Immokalee place to stay

[Michael Beard]

Just sayin'... give it a chance. If you don't like it, don't go back. I've never been to any race track in Florida at all. Guys, Myron is about as picky as they come, about everything! He's run all of the races there. If it's good enough for him, it's good enough for me. I'll check with Randy Larson, one of the regulars there, and see what he recommends for accomodations.

[Jim Woods]

step back non believers, there is a motel about 3 miles out of town and it is very clean and safe. i have stayed there many times when racing at immokolee. the ihra crew stays there also. it is called motel 83. very nice lady runs it and it is very reasonable.I remember going racing and sleeping in the race car, I was just happy to be there. jim

[tgriffith]

Ive been there and its not near as bad as whats let on,,,,,sure its a small town and everyone there was a different color than me ,,,but they all were friendly ( I think) ---sorry---- I speak redneck and Im not sure what they spoke.....,,,,matter of fact,,I stayed a week with a racecar parked in the parking lot and visited the surrounding area,,,,the casino feed us for 3 days,,,,,if things work out,,,we are going back this year

track was nice,,,people were nice,,,,cant complain about anything except not winning

[John Leichtamer Jr]

Sean

What happened to the motorhome? Don't miss an event that Ralph Hester puts on.

Hammer

[Sean Ward]

we sold it Hammer

[Jim Wahl]

Sean,
Were you planning on going by yourself or is you dad going to? I'm thinking about going also but want someplace decent to stay also. Email or call me if you want. Jim

[Randy Larson]

I am new to this board, never really watched it, or registered here before, cause I have only ever bracket raced. Some (Michael Beard) would probably say that's cause I have NO CLASS, oh well.... I know a few of you on here, the rest I hope to meet someday.

To Sean Ward, I feel compelled to reply to your comments here, and let me start off by saying, I mean no dis-respect to you, or anyone else on here, or their opinions, BUT, I feel I must set the record straight.

Although not a class racer, I do feel I can comment on this topic, as I am a "regular" (even if "only" a bracket racer) at Immokalee Regional Raceway (IRR).

The closest track to my shop is 60 miles away, BUT, my HOME track is 110 miles away. That track would be in the bustling, thriving metropolis of Immokalee. As has already been pointed out here, the town itself is not a big city. More a kin to Beenerville, maybe. NO, there are no Hiltons, Raddison's, or Sheraton's, or other 5 star hotels in town. But, the couple of little Mom and Pop hotels they do have there are not in crack town either. I have stayed in a couple of them myself, and intend to do so again for this race.

Correct me if I'm wrong, but I thought the idea of going to a race, was to race, at a race track, not a motel? If a 5 star motel is on your must do list for the wife, or kids, or whatever, then by all means, stay on the coast in Ft Myers, or Naples. If fishing is on your list, head south to Everglades City. I fished there with my dad since I was about 7 years old, and can hook you up with the best guide in town if you want. IRR has a new permanent bathroom facility, WITH showers for the campers.

Ralph Hester's "little" Immokalee Regional Raceway is the Florida version of the "Norwalk Experience". On any given bracket night AT LEAST half the racers there are from the east coast of Florida. Many of them REFUSE to run at two other tracks that are closer, just to go to IRR. Admittedly, it is in an out of the way location. For the first few years, it was "our little secret". But, that secret has gotten out now.

What really makes the facility though is Ralph himself. The man has a heart of gold, and he loves drag racing. He does not derive his sole sustenance from the track. As such he is not paranoid like many track ops these days about every nickle that comes in or out of the place. He is looking to have a good time, and more so to show his CUSTOMERS a good time! In fact, he usually goes overboard to show racers what Southern Hospitality is all about!! He frequently holds parties, with food and drink for all in attendance. This year at the bracket finals, he drove 800 miles to participate with us. He fed his team every night, Wednesday through Sunday, including steak and potatoes, and even roasted an entire pig one night, plus towed the most outrageous ice cream maker on the planet for fresh ice cream. Ralph ran his own race car enough this year to qualify to bring it to the bracket finals, to compete as an alternate, in case some one broke, he would fill in. Well, my car broke right before first round of the main event, and he INSISTED I drive his car. Even though I told him no, to take the spot he had earned, he wouldn't hear of it, he "forced" me to drive his car. That's the kind of guy Ralph Hester is.

Two years ago, one week after Huricane Wilma destroyed the track, there were over 100 racers that showed up VOLUNTARILY to help put the place back together. There were no calls for help from the track. Most of us didn't even have electricity, let alone phone service yet. But the word went out by word of mouth. Myself and another guy didn't have enough diesel fuel between us to make the round trip, but Ralph told us he would see to it we had the fuel we needed to make it back home. He also hired a BBQ caterer to feed all those there that day. Most of you don't understand, but that was the first HOT meal many of us had had in a week!!

IRR is not really just a racetrack, it's family.

Mark Ruset has posted the names and numbers of a couple very nice motels that are reasonably close.

If you want the experience of a lifetime,
3 events in one weekend,
A reason (warmth) to be able to eat home made ice cream in the winter,
The best hookin track in the South East,
And Southern hospitality the way it should be, don't cheat yourself out of this event.

I have only ever bracket raced before. But for this event I have secured the necessary hardware to participate, and have both my cars there. That should be enough reason for all the H/R racers to make a beeline to this event. Somebody gets a duck first round each day!!!

Oh, and just for the record, I am not on the IRR payroll, just a very appreciative local racer of his, Michael Beard will verify this. Sean, in closing let me say this, if you attend this race, please come and look me up. I will be there with two (red & blue) 69 Camaro's "Wire Nut" that weekend. If you don't feel the race experience at IRR was worth the drive to and from the motel of your choice each day, I will personally reimburse you for your fuel costs to and from the motel. You are less than 300 miles away from what potentially could be the best divisional race you have ever attended, I have that much confidence in Ralph, his son Thomas, and the entire rest of the staff at IRR. Many on this board that are planning to attend are traveling AT LEAST twice, to three times that far. Consider yourself fortunate you don't have that drive.

PS. If anybody has an "extra" stocker they would like to see goin down track at IRR, please let me know.

Sincerely, Randy Larson

[Jim Wahl]

OK, Randy you have convinced me! I might just have to give this one a try! Jim

[Michael Beard]

Thanks for posting, Randy. Did you get up with Zapp? He said to tell you that he's done the "have helmet, will travel" thing before... as long as he can reach the pedals in your car.

[Mark Ruset]

Jim everything that Randy stated is the gospel. You and everyone else won't be disappointred. As an alternative to motels why not look into motorhome rental for the week. Staying at the track for all of the goings on is going to be unbelievable.