_NL]

ok we figured it out

a bit out of the box, but we are taking the scenic route

the Empire Builder eastbound, from Seattle to Chicago, 46hr trainride through the real unknown USA, looking forward to that adventure! any of you any experience with this one?

kind regards,

Dirk jan

[Boorish Grobian]

My only experience of train travel in the US is from Cincinnati to Chicago about twenty-five years ago, it was comfortable but not exactly the most scenic ride, mostly corn & cows.
Read that the race is very close to being sold out for the first time in over twenty years, that's 235,000 seats!  Throw in the infield crowd and probably looking at around 300,000 to 350,000 for raceday.  Not the half a million they used to get in the good old days, but damn close.
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[Boorish Grobian]

Hi guys, our tickets arrived today.  Oh my! They are stunning, clear plastic, or lexan, with a hologram-ish finish, secured in a commemorative pouch.  A protective lanyard will be a must.  A month and a half away.
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