2020 Green Grand Prix at Watkins Glen, NY
 

I got an email from Bob Gillespie back in September with a "Save the Date!" message, but now that's it's posted on their website I think it's official: The 2020 Green Grand Prix will take place Friday April 3, 2020 on the Watkins Glen International Raceway track.

This is a fun event with a mix of cars and drivers, from eco-nuts in plug-ins and hybrids to kids in clapped-out Civics and RX-7s. The weather could be anything; last year it was 32 degrees F and snowing, the year before it was 60 degrees and dry.

I'll be representing Parkland College Engineering again this year, and this year I'm planning on staying for the afternoon autocross. Who else is in?

Come to beautiful NY state and dress warm. The track is on the hilltop and the event opens the racing season first week of April. I have been a volunteer for the event for three years and recommend it highly.

The registration form for the 2020 Green Grand Prix is now up on their web site!
Green Grand Prix - Registration Form

Please don’t delay in signing up; last year the available spots all were taken and the GGP closed registration when it was full.

Please be sure to put “Team Ecomodder” as the “School or Business Name”. That is where we identify outselves to Bob Gillespie and the Green Grand Prix as a team.

The entry fee has always stayed at $100 for us, as we are neither a school nor a business. I understand that student Ecomodders have had no entry fee in past years.

Just registered.
Car will be all set to go. No EcoBoost swap yet, sorry. Had to throw another 4.6L in for now.
I need to make sure my fleet is set before I undertake that project, lol.


-ryan s.

I won’t be up there yet but we are more or less set to move up to Rochester sometime this year. Maybe next year you’ll see my little Civic there. Never thought my first trip to the Glen would lack a chasing of lap times :D

You'll still be chasing lap times, just a very specific one! I actually think that's harder--I only had 2 perfect laps last year (out of 33).

Rochester, NY is known as the Flower City when the lilacs bloom. Expect some lake effect snow. Other than draconian gun laws and the city public schools, Monroe county is a decent place to live. I hope to volunteer again this year.

I received my confirmation email from Bob.

As it stands, there's no longer a V-8 class. :(

I'll now get lumped in with the modified V-6, which means I don't have a shot at the class win, but I'm definitely shooting for those mint lap times.

And smoke some tires in AutoX, lol.

-ryan s.

Flower City/Flour City, from its history as a milltown. I lived there for two years; the lilacs in Highland Park are quite beautiful!

https://ecomodder.com/forum/member-v...12-2006021.jpg

Rochester is...a place to live. I’m not that excited about it, but having the Glen nearby is kinda nice. I’d like to chase fastest lap times, and the Green lap times, both. A 90s Civic is one of the rare cars which can legit be used to do either one.

Being a born and raised Californian, though...I’d rather have canyon roads.

Once you get south of the lake plain there are some twisty, hilly roads. The original Watkins Glen race was on public roads.

Less than 2 months to go!!
I can't wait.


-ryan s.

I'm seriously considering coming to this. Can anyone give me a rundown on all of the events and what to expect? I find the website to be a little light on information for something I may put money down for. ;)

The main events are the rally on the track, 10am-12pm, and autocross in the paddock in the afternoon. Box lunches are provided in the media center, and they have talks going on there in the morning for anyone not on track. Dinner and awards after the autocross at the Glen Center, which is pretty nice meal. If I remember right we get out of there around 7pm, and I think I arrived last year a little after 8.

Welp, took off work for the event, and sent out an email 3 days ago inquiring before putting in my registration. Robert Gillespie just got back to me to tell me that registration filled up today and to try again next year. :(

It's still a fun event even if you're not competing. Unless it's snowing!

I'm sure, but it's a 7 hour drive and one of very few PTO days I get each year. I don't think I can justify it.

That's disappointing; your car would be a blast to autocross and I'm genuinely curious what fuel economy it would return in the rally (brucepick's stock Insight got 61 mpg in the sleet last year, if I remember correctly, and 80+ mpg the year before).

I find that if I take it easy (35-40mph) and start with a fully warm car, I can creep up to 60-65mpg without any driving tricks, with winter tires @ 45psi and outside temperature 15-30F.

I managed a 65mpg tank doing partial P&G through the mountains in late spring without the use of 6th gear, and a target speed (if I recall) of around 60mph.

It's during cold starts that this engine is a real pig. Man does it suck some gas while it's warming up. :(

Ok, here we are, about 3 weeks out!!

Ready?


-ryan s.

Not yet! I need to install my "zero shot" nitrous input engine kill switch, get my cruise control working again, reinstall my camera side mirrors, and if there's time, add some missing underbody panels back on.

Is it possible to come out and just hangout?
Is it a fee for tickets just to watch?
Will Ecomodder.com T-Shirts and stickers be up for sale!?
"kids in clapped-out Civics" - I'm 28 does that count?
Anyone need a Co-Driver or Event Volunteer?

Id like to ride along and hangout this year and register for the next year possibly...
It really sounds like a great time but its a good 350 miles one-way drive for me so unless I can do something helpful Ill have to pass.

Yes, you can come just to hang out. No charge! I'd contact Bob Gillespie directly about volunteering.

I don't have a navigator/timer as yet; you're welcome to ride along with me.

Great! Ill see you dudes next month!

Awesome. See you there!

I'll be offering drives of the K-Sight to Ecomodder members, I think.

This was just posted on Facebook.

Green Grand Prix Corporation
Due to Corona Virus concerns, the Toyota Green Grand Prix is in the process of being rescheduled. Everyone please follow the guidelines and stay safe.

Really unfortunate, seems all fun has been canceled.

Just checked the Facebook event site. The new date is Monday June 22 from 6 am to 6 pm.

Maybe it won't snow! :D

Thank you for the updates, I don't use facebook. I guess we can use even less energy in June :D

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If they can have it in June... Why can’t they have it June every year ? :confused:

April sucks. Cold wet weather, salt still on the roads and very little (no) spectators.

Summer is when it should be held.


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I think there are two reasons why it's in April. I wish it was always in June too!

1. Track availability - It's usually the day before the track opens for the season.

2. Schools are involved, so it works better to have it during the school year.

Just browsing the site, apparently they let you drive 2 laps in a personal vehicle behind a pace car for only $30 :turtle:

Drive The Glen - Watkins Glen International

I've done that a couple of times. It's a lot of fun. It used to be 3 laps for $25. Looking at the site, I think it's still 3 laps, they just stop after lap 2 for pictures. Speeds will exceed 55 MPH. I was up to 80 on the front straight one time. But it's the turns that are really fun. Slow down a bit on the straights, and you get to hit the turns a bit harder! :D

Hello all!! We ran the 2018 with our MINI Cooper and had a ball! Wasn't able to make it last year but now that the event is changed to late Jun I wonder if any slots have opened up? I'll contact them tomorrow to see!

Good luck to any and all that compete!

Update:
It's been bumped to OCTOBER 22


-ryan s.

I assume it'll snow that day. :D

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https://i.postimg.cc/mk6S9kgN/17027-...0-F0-D2732.gif

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:)

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It's like Halloween is hit or miss every year.
Sometimes it snows.
Sometimes it's 60* and perfect.
Sometimes it hurricanes.
Sometimes its 60* with 60 mph winds.

You never know, lol.

But, cold dense air....


-ryan s.