East Bay Question

[rc75]

I'm going to east bay winter nationals for first time, looking for tips

[dirt crow]

Don’t bother with the track’s strawberry shortcake. Drive to plant city during the day to parkesdale market. You won’t regret it.

[Barbecueboy]

Blasphemy......

[NeedforLMspeed]

Are you camping there or staying somewhere else and going daily. Get there rather early because parking can be tough. The last few years they parked more and more campers where regular parking used to be.

[bleedblue55]

I've been there at least 20 times and the best advice is to arrive early on Fri. and Sat. cause the parking gets a little scarce. Early in the week it's not too bad. The area around the Brandon Mall/Brandon Blvd/E.Adamo Dr./Causeway Blvd. has about every food option you can think of. The East Tampa/Temple Terrace areas are not the best parts of town. If your there on the Sunday for practice head up to the Brandon Hooters for the Super Bowl, always some drivers and their teams there. I've made a ton of racing friends that I've met at East Bay and see through out the year when racing starts up north. The shortcake has developed a bit of shrinkage over the years.

[dirt crow]

Does track still offer reserved parking?

[bleedblue55]

Does track still offer reserved parking?

Yep on the left along the jersey barriers, they did last year.

[Clayton_Wetters]

At last, a disparaging word about the shortcakes!!!

[20fan]

Siesta Key or Bradenton Beach during the day.

[ZERO25]

Blasphemy......

I have to admit it, dc is correct!

The tracks is not as good as the vendor they used to have!

[Barbecueboy]

Hate to hear that.......guess I can still love the memory.

[ZERO25]

Hate to hear that.......guess I can still love the memory.

Oh, its still good but the Parkesdale family is one of the largest strawberry growers in the country. Their 'cake" is homemade similar to pound cake!

I still eat the tracks, but if im driving around I go to Parkesdale!

[foxfire2dirtracing]

Check out the Fish House- south of the track in Ruskin. It’s a roadside fish/shrimp camp. Walk up to order & eat on pic-nic tables. It’s not cheap but it’s awesome food!

[grumfan]

Check the weather before you leave home. I've been there in shorts and a tee shirt. I've also been there in a carhart with the hood up! Just don't miss it. Only five years left.

[SLMDIRTTM]

Bring lots of cash! EastBay prices are some of the highest you will incur for watching racing!

[dirt crow]

It’s worth the high prices. Awesome racing and most importantly, NO LOWER CLASSES!!!!!!

[bleedblue55]

Yep the racing there has been really good recently. I used to complain about the no support classes but that was when the car counts dipped low for a few years. They get enough to have 6 heats, B mains, Strawberry Dash and Feature I'm happy. Getting out early is nice whether you choose the night life or day time activities away from the track. Been there when car count was triple digits and saw a low in the 20's about 4-5 years ago. 50-60 cars is like the perfect number for EB.

[d-glenn]

DC, with you on the strawberry shortcake, none better... Also, even if it is warm at night, a hoodie is a must to help with the grit...

[MasterSbilt_Racer]

Check the weather before you leave home. I've been there in shorts and a tee shirt. I've also been there in a carhart with the hood up! Just don't miss it. Only five years left.

I've been there when it was in the upper 20s with seran wrap over most of my body, under my clothes.

[roughride]

I've always had better weather at East Bay than at Volusia. At Volusia I've been rained out, fogged out, had my winter coat on and still froze. Beaches are good, dog track is fun(and it may be the last year), food galore in Tampa, St Pete, and the beach towns. Deep sea fishing is fun. Restaurants will cook your catch. Charter a boat or hop on a head boat out of Johns Pass or Clearwater. Let the bashing begin. East Bay car count estimates? How many cars will Screven draw?

[zooker25]

If you like Southern Gospel music they have a winter convention in Palmetto at the Bradenton convention center. They have free matinee concerts during the day and if you get rained out you have a great concert in the evenings. I love it when they fall on the same week as East Bay. Racing and Gospel music make for a great vacation!

[Rocky]

What is the deal with strawberries? EastBay is something that probably won’t get checked off my bucket list, unfortunately.

[JayD]

I'm going to east bay winter nationals for first time, looking for tipsParking is really bad, we parked a long way out and walking back to the car in pitch black darkness is an experience in itself, also sit as high up as possible unless you like getting your face peppered with sand.

[NeedforLMspeed]

It doesn't matter what day it is. If the weather is perfect parking will be tough. I'm guess they make money off camping instead of general parking obviously so they try to cram as many campers in as they can

[ZERO25]

Parking is really bad, we parked a long way out and walking back to the car in pitch black darkness is an experience in itself, also sit as high up as possible unless you like getting your face peppered with sand.

Easy fix.....spend $5 more and get a pit pass. Plenty of parking in the pits plus access to the pits.

