East Coast Championships thread.

#1

Parking. The Pro pits has been carved up into spaces and they are being sold. The spaces are, IIRC, 20’x120’, or something like that. I don’t know the cost. The DE pits are free.

We enter the track from the ProPits and exit the track into the DE pits. Then in the DE grid some cars will get sent to impound and others will be sent on.

The problem with this plan is that we will end up scattered all over hell’s half acre and that will put a serious crimp on SpecE30 bonding.

Someone at CMP this weekend came up with the idea of SpecE30 occupying the skid pad. Or better yet, coordinating with NASA to buy the skid pad parking. I talk to Jim Pantas about this today, he likes the idea, and will take it up with National.

The skid pad has some power, but I don’t recall how many power poles. There’s also water not too far away in the tech shed, call it 50m. There’s not much power in the DE pits, so the skidpad is at no disadvantage for this. I just bought a generator to ensure my trailer AC has power.

If this works out we’ll agree to a price with NASA and then we’ll take up a collection. One way we could do this is for the enclosed trailers to take over the skid pad area. The open trailers would go further down the hill. Then everyone’s cars park around the skid pad and we set up a bunch of EZ-ups in some central location. Those with open trailers just move their tools to a trailer with AC. Then everyone lives a life of luxury and comfort.

Getting 50 of us on the skidpad will be tricky. We may have to plan/execute that with some care. RVs that need 30A service might end up elsewhere it they can’t get the power they want at the skidpad.

#2

I think its a great idea. Our big rig may be fun to maneuver in there but looking at google maps if we came in behind tech, wound around right and parked on the south side where the parking lines are and had our nose kinda where the first line is, we could prob do it. We would of course pay our proportionate share and offer free AC and couches to whomever so desires. I could also bring my honda generator for someone to use as bribery for consideration of dibbing our parking spot.

#3

sounds like a good plan. another idea we are thinking about is to rent a tent and set it up out in the grass area somewhere. a big tent we can fit cars under and have meals etc. can we get a designated space in the grass somewhere or is this a bad idea? don’t know RA that well…

drive-gear.com

If NASA goes for the idea, I’ll take some measurements at the event in 3wks and try to come up with a way to pack in the absolute most folks. I figure something like a central pavilion of EZ-ups, and enclosed trailers packed cheek-to-jowl such that a car or two can fit behind each trailer.

RVs will be tough. Those that get to the track early should have room to get to a spot and then we pack everything around them. Those RVs that don’t get there early, well, maybe there’d still be room just below the skidpad in the grass. That same grass could be a location for a tent, but there’s no power down there. Sure we’ll have some generators, but we’ll probably need those generators up above.

Most folks don’t know about the grass lot below the skid pad. It’s the very last place on the DE side to fill up.

The downside of the skidpad is that it’s a bit of a hike to the nice bathroom. The women-folk often react poorly when pointed towards a porta-potty. In Aug.

#4

Atlanta, August, let’s run the spinkler for the skid pad and put a big vinyl pool in, just sayin…

I’m game on a big tent area and would pitch in for that as well.

#5

In the pic below the skidpad is the blue circle. The red circle is where we can stash open trailers. In terms of the pavillion in the grass idea, the only reasonably large patch of grass on a flat surface is in the trailer parking area.

For those that have not been to RA, the place with the most power hook ups is the area marked SpecE30 and SpecMiata. Otherwise powerpoles are few.

#6

We have been offered the Impound area. I think we should seize this offer before it goes away. It’s enough room for all ~50 of us. It has bathrooms nearby, and it’s closer to the paddocks then any other place we would be able to set up a big central tent. Power is an issue, but power was going to be a problem no matter where we ended up.

In the map above the area is marked in red and labeled Impound.

Thoughts?

#7

Power will be an issue in that area for sure but beggars can’t be choosers. The odds of getting power will be slim anyways so I think we should jump on this. I have a generator, but it is not the quite type. That will certainly run my trailer enough to keep it a few degrees cooler than outside.

