On our Feburary 2002 VIR full course date we are considering a 2 1/2 hour enduro for all NASA-VA supported classes.

Comments?

Grumpy

 

Good idea!

I do most all of the EMRA sprint events, and at many of the events they also have a well attended enduro race schedule (1 hour, 2 hour, and 4 hour races). The enduros look fun; and hopefully next year I will be driving in a few...

Guess you can count me in!

Todd
ST-1/PS-4

 

We are thinking a "modified" LeMans type start - no driver change requirements - no minimum number of pits stops - no minimum time in the pits at a stop.

Comments?

Grumpy

 

It will be the only "race car" thing for the weekend. We plan to run Novice, Intermediate, Advanced and Instructor, and Race License School FOUR SESSIONS EACH on Saturday and THREE SESSIONS EACH on Sunday (Mandatory quiet hour).

SO the school people will get MORE time than usual.

We had not originally planned any activity for the racers at all.

Grumpy

 

I think it is a great idea for those drivers you have only experienced short sprint races.

 

Um, NO! Warren, wanna co-driver?

 

Haha, sure, nominate my car

Warren

 

Its preped, mine isn't

 

I think this whole thing is a great idea for more than one reason. First of all, it's a great opportunity for those who just got their provisional liscenses. They get a chance to race wheel-to-wheel without the urgency of a sprint race, which is much safer. I think you will also attract a lot more people for the entire event if there is some racing involved, especially since it's full course. As for no pit stop rules, I also agree that is the best approach. Give cars with small fuel tanks and good gas mileage the advantage they deserve, since they are slower. Also, if a driver is willing to deal with the fatigue factor, they deserve to get out of the pits sooner. I have a feeling that the students won't exactly be sitting there idle. Somebody has to help with the re-fueling while the drivers are swapping the seat!

Matt

 

Refueler will be required to wear nomex and helmet. Fire man will be required to wear nomex and helmet. 5 crew allowd over the wall not including driver(s) and fireman. Driver must exit car before fueling can start. Get back in after refueling.

Grumpy

 

Well, I for one am more than willing to help any other Honda-Tech enduro team during a pit stop - when I'm not out driving of course. If we all do that, we will all be in great shape!

Matt

 

please explain further?
and how are pit stops set-up?


[Modified by urbanlegend21, 2:27 PM 12/11/2001]

 

One person refuels, another person stands there with a fire extinguisher during the entire refueling process. Both the refueler and the fire man (which could be both drivers) must be wearing nomex as Grumpy said.

Matt

 

i am new to nomex, does that mean a full suit?
are there designated pit stalls for each driver?

 

Oh, I'm sorry Morgan, I was assuming too much. Yes, this means that the fueler and the fire man are in full racing suits and helmets.

Nomex is the fire resistant layer in the suit.

Matt

 

ok cool, that was the answer I was looking for, thanks Matt
I am really interested into getting into all aspects of racing and think that this is a great way to get close without being in the car.... i helped run control at VIR with Lee last weekend and got really into it and learned alot

I am not the person with the funds for a nomex suit to do this type of thing 1 or 2 times, will people generally let you borrow one?

how do you know when your driver is entering the pits?

 

It depends, most drivers/crew will need them for obvious reasons. You need to find somebody who isn't doing the enduro, but has a suit... There are usually quite a few HPDE drivers with suits.

If you don't have radios, I think the best approach is the pit putting up a sign for the driver to pit in on the next lap. The drivers just have to know to look for their sign to come in. A mechanical problem is another story. Since the horn in my car works, I'll probably work out some sort of a signal by beeping to them to let them know I'm coming in the next time around.

As for pits, we will have to see how many people enter the race. If the number is low enough, I'm sure everybody will just get an assigned pit space. If there are too many, teams will have to share a pit space and try to time it out so that they don't both pit together (which happened to me at the EMRA one hour enduro at Watkins Glen).

Matt

 

I am intending upon helping Corey or Waren out if they enter into the Enduro because I will probably be helping them in the ECHC also.

 

The only problem with pit boards is if there is something more complex that must be told to the driver or the crew. Like, "hey driver, we heard on the scanner that you are showing some smoke in left hand turns according to the cornerworkers" or "hey crew, I have cracked the left front rotor so get ready to change it next time I come in".

Also, it could be distracting to expect your driver to *always* look to the pit wall every time by. What if he was about to make a pass for position, on the front straight, and missed his signal to come in, and ran out of gas on the back straight? Just hypothetically of course, but you see my point...

A super cheap alternative is CB radios for driver/pit communications. The guys Warren and I have crewed for in enduros use 'em, and it works decently. They probably have $100 in their whole setup.

I don't know how CB communications could travel at VIR (presumably not to the other end of the track of course), but I'm sure it would work from rollercoaster all the way around to the bridge. Certainly enough time to say what needs to be said, and certainly a much cheaper alternative to real racing radios.

Jon