2018 Green Grand Prix - Watkins Glen - Friday Apr. 13

[Goofy1]

We're packing the car in anticipation of leaving home Tuesday morning for a trip up thru Canada as the Smart one of the team has never been. We should be in The Glen on Thursday with time to prep.

Sadly, the weather here has been so miserable that I've not gotten many of the new mods completed. But I don't like leaving on a 1600 mile adventure with unproven mods so maybe it's a good thing in disguise.

Look forward to meeting all that will be at the event.

Garth
"Goofy1"

[brucepick]

Originally Posted by svt98t

I cannot make it this year.
My boss just told me that I have to go to Pittsburgh for work and I cannot get out of it.
I am sorry. I was so ready for a repeat this year!
Go get some hardware, boys!

-ryan s.

I'm sorry to see this, Ryan. You will be missed.
Maybe next year...

[brucepick]

Originally Posted by Goofy1

We're packing the car in anticipation of leaving home Tuesday morning for a trip up thru Canada as the Smart one of the team has never been. We should be in The Glen on Thursday with time to prep.

Sadly, the weather here has been so miserable that I've not gotten many of the new mods completed. But I don't like leaving on a 1600 mile adventure with unproven mods so maybe it's a good thing in disguise.

Look forward to meeting all that will be at the event.

Garth
"Goofy1"

Not many mods done?
Some mods done?
Will you be entering as modified?

Remember, if it's modded, you can up your tire pressure to 50 psi in this competition. I believe there's no specific definition of what constitutes modified. I'd say, if you've done anything to it that's meant to improve mpg or performance, it's not stock any longer. And if modifications are easily visible, I think it certainly has to be entered as modified.

I have no way of guessing whether you'll face more competition within 4-cyl gasoline, choosing between stock or modded.

[Goofy1]

It has a K&N air filter and a couple of other mods that will for sure put it in the MOD category. And I'm OK with that.

I've got wheel fences, a diffuser and skirts in the works but unproven so far. Things to work on for next year!

Look forward to meeting the EcoModder gang there!

[Xist]

Do you have pictures?

[Vman455]

Well, I think I'm as done as I'm going to be with the car--the tail is on, the solar panel is connected, smooth closeout panel underneath, but no gap fillers.

Per Bob's last email, my official class is Mod. 4 hybrid, which probably puts this car in a class by itself. We'll see if I can beat last year's best Gen 3 Prius showing of 52.0mpg.

[brucepick]

Friday weather forecast:
Morning showers, then overcast later in the day, with a high of 73°.

At least they're not forecasting snow like we had at last year's White Grand Prix!

Prep well, friends, and travel safely.

[jcp123]

Looking at the rules and results, I think I'd fare decently well. I look forward to participating when I'm living in the area.

[brucepick]

We EcoModders had a very good day at the track yesterday at the 2018 Green Grand Prix.

I took first in class (modified three cylinder hybrid) at 88.3 mpg.
Garth Vinson took first in class (modded 4-cyl gas) in his Mini Cooper at 62.x mpg.
Jonathan Young (Jon) won first in class (modded 4-cyl hybrid) at 62.x mpg.
The numbers I posted for the two other EcoModders are approximate, guys please post here or contact me and I'll post the exact results.

Truth be told, I believe each of us is in a class by ourselves, literally. We won't see the full list of competing cars until later this month, but I'm pretty sure each of our cars had no competition in the same class. We brought three unique cars to the event and so "added value" to the event. That's my story and I'm sticking to it.

Garth's Mini had an air dam but if I recall correctly, it was sacrificed to a pothole in Detroit en route to the GGP. I think his biggest mod present was a K&N Vortex filter. But it has a six speed stick, and I think Garth pulse-and-glided it for all it was worth.

Jon built a fiberglass boat tail for the Prius. Earlier the car had coroplast underbody panels but I think they were sacrificed to snow. A boat tail Prius is a rare beast, even at the GGP. A boat tail anything is a rare beast.

My Gen 1 Insight is a gradually progressing mod project. It's most recent mod is the coroplast belly pan, completed this past Thursday morning prior to driving six hours to the event.

Garth came up from Kentucky, via Detroit and a tour through Canada. Jon lives in Illinois. Road warriors all.

[Xist]

A Prius boat tail?! I will believe it when I see it!