#8

That’s a stellar idea and much closer to the action as well as being higher up and perhaps even more shaded with more airflow than the pit. I guess a generator is in my future, but I knew that would happen eventually.

#9

Since we’d be getting Impound for free, we could then chip in some money for the fest tent/generator rental. The generator idea, btw, is just to run the fest tent. If we want to also rent some big-ass generator to support those that don’t have their own, folks that would want to hook up to it would need to chime in and start committing some $$.

#10

Interesting. How would we place the big rigs (us, group 3, AR, others)?

#11

Also our motorhome generator will probably power a non-air-conditioned trailer/site for someone plus I still have my Honda generator for loan unless it gets sold with my old trailer (which is for sale by the way). Suggested donation would be ketel one or Sam Adams.

#12

I don’t know. I think that first we need to decide on a place, and then we’ll figure out how to best use it. Fitting big rigs into the skidpad area would be a problem. Likely they’d have to go below the skidpad. I’m hopeful that there will be some consensus to go for the Impound area because that gives us enough space that we can easily fit everyone in.

If we decide on Impound I could come up with a parking scheme for the lot, but we’re an independent minded bunch so the ultimate layout might not resemble the carefuly crafted parking plan.

Right now what I’m most focused on is to make this decision quick. I want this in cement, one way or another, well before NASA publishes their parking plan because I want the NASA plan to show our parking area labeled SpecE30. That will remove all ambiguity with other classes that maybe they can grab our ground.

#13

I will commit with the asterisk that I obviously have to be able to get in and out. My turning radius usually involves two states.

#14

I love the impound area idea. If everyone posts specs on trailer and truck dimensions then an assigned parking map could be generated.

By my gmaps rough estimate, looks 80 feet wide by 350 feet long . but necks down at beginning and end.

Lrger rigs could line up parallel with impound area, and smaller run perpendicular to them.

Peter Thibault

#15

I’m in for the impound area and would be in on the tent as well if you are trying to get commitments Scott.

#16

I’ve sent an email to Carter to get his input. Since this is a National event, I figure he’s the one in charge. I don’t want to be stepping on toes by charging around and acting like I run the place. Lets see if he wants to get involved in this issue, and if not, I’ll get a hold of Jim and accept his kind offer of the Impound lot for SpecE30.

Generators. If there are folks that want to get together and rent a generator, I’ll need to hear from them in the next couple weeks. It looks like $700 will rent a 40Kw genset which will provide AC for 20 trailers, or light and fans for everyone. Half that much $$ rents you 10Kw which will run AC for 5 trailers. Note that if a group o folks want to get involved in this, they need to park together. Extension cords don’t come 350’ long.

I just bought a 2500w generator from Harbor Freight. It’s one of those spiffy invertor types that is quiet and light. $500 + ~$100 for a 2yr warranty. I’m going to have AC at Nationals. As long as you don’t snore and exercise reasonable personal hygiene, an open trailer type or two can hooch up with me.

#17

That is an optimistic number for those generators. Our motorhome 12,500 Onan runs two AC units and lights, etc, but will not crank the trailer AC unless the other units are off. The problem is starting amps. A typical roof ac will run nicely at 13-15 amps but starts up at 20-30 and can be higher. Amps are the key. I’m sure a rental company can talk more turkey than i know to get it sized right.

#18

My failure to immediately accept the offer of the Impound lot resulted in us losing it to TT. Now we’re up on the bluff above the Impound lot. On the up-side there is more breeze and it’s cooler because there’s a lot of grass. On the downside it’s a longer walk to nice bathrooms and meetings.

#19

What the hell? After all the drivers asking NASA about parking for a month, they can’t give you 24 hrs to ask around? One of the largest race classes and they put us in the dirt. That’s pretty shitty. Looks like pro paddock for us. I can’t get in there and I have no desire to paddock off-road.

#20

Any thoughts about renting a block of pro paddock spots and dividing it up amongst us?