April 17, 2015 Watkins Glen Green Grand Prix

[cowmeat]

Planned Mods: Front wheel skirts, grill block, wiper deflector, kamm back, boat tail.

Won't you have to pull off all the sweet aero mods before you enter as stock?

The reason I didn't enter this year is that I bought mine with the solar charger glued to the hood, so I figured I wouldn't be able to run in the stock category. And it just didn't seem right to run it as modified before I had a chance to install my 3-button shifter from Daox with the big green Ecomodder logo on it. . . .

Next year I'm all in, though! By then Ron Burgundy will be aero-modded and tweaked for the race, with a full grid charge the day before.

I plan on using my IMA battery heavily during the early part of the race (mostly around the first curve and up that first hill) with higher gears, and whatever slowing at the sharp curves will be done with the regen button, until I start getting a forced charge. Then off it goes (courtesy of the clutch button) until the race ends.
Once the battery is depleted and turned off (hopefully no less than 20 laps in), I also plan on having the motor running for very little of the race (courtesy of the kill switch), mostly just to bury it down that first hill past the start line until I'm over the hill, then off it goes, and the coasting begins.

That's the plan anyway, judging from the schematic of the track and the max 60 mph rule

Sorry I'll miss it this year!

[UltArc]

Originally Posted by brucepick

UltArc, if you're shooting for >50mpg, does that mean you'll be driving the Mustang? My guess is that either Insight would easily break 50 mpg with one wheel tied behind the rear bumper.

Well, the one my roommate flipped over that is disabled and missing parts, that one may have some trouble...lol. Although, technically, it gets infinite MPG, since it only moves with a tow truck in front, or me behind.

But yes, the Mustang...lol.

I responded to your PM, but I will be most focused on the MPG. And the road rally conditions WILL be worse this year, so although I am more rugged, there will be caution. But if anyone missed the sound of my engine last year, it will be heard this year. No FE on the rally, so, there will be lots of gas used!

[brucepick]

Worse road conditions?
If you're talking potholes, you're probably right about that. Rough winter in the Northeast.

My recollection of last year was, it rained for about the first half of the road rally. I didn't have the gonads to drive at the stated speeds. Hopefully drier weather this year. I checked the forecast earlier today, it looked good. But a lot can change in nine days.

[Drgreenthumb]

Your Competition does indeed lurk these forums. Made me laugh when I read this post. Look forward to the race.

Originally Posted by sheepdog 44

Any Ecomodders here interested in being my Navigator? Duties include being ballast around a track, reward is dinner at the Glen lodge reward ceremony.

I've turned on my tired Traction battery because i was having issues charging the 12 volt. On the weekend it's getting some long overdue maintenance done. Hopefully i don't need to use the battery at all or a force Regen will kill me on the track. I've decided to enter it as stock so i compete in the same category as the only other 2000 MT Insight. BTW my car is automatic CVT. I could have entered is as modified and basically been given a free win, but i felt that was not in the spirit of competition and distasteful. So on the 17'th it will be a battle of the Automatic vs Manual Insight. we will see...

I believe my competition lurks this forum...

[UltArc]

PMing you, Bruce.

[sheepdog 44]

Anyone interested in splitting a room with me, i'll pay my share of the room? It looks like i'll be driving in alone (no navigator as of yet) and most motel rooms cost the same for 1 or 2 beds. I also have an air mattress i could bring to sleep on.

[UltArc]

PM me and crazy Jerry...but I want a bed!

[changzuki]

Count'em - 36 hours until the 11th Annual Green Grand Prix!
I hope the competitors are ready for the influx of ecomodders. I cannot tell you how exhausted I am from getting Centurion ready - but - she's ready - and firing nice and hot on all three!

Drive safe folks and try to get some shuteye since tomorrow night may be full of pre-event anxiety!

Let's go!

~CrazyJerry

[brucepick]

Definitely I'll have pre-event anxiety tomorrow.
I believe I have a bit of that already.

Travel safe, everyone.

[UltArc]

Just got three hours of shut eye at a truck stop...another four hours of driving back to Ohio, and then oil change, then back on the road...going to be an early night guys - sheep, bring your air mattress