I've been going to Shady Side since I was 15 years old and I'm 62 now. This track is my favorite…read morehands down. If your a racer or just a fan make sure you visit and see for yourself the staff and track first hand,

This iconic, one of a kind, eighth of a mile drag strip was the main Sunday attraction for guys (…read moreand ladies) who have this type of racing in their blood! For me beginning in about the 1970's , myself and most of the teenagers from the surrounding towns would gather for competition racing. Trophies were awarded- no prize money granted to any of us. We didn't race for the money, we just did it because we loved it! Fast street cars of all kinds would gather every Sunday afternoon. They would be classified with their respective classifications written in white shoe polish on their windshields! Oh what a time in my history was this! Shady Side drag way is still in operation today and has made some very needed upgrades! I happened to be in the area today and just had to take that trip down memory lane! Highly recommend!

The Hornet's Nest BMX track has been around for several years. Over the past few years the track…read moreoperator, Mark Coates has done a great job breathing life back into this business. The track is in great shape. All the turns are paved and the track is well kept. They are doing a great job recruiting new riders and hosting new rider clinics. My family and I really enjoy racing here, and we look forward to our next visit. We highly recommend coming out and seeing what BMX is all about. They have a rental bike and helmet program at the track so you can try the sport out without investing a lot of money. Enjoy Riding, The Careys

I've been racing here for decades and the Nest is the best track around. The quality of the track…read moreis top notch and the smoothest you'll find in the South. The volunteer staff are very helpful and go out of there way to help the kids have a good experience racing. If your kid can ride, they can race! Come on out and experience a great Charlotte tradition.

Transparency notice, I did this experience at the NCCAR track north of Raleigh. This does not…read moredetract from the rating at all. My kids got me the driving experience in a Lamborghini Huracan with a ride along in a Hellcat. OMG was this fun!!!! What seemed like controlled chaos upon arrival, quickly became an experience of safety, and organization. Please be aware that you can make this as safe or as dangerous as you want as you are in control of the car. There is a professional driver that goes along with you but they are not in control. They just speak into your ear throughout the process. The caliber of cars is nothing short of amazing. The staff are focused on making your experience what you want it to be. Well done!!! Would I do this again? 15/10 yes.

I wish I could give this more stars!…read more My grown sons bought this for me last year for Father's Day. They got the three of us a ride along in a Charger Hellcat and me a driving experience in a Lamborghini Hurican. The entry process is pretty fast and streamlined. You sig some release forms on your phone that take about three or four minutes. Then you get a wristband and ID to wear around your neck. They gave us one for our 2-year-old granddaughter and she really loves it. At a designated time you go to a safety and driver training briefing. They tell you some do's and don'ts and what the cones mean on the track. When we finish that we got in line and did our hellcat ride for four laps. It was a blast. Then I got back in line for the Huracan and drove that for four laps. I was just getting used to it unfortunately by the time the ride came to an end. It was great spending time with the family and doing the car stuff with my two boys. It was good bonding time. I highly recommend this for anybody.

The Thunder Road Marathon offers a full marathon, half marathon, and 5K. My husband and I ran the…read moreThunder Road 5K this weekend- we haven't done any of the other distances so I'll just comment on the race festivities rather than courses. You have to pick up your race number and shirt at the race expo the day before. The expo had a lot of vendors like local stores and other races, but we got there a bit late and people were packed up. That was okay with us because we really just wanted our shirts and numbers, we didn't buy much (I bought a Christmas ornament, I have a weird thing for ornaments, hehe). Also, they validated parking for those attending the expo whether you were doing the race or not. The race t-shirts are great- it's a soft cotton and they had a ladies' cut sizing. The numbers are also cool and I think you can get your name on there if you register early enough, but we didn't. The race the next day was great, and afterwards, there was a cool finish line party. Tons of refreshments, everything from healthy items like Greek yogurt, bagels, etc, to junkier foods like Krispy Kreme and chocolate chip cookies. Local businesses were at the expo giving away food and other stuff as well. Tons of freebies- we made off with a great haul. Free beer at the finish too. We did have to pay for parking the day of the race, but the garages downtown were cheap and most were a very short walk from the race's start and finish. Just a few blocks. If you want to run a 5K and it's your first, this is a great one. Lots of first timers did it. The timing company was awesome and they put the results online along with a video of you finishing the race. Half and full marathoners got finisher's medals. Age group awards for the 5K were checkered flags, pretty neat (I don't know what the half and full age group and overall winners got, did not stay for those awards). I run lots of races and this was one of the best I've done.

