@KevinL21 suggested I put together some suggestions for camping on a Racer5 weekend.
These suggestions ONLY apply to the camping part, and not to the things you'd need to bring for the actual sessions (like helmet, track suit, etc)
Camping location
Racer5 has a large canopy shelter which serves as the main meeting area for classes, instruction, etc, as well as just waiting around between sessions. On one side there is a parking lot, on the other there are grassy areas which extend all the way to the main drag strip.
I recommend camping in the grassy areas closest to the canopy shelter. There was lots of space so I was able to park my car right beside my tent.
During the days I would frequently go back and forth between my car or tent and the area under the canopy shelter - say to get snacks, change out of my wet clothes into clean ones, or just to lay out on a zero-gravity chair for a few minutes. Being close to the staging area makes it that much more convenient to do that. Some people camped farther away and so their walk would be (just) a little longer.
You definitely don't want to camp too far away from the staging area. Last weekend there was a truck event going on and by Saturday there were big truck haulers parked from about 50m from the canopy all the way to the main drag strip. I would NOT want to have had my tent stuck in between those haulers.
What you don't need to bring:
They provide water, bananas, coffee, and I think granola bars which they constantly restock through the weekend. If you're doing Stage 1, most of your time will likely be spent waiting under their canopy shelter. They provide camp chairs for everyone so you don't need that
There's two grocery stores, a Shoppers Drug Mart, McDonalds and Tim Hortons maybe 5 minutes towards the main Grand Bend strip. If I'd known that I wouldn't have run around the day before like a chicken with its head cut off buying supplies.
What you do need to bring:
If you're tent camping I would have considered the following mandatory:
- tent, pegs, guy lines, etc
- ground sheet
- rain fly
Whether you're sleeping in your car or tent camping, you'd want:
- sleeping bag
- air mattress or sleeping pad
- inflater or pump for air mattress (though I highly recommend )
- camp pillow
- toothbrush & toothpaste
- other personal toiletries you need (say prescription medicines, allergy medicine, contact lens case and solution, Aleve, BenGay, sunscreen, EpiPen, etc)
- towel
- hand sanitizer - this weekend I used the PortaPotties more times than I have in my entire life, ever. These ones did NOT have either a water source or hand soap
- ear plugs. My instructor happened to have a few extras which he generously shared, but he ran out. Also helpful if you're trying to sleep and the guys at a truck event are all running their air horns doing "Shave and a haircut"
- moisture wicking undergarments including long-sleeved top. One session I wore a tank top and found it very, very hard to get the suit on and off. It's much easier with a long sleeved top and leggings. I wouldn't wear cotton as I think it would probably bunch up under the suit as well as retain moisture. You could bring two sets; one day I changed at lunch time and it was so nice being in dry clothes for a bit
- thin over the calf socks, ideally moisture wicking
- electrolyte drinks or powders to mix with water. I sweat a lot even without having to wear those heavy leathers; replacing electrolytes is important
The following I consider optional:
- cooler, if you're bringing any perishables. I kept fruit, orange juice and raw veggies in mine.
- food. I brought oatmeal, ramen and canned chicken but never used them. I mostly would grab a handful of trail mix and some blueberries or oranges I bought. There's enough time between sessions and it's easy enough to drive towards GB and get something to eat. Most of the times I didn't want the hassle and was glad for the snacks I had. But you could easily figure out what you need and go get it, almost as you need it.
- shampoo and soap. Bathroom facilities do not have either
- flip flops, Crocs, or something else to wear outside (and maybe inside) the shower. That floor was nasty.
- notebook and pen (I took notes after my instructor broke down my problems after each session)
- USB power banks to charge your phone and cables. I used my phone less over a 3 day period than I have in a long, long time, so I only used one.
- hat and neck fan or other battery powered fan. It was very hot and I wish I had brought mine.
- sleep mask. I would be gassed and go to sleep before it ever got dark
- zero gravity chair - gives you a way to lay down in relative comfort between sessions
- your own canopy. One guy had one. It would be nice to have a shady spot to sit under. The main staging area is enclosed on 3 sides and there wasn't a lot of airflow there so it could get hot. If you bring your own, make sure you bring something suitable to weigh it down - ropes and cinder blocks say, or buckets to fill with water. It got very, very windy and supposedly that's normal for GB.
If you're planning on cooking:
- camp stove,
- fuel source, lighter,
- cutlery or spork, bowl, cup and/or plate,
- pot and/or pan
- dish soap, scrub brush, paper towels for cleanup
What I brought and didn't use:
- book and e-reader. I thought I would do some reading in the downtime or after the days ended, but at the end of the day I might sit around and socialize for an hour, eat something, and then pass out.
