Friday, May 6, 2011

Drivers' notes for Reno

As you should know by now this upcoming race will be different then any other we have done. It is a true 24-hour test of the team. The standard format of driver lineups, sleeping arrangements, pit crew, and food will be altered some to cope with the altered schedule.

To begin with, below is the Friday schedule.
Friday Schedule
• 7:00am Leave Dublin Base Camp
• Noon: HOD classroom instruction/ Lemons Tech and BS inspection
1:00- 2:00pm: On- and off-track HOD instruction Part 1
• 2:00- 3:30pm: Open testing (2 Drivers test)
• 3:15- 3:50pm: On- and off-track HOD instruction Part 2
• 3:50-5:30pm: Open testing (2 Drivers test)
5:15- 5:50pm: On- and off-track HOD instruction Part 3
• 5:50- 7:30pm: Open testing (2 Drivers test)
• 7:00ish Dinner
7:15- 7:50pm: On- and off-track HOD instruction Part 4
• 8:00- 9:00pm: Open testing (nighttime - 6 Drivers test)
• 9:00- Beer time and then off to the Comfort Inn in Fernley.

For the night test, Lugnut has a great ideal to do some night driving and driver exchange testing. The goal will be to get all drivers a chance to get into the car to see the track at night. Each driver will get a few laps, then come into the hot pits where we will practice driver exchanges unit we get through all the drivers and/or time expires.

Some members of the team have run at this tack before. As a reference here is the track layout. The red indicates how track was laid out the last time lemons was at the track, but there is no guaranty they will do it again that way.

Also, we do have video of the track. Here is You Tube video of Lugnut running it in 2009.

As for the race, driving order will need to be determined. Here is a Gantt chart of the various drivers’ stint if it goes to plan.

If you have a preference of a driving slot let me know, else I’ll fit everyone in. To communicate this at the track I plan on using the covered car carrier as our race operations. It will have a table, chairs, whiteboard and will be lit. I will post a white board in there that we can track future driver times and other notes. So, anytime you have a driver slot questions the board could be consulted and notes reviewed.

As for sleeping on Saturday-Sunday I will have an RV on site. It will have four beds and two more if needed. So, bring what linens, sleeping bag, stuffed animal, and pillows you need to catch some ZZZ when you can. From my count we will have 8 people that will stay the night at the track. So will be hot bunking. Once we get into the night operation, all noisy operations could be taken outside or into the cover car trailer.

Then night operations will be fun. It is important that we have enough people up to address any car issues in the pit or any penalty issues at anytime. The best ideal for staffing the pits I have heard was to plan for a minimum of four people at all times. Here is an order list to be on call:
· Driver in the car
· Next Driver Dressed
· The second driver following the current stint
· Support Crew

That’s it for now. Please let me know if you have any questions or think of something that need to be added.
Muddy

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