2015 Wakefield nationals reservation info for camping and Indian Head

[john527]

Question: If we have to camp off site, which is fine, and then drive to the race site every morning, will there be parking available for our motor homes and or truck campers at or near the race site??
Will the sheriff be writing tickets if we are parked on the side of the road??

[Big Don]

John, It's good to have you back...I am assuming it's been a few years since you have been to a Nationals up in Wakefield... We all pit on the judges stand side of the course now so hopefully the days of us getting tickets on Hwy 2 are over. (we may make Matt Dagostino & Scott Reed park on the other side though) We typically are allowed to park vehicles on the West side of Eddy Park Rd. (near where the tennis courts are, but staying away from the ball field) The ground is soft near the ball field so hopefully it does not impact the ground near the tennis courts this year. We will make sure there is some place to park.

[john527]

1980 Wakefield Nationals, this shows about 3/4 of the boats! wakefield 1980.jpg

[Matt Dagostino]

In 1980 only the Region 7 people were allowed to pit on the judges stand side of the lake..............the other 400 entries were on the ice rink side of the lake. The entire side all the way from the rink to past the Indian Totem pole were jammed with boats! That year we had bad weather late in the week and we ran into the following MONDAY to complete the Nationals. I ran DSH finals on monday afternoon at 4pm in cold, windy and rain! DSH was filled with Maloof, Berghauer, Stone, Hemp, Lister, Hannon (i think) etc etc and me in my new Yale Pickle fork. After like 4 restarts i won the title. I remember Steve Warnock in inspection freezing waiting for Edgar Rose to finish inspection so he could give out the trophies and get home. Everyone was long gone and there were maybe 20 people left in the pits. Harold Barnes and my dad never tore an engine down as fast and i doubt Edgar ever inspected and engine as quickly as we all just wanted to get out of the freezing rainy windy Wakefield.

[dholt]

Not quite exactly, Matt. We pitted on the end of the lake that first year in 1980...not on the backstretch side...like in subsequent years. So, we were looking at the boats coming directly at us as they head into turn 2.
Certainly not an ideal pit situation. Vehicles parked on the other side of the road. Trailers and boats were tightly packed.
As for the weather, your are right on. It was freakin' nasty. Although 1982 was even worse.

[Matt Dagostino]

Not quite exactly, Matt. We pitted on the end of the lake that first year in 1980...not on the backstretch side...like in subsequent years. So, we were looking at the boats coming directly at us as they head into turn 2.
Certainly not an ideal pit situation. Vehicles parked on the other side of the road. Trailers and boats were tightly packed.
As for the weather, your are right on. It was freakin' nasty. Although 1982 was even worse.

...............yes, i believe you are right Dana. Now that i think about it we were all looking into the sun from that corner!! Perhaps it was 1982 the rest of us started pitting by the ice rink??

[Mike Wright]

Finally get to attend my first nationals will book a hotel this weekend.

[Big Don]

The City has received approval for the alternate site for self-contained camping on the South East corner of the lake, right off U.S. Rte 2 and Eddy Park Rd. If you do not have your name on the waiting list you should call and get registered for this site.

There is room for approximately 30 (self-contained) campers/rvs. They have 10-12 people on the list already, please continue to call if you are not on the waiting list.
There are two restrooms on site.
The campers are to pull in to the furthest spot available and stay in sequence to ensure everyone can have a space each day. Meaning spots are not assigned, fill in so there is room for everyone.
The rate is $10/night. **There are NO water, sewer, or electric hook-ups on site**
Use of the Showers at the Eddy Park campground is permitted. (and encouraged)
Use of the Water Fill at Eddy Park is permitted for $5.00 (pay the campground hosts)
Use of the dump station is permitted for $5.00 (pay the campground hosts)
There are no picnic tables in this temporary location.
No fires are permitted outside of City designated fire pits.

The City has the right to have the Sheriff’s Department/Michigan State Police remove any campers not following Campground Rules.

They are still working on an alternate site for tents if the main site at the camp ground would fill up. They don’t see a problem getting approval for this but are not sure just where yet. We discussed over behind the high school but they are going to be doing some construction at the school during this time so they are looking for another spot.

[GrandpaRacer]

I think you mean the South West corner based on the photo.
John Adams

[Big Don]

Yes South West corner.

[Matt Dagostino]

Mel Thomas is looking for someone to split a room with him at a local bed and breakfast he found in downtown Wakefield. Send me a PM here on Hydroracer or give Mel a call at 864-980-7760 if interested. Matt.