Such a cool place!…read more
I visited the Michelin Raceway recently as my cousin was set to race in the MotoAmerica Superbike Speedfest competition. Prior to the invitation to be a spectator, I didn't even know that this place existed but why would I? I'm not a super fan of bikes or racing, I barely like to drive, but I am definitely in the minority as this place was PACKED. I always forget how big and devoted the racing community is. Totally makes sense that the track would need to be in the boonies because they need all of that land that they have, and more!
When we arrived, I was incredibly impressed with how organized and official it all was. When you pull in, there are a number of attendants in booths that check your ticket and parking, welcoming you in with your wristband and any other items needed for the event. We then passed another access point with an employee who waved us through. What I wasn't expecting was the insane parking and navigating through the area. Again, there were hundredssss of people there with bikes, trucks, RVs, etc. etc. My sister and I searched for parking but even with help, we still had no clue where the best place to park was. Although we had some sort of special paid parking that we covered in advance, there wasn't any blatant signage that helped us find where we should go. As I was 2 months postpartum upon our visit, the idea of parking back in the woods and walking 2 miles to find our family sounded terrible. At some point I threw caution to the wind and parked in one of the grassy lots that I believe belonged to participants, but I was willing to take the risk, lol.
The section where all of the participants and their teams dwell was such a busy area but still well-organized enough that it didn't seem congested. We stood in a grassy area behind the fencing and were able to see the bikers up close and personal as they bended the corner, a high-anxiety moment filled with lots of excitement! Beyond the race itself, there were over a dozen vendors serving up pizzas, sweet treats, beer, liquor and more in the main common area. Along with the bites and bevvies, there was a small carnival-esque area with rides for the kids (and kids at heart) to burn some energy. As this was a family-friendly, 3-day experience, I thought that was such a cool addition. What I noticed most as we walked the grounds was that it was incredibly clean out there! With so many people in town for a multi day event, I'm incredibly impressed that they even had the streets tidy.
Although I'm not a racing enthusiast, I really enjoyed my time with my family out here. Beautifully laid out, clean and full of thrills, totally worth the drive from ATL!