Florida Members - Shuttle launch advice for a tourist and drag racing in Clearwater

So I'm down in Tampa for a class, visiting from Seattle. I saw online there is a shuttle launch tomorrow and I was considering driving over to watch it. I'm just curious since i can't get tickets into the public viewing area at NASA if you can actually get close enough otherwise to make the viewing worth the drive? It's roughly 150 miles from where I'm at and id hate to drive thar far just to see a smoke trail! Any advice is appreciated. Thanks!!

Also, will any locals be at the test and tune at Sunshine dragstrip tonight? Looking to kill some time and thought about checking out the track. Might try to run the rental charger :D

These may help. Ive never gone but this is what I found.

http://spacelaunchinfo.com/spaceview.html

http://www.nasa.gov/centers/kennedy/about/view/view_shuttle.html

http://www.launchphotography.com/Shuttle_Launch_Viewing.html

Just got to the end of HWY 50 and try to find a spot you'll be right across from the VAB, if you've never seen one better see it now, because it's about over, only 2 more, I work on it on KSC,