What I would bring if I did it again but you might not need
- tool batteries and inverter, or other AC source to power/charge a work laptop (I fortunately never had to crack mine open, but would still need to bring it if I did again in case a work emergency came up)
Luxuries:
- small folding clothes drying rack to hang dry wet clothes. I was glad I had one. My clothes were SOAKED after each session. Not needed if your tent has a way to hang things inside or if you don't care
These suggestions ONLY apply to the camping part, and not to the things you'd need to bring for the actual sessions (like helmet, track suit, etc)
Camping location
Racer5 has a large canopy shelter which serves as the main meeting area for classes, instruction, etc, as well as just waiting around between sessions. On one side there is a parking lot, on the other there are grassy areas which extend all the way to the main drag strip.
I recommend camping in the grassy areas closest to the canopy shelter. There was lots of space so I was able to park my car right beside my tent.
During the days I would frequently go back and forth between my car or tent and the area under the canopy shelter - say to get snacks, change out of my wet clothes into clean ones, or just to lay out on a zero-gravity chair for a few minutes. Being close to the staging area makes it that much more convenient to do that. Some people camped farther away and so their walk would be (just) a little longer.
You definitely don't want to camp too far away from the staging area. Last weekend there was a truck event going on and by Saturday there were big truck haulers parked from about 50m from the canopy all the way to the main drag strip. I would NOT want to have had my tent stuck in between those haulers.
What you don't need to bring:
They provide water, bananas, coffee, and I think granola bars which they constantly restock through the weekend. If you're doing Stage 1, most of your time will likely be spent waiting under their canopy shelter. They provide camp chairs for everyone so you don't need that
There's two grocery stores, a Shoppers Drug Mart, McDonalds and Tim Hortons maybe 5 minutes towards the main Grand Bend strip. If I'd known that I wouldn't have run around the day before like a chicken with its head cut off buying supplies.
What you do need to bring:
If you're tent camping I would have considered the following mandatory:
- tent, pegs, guy lines, etc
- ground sheet
- rain fly
Whether you're sleeping in your car or tent camping, you'd want:
- sleeping bag
- air mattress or sleeping pad
- inflater or pump for air mattress (though I highly recommend )
- camp pillow
- toothbrush & toothpaste
- other personal toiletries you need (say prescription medicines, allergy medicine, contact lens case and solution, Aleve, BenGay, sunscreen, EpiPen, etc)
- towel
- hand sanitizer - this weekend I used the PortaPotties more times than I have in my entire life, ever. These ones did NOT have either a water source or hand soap
- ear plugs. My instructor happened to have a few extras which he generously shared, but he ran out. Also helpful if you're trying to sleep and the guys at a truck event are all running their air horns doing "Shave and a haircut"
- moisture wicking undergarments including long-sleeved top. One session I wore a tank top and found it very, very hard to get the suit on and off. It's much easier with a long sleeved top and leggings. I wouldn't wear cotton as I think it would probably bunch up under the suit as well as retain moisture. You could bring two sets; one day I changed at lunch time and it was so nice being in dry clothes for a bit
- thin over the calf socks, ideally moisture wicking
- electrolyte drinks or powders to mix with water. I sweat a lot even without having to wear those heavy leathers; replacing electrolytes is important
The following I consider optional:
- cooler, if you're bringing any perishables. I kept fruit, orange juice and raw veggies in mine.
- food. I brought oatmeal, ramen and canned chicken but never used them. I mostly would grab a handful of trail mix and some blueberries or oranges I bought. There's enough time between sessions and it's easy enough to drive towards GB and get something to eat. Most of the times I didn't want the hassle and was glad for the snacks I had. But you could easily figure out what you need and go get it, almost as you need it.
- shampoo and soap. Bathroom facilities do not have either
- flip flops, Crocs, or something else to wear outside (and maybe inside) the shower. That floor was nasty.
- notebook and pen (I took notes after my instructor broke down my problems after each session)
- USB power banks to charge your phone and cables. I used my phone less over a 3 day period than I have in a long, long time, so I only used one.
- hat and neck fan or other battery powered fan. It was very hot and I wish I had brought mine.
- sleep mask. I would be gassed and go to sleep before it ever got dark
- zero gravity chair - gives you a way to lay down in relative comfort between sessions
- your own canopy. One guy had one. It would be nice to have a shady spot to sit under. The main staging area is enclosed on 3 sides and there wasn't a lot of airflow there so it could get hot. If you bring your own, make sure you bring something suitable to weigh it down - ropes and cinder blocks say, or buckets to fill with water. It got very, very windy and supposedly that's normal for GB.
If you're planning on cooking:
- camp stove,
- fuel source, lighter,
- cutlery or spork, bowl, cup and/or plate,
- pot and/or pan
- dish soap, scrub brush, paper towels for cleanup
What I brought and didn't use:
- book and e-reader. I thought I would do some reading in the downtime or after the days ended, but at the end of the day I might sit around and socialize for an hour, eat something, and then pass out.
What I would bring if I did it again but you might not need
- tool batteries and inverter, or other AC source to power/charge a work laptop (I fortunately never had to crack mine open, but would still need to bring it if I did again in case a work emergency came up)
Luxuries:
- small folding clothes drying rack to hang dry wet clothes. I was glad I had one. My clothes were SOAKED after each session. Not needed if your tent has a way to hang things inside or if you don't care
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