For folks who may not have been to the Detroit Grand Prix in a while — or perhaps never — here are a few tips and rules that organizers and the experts at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway Museum say might make your visit to the international event this weekend more fun.
“If you’ve never watched any kind of race, whether it be IndyCar or any other one, it’s fast and it’s exciting,” Kara Pray, a vice president of the museum, said Thursday. “You are going to see people passing each other, you’re, unfortunately, going to see some wrecks that will happen, and you will see when they go into the pit — how fast they get in and out. There’s a lot there, and you don’t even have to have a favorite driver.”
And don’t worry, she added, 200 mph is fast, but you’ll get used to the speed.
Public parking spaces
The only public parking structure available inside the venue is the Franklin Garage, and it’s sold out. However, Huntington Place said that its parking garages will be open throughout the Grand Prix on Friday, Saturday and Sunday.
It’ll be hot, hot, hot
The weather forecast calls for blue, sunny skies all weekend. Friday and Saturday will start off in the 60s, but by the late afternoon the high is expected to be in the 90s, and Sunday, the temperatures should be somewhat more temperate, in the 80s.
So wear a hat and sunscreen.
Umbrellas, umbrella strollers and canvas wagons are allowed, but not in the grandstands.
Coolers are permitted
Fill your cooler or bag, no larger than one cubic foot, with water or something to help keep you hydrated — but not beer or any other alcoholic beverages because those are forbidden — as you sit in the sunshine. You also might want to have some washcloths handy.
But no glass bottles.
Food is fine, like, beef jerky for protein and other snacks, like chips, popcorn, pretzels — and Kar’s Nuts.
It’ll be very loud
The sound from the IndyCar engines can get up to 130 decibels, that’s like a jet engine takeoff. You might want to bring some ear protection, like noise-blocking ear muffs or ear plugs. Prolonged exposure to the noise could damage your hearing.
What is banned
There’s a long list of what is prohibited, from weapons and drugs to rollerblades, skateboards and bikes. You aren’t allowed to have camera stands, tripods, or drones; and no ladders, scaffolds, lawn chairs, camping chairs, and flags, banners and golf carts.
And no dogs, unless they are service animals, either.
Contact Frank Witsil: 313-222-5022 or fwitsil@freepress.com.
This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Detroit Grand Prix: Everything you should bring and leave at home
Reporting by Frank Witsil, Detroit Free Press / Detroit Free Press
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
