Not that I'm complaining, because I would much rather prefer to be at a real roadcourse than 2 times at Lowes.

Warren

 

GASP!

Will
-who likes the pucker factor between Nascar turn #3 and #4

 

FYI... the schedule was updated today...

[02.18.02] Schedule update. Date and venue change for Round 3.

Lowes....
Race #7 - Saturday 9/7 (Trophy and Points)
Race #8 - Sunday 9/8 (Points Only)
http://www.honda-challenge.com/2002schedule.html

Will

 

Scott will make an official announcement tonight, but yes we have lost the July Lowe's date and are going to run Round 3 at CMP in August.

AFAIK there will still be a NASA-VA event at Lowe's in July, but no HC races.


[Modified by SPiFF, 6:07 PM 2/18/2002]

 

Scheduling issues with Humpy Wheeler and his gang. NASA was whittled down to just 4 hours on Friday night, so Karl and I decided to bump round 3 back a couple of weeks to CMP.
Night racing at Lowes would have been neat, but we would have been lucky to get an hour of track availability.

Official notice goes out via email tonight.

 

I was talking with a rep from Lowes the other day about how much to rent the track for one day..

I was quoted the following:

1. Must present $5 million general liability insurance coverage to LMS
2. $5,200 per day for Rental of the Oval Track
3. $150 per hour for Emergency Medical Services
4. $15 per hour for Security

ECHC has pockets that deep?????


[Modified by drumsy, 11:45 AM 2/20/2002]

 

Nope, but I didn't think NASA did either

Well, I am not to happy about the change, because
1. Havn't been to CMP, now there are 2 races there (obviously harder to learn than lowes)
2. Longer Drive
3. Sooner
4. Heard the track isn't that fun, kills brakes/tires, no elevation.. But this is just what I hear.. Would MUCH rather see a 2nd VIR or Summit Date...

I am sure there is a good reason that this date/track was picked, that I don't know about, either way, I should be there, if I can afford to rebuild my brakes several times a year..


[Modified by Honda318dx, 11:54 AM 2/20/2002]

 

I totally agree with Corey here - the series is seriously skewed toward the south. With a race in South Carolina, one in North Carolina, and one on the NC/VA border, if we have to double up a track, why not do two at Summit? I don't think we can get another VIR date, or I would be all for that one as well.

I've talked to some EMRA racers, and we are going to lose a lot of them if we can't give them a couple of races that are a reasonable distance from the north east.

Besides that, I've driven both courses, and Summit is more challenging, more fun, has better elevation changes, etc. Not to mention the fact that we might be running the new circuit at Summit for the second event, so it would be 5 races on 5 different tracks.

Just something to think about........

Matt

 

Agreed

 

I think everyone is scared of driving at Lowes.


Will
-who has driven the track... more than once

 

Humpy and CMP suck a fatty

 

I for one, vote to have the last honda challenge race at Summit in November... It looks like the only <U>other</U> opening in the schedule other than CMP... Just my opinion though, but if everyone else agrees.....

Scott and Karl, I know its not your fault about the schedule change, just trying to give you some feedback..

 

I don't know how much control Scott and Karl have over this, but assuming it can be changed, I also vote for Summit. Yes, it is more convenient for me, but I'm thinking in a larger scale.

This year, you need to run 3 races to be eligible for the championship. With two races at Summit, and one at VIR, that means that people living as far north as the Philly/Southern NJ area have 3 races within 9 hours of travel time. Likewise, people from Georgia would have CMP. Lowes, and VIR which also gives them 3 races within 9 hours of travel time. Both the northerners and the southerners could effectively make a run for the championship, with the VIR event being the key.

It also creates the possibility of each race being on a different track (assuming the Shanendoah track is ready by November), which I think is important. Different cars do better on different tracks because of gearing, power bands, etc. Running any track twice can skew things towards one car or another. Let's try to keep it as varied as possible.

Matt

 

Interesting change in the thread. Well, of course, I'd rather go to Summit Shenandoah or even the old Summit than heading to CMP. I doubt Alex would want to tow to CMP for this series, as he's primarily an IT guy, but he's just 1 more person. Anyhow, that's just my 2 cents.

Warren

 

Please check with Chris on any schedule changes. I think the 944 series is running the dates that you are not, and it would mean a change for them also.

This includes changes for Lowe's under the Lights.

Not sure about this, but it shouldn't hurt to check with him.

el Grumpo

 

If that is the case, they aren't running very many races. IIRC, there are only two NASA race weekends that do not include Honda Challenge races. Lowes under the lights and the second Summit event (or the second CMP event if we change it).

Oh, I also thought of another reason to do the second race at Summit. Considering that the first event at Summit will be the big hyperfest thing, we could very possibly generate enough fans from that first weekend within a reasonable distance from the track to make this second event a spectator event. It would also be closer to Carlisle, where we could very possibly win over some fans with the ECHC exhibition. It would be great to give them two ECHC race weekends to attend instead of just one.

