Making the drive down to Oakland....any advice?

RandyS
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RandyS 12/31/2013 6:44pm
12/31/2013 6:44pm Edited Date/Time 12/31/2013 6:46pm
All the best parties are on International Blvd. It used to be called East 14th before they improved it and made it "International". Bring an extra $50 and park in the lot, Bart seems like a good idea on paper. And an insured rental car is always a good move.
Tumblin
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Tumblin 12/31/2013 6:48pm
12/31/2013 6:48pm
I'll be hanging in the Hills with my best buddies. We'll be parking in the lot, never an issue but. BART kicks ass also. You can step out 100 yards from the entry...very sweet.
After, we've partied at the Marriott I believe, but have tore up some rowdy blues bars down town later. I have learned to side step the rowdies growing up on Indian reservations and just try to respect all, at the very least head out if there are issues. It was funny as hell watching my good buddy being called out on the floor by a major Bertha. He kept is cool and finally made a clean get away after a slow belling rubbing session of a song, HA!
Nothing ventured nothing gained! No Guts no glory! No Pain no Gain! Pin it to Win it! WFO! Come on...ride that ragged edge...you're a Moto head right?
BigDaddyG
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BigDaddyG 12/31/2013 6:51pm
12/31/2013 6:51pm
Dude, North Portland is fucking Candy Land compared to Oakland. SF is Disney Land comapared to Oakland just across the river. I wouldn't go, its a dirt hole.
Offroad guy 12/31/2013 7:00pm
12/31/2013 7:00pm
This will be my 2nd trip to Oakland SX. Went there 2 years ago and had no issues. I go to the Bay area for work about 15 times a year. I stay in Union City and have never had any issues. Last time I parked in the lot which was like 25 bucks. Go have fun and be smart. On a side note if you ever get the chance go to one of the Anaheim rounds. I have been going to either A2 or A3 since 2000.

The Shop

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jloucks742
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jloucks742 12/31/2013 7:06pm
12/31/2013 7:06pm
oakland is sketch if you can stay in walnut creek, concord, or any other east bay city and take bart you will be fine
TeamGreen
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TeamGreen 12/31/2013 7:07pm
12/31/2013 7:07pm
jeffro503 wrote:
Christ.....I getting some conflicting advice here. Some of you guys are scaring the shit out of me. Fwiw....I live in N. Portland , which some of...
Christ.....I getting some conflicting advice here. Some of you guys are scaring the shit out of me. Fwiw....I live in N. Portland , which some of those areas are ones you stay out of late at night , but if you are with a small group nobody will mess with you.

And I actually really dug San Francisco.....thought it was a beautiful city.
You could listen to the folks that "Don't get out too often"...or...

Get a smokin deal on a Hotel in SF...say...right around Union Square...& take BART over to the race.

Voila! Good Times, nice lodging...

Let the Nay-Sayers pack their Gats & be scared.
VOODOO27
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VOODOO27 12/31/2013 11:01pm
12/31/2013 11:01pm Edited Date/Time 12/31/2013 11:06pm
Jeffro, Book a room at the Holiday Inn Oakland Airport, they have a shuttle that'll drop you off at the BART Station on the backside of the coliseum so you'll be in the coliseum with 15-20 mins of leaving the hotel, and they have 2 vans shuttling people back to the hotel after the race. They also have a decent restaurant/bar to have some cold beers after the race, too. It's been my Oakland SX routine for a few years with my teenage son, and we've never had a problem at the races. Sure there will be the locals hanging out at the BART but to me they're a non-issue.

I just checked and verified they still have rooms available. If the hotel's good enough for Eddie Money, it's good enough for me Smile
gt80rider
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gt80rider 12/31/2013 11:15pm
12/31/2013 11:15pm
For you pussies that think Oakland is bad, you really need to get around more.... Detroit, east st Louis, Gary indiana, are just a few places to hit.... And those are like Mayberry compared to many other regions of the world... Seriously, if you are "scared" to go to oakland you have bigger issues to worry about than crime...
Vet57
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Vet57 1/1/2014 2:19am
1/1/2014 2:19am
Old-Man wrote:
See you outside the stadium [img]http://media.heavy.com/media/2012/08/TucoOPTI.jpg[/img]
See you outside the stadium
Freaking' hilarious.....
Kent Christensen 1/1/2014 12:39pm
1/1/2014 12:39pm
Wear Oakland A's stuff of some kind and you will be fine. Just try to fit in and dont act like an outsider. Dont look at anyone funny and dont try to be a big man in oakland. mind your own business and you will be fine. Dont bring anything of value, dont be flashy. Typical stuff for a dirty big city. Oakland can be very enjoyable if you play it right. I have always enjoyed going to Oakland A's games my whole life, growing up in the bay area. Never had a problem in Oakland, but it is HELLA ghetto in areas and you dont want to be a white person in many areas, so dont go to those areas. Try to stick with big crowds. Similar advice as if you go to mexico, dont stray from the tourist areas with lots of people.
Bigfoot
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Bigfoot 1/1/2014 12:54pm
1/1/2014 12:54pm


