Sportsman Question

[Mark P.]

I was thinking of registering as a Sportsman for San Jose. I have never done this before. Are there ever limitations on when you can come and go with the car ? It will be my sole transportation at the event.

[Terry M.]

Re: Sportsman Question

At most meets the Sportsman cars are positioned so as to allow unfettered access to the car for exactly the reasons you allude to.

This information is a couple of months old, so it will be best to wait for one of the meet administrators to confirm this, or contact them directly through the contact information on the meet registration form:
I believe San Jose may be a little different in that parking space will be an issue there. I have been told if you want to be able to come and go with your Sportsman car in San Jose, you will be parking in the hotel lot/garage with all the other non-Corvettes. If you do not need to go anywhere with your Corvette, they are putting the Sportsman cars in the Convention Center with all the Judged Corvettes. Obviously, this offer will be based on first-come until the capacity of the Convention Center is reached.

You might also want to know that due to water restrictions there will be no car wash facilities at the event.

[Gary B.]

Sportsman Question

Mark,

Based on what I heard at the organizational meetings for San Jose, I believe that Terry has described things accurately. If you are not going to come and go, then there should be room on the main convention display floor for some of the Sportsman cars, but you'll be stuck there for the duration. If you plan to come and go at all, then you'll have to be in the garage with the hoi polloi. I'm not certain of the cost for the latter, since that may be under the control of the Convention Center or affiliated hotels.

Gary

[Roy B.]

Re: Sportsman Question

If your staying at the convention center Hotel they charge $18.00 for parking a DAY. Most shops are with in walking distance and a great cafe .

[Gerard F.]

Re: Sportsman Question

Mark,

The parking rate at the San Jose Hilton is $19.00/night in their underground garage. I've stayed there before.

The advantage of going Sportsman is the free parking. If they park you in the hall, it will be a bear to get out. I saw something about restricted access hours in and out, but in practicallity once you are inside the hall, I would think you are stuck there for the duration.

Maybe for the Sportsman, they could park you just outside the entrance to the hall. Worth checking with the convention administrators, if you want to use your car while there at night.

I'm planning on just leaving my car in the hall, even though it's not going for judging, and normally I would be able to use it at night.

Downtown San Jose is a zoo of traffic and parking problems.

[Mark P.]

Re: Sportsman Question

I decided not to do the Sportsman at San Jose because I would need to always have 1/4 tank of gas or less and would need to have it out of the convention center building by 6pm each day if I planned to use it to get home. If I needed to stay past 6pm I would then need to repark it in the hotel parking or outside in the lot at an additional expense.