Camping At The Races

Many of the people I know associate camping with sitting around a fire, in a field, probably in the middle of nowhere, with rain pouring down soaking the tent, then not being able to drive out of the field the next day in the front wheel drive family estate. This might sound like the worst way to spend a weekend away, but as I’ve seen, camping can be done so much better.

I spent 7 years racing jetskis in the British and European Championships. More often than not we would travel to the race site on a Friday, and get set up for qualifying on the Saturday and then race on the Sunday. Jetski racing in general is not a hugely popular sport with spectators, so site facilities are generally not that great. Most racers stayed on site, either in their converted vans, tents or awnings next to their vans or race trucks, and some in hotels nearby. Then there were a lucky few who had RV’s.

I remember one year travelling to the island of Jersey (UK) for a round of the European Jetski Championship, with some racer friends in their van. The camping gear was packed so tightly around all the skis, wetsuits, fuel and spares, there was barely enough room for me! We were looking forward to a good weekends racing on the waves, camping on the beach, the sun on our face and a breeze from the sea. I’d only been camping once before when I was about 12 so I was looking forward to the experience of sleeping under the stars.

All went well until the first night. Setting up our tent and cooking gear went smoothly, but that night, the onshore breeze turned into a howling wind. All night the tent flapped, sand blew in and the air was sticky with sea salt. I didn’t have the best nights sleep for qualifying the next day.

I awoke the following morning to a strong wind, but blue skies. A shower was needed so I walked up the sand to the beach showers, where the water was so cold I could barely stand under it. Having forgotten a mirror, I couldn’t shave, so proceeded to dry myself with a sandy towel. Walking back to my windswept, sandy tent, I bumped into another racer friend, who came in his RV. He looked fresh as a daisy, having had a good nights sleep, no sand, a comfortable bed instead of an inflatable mattress, a nice hot shower and had had a cooked breakfast, with no wind!

It was at that point that I knew camping in a tent just wasn’t for me. The RV with it’s own toilet, shower, entertainment system, climate control …… the list goes on and on… was the camping solution for me.  To be able to pack everything into it’s own place, drive away in style and comfort, and get to your destination relaxed, ready for your next race, justifies an RV to me. I just wish I could have bought one!