It's all in how you dress.
BobbyM
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BobbyM 1/1/2014 1:17pm
1/1/2014 1:17pm
jeffro503 wrote:
So me and my buddy Jimmy are making the trip down ( leaving the morning of the 24th ) hanging out for the race and then...
So me and my buddy Jimmy are making the trip down ( leaving the morning of the 24th ) hanging out for the race and then what? Is there an after the race type party going on any where? We'll have mechanic passes for the race so we'll be down on the floor some of the time so hopefully get to meet some of you dudes!

We'll be taking our time driving back.....probably get back up here in Portland on Monday afternoon.

BTW.....some of you guys that stay at motels around the area , do you just take the shuttle bus over? I guess that's what were doing as well. Probably a little safer than parking your rig over at the stadium I think.
The super 8 motel on east 14 street is the place to be. ..close to the stadium too
Carlos Z
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Carlos Z 1/1/2014 1:30pm
1/1/2014 1:30pm
BigDaddyG wrote:
Dude, North Portland is fucking Candy Land compared to Oakland. SF is Disney Land comapared to Oakland just across the river. I wouldn't go, its a...
Dude, North Portland is fucking Candy Land compared to Oakland. SF is Disney Land comapared to Oakland just across the river. I wouldn't go, its a dirt hole.
Sounds about right ! The" I've never had issues people" are just plain stupid. I went to harlem at 2am drunk in a hawaiian shirt with my huge tourist camera and i never had an issue so y'all be fine and your'e a pussy if you don't go. Uh…ok.
StartedTooLate 1/1/2014 1:46pm
1/1/2014 1:46pm Edited Date/Time 1/1/2014 2:00pm
#1: IF you drive and pay to park at the event, you drive right into the massive parking lot, with staff everywhere, fans having BBQ's. You do not have to park in some uncontrolled area. You will be with tens of thousands of MX fans.. Oooh you are really taking your life into you hands there.

#2: If you BART it...the station is right at the arena (300 yard walk across an elevated walkway...straight to the the VIP box gate), and there are BART Cops, event staff etc. everywhere. About the most dangerous thing there is the vendors trying to sell you heart clogging food.

In either case, there is no need for you to be walking through the ghetto at 1:00 a.m. So...the posters trying to scare you ARE idiots...whether they are LEOs or not. Their comments are just 100% nonsense. They are making comments about Oakland...and not the event.

When I went last year...I did the BART thing. I wont do it again simply because after the event...the station just gets slammed with people...and it was a 30 minute wait to get a train. Not everyone comes in at the same time...but they all LEAVE at the same time...and station was slammed.

As for staying near the arena....OK...some of the scare comments are not so 'idiotic' then. The recommendation to stay at the Super 8 near the arean...that is funny. Do not do that! If you stay in the area...the closer to the airport the better. There is a Holiday Inn Express near the Airport that is plenty safe. Some goods eats nearby too. Francesco's is close to the Holiday Inn Express.

Personally...I would stay in Dublin / San Ramon / Pleasonton / Livermore area...and drive in...and park at the event. You will have NO issues.
Coyote
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Coyote 1/1/2014 5:04pm
1/1/2014 5:04pm
jeffro503 wrote:
Christ.....I getting some conflicting advice here. Some of you guys are scaring the shit out of me. Fwiw....I live in N. Portland , which some of...
Christ.....I getting some conflicting advice here. Some of you guys are scaring the shit out of me. Fwiw....I live in N. Portland , which some of those areas are ones you stay out of late at night , but if you are with a small group nobody will mess with you.

And I actually really dug San Francisco.....thought it was a beautiful city.
TeamGreen wrote:
You could listen to the folks that "Don't get out too often"...or... Get a smokin deal on a Hotel in SF...say...right around Union Square...& take BART...
You could listen to the folks that "Don't get out too often"...or...

Get a smokin deal on a Hotel in SF...say...right around Union Square...& take BART over to the race.

Voila! Good Times, nice lodging...

Let the Nay-Sayers pack their Gats & be scared.
Xfriggin 1000, any area can be sketchy...ever go to the LA Coliseum...damn...Atlanta ain't the best of neighborhoods, should I go on..b smart and enjoy yourself
JW381
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JW381 1/1/2014 6:39pm
1/1/2014 6:39pm
Fairfield, that's where I stayed. It was pretty nice and a fun drive to the stadium, seeing the bay and getting all pumped up.

