He charters the helicopters for $2,000 to $2,500 an hour, and passengers will pay $350 to $400 each. Henry said helicopter service isn't cheap. The other half are corporations who have suites and are bringing in customers, to show them just a little twist to the event," Henry said. "Probably half are drivers, team owners or guests of them. About 250 passengers will be ferried on Sunday alone. Henry said he expects about 300 people in and out, using 25helicopters he has chartered from Bay Area aviation companies. The heliport can handle five helicopters at a time and, sitting on the rim of a hill above the track, provides Henry and Burgess with a sweeping view of the flight paths. The heliport is set up in a corner of the raceway's go-kart track by Steve Henry of Fort Worth, Texas-based Henry Aviation, with Henry and retired FAA controller Pete Burgess using a radio link to the pilots to direct air traffic. "What you also get with a helicopter is some wow factor," Buckerfield added. "There is no reasonable way to get customers in or out of there without sitting in a long line of cars and making it an arduous day," Buckerfield said. "Friday is not bad, Saturday is not bad, but the Sunday backup can be for miles, especially going home." "There will be traffic, and plenty of it," said CHP Officer Lisa Paulson. On Sunday, the drive from Elk Grove to Sonoma, normally 90 minutes, will be stretched to almost five hours, Buckerfield said. "There is a real critical need for the helicopters if you want to properly entertain on Sunday," said John Buckerfield of Slakey Brothers Inc., an Elk Grove wholesale plumbing supply company, which is bringing in 60 clients to its grandstand suite for the race. "They have to be in Daytona for an event four days later."įor team owners, corporate officials and their clients, however, it's the epitome of convenience Sunday, when the crowd is expected to reach 100,000.
"Most of these drivers turn right around Sunday and will be on their way to the East Coast before dark," said Steve Page, Infineon Raceway president.
The heliport is set up every year for the NASCAR weekend at Infineon as the ultimate way to beat the traffic on surrounding highways, particularly on Sunday, race day.įor the drivers, it's necessary if they are going to fit a West Coast race into their predominantly Southern sport. "But you never know when they will come in. "This is the best place to get autographs," said Bogle, a Sonora resident who was waiting with his son, Kevin, both decked out in NASCAR jackets and caps. Darren Bogle staked out a spot at the Infineon Raceway heliport Friday, waiting patiently for NASCAR drivers Jeff Gordon and Jimmie Johnson.