Get there early a put a cushion down to save your seat....14th row or lower, still excellent seating!

[TTS_JF]

I've been twice and really like the track and racing, heading back in a few weeks for modified week.

[d-glenn]

Always something going on in the main parking lot next to the tree line, met and made lots of friends there... Just get there early...

[bleedblue55]

Always something going on in the main parking lot next to the tree line, met and made lots of friends there... Just get there early...

Heard they had stuntmen on mini bikes one year.

[d-glenn]

So true bleedblue55, and I heard he put on one hell of a show...lol... He will be back this year...

[bleedblue55]

So true bleedblue55, and I heard he put on one hell of a show...lol... He will be back this year...

I'll see you there

[d-glenn]

I'll see you there

I will be there late Wednesday thru Saturday...

[NeedforLMspeed]

I'll be there at some point during the week a couple nights not sure yet when though

[luke81]

I live near EB, so I can provide some decent recommendations but there are plenty of good ones already here. Are you looking for non-racing things to do? We've got lots of options. At the track I agree that long sleeves and glasses or goggles are almost a must. If you sit down by turn 4 the grit blast is enough to take paint off, lol. I never found parking to actually be THAT bad, but I do typically just park in the back of the pits.

[ZERO25]

Any of yall wanna do a meet n greet? Ill be there starting Thurs!

[HIGH ROLLER]

Any of yall wanna do a meet n greet? Ill be there starting Thurs!

Thats a bad idea w you

[foxfire2dirtracing]

I will be at all speedweeks Brunswick, north Florida, east Bay, all-tech & volusia. Barring no rainouts -16 races in 16 days & 5 tracks!

[ZERO25]

Thats a bad idea w you

Backwoods Cheby guys are good guys! :)

[Barbecueboy]

I will be at all speedweeks Brunswick, north Florida, east Bay, all-tech & volusia. Barring no rainouts -16 races in 16 days & 5 tracks!

Show off.......:)

Ok, so I'm envious as hell.....not gonna lie.

[DLC]

I will be at all speedweeks Brunswick, north Florida, east Bay, all-tech & volusia. Barring no rainouts -16 races in 16 days & 5 tracks!

Wish I could go.

I could stay for free in a nice place
1 hour from Valusia and 1 1/2 hours to east bay.

I have to settle for the coverage on the net.

Hope you have a great time though.

[HIGH ROLLER]

Post #41 🤔🤔🤔

[gb81racing]

What’s some good hotels to stay at? Or what area? I may be making my first trip also

[Bob Hubbard]

Im thinking of renting a camper for a week …. I heard there's a camping area near east bay …. Anyone have any info on where to rent one at the park ?

[ZERO25]

What’s some good hotels to stay at? Or what area? I may be making my first trip also

Theres a ton of hotels near hwy 60 and 75!

Be prepared for the prices......its their tourist season! A decent one is gonna be in the $150 range!

[foxfire2dirtracing]

Yep- motels in Brandon are $$$. Lots to choose from tho. We left the motels a couple years ago for condo in Ruskin at “Little Harbour” About the same $$ as a motel but a condo on the water during the day & after the short nights at East Bay!

[Dlmfan123]

Try airbnb

[foxfire2dirtracing]

Airbnb is good advice. I know DOD crew rents a house for the week. I also think there are villas in some of the campgrounds that can be rented. Just be careful what area you stay in regardless of the type accommodation.

[roughride]

gb81racing go to the beach. St Pete to Clearwater you should be able to find something reasonable. Then you have lots of options for things to do as well, but you end up 30-40 minutes from track. It makes for a nice getaway!

[foxfire2dirtracing]

Clearwater/St.Pete is a great option- just be reminded of the evening traffic going thru Tampa to the track- it is hectic at that time of day. It beats the heck out of being in a motel in Brandon all week!

[Krooser]

I've always had better weather at East Bay than at Volusia. At Volusia I've been rained out, fogged out, had my winter coat on and still froze. Beaches are good, dog track is fun(and it may be the last year), food galore in Tampa, St Pete, and the beach towns. Deep sea fishing is fun. Restaurants will cook your catch. Charter a boat or hop on a head boat out of Johns Pass or Clearwater. Let the bashing begin. East Bay car count estimates? How many cars will Screven draw?

I started a modified A main at Volusia wearing my snowmobile suit...18F!!!!

[gb81racing]

I have started looking into the Airbnb now. It’s a lot cheaper, I’m just not sure about staying in someone else’s house with them there. I want to be able to do my own thing without interacting with the owners

[ZERO25]

Yep- motels in Brandon are $$$. Lots to choose from tho. We left the motels a couple years ago for condo in Ruskin at “Little Harbour” About the same $$ as a motel but a condo on the water during the day & after the short nights at East Bay!


