People always ask us, “What can you bring into the Daytona 500 race?” There are a few things you can bring, and it’s not like ‘graphics cards’ or ‘sound cards’… it’s a lot more complicated than that. We decided to break it down for you and tell you exactly what you can bring into the race. Here is the list.
New Drivers’ Licenses
New drivers’ licenses are necessary for anyone who is attending the race. This is because there is an age restriction for attendees. You have to be at least 16 years old to qualify, and you have to be 21 years old to get a license. You have to go to a DMV to get a license, you can’t just go to a shop and have them sell you one. It is highly advised that you get this done well in advance of the race.
Clothes
Yes, you read that right. You will be entering the famous ‘Speedway’ in full-on racing attire. This means you will need gear to match. Jeans and t-shirts aren’t going to cut it. You will need at least casual clothes, and preferably something more formal. Thankfully, you can find a lot of options in any good race gear shop well before the big day. Just make sure you have everything before leaving for Daytona.
Camera Equipment
You are going to be taking a lot of photos during the race. After all, it’s not every day you get to go to a NASCAR race. And who knows – maybe you will even catch some exciting moments on film. You are going to need some equipment to do this. Most importantly, you are going to need a good camera. It doesn’t have to be expensive, just make sure you are getting one that is able to capture the action clearly. If you are using a smartphone to take photos, make sure you have a decent camera app on it. Don’t just take regular photos – use the depth of field feature so you can focus sharply on the car rather than the background.
Bicycle
Bicycles are great for commutes to and from the airport, and they are easier to transport than cars. So if you are looking for a fun way to get to the airport, consider taking a bike. Don’t worry, we don’t expect you to bring your own bike – Daytona is just too far to travel on a normal bike. This is where you hire one, from a company like Orange County Bike Rentals. They will have a selection of really neat bikes that you can try out – and it’s cheaper than renting a car. So, if you are looking for an alternative transportation option, consider renting a bike.
Drumkit
Drumkits are quite popular these days, especially with the younger generation. If you are a drummer and you want to bring your kit to the race, then you better be prepared to rent a trailer truck. The only thing worse than having a car towed is having your drumset towed. Renting a truck is the best option in this case, so you can bring all your gear with you. It is advised that you check the policy of the hotel you are planning to stay at, in case you get a parking ticket because of the truck. The last thing you need is to get a parking ticket because of a missing wheel or damaged fender. These things will really hurt your trip.
Laptop/Tablet
Tablets are great because they are easy to carry around, and you can use them to access the internet wherever you go. So, if you are an avid online shopper who wants to get all of their purchases delivered to their hotel room, consider getting a tablet. They are also great for showing videos of the races during intermissions – or just about any video you could want to watch. Laptops do the same thing, but they are much heavier and less portable, so their usefulness is slightly limited.
Electric Guitar
If you are a guitarist and want to bring your gear to the race, then you better have your own amp just to be safe. No one is going to sound terribly good playing through a smartphone or iPad – especially not by just tapping on a screen to play music. Having your own amp is also essential for practicing during your layover. You will need an electric guitar amplifier to do this, since regular guitar amps don’t work very well without proper speaker systems. It will also be cool to see and hear how other people’s guitars sound through your amplifier.
Jams
Jams are great for games and movies. You can download them to your smartphone and listen to music while playing games or watching movies. It is advised that you don’t bring your own jams to the race – they will not be able to hear you without electronic music sounding exactly like it. So, if you are looking for some tunes to listen to, then you should download some jam songs to your phone. Just make sure you don’t have any pop or rock songs – otherwise, the sound quality is going to be terrible. Plus, you don’t want to ruin the surprise of hearing actual music performed live at the Daytona 500!
Karaoke Machine
Karaoke machines connect to the internet and allow users to use their voice to perform songs. If you are traveling with someone who is into karaoke, then this item is a must. They will love it. You don’t need to have money to spend on a karaoke machine – you can find them for a good price on Amazon. Just make sure you don’t buy any that require an iPhone app to use. The last thing you need is for the person next to you to be distracted by their phone and miss out on the fun.
Beer
Yes, bring legal beer into the park. You don’t have to drink it all – have some in cans or bottles to be on the safe side. It’s cheaper and easier to bring beer cans than to try and carry bottles of alcohol around. And before you ask, no, you cannot bring beer into the restaurants in the airport. However, you can consume beer at the airport — just not inside the shops. And make sure you don’t bring any beers with higher than 6% ABV into the airport. If you do, then you may not be allowed to board the plane.
Marijuana
It is currently illegal to bring marijuana into the airport, but as long as you aren’t consuming it, you shouldn’t have any problems. It’s the same with other drugs – as long as you aren’t doing drugs you should have no problems. Just remember to pack it well and securely if you are transporting it on an airplane – it’s no fun when you have to go through customs because you forgot to declare a few joints. Also, don’t bring any drugs on the property you are visiting – it is illegal and you could potentially ruin your trip. However, there are many medical reasons why this could be useful. If you have a prescription, you could try finding a legal way to bring it into the country. Many doctors will write prescriptions for opiates, such as oxycodone and hydrocodone, which are much more effective when taken as directed. If you are in need of pain relief but don’t want to take prescription medication, then you could always try using medical marijuana – it is legal in many places, and it is proven to be more effective than some pain relievers. Of course, this only works if you are allowed to use it. If you are not sure whether or not your state allows for medical marijuana patients to possess their medicine, then it might be best to leave it at home.
Sex Toys
Yes, you can bring sex toys into the airport. They are completely legal and no one seems to mind as long as they are packed discreetly. Most importantly, make sure you check the policies of the hotel you are staying at – just in case someone objects to your bringing sex toys into the property. It’s never fun getting stopped by airport security just because you have an unfamiliar object in your bag. It’s best to avoid this problem by keeping your sex toys at home.