INDYCAR Nation Season

[gass]

I have been reading the posts here and not commenting. As many know I helped merge the IRL CREW and INDY DownForce. I have been reserved on my comments, through this season. The fact that INDYCAR NATION has adopted many of the perks started by the fans, says that they have and are listening to the fans.

It seems to me with each race that INDYCAR NATION is getting better and better.

As I understand it at Texas INDYCAR Nation had a social before the race this to me is bringing back the social aspect of the community, (others have said the same) and this is what makes racefans friends. I have heard nothing but a good time was had by all and Hinch showed up. I hope this keeps up like Judy's HOBNOBS, I always enjoyed going out with other racefans.

The bus trips are coming back and I can tell you $160.00 for tickets hotel, ride, one meal is really cheap. I have spent as much as 500.00 on all this easy. The package deals are a good deal.
I am looking forward to the 2012 INDY 500 package to see what offers there are. In the past I have planned alot of these trips a lot goes into it.

They have kept the garage for Indy which when the rains came, members had a place to go. I for one stayed in there for the rain and talked to many friends. One day Liza came up to everyone in the garage at the time and said she had extra credentials so there were maybe 10 of us in the garage and we got to go out during the Fast 9 qualifying race for the 500, I was by Chip when Dario ran out of gas.

I know some question the reservation format, but I kind of like the fact the times to reserve are posted and it is usually after work. This way it seems it is more fair.

My point is that for paid members who haven't given INDYCAR Nation a try, that you should and you might be surprised while INDY DownForce has changed and some perks have changed there are still many of the great perks and friends hanging out.

[open wheeler]

I was part of the original IRL crew and dropped out after it went to Downforce because of personal reasons and didn't feel that the price was of a benefit to me. However, I did follow what was going on and did participate in the cyber community where I made some faceless friends. Now with ICN taking over and RB saying it was going to be better than Downforce even though it was more expensive my wife and I both signed up the day that it came out. To be honest, in the beginning I don't think they had a clue and I had some serious concerns and comments. They were only meant to be constructive from the perspective that it would be better in the long run for the members. I STILL don't like the reservation format (other than discount offers or reservation items where you need a head count). I think that the most fair way to do it is having these meet and greets and holding a raffle for the people who are there. Saves alot of time, heartache, e-mail issues, takes the issue of sniping right off the table, and the members have the item in their hands. Now, having said that I do agree with Nancy that they have listened to the fans and are headed in a direction that is going to be great for the members and they seem to be offering some great perks. Perks as far as I can tell exceed what the Crew or Downforce could provide. I too am waiting to see what the Indy 2012 offer is. To travel from long distance and try to put together everything is a pain and to be honest to expensive. From what they are saying now, it looks like we might be able to swing it and it would be great to go back to Indy. Anyway, I am still cautiously optimistic and will see what transpires from ICN at Milwaukee and Loudon. And, if it's good maybe the friends I've made over the years will no longer be faceless and we will have a great member experience. And, for you that know me as faceless as I am if I got a legitimate complaint you will know but, if it is positive I will also give credit where credit is due. So here is for a great rest of the season and great experience for the diehards who always want just want a little more from the sport they love and support so much. It still is more fan friendly than the other series that shall go nameless.

[pchop69]

My buddy and I have been going to the Texas race for about 8 years now. He doesn't follow the series very regularly, but very enjoys our yearly trip to TMS. 3 years ago, we started buying pit passes from TMS at $60 dollars a piece, and last year, I got mine through Downforce for free.

This year I was able to get a pit pass for both of us plus Pace Car rides for $25 per person. So not only did we save money, but had a much better experience. Big to ICN!

On a side note, the pace car rides are awesome. The only did 2 laps, but it was very cool. I've done the charity "drive your own car" thing at TMS before, but they only let you get up to about 90mph. Anders Krohn had us up to about 120mph. We were dizzy after just 2 laps. I couldn't imagine another 100mph for 200+ laps. I was cool to get to talk to Anders about his run in the Freedom 100. He's just chatting us up while drifting the car up to the wall. Another big for the Lights drivers doing the HL.

[open wheeler]

My buddy and I have been going to the Texas race for about 8 years now. He doesn't follow the series very regularly, but very enjoys our yearly trip to TMS. 3 years ago, we started buying pit passes from TMS at $60 dollars a piece, and last year, I got mine through Downforce for free.

This year I was able to get a pit pass for both of us plus Pace Car rides for $25 per person. So not only did we save money, but had a much better experience. Big to ICN!

On a side note, the pace car rides are awesome. The only did 2 laps, but it was very cool. I've done the charity "drive your own car" thing at TMS before, but they only let you get up to about 90mph. Anders Krohn had us up to about 120mph. We were dizzy after just 2 laps. I couldn't imagine another 100mph for 200+ laps. I was cool to get to talk to Anders about his run in the Freedom 100. He's just chatting us up while drifting the car up to the wall. Another big for the Lights drivers doing the HL.

I thought that those were limited. Not to take anything away from your buddies experience and I'm all for gaining new fans, but are you saying non-members are getting members benefits? I would check but, they pulled it from the experience page. They did have it listed on the member alerts page as a member experience. If that is the case that is something I and others members I'm sure have a serious concern about. Non-members should NOT be recieving members benefits period. If I'm mistaken then I'm happy you had a great time and is just another example of great perks. They ran some good ones for Texas.

[pchop69]

I thought that those were limited. Not to take anything away from your buddies experience and I'm all for gaining new fans, but are you saying non-members are getting members benefits? I would check but, they pulled it from the experience page. They did have it listed on the member alerts page as a member experience. If that is the case that is something I and others members I'm sure have a serious concern about. Non-members should NOT be recieving members benefits period. If I'm mistaken then I'm happy you had a great time and is just another example of great perks. They ran some good ones for Texas.

It was a special package deal. You could get a pit pass free, or a pace car ride free, or both for $25. On the package, you could purchase an extra for a guest. I'm not sure if they allowed you to get extra on the free passes.

If I had to guess, I think they might have had a hard time filling out the 1:15 pace car session, so they decided to open it up. Was 6.5 hours before the start of the race. The teams were there working on the cars, but there was nothing else going on at the track. The gates weren't even open.

I guess I do have one complaint (wouldn't be TF if I didn't, right?) There was no communication on where to go for the pace car rides, and how to get there. I had to call the TMS ticket office to find out how to get into the infield, and then had to ask 3 different TMS yellow shirts where to go. In defense of ICN, I did not ask about it when we picked up our credentials.

[braillerjenn]

I am getting excited for the IndyCar series to come to Iowa. I just became a Champion member and have been seeing all the fun things available at the other tracks. I'm just worried that they are gone quickly. I hope to be home next Tuesday, but don't know if I will make it back to Rochester by the 8pm Eastern time (7pm my time). I am assuming it will be Tuesday since all the others except Indy have been Tuesday releases.
Hopefully I will see others at the track on the 24th and 25th.