The pics look good, but how is it really? lol

[chupp n bloomer fan]

Do one where they aren’t there.

Be weird as he!! trying to stay in a strangers house, especially if they are there.

I know it’s popular, I just couldn’t do it.

[foxfire2dirtracing]

Zero25

Are you just kidding- or really asking ?

[ZERO25]

Zero25

Are you just kidding- or really asking ?

Really asking......thanks!

[foxfire2dirtracing]

It’s really nice. Private-gated community out on the point. Inlet on one side & the bay on the other. 2 marinas & 2 full service restaurants with tiki bars on the water. Awesome beach & walking trails, fishing, boardwalk piers, tennis & basketball courts, swimming pools. Plenty to do during the daytime & only 15 minutes straight up 41 to the track. Very secure & security guards at the entrance gate. The awesome “Fish House” is about 1 mile away & about $850 for 7 nights. We rent the studio condo from private owner (as all the condos are). After finding this little village- we couldn’t believe we had stayed in motels in Brandon for so long.

[SDLM Rankings]

When I visit somewhere, I always look for two things. Is there a dirt track, and are there mountain bike trails? We all know Tampa has East Bay Raceway, but did you know there are world class mountain bike trails just 20 minutes from East Bay. You read that right... Florida has spectacular mountain bike trails. Alafia River State Park and Balm Boyette Nature Preserve have some really awesome trails, if you do not have "real" mountain bike there are several places you can rent one in the area; AJ's Bikes and on the weekends you can rent a bike at Alafia. A little further to the east is Loyce E. Harpe Park. These 3 trail systems are top notch.

[ZERO25]

It’s really nice. Private-gated community out on the point. Inlet on one side & the bay on the other. 2 marinas & 2 full service restaurants with tiki bars on the water. Awesome beach & walking trails, fishing, boardwalk piers, tennis & basketball courts, swimming pools. Plenty to do during the daytime & only 15 minutes straight up 41 to the track. Very secure & security guards at the entrance gate. The awesome “Fish House” is about 1 mile away & about $850 for 7 nights. We rent the studio condo from private owner (as all the condos are). After finding this little village- we couldn’t believe we had stayed in motels in Brandon for so long.


Thanks......the pictures do look nice! Wish I had a boat!

[Tndirtfan05]

I am flying down on Wed to Eastbay will be there Wed to Sat before heading up to Voluisa for a few days. Looking forwad to it

[Bob Hubbard]

Anyway to watch the mod races online ?

[gb81racing]

Anyway to watch the mod races online ?

Flo racing.com

[gator 49]

Heading their next week ,camping at the track. Hope to meet some of the locals from my area (Tri-City,Belle-Clair, Highland.

[dirt crow]

D Glenn, Larry and I will see you down there. We doing East Bay Friday and Saturday then All Tech Sunday. Safe travels my friend.

[d-glenn]

D Glenn, Larry and I will see you down there. We doing East Bay Friday and Saturday then All Tech Sunday. Safe travels my friend.

DC, we will be there on Wed-Sat, staying at the Clarion in Brandon. TB and GK will be coming down... See y'all on Fri...

[Goodwrench]

DC, we will be there on Wed-Sat, staying at the Clarion in Brandon. TB and GK will be coming down... See y'all on Fri...

We will be there Sunday around noon, we will keep the light on for you. Should be camping by the MX track this year.

Can't wait....

[dirty-white-boy]

I'm going to east bay winter nationals for first time, looking for tips

Parking sucks so get there early.
Eat strawberry Shortcake every nite!
If there is a hauler parked off turn 2 ask if you can go up and watch a race from it. Excellent perspective of the track!
Check out the manatees at Apollo Beach power plant. Walk the boardwalk dock there!
AJ's on the River is a fun spot.
The Fish House in Ruskin
Sonny's BBQ!! mmmmm
Cigar City Brewery
Sunshine Skyway is a must see and drive across.
Take a boat out somewhere.

[NeedforLMspeed]

I have a feeling if the weather is going to be good parking is going to be really bad this year and in the years to come with the announcement of the placing closing in 3-4 yrs

[d-glenn]

East Bay Weather...

Monday 73/54, 10%
Tuesday 77/61, 40%
Wednesday79/62, 40%
Thursday72/57, 50%
Friday 69/50, 40%
Saturday 71/52, 10%

My guess is, it will change several times by then...

[kd1]

East Bay Weather...

Monday 73/54, 10%
Tuesday 77/61, 40%
Wednesday79/62, 40%
Thursday72/57, 50%
Friday 69/50, 40%
Saturday 71/52, 10%

My guess is, it will change several times by then...I start getting a little nervous when the percentage starts creeping up towards 50 … but i'm going anyway! :)

[Barbecueboy]

I watched them drying the track one year with an airboat, they will get it in if anyway possible.