East bay newbie

[amusall]

Just so happens we'll be on vacation near Tampa next week. Plan on going to 2 or 3 shows at East Bay but never been. Anything I should know before going? Most likely taking 1-3 young kids each night. I see 12 & under are free for general admission. Are those seats good or is it worth paying half price for them to go with reserved? Thanks

[bleedblue55]

Don't buy reserved.

[MI Dirt Fan]

Yea. Don't buy reserved. It's not worth it except for maybe Saturdays finale.

[Tireguy17]

Get the strawberry short cake. Just time it right so it’s not covered with clay by the bay. Have fun, it’s 1 of my favorite tracks.

[9kchas24]

Don't buy a multi-day pass... Don't save much of anything, and if it rains, that complicates things..

[In The Gas]

Pray that the tide doesn't rise and a sprinkle doesn't occur or they will cancel. Track has the poorest amount of push trucks to run in a track that I've ever seen. Two Chevy Caprices doesn't cut it.
Planning my vacation with my son last year at Eastbay was a huge disappointment.

[a25rjr]

Unreserved are rows 14 and lower. Try to get between rows 10-14 and you can see everything!

Pit passes are only $5 more if you want to convert them!

[Hoosier]

Don't remember much about the racing, but I went to a December show a few years ago:

1 - after each race, they let the spectator kids run out and get in the winner's photo (and they loved it)
2 - during an intermission, they gave a BIG (really big) teddy bear or stuffed animal to every kid. (Not some cheapo stuff)

[MI Dirt Fan]

Pray that the tide doesn't rise and a sprinkle doesn't occur or they will cancel. Track has the poorest amount of push trucks to run in a track that I've ever seen. Two Chevy Caprices doesn't cut it.
Planning my vacation with my son last year at Eastbay was a huge disappointment.
Was that the night someone the track lights were working also?

[wfofan]

Don't set your expectations too high... I've been 3 times in past 8 years... Disappointed every trip...
Surface eats tires quickly... Seeing Redd!ck get his 1st win best memory I can recall...but it's entertainment during a nice warm vacation, so it's always a bonus to catch a race...

[Goodwrench]

Go and enjoy yourself. Don't let the nay sayers keep you away, I have been going since 1989 and it is a great place with outstanding racing. Al does a great job with the track.

Perfect race to take kids to, show is usually over between 9 and 10.

[zooker25]

I making my first visit in a few years. It use to be hands down the best racing. Not so much anymore. But the weather is great and it is fun seeing a lot of new cars fresh out of the box.

[MI Dirt Fan]

Was pretty good last year

[bleedblue55]

Been there many many times. Seen car counts near 100, seen them near 30, don't matter. It's my annual winter vacation. Shorts, tees, cold beer, old friends, no snow, can't wait.

[a25rjr]

Go and enjoy yourself. Don't let the nay sayers keep you away, I have been going since 1989 and it is a great place with outstanding racing. Al does a great job with the track.

Perfect race to take kids to, show is usually over between 9 and 10.

Yep....been going there since 1996!

Only bad races I have seen were the day races!

btw.....they only run the late models, no other classes! You'll be outa there by 10!

[MI Dirt Fan]

btw.....they only run the late models, no other classes! You'll be outa there by 10!

That's the only disappointing part. They need a support class

[GEAR_HEAD]

Eastbay was good when they qualified in the afternoon, reworked the track, then started heats at 7:00 on a fresh racetrack. Then they got lazy and stopped doing that and the racing is nowhere near as good as it once was.

[GEAR_HEAD]

That's the only disappointing part. They need a support class

...said nobody ever.

[Twist'EM Up]

The only advice I have for you Try to get there as early as possible PARKING CAN BE A CHALLANGE THE PLACE FILLS UP FAST

[WisWildManFan]

I was out by 9 almost every night a few years ago... The top golf in Tampa is something fun to do. There is also a manatee park just a little south of track, kids my like seeing the cows of the sea lol

[zooker25]

What is top golf?

[WisWildManFan]

It's a 3 tier golf driving range that has targets... Balls have electronics in them so it keeps score similar to like what bowling does. I've never golfed in real life but I enjoyed it a lot. Arcades as well, not cheapest form of entertainment but most of us are on vacation in FL

[MI Dirt Fan]

The only advice I have for you Try to get there as early as possible PARKING CAN BE A CHALLANGE THE PLACE FILLS UP FAST

All kinds of parking back by the Moto cross track.

[MI Dirt Fan]

...said nobody ever.

....said nobody ever either.

[Goodwrench]

...said nobody ever.

Agreed, NO SUPPORT CLASS

[amusall]

Thanks for all of the input. I appreciate it. Looking forward to getting out of the snow and seeing some good racing

[RiffRaf67]

That's the only disappointing part. They need a support class

AGREED, only part of Eastbay that I dont care for either... For the price of admission, there should be another class. We are all on vacation down here, we got ALL night, we got nowhere else to go! Give us more racing!

[MI Dirt Fan]

AGREED, only part of Eastbay that I dont care for either... For the price of admission, there should be another class. We are all on vacation down here, we got ALL night, we got nowhere else to go! Give us more racing!

$35 for one division is pretty steep. Just sayin'. I don't care if they are best of the best and racing for $7k or $12k. Just my opinion on it.

[WisWildManFan]

Just saw a picture on DOD from 02 or 03 and stands were packed top to bottom, just not case anymore.$35 is way too much for amount of on track activity you get but they have market corned in February

[bullring]

Around 2000 they were getting 80 cars. 8 ten car heats filled with stars in every one. Still beats being home in the cold though.

[Driver50x]

To see the manatee, stop at the power plant. It is maybe 10 minutes south of the racetrack. It's free, and well worth a visit. http://www.tampaelectric.com/company/mvc/ . During the day, you might want to check out the Florida State Fair. It's only 10 miles from the track.

[wfofan]

Amusall
Hope you made it to last night's race...
That 2.5" rain made for a heck of a show...
👍East Bay...

[WisWildManFan]

Be hard to beat that race the rest of the week