Charlotte's only marathon is now, Charlotte's marathon! The Thunder Road title has been replaced…read morewith the Novant Health's Charlotte Marathon moniker. This was my first marathon, and it was as tough as I had heard. The first half is challenging, but I was able to keep with the pace sign without issue. The second half of the race is harder, much harder. It starts to get really hilly...and the scenery isn't quite as nice as the first half. So here are what I would say are the pro's and con's to this race: Cons: the hills (they are tough, especially at miles 20-24 (really!?) but if you train for them, you'll be fine. *The temperature....Charlotte in November can be down right chilly, so dress in layers. I brought a coat that I discarded after the first mile or two. They donate all shedded clothing to the homeless. It looked like laundry day around mile 5! *There was no 'corral call' or any announcement (that I could hear) to let you know where and when to line up. We were packed in at the start line, and you literally could not walk any farther into the crowd. I was aligned with a much faster finish time for the first mile, than my normal pace. *There was no 'gun shot' start...just someone yelling "ready, set, go!"...thought for a race this size it would be more official. *The course - it was a little wind-y, and you could tell in spots there were just trying to get the mileage, having you run in in/out directions. Pros: the spectators. Hands down, the best part of the race for me! (outside of actually finishing it!) They were kind, funny, supportive, and not the least bit angry about being put out by the hours of inconvenience this race must cause their neighborhoods. There was a monkey costume, I think I saw an Elvis, and lots of signs, kids cheering, cow bells ringing, it was truly a surreal moment that makes me smile months later thinking about it! Go Charlotte! *The bands/live music/DJs...they had the music spread out very well along the course. The music would usually indicate that you were coming up on the next mile. It became more than a welcomed sound! The bands were farther apart and more sparse for the 2nd half, which is really when we could have used it! *The other runners! This race has a 5k, half and the full. So there are folks from all over participating. You will see some interesting sights! One lady that I passed had on pajamas! You go girl! *Seeing Charlotte and experiencing the different neighborhoods and areas. Nothing gives you perspective of an area like running through it! I've been here 20 years, but ran through parts of town I'd never been to. *The snacks/gels/gatorade/water stations - they were placed very well, and the spectators were also handing out food. (I heard that the food could be better, but I found the selection just fine, bananas, bagels, sports drinks). *The party atmosphere - the finish line lands you in the heart of downtown and there are vendors, and lots of picturesque locations to snap those memories. **It's reputation as a tough ass marathon! This was not a 'pro' at first! But once you finish this race, you will see yourself in a new light! Crossing the finish line is an experience like no other. Once you get that Finish Line sign in your sight, it will be something you'll never forget! My husband and 5 kids were there cheering me on. I'll never forget this whole experience and completing something only 1% of the population ever does. Hope you do it, too!

Definitely needs improvement as the inaugural race. Whoever routed the race really loves to torture…read morerunners by including insanely steep hills MULTIPLE times throughout the route. In the last two miles of 13.1, there were NO ROUTE GUIDES to direct the last group of runners. Our group had to figure the last two miles on our own, through downtown Asheville. We had to stop at pedestrian lights and stay on the narrow sidewalks with local shippers walking in our way. Throughout the race there was minimal cheerers and music. I do thank the police department of Asheville who stopped traffic for us and told drivers to slow down as they drove by us. I do thank the volunteers who helped with the hydration booths.