A.M.E.C. Fall Economy Run IV November 1, 2009

[PaleMelanesian]

I'd be there if this was less than 1,200 miles away. Sounds like fun!

[Wonderboy]

So if it was 1,199 miles you'd come, right? I challenge you to an MPG battle on hilly terrain. You and me, toe to toe. Green Grand Prix next year? That's a little closer to Texas

Edit: Maybe you could fly up, then take turns with my car. I was down in central flat flat Jersey the other week and found it easy to crank out the numbers you're getting with miles upon miles of P&G super flat roads. I'd like to see what you can do on some hills

[PaleMelanesian]

That's exactly what I'm talking about! And I would definitely be watching you as my competition.

(as if Watkins Glen is any better than Fonda! )

[Wonderboy]

Heh, belieeeeve me. Watkins Glen has far more to offer than Fonda. The Adirondacks are very beautiful, but Fonda is not at the heart of the 'Dacks. Watkins Glen is right next to the largest of the Finger lakes - Gorgeous. The Glen is WAY closer to Texas than Fonda - stop making excuses!

[PaleMelanesian]

Heh. You're right. It's only 22 hours to get there, while Fonda is a whopping 24 hours! (according to G maps)

I bet the scenery is nice this time of year. In Texas fall means brown leaves and nothing else.

[pgfpro]

I'm trying to find someone to drive my Honda over there and enter it. It would be a 5000 mile round trip though and cost about $200.00 in fuel.

Plus another $1000.00 in hotel and food.

[blownb310]

Originally Posted by tasdrouille

Cooler air is denser so there's a bit more aero drag. Wheel bearings and tires take more time to get to operating temps too. But on the plus side we might be able to block more grille area. I think we'll still be able to pull nice numbers.

Thanks Martin, that's encouraging. Sounds like areo tweaks in the cooler temps will be even more helpful than in the summer.

[blownb310]

Originally Posted by tasdrouille

When a car looks like it can't take any more fuel, may I suggest that it be vigorously rocked up and down and from side to side to eliminate any air bubbles. Last time around I rocked my car a bit till I could not fill any more, but I could still only get 0.85 gallon in. So I put the cap back on and then I really rocked it hard, I was able to get an other 0.3 gallon in.

Great suggestion. Along these lines, I had some other feedback on a Nissan related forum. The poster's comments to refilling were these:

"Filling to the rim still wont help if the fuel opening is on the low side of the car. Air will collect on the other side and it has no where to get out. You can fill it to the rim with no air if the fuel side is the higher side."

Do you think we should have some sort of ramp to drive up on during filling, just under the two tires of the side of the car's fuel filler? I'm thinking along the lines of a wooden plank. Comments are welcome.

[blownb310]

As an interesting side note, A.M.E.C. is having a high speed autocross the following weekend [Nov.7th] on the pavement of the 4/10ths mile Albany Saratoga Speedway oval. I have put forth a challenge to anyone who enters both events to earn points for an overall champion award. Not that I would expect to see anyone here want to run in the autocross, but I am quite excited to have such a challenge to offer. It balances the best of overall driver talent, with the mix of your car's efficiency and performance potential. We're calling the biathalon event "Sipping Gas, then Hauling A**".

I've always enjoyed the great mix of performance and economy that my 2.0 liter Sentra SE-R has always given me. It is interesting to note that this new overall challenge trophy has been noticed by Chang, [an SCCA national autocross champion and overall high mpg man in Economy Run III]. I know his HF can't beat my SE-R on the track, but he's got a garage full of Hondas. Maybe he will show up with an Integra Type R or a Civic Si.

[tasdrouille]

Originally Posted by blownb310

Great suggestion. Along these lines, I had some other feedback on a Nissan related forum. The poster's comments to refilling were these:

"Filling to the rim still wont help if the fuel opening is on the low side of the car. Air will collect on the other side and it has no where to get out. You can fill it to the rim with no air if the fuel side is the higher side."

Do you think we should have some sort of ramp to drive up on during filling, just under the two tires of the side of the car's fuel filler? I'm thinking along the lines of a wooden plank. Comments are welcome.

I'd only lift the corner where the filler neck is in relation to the rest of the tank as the tank might have a low side front to back as well. Surely someone has a rhinoramp or something like that they can bring. That or a jack, getting it up 6 inches should probably be enough.