I dunno we didn't spend very much time in Oakland but I never felt crazy unsafe or anything. You should be fine, just use your head.
Ryan_Huddleston 1/1/2014 7:05pm
1/1/2014 7:05pm
Me and my dad have made the trip down every year Oakland and its always been a great time. We stay in a hotel just down the road and have no problem walking to and from the stadium. Oakland is by far the most ghetto place I've been, however ive never felt threatened by any means.

Anyone know where the riders usually stay, or hang out at afterwards?

Dan, you goin this year?
tp311
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tp311 1/1/2014 7:19pm
1/1/2014 7:19pm
Don't take anything you don't want to get stolen. Don't leave anything, of value, you do take in your vehicle.

Pit Row

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toomanyhobbies 1/1/2014 7:20pm
1/1/2014 7:20pm
Oakland is by no means the safest place in the world but it's not like your going downtown walking at 2 am. I've been to every bay area sx since i moved back in 05. The biggest hassle is usually the smell of weed or rain. It rains for this event more than logic says it should. Get covered seats and enjoy. Pleasanton/Dublin/Livermore are have some nice hotels and the BART station in Dublin is actually quite nice. I have used Bart to get to every SX in Oakland as well as several A's games every year. These idiots that are scared probably have thumb throttles due to limp wrists.
Flynn842
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Flynn842 1/1/2014 8:36pm
1/1/2014 8:36pm
I've been every year. We Get there @ 11.30am enjoy the full day of practice pit party's and tail gating. After the races at Oakland they open the pits. Each year we've parked on the pit side of the park. You can walk right inside the pits. The riders are all out walking around and hanging out. Last year my wife was able to sit on Marvin musquins bike while Rodger decoster held the fender. We have never had a problem in Oakland and last year I was the last car to leave. The Oakland pd patrol the lot like flys on shit
JM485
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JM485 1/1/2014 9:02pm
1/1/2014 9:02pm
Flynn842 wrote:
I've been every year. We Get there @ 11.30am enjoy the full day of practice pit party's and tail gating. After the races at Oakland they...
I've been every year. We Get there @ 11.30am enjoy the full day of practice pit party's and tail gating. After the races at Oakland they open the pits. Each year we've parked on the pit side of the park. You can walk right inside the pits. The riders are all out walking around and hanging out. Last year my wife was able to sit on Marvin musquins bike while Rodger decoster held the fender. We have never had a problem in Oakland and last year I was the last car to leave. The Oakland pd patrol the lot like flys on shit
They open the pits after the race? I got in one time at SF but I didn't know you could just walk in at Oakland. You don't need any special passes or anything?
RandyS
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RandyS 1/1/2014 9:03pm
1/1/2014 9:03pm Edited Date/Time 1/1/2014 9:08pm
toomanyhobbies wrote:
Oakland is by no means the safest place in the world but it's not like your going downtown walking at 2 am. I've been to every...
Oakland is by no means the safest place in the world but it's not like your going downtown walking at 2 am. I've been to every bay area sx since i moved back in 05. The biggest hassle is usually the smell of weed or rain. It rains for this event more than logic says it should. Get covered seats and enjoy. Pleasanton/Dublin/Livermore are have some nice hotels and the BART station in Dublin is actually quite nice. I have used Bart to get to every SX in Oakland as well as several A's games every year. These idiots that are scared probably have thumb throttles due to limp wrists.
I doesn't rain in Northern California any more. Rain is Old School. Non covered seats will be fine.
Flynn842
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Flynn842 1/1/2014 9:07pm
1/1/2014 9:07pm
Walk right in. The fencing is temporary. They start breaking it down ASAP to let the race haulers leave. Now of course this year will be different. In the past we walk in talk to riders and get close enough to sit on the bikes
motorush
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motorush 1/1/2014 9:27pm
1/1/2014 9:27pm
Been to the Oak/SF almost every year. Just grab 6/12/18pak for after the race & enjoy the show (if your shit aint stolen). Fights, people yelling at each other, good times. Last year we saw a big screaming match between 2 "bro-hoe's". It was a riot!! But our beer did get stolen, tried hiding it....gone.

So, 2013 Oak SX, beer stolen.....MEC,laptop & bags got stolen..... If they want your shit.....your shit is gone!!!

Never got shit stolen at the SLC SX........just sayin..
mx295
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mx295 1/13/2014 3:42pm
1/13/2014 3:42pm Edited Date/Time 1/13/2014 3:43pm
Watch out for these guys
.

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