Bad descision?

[bpanther]

Did I make a bad descision to do the three 30,30,35 minute sessons?

I was informed by a member that they were very disappointed there were only 3 sessions.

Should I scramble and go back to the four 20 minute sessions?

[95sprtcpedrvr]

Personally, I think the 3 sessions will work out being that the sessions will be longer and an extra 5 minutes in the last session. All in all the time spent on track in comparison to a 4 session day, the 3 session day offers more actual on track time than the 4. Being that you'll also save one out laps worth of time which might seem small but in racing/track days time every .01 of a second is alot.
Keep the 3 session day!

(I edited my original posting)

[ker]

keep it as is.

the typical day is 4 - 20 minute sessions = 80 minutes.

the three sessions on the 27th are: 30 minutes, 30 minutes, and 35 minutes.

if my abacus is correct that is = 95 minutes.
which is 15 minutes more than a typical 4 session day.

[bobcowan]

I agree, keep it as is. It's too late to be re-wrking the schedule.

This will be differant. That could be bad, or it could be good. We won't know until we try. On the 28th you can decide how it worked out.

[fhudsonjr]

Yep, keep it as is.

[UnsafeAtAnySpd]

As long as it's not 100some degrees out, this way should be great. :D

[RagingAardvark]

keep it. I would've preferred 3 longer sessions when I was doing HPDE :)

[gordon0412]

I like the math so stay with it. BTW Kevin your email to 3/4 participants was unreadable by my email. It acted very much like a virus was attached. What did it say?

[UnsafeAtAnySpd]

There was a separate 3/4 email?

[ker]

I like the math so stay with it. BTW Kevin your email to 3/4 participants was unreadable by my email. It acted very much like a virus was attached. What did it say?

for you it's - been there, done that :D

here it is:

This next weekend is HPR, welcome :)

The Group 3 leaders are Brian Cox and Mark Bradley and our Group 4 leader is David Dirks, they will be your primary points of contact for any questions you may have.

The following is some information we would like to pass on to you to make things a bit easier and help you have some safe fun (I know most of you are experienced hands at this, but we have some "new to NASA" folks this weekend).

-- Please have your car 'tech'd' prior to arrival (this will save you anxiety and possible frustration should something fail tech). Don't forget to bring your tech sheet (and plenty of water). If you have your car tech'd at the track it'll cost you $20 (unless you live more than 60 miles from the nearest tech site). Below are links to the tech form and the free tech sites:

http://www.nasaproracing.com/images/rules-forms/form_hpde_tech.pdf

http://www.nasarockymountain.com/techshops.pdf

-- The driver's meeting starts promptly at 7:45am on Sunday (being late may cost you track time). This is when you will find out more about how the day will work (although most of you are "seasoned" NASA participants and know the "deal").

-- Arrive early enough to park and unload all loose objects from your car (sometimes this takes longer than you think when you start talking with others, don't forget those floor mats too).

-- Although the temperatures may be cool, relative to summer months, don't forget to bring plenty of water to stay hydrated.

-- Most importantly, come to have some safe fun.

-- I have also attached our basic primer, there are a few 'new to NASA' folks and this will give you a good review of our flag use and other items.

We hope you enjoy yourself, learn something new, and increase your driving skills and do it all safely.

Please fell free to ask questions and we will do our best to answer them.

Kevin Rogers
NASA RM HPDE Director, Chief Instructor

[ker]

There was a separate 3/4 email?

i try to do a separate welcome with g1/2 and then another for g3/4 for each event for those that have registered at least a week before the event (this is the first time i've heard this problem).

weird tho, this time a couple of folks emailed me they couldn't open/read it.:confused:

[b0rderman]

I'm excited for the longer sessions, will give a chance for the big 1/2 group to stretch it's legs out...woohoo!

[Brad]

If anyone remembers the long sessions we had at a test & tune day @ Pueblo earlier this year, it was unanimous among the HPDE 3/4 groups that it was *awesome*. I'm looking forward to it.

