Watkins Glen, NY, "Green Grand Prix" Sat May 2, 2009; fuel economy competition & show

[Christ]

Thanks for the redirect SVO -

I think I'd like to show up, but will we be meeting somewhere "outside the gates" at a specific time for a group rate or something? Or will it be a "I'm with them" sort of thing?

I'm not really able to join the competitions, but I"d love to go see the exhibits, and it might be a good stress reliever for my wife, and a kick in the pants for my dad to start thinking a little more green in an attempt to save some green. (I find quite often that the two go hand in hand.)

[SVOboy]

We can probably say "I'm with them."

I haven't worked out the deal yet with darin about what hotel and junk we'll be staying in, but we should be able to contact the organizer and tell him who is part of the EcoModder posse.

[Christ]

Sweetness. I'm going to look further into it tomorrow and the next day, to make sure it's something that everyone can enjoy, but it's a preliminary "yes" for myself.

[MetroMPG]

More info on the competition from the organizers, FYI:

Categories of Competition

(award presented for winner in each class)

1. 26 mpg and under

2. 27-32 mpg.

3. 33- 38 mpg

4. 39-44 mpg.

5. 45 -50 mpg

6. 2 wheeled vehicles

7 3 wheeled vehicles

8. Trucks

9. Vans

10. Other (includes vehicles that are now out of production such as Geo Metro and original Honda insight)


We will add a “modified” category for each of the first five categories. You must have a vehicle that is licensed and registered for road use. Lights, horn, spare tire. If you will not have a passenger, you will have to carry ballast of 120 lbs.
All vehicles will top off tanks before the event and after the event. We have monitors at the gas station..Entry fee will depend on how many “modifieds” you have.

The CATEGORIES of competition are based on EPA combined Highway/ City ratings.
So lets say you have a Toyota Camry Hybrid that the EPA says should get 34 mpg highway and you put a station wagon tail on it. You would be placed in the modified category for xlass 3 : cars who's normal rating is 33- 38 mpgs.
Of all modified cars in that class, whoever get the best gas mileage in our 80 mile trip around the lake wins.
This will be timed . You must average no more than 10% slower than the posted speed limit or you will be penalised.

Ironically, since the results are based on a short fill, the odds of a fill error affecting the results increase for the most efficient vehicles.

[Wonderboy]

So should those interested hold off on registering until the day of, or just put ecomodder.com in the "business" field? I don't want to miss out on signing up.

[McTimson]

This is so tempting... if it weren't a week before finals, I would definitely do it.

I'm debating whether or not to go, I'll have to see what my workload is going to look like that weekend.

[Wonderboy]

I found an elevation mapping overlay for google maps. The most direct route around the lake is via larger main roads with an exception for the road between Willard and roughly Caywood. Here the main road diverts through Ovid and Lodi (One of the bigger finger lakes wineries, Lamoreaux Landing falls in this leg of the route, FYI). The main roads here are obviously graded more gently and gradually. I have no idea what the official route will be, but I suspect it will be one of these:

The more direct route

The main road route

I arbitrarily made the map start northward from the starting point, but whether this will be the case is anyone's guess. In this case just read the graph backwards . I personally hope for north given all the long gentle downward inclines a clockwise trip would yield, as I'd much rather climb short steep hills than long inclines.

[Wonderboy]

Bumped for my question in post 15

So should those interested hold off on registering until the day of, or just put ecomodder.com in the "business" field? I don't want to miss out on signing up.

[blownb310]

This sounds great. I'm in for next Saturday as part of "Team Ecomodder"

Weather permitting, I'll be driving my Datsun B210.



I'm just going to print off the entry form and bring it with me to registration in the am. I'm in for whatever discount Team Ecomodder can come up with.

Mike Kamm

[SVOboy]

Sweet! Glad to see you there.

I believe the guy told us just to show up and we'll pay the registration when we get there individually.

Only $25 a pop if I remember correctly, so that's quite a good bit of savings.

Hope to see you all there! Ecomodder, taking on the world.