I know it's tougher on Scott and Karl, who have to be present at all ECHC events, and who don't want to travel THAT far twice in the year, but I think it's best for the series. Perhaps they could have somebody else serve as director for that event if they don't want to come up to WV twice?

Matt

 

Reasons the race will be at CMP...

1. It's the closest to the cancelled Lowes date.
2. 2 of the 3 members of the ECHC board can't make it to Summit in Nov.
3. The Summit date is the week before the ARRC, which would mean a reduction in entries from SCCA IT folks (which will be a big part of our grids until the series establishes itself as a stand alone series).
4. From my understanding the 944 cup guys were already planning on us NOT being at Summit. This is their focal track. For this reason the chances of our getting our own run group at Summit would be very slim.
5. Chris C. already OK'd the change to the CMP date and also feels it's the best choice.

This is not ideal, but it is the best choice we have. If you don't like CMP or can't make it to this date, sorry. We can't meet everyone's needs.
Next year we will hopefully have more interest, more tracks, and more events. Things look GREAT for us right now, but never forget that we have yet to prove ourselves as a viable series. For now we will take what we can get with a smile.

Scott, who believe it or not does in fact know what he's doing.

 

I don't think anybody was implying otherwise. We were just providing what could be an alternative point of view. From what you said it sounds like CMP was the best choice.

Matt

 

What's CMP from LMS? Another 70 miles or so? 1.5 hrs? Not that bad. Karl takes an extra 1.5 hrs on each track event, looking for various automotive components along the way.

(I know Karl - I'm gigging myself right now)

 

as a non honda racer, a couple thoughts, CMP is kind of a strange track, hard to learn, hard to be quick on, but in its own way interesting.

Although some people do tend to hate it, you may have people who make a big tow the first time not do it the 2nd time around (that's what i did last year when NASA ran there twice, went the first time, skipped the 2nd.) and that' what i plan to do this year.

Also if people don't like the track or two and your turnout sucks for the 2nd race, are you going to get your own race for the 2nd event (or has chris guaranteed that for you guys this year?) last year you needed 20 cars in a class to get your own race.

Personally, summit is more fun the CMP, even w/ ARRC the next weekend youmay get a bugure turnout for the 2nd event at summit then you will for a 2nd event at cmp, and if you don't get 20 cars at either, you will not get your own race either way.


If you guys are running with the other classes on a given weekend, what the hell are you doing about your 13/13 rule ???? everyone else isn't running 13/13, and try what you will, enevitably, if you race in traffic some moron in a scirrocco hits you

(this from the guy who has been hit a few times (all by driver's w/ SCCA licenses by the way)(never by a NASA licensed driver! (unless they got their license based on a SCCA license)

 

me too. I remember heading back to your house in Richmond that Sunday, and both of us came close to going off the road we were so tired.

But if the 944 racers already have that date, there isn't much we can do, UNLESS they want to switch to the CMP date.

There is nothing we can do about it. It would be a normal NASA race where contact is more likely.

or neon

Yeah, I remember your first race at VIR. That car didn't have a single dent on it!

Matt

 

Honestly, I'd tow to Watkins Glen...or to Road America...or wherever, for an ECHC race if need be. My biggest concern was the closeness of the Summit date to the ARRC. Despite how much interest we have already as a standalone series...I still keep filling the grid as a top priority.

And Cold Chunker is right. I could have made it all the way to Road Atlanta in the time it took me to find the missing caliper bolt in November.

Larry...I'll deal with you later

 

Some other things to remember.

1. The fees that drumsy quoted for track rental are *not* unreasonable for a premium facility. Don't know exactly how NASA's insurance policy reads...but ~10K per weekend isn't surprising. Expensive, but not surprising.

2. Getting a date this far into the calendar year at *any* track is almost impossible. Remember how popular our little hobby has become? Track availability is suffering because of it. So just calling up VIR and getting a premium date is simply not an option.

3. The things Dented RX-7 said about running with other groups is a BIG reason the CMP date makes more sense. Attendance WILL be better than it would be the week before the ARRC...so we will likely have adequate headcount for our own race group. Which means the 13-13 rule is in full effect.

4. You guys are all giving CMP a bad rap. I like it. Lots of places to pass, lots of runoff room, and it's got turn 8...one of my favorite corners anywhere.

Tell ya what Bookler. Come down half way on Friday and stay at my house in NC, 3 hours north of CMP. Hell, if we're gonna make Giles come up to Carlisle...you need to return the favor

--Karl, who is (for a change) glad he has no girlfriend/wife, and is REALLY glad he lives dead center between all the cool tracks...

 

Personally, I really like CMP. For those who haven't been there, I'd give it a try before discounting it as second rate. On top of T8, there's the Kink , the Carousel and by far the most important of all, GUS'

Adam, who loves Gus' and loves a 5 minute drive from a $39 hotel room and loves a gas station that you can drive the race car to and pay a normal price for 93.

 

GUS' = =

staying at home Friday night =

getting back home at ~7:00 pm Sun. =

Kink =

Will