-Brad

[bpanther]

Just doing a sanity check. There was a new member who appeared very verbal that this was not a good idea and they were unhappy about it.

[fhudsonjr]

You're asking for a sanity check from this group? That's crazy!:eek:

[bbell]

You're asking for a sanity check from this group? That's crazy!:eek:

Well said. I love it!

Bruce

[GraemeD]

Post event: I feel that the 3 sessions worked out better than 4 as it gave you more time to calm down, settle in and get comfortable. please lets keep them this way when possible.

[LBB]

Just doing a sanity check. There was a new member who appeared very verbal that this was not a good idea and they were unhappy about it.

Well, I'm not sane by any stretch of the imagination, but as a new participant in NASA events, I liked it.

My only comment would be that I spent the last 15 minutes of every session essentially stuck in traffic. Pass a car on the front straight, usually catch someone before T3, pass them on the back straight, catch someone before T6, idle along behind them till the front straight (I was in group 1/2), rinse, repeat.

No amount of slowing down to create gaps or using the hot-pit to get a gap seemed to help get me more than about a half-lap of clear sailing. Basically, there was enough speed difference across the group that by about 15 minutes into the session, the entire track was covered with a uniform layer of cars. :)

From that perspective, it might be better to have shorter sessions...but for other run groups with more similar lap times and more places to pass, I would think that the longer sessions would be nice.

[kaazsilvias13]

ok, i guess i will add my two cents. i feel like the 30mins is good it helped me get in a rythem and practice at pacing myself and footwork of the car. But i would like the 20mins in the hotter months due the heat. ive ran 30+ mins in factory cars when its 90+degrees and i had to back my pace way off to keep the temps down so it wouldnt go in a fail safe mode. seeing in hpde most peope have factory cars just something to keep in mind. like i said just my two cents.

[bpanther]

Cool. I appreciate the feedback. I totally agree with Don's suggestion of not having wicked long sessions when it is hot out.

The primary factor will be on quality. If doing a longer session will be beneficial we will do it. If it will end up being a downside to the participants, then we won't put it on the schedule.

In the past you may have noticed that we sometimes do 25 minute HPDEs in the middle of the day when I can. Nice little bonus once in a while. Every once in a while I may throw in a 30 for varitey. I think we will stay with the standard NASA 20 minute sessions first thing in the AM.

My preliminary schedule for end of the month shows 4 standard on Saturday and a three longer ones on Sunday.

[Robbie]

I agree with shorter sessions for hot days, but for fatigue reasons. At Pueblo in July after one of the 20 minute sessions right before lunch I was soaked in sweat from the heat and from driving.

I liked the longer sessions. I didn't feel like I was out there too long (except for the last session when my gas gauge was getting low) and the car was happy.

LBB, once you move up into 3 your traffic concerns will go away more.

[Dillon]

Said it in the other thread but I loved the long sessions. At the end of the day I was feeling up for another 30 minutes on track :D I'd probably enjoy it even in the summer, so long as my car can take it. I personally don't mind being soaked in sweat or feeling a bit fatigued, like Don said it's good to learn to pace yourself. A good night's sleep, a good breakfast, and staying away from caffeine and sugar works wonders. I definitely know what it's like overheating though...

LBB, what are you driving? Sounds like you should maybe ask for a check ride next event :)

[vdubbugman53]

was a great day! Even though my car quit on me after the second HPDE 1 session...well should say quit...but i think she does have some nasty piston wall slap

[Del Armstrong]

I'll just chime in with a "me too". I thought the 30 minute sessions were fun and I wouldn't mind doing it again.

I do have problems with my car overheating during the hot days of summer, so I strongly prefer shorter sessions on those days. But it sounds like you've got that covered.

Another thought I had was that the track length might be a factor. At HPR, which is a longer track, the longer sessions gave us more time to spread out. That's a good thