2011 Green Grand Prix: Fri., April 15 (Watkins Glen, NY)

[Wonderboy]

Also, as much as a track day sounds like fun, I'd prefer to see an event on public roads where competitors have to behave "normally" (avg. speed) and take into account regular traffic.

Yeah, agreed. I don't think doing roundy-rounds SLOWLY would be much fun at all. I feel like we should just go to that gas station on saturday, do the same run we always do and see what we get! I want to see how the crxfi fares against the flea!

[brucepick]

Originally Posted by Wonderboy

Yeah, agreed. I don't think doing roundy-rounds SLOWLY would be much fun at all. I feel like we should just go to that gas station on saturday, do the same run we always do and see what we get! I want to see how the crxfi fares against the flea!

I'm looking forward to running the HX against the Wonder-EX again. I hope you can be at GGP.

imho the track competition should be a good test of fuel economy. True, it lacks the random interference you'd get on public roads - but those would be inconsistent from car to car. You can make a pretty good case for the consistent "interference" of track turns and grades, and whatever else. And the track will still have some random interferences - like wanting to pass or slow down, but being limited by another car on the 2.45 mile loop.

[tasdrouille]

Originally Posted by MetroMPG

Mike, that bites. I figure you'd probably do well in this format.

I'm considering going, but not competing.

Martin - you going? Carpool?

Honestly, I find April too early in the year, and doing it on a weekday is likely inconvenient for many.

Also, as much as a track day sounds like fun, I'd prefer to see an event on public roads where competitors have to behave "normally" (avg. speed) and take into account regular traffic.

I might be going, although it would be very inconvenient for me and my family given the timing and how early it is in the season. Carpooling would be a little complicated. I would leave Montreal at roughly 15h30 Thursday after work. So that would make it 21h30-22h00 at Watkins Glen. And I also plan on sleeping in my car.

If you have have a good sleeping bag, a beanie, and don't mind a bit of cold you'd be free to join me. There would be room for two in the Kia with legs slightly folded (5'4" from seats back to trunk).

I would have preferred a little later in the season. I'm sure it would have been a whole lot of fun to camp at the Glen's campgrounds with everyone on a Friday night.

This will be a serious TSD rally though. Fuel economy appears to be second to being on time. Bill has made it clear the average speed will have to be between 49 and 55 mph.

I still need to convince my wife to let me go though.

[MetroMPG]

Martin, if you get Papal Dispensation to attend, I'd be happy to carpool with you.

But I'd rather sleep in a bed than a Kia.

Anyone else want to share a motel on the Thursday night?

Anyone want/need a navigator? I'm available.

PS - agreed (the focus is TSD over MPG).

[NeilBlanchard]

I just realized the thread title says Friday April 11th? The 11th is the Monday before the 15th, which is the Friday mentioned in the first post...

I'm still unsure if I can come out -- I'd like to, but the overnight makes it a little more difficult (and more expensive). If I do go, I'll bring my CarBEN EV quarter scale model.

[RobertSmalls]

Originally Posted by MetroMPG

Martin, if you get Papal Dispensation to attend, I'd be happy to carpool with you.

But I'd rather sleep in a bed than a Kia.

Anyone else want to share a motel on the Thursday night?

Anyone want/need a navigator? I'm available.

PS - agreed (the focus is TSD over MPG).

Yes to both. The navigator I brought last year is getting married that weekend, so it looks like I'm going to miss the expo, and he's going to miss the whole thing.

[brucepick]

Originally Posted by tasdrouille

... This will be a serious TSD rally though. Fuel economy appears to be second to being on time. Bill has made it clear the average speed will have to be between 49 and 55 mph...

[EDIT of my prior post in this space]
I understand Bob is working on the speed rules and scoring methodology. Not yet ready for "publication" though.

He's expecting at least 35 vehicles, and will cut it off at 50 if it goes that high.

[MetroMPG]

Originally Posted by RobertSmalls

Yes to both. The navigator I brought last year is getting married that weekend, so it looks like I'm going to miss the expo, and he's going to miss the whole thing.

Crud. Sorry for the delayed response, but something has come up here - nothing serious, but I'm going to miss this year's GGP.

I'm hoping for an AMEC or other event a bit later this summer. Montreal again possibly? Anyone else up for that? (Maybe a bit premature - I'll start a thread once the GGP dust has settled.)

[phord]

I'm going but as spectator because my current cars are relatively not fuel efficient (2000 3.8 winstar 22 mpg ave 1990 crown Vic 25 mpg ave.

[Wonderboy]

Ahh look out! They're dropping like flies! It looks like the whole being on friday thing is going to count me out as well. Heading to the west coast the following week and there's some crucial stuff I need to finish at work and must be there for on friday. However, I hereby challenge anyone here to that same run we'd normally do, on saturday. I hope to get the crxfi actually drivable without being nervous by then. I also have a 3.52 swift trans that I don't think I'll be using after all (the XFi trans is weak enough as it is!) that I'll sell for $200. Got a few random parts available actually from 4th gen civic /2nd gen crx, and 5th gen tercel.

I'd love to go to Montreal again and make more time out of it! What a blast!