I first want to thank all of our hard workers for braving the heat and helping us put on another great event. The heat was unbelievable, but all the smiles on people's faces (with sweat dripping down!), great racing, and memorable funny moments throughout the weekend make it all worth it.

A big thanks to Summit Point for helping us put on this shared event. NASA has enjoyed collaborating with the track for both Hyperfests at Summit Point, and we couldn't ask for nicer people than SPR's Don Barrack and Maria Orsini with whom to work. Big thanks to Don Barrack for being another sounding board for all of my husband Chris' ideas because sometimes it is nice for my husband and I to talk about something other than NASA!

As far as the concerns in other threads, I will address a few briefly here.

Gate Policies The track did not want to set up a refund station like they do for other clubs I am assuming because of the sheer numbers of people coming in and the labor required. NASA and the track agreed that a lengthy list of preregistered people, VIPs, workers, etc, was what made the lines so long at the gate last year. Therefore, it was decided by NASA to mail out wristbands in advance. For an event that is expected to bring in thousands of people, the gate was told by the track and NASA to ask for payment from anyone without a wristband. They could not accept statements such as "I crew for so and so, or I know so and so." For people who did not preregister, the gate fee was taken out of their entry they paid once in the track. For preregistered people, I mailed out wristbands to addresses that were downloaded directly from the information submitted by members, so if the address is incorrect, please update it. For the one person (Balled s2k) who stated that "I registered on-line and provided my correct address", I have forwarded that concern to the webmaster because I don't know why the old mailing address was the one that came up for my records since I used what was submitted by the member. And when I spoke to you over the phone on Thursday, I discussed that I would give you a refund of your money and your crew gate fee once you were inside the track.
For people who did not get the wristbands to their crew, I provided refunds as long as the pre-mailed wristbands could be produced. This policy is necessary for accounting purposes for both Summit Point and NASA since this is a shared event.

HPDE 1 and Hyperdrives NASA registered people for HPDE 1 until Saturday one week prior to the event so that wristbands and instructions could be mailed in advance. The track accepted registrations for HPDE 1 from the start of registration until Thursday just prior to the event and I am not sure what instructions were shared with those participants.

TECH Our Tech staff was following NASA tech requirements for the cars; however, for the incidents regarding roll bars and dress requirements, our staff radioed to Don Barrack who authorized the exceptions.

Any people riding solo in HPDE 1 and Hyperdrives were authorized to do so by Don Barrack and in one case by Chris Cobetto. Grid was following instructions by Don Barrack or Chris Cobetto. Grid does an excellent job of following procedures.

Flaggers I do know that the heat made things difficult for everyone especially the corner workers, but we do expect that flaggers be able to keep our drivers safe. I know that the concerns about the lack of flagging or minimal flagging for on-track incidents have been expressed by NASA to the track, and you are welcome to do so as well.

Event sharing When two organizations actually run the same event, it can be difficult to keep everyone on the same page as far as sharing the same information and keeping procedures consistent. Both organizations (NASA/SPR) have their own procedures that work well for events (racing, HPDE 1, managing corner workers etc.), and we all have the same goal. Even though this event has been in planning between the two organizations since last year, there were some details overlooked for an event this size and some inconsistencies, and I do see this as an area for improvement. I do believe that we improve with each event, and both organizations are flexible to allow for on-the-spot changes to occur to remedy any problems that arise.

On a positive final note:
Preliminary reports from the track indicate spectator attendance was more than double for this event as compared to both previous Hyperfests. For those who never left the paddock, the number of cars and people out in spectator areas in the carousel was simply amazing considering the temperatures. Even with the oppressive heat, I hope the on-track participants were able to get a look at all of the fans in the stands on Saturday afternoon. We were hoping that more of them could have stayed to see the contests and fireworks on Saturday evening, but I think everyone was done with the heat.

I thoroughly enjoyed seeing everyone this weekend, and I look forward to seeing many of you at VIR in a few weeks. As always, you are welcome to e-mail me any concerns or comments about the weekend!

Laura Cobetto, NASA-VA Registrar
registration@nasaracing.net











Modified by NASAlaura at 9:51 PM 7/7/2003

 

Given the HEAT and the crowds and the morons doing donuts in the paddock I think all of the NASA folks deserve our thanks for putting on a great event.

Thanks for Everything!

Oh and I still owe you a dollar!

Alex
KRM.

 

Laura, I have to say this was the best Hyperfest I've been to yet. Things ran smoothly and usually on (or as close to as can be expected) schedule. Very well done.

 

I think we actually finished early On Sunday woohoo!!!!

 

I know I had fun, thanks for all the hard work!

 

Laura, Chris, course workers, BSR and all the others who helped make this weekend come about,

what a great weekend, and the crowds were incredible, thanks for all your hard work.

 

You guys now I appreciate everything! Great job on one hell of a hot weekend. It was great for my first raced to come down the chute on the pace lap to what seemed like 1000 people watching. Talk about adrenaline pumping.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by NASAlaura &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">
On a positive final note:
Preliminary reports from the track indicate spectator attendance was more than double for this event as compared to both previous Hyperfests. For those who never left the paddock, the number of cars and people out in spectator areas in the carousel was simply amazing considering the temperatures. Even with the oppressive heat, I hope the on-track participants were able to get a look at all of the fans in the stands on Saturday afternoon. We were hoping that more of them could have stayed to see the contests and fireworks on Saturday evening, but I think everyone was done with the heat.
Modified by NASAlaura at 9:51 PM 7/7/2003</TD></TR></TABLE>

I showed Karen (Madame Geezer) the in-car tape of the Saturday race, and her first comment was "Look at that crowd in the stands." I noticed on the pace lap that the turn 5 stands were full (before I went into tunnel-vision).

As with any new enterprise, there are always lessons to be learned and things to improve, but I've always found that NASA-VA is very responsive to the input of the participants. I expect that the next Hyper-thing at Lowe's will reflect this committment. Now if Chris will just get to work on that air-conditioned track I asked about...

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Solracer &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">I think we actually finished early On Sunday woohoo!!!!</TD></TR></TABLE>

That's the first time I've ever heard that happening..

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Geezer &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">

I showed Karen (Madame Geezer) the in-car tape of the Saturday race, and her first comment was "Look at that crowd in the stands." I noticed on the pace lap that the turn 5 stands were full (before I went into tunnel-vision).

</TD></TR></TABLE>

WOW. My hat's off to NASA for accomplishing this. Those are whole stands full of younger auto enthusiasts who are getting the "bug" for real roadracing. Don't forget these are the people who will one day be influential in industries (roadracing financial support), television (prime time television coverage), and print (mainstream press coverage), etc. That NASA has made positive steps to begin a roadracing fan "epidemic" gets a big from me.

 

One group of guys that Chris introduced to me got hooked this weekend. Apparently they're all drag racers and have decided to roundfile that effort in favor of building H1 road racing cars. The reason, according to one of the guys, is that "this just looks so f***ing fun I gotta get into it."

 

Although we left early, things seemed to go pretty smoothly. Thanks to the NASA crew for their hardwork and see everyone at VIR!!!

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by George Knighton &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote"> With the exception of the DJ aiming his music at the paddock, there was very little interference with driving activities from Hyperfest activities.

</TD></TR></TABLE>

George, how did you place in the Breakdancing Competition?....

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Solracer &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">I think we actually finished early On Sunday woohoo!!!!</TD></TR></TABLE>

We did? I knew we were in trouble when the Politis and the Cobettos we leaving before us.

 

I too enjoyed the weekend at Summit Pt. Nasa-VA did a helluva of a job. Lots of cool stuff to watch and great people to hang with.... But........I was more than a little dissappointed with the maintenance of the track, primarily turn 5. How could the track personal give the go ahead when the turn 5 was full of gravel and dirt. We all, HC racers on Sunday, went through it on the pace lap and there was dust and crap kicking up even before the race started. Of course I'm a little more pissed off then most because I spun in that turn and it might have cost me a second instead of finishing third. I know Lyonel spun in the same turn early in the race. Hey, I've been racing a long time I know during a race, and I repeat, during a race, dirt and stuff get kicked up on the track, BUT to have the track, i.e turn 5, littered with dust and debris BEFORE the race started is freakin DANGEROUS !!!! Luckily no damage was done to my car so I can just spew this verbage and feel better.....aaaaaaaaaahhhhhh!!! i'm done, thank you

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Maxx44 &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">I too enjoyed the weekend at Summit Pt. Nasa-VA did a helluva of a job. Lots of cool stuff to watch and great people to hang with.... But........I was more than a little dissappointed with the maintenance of the track, primarily turn 5. How could the track personal give the go ahead when the turn 5 was full of gravel and dirt. We all, HC racers on Sunday, went through it on the pace lap and there was dust and crap kicking up even before the race started. Of course I'm a little more pissed off then most because I spun in that turn and it might have cost me a second instead of finishing third. I know Lyonel spun in the same turn early in the race. Hey, I've been racing a long time I know during a race, and I repeat, during a race, dirt and stuff get kicked up on the track, BUT to have the track, i.e turn 5, littered with dust and debris BEFORE the race started is freakin DANGEROUS !!!! Luckily no damage was done to my car so I can just spew this verbage and feel better.....aaaaaaaaaahhhhhh!!! i'm done, thank you</TD></TR></TABLE>
I would like to second everything you just said.. verbatim. The gravel was littered all through Turn 5 on the pace lap, and I went off course, due to this, on the first Green Lap as well... Luckily nobody was hurt. Workers, I appreciate you being there for us, but as a fellow worker for many years, please inspect your corner for debris BEFORE any RACE, and inform control that you NEED a minute to clear the course. Thanks.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by XR4racer &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">
I would like to second everything you just said.. verbatim. The gravel was littered all through Turn 5 on the pace lap, and I went off course, due to this, on the first Green Lap as well... Luckily nobody was hurt. Workers, I appreciate you being there for us, but as a fellow worker for many years, please inspect your corner for debris BEFORE any RACE, and inform control that you NEED a minute to clear the course. Thanks. </TD></TR></TABLE>

Yep. It was the gravel in T5 that got me too...plus a little late braking down the chute . If you got off-line it was pretty noisy.

 

Even a debris flag covering T5 would have been helpful. Saturday during practice I was surprised to find myself sliding about 4 feet wide of where I wanted to be, completely surprised by gravel all throughout the turn and no flag at T4/T5 worker stations.

 

Big to a great weekend. I had a blast!

Anyone have video of a black Integra chasing down a dark grey Viper in the first hypeR drive on Sunday?

 

Sign me up for gravel victims support group. Lap 2 on Saturday's race had me spinning when attempting a pass on the outside of 5.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by krshultz &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Even a debris flag covering T5 would have been helpful.</TD></TR></TABLE>
There was a debris flag covering T5....problem is that it didn't fly until lap 10 or so.

I'm as surprised as anybody that there was no flag out there to start the race, but I felt the gravel and suffered its effect even during the pace lap. I made a mental note to tread gently down there for the first few laps and made it thru OK.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by NASAlaura &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">I first want to thank all of our hard workers for braving the heat and helping us put on another great event. &lt;snip&gt; A big thanks to Summit Point for helping us put on this shared event. NASA has enjoyed collaborating with the track for both Hyperfests at Summit Point, and we couldn't ask for nicer people than SPR's Don Barrack and Maria Orsini with whom to work. Big thanks to Don Barrack for being another sounding board for all of my husband Chris' ideas because sometimes it is nice for my husband and I to talk about something other than NASA!</TD></TR></TABLE>


Speaking on behalf of myself as a pit/grid worker and backup instructor, I can honestly say I had a blast despite the heat and can't wait to do it again. It's great for the future of the sport and a whole lotta fun for everyone involved.

As for the Don Barrack/Chris Cobetto partnership, well, here is one of those "side benefits"...



LOL,

Jon

 

I had fun. I brought a chic in a 02 vette for the first time and now she's hooked! Now the next time I'll have another chic in a TSX there!

Thanks,
Victor

 

While we're posting pics of Cobetto...

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by getfast &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote"></TD></TR></TABLE>

I want to know why Don has his hands in his pockets playing pool, and chris is doing what every red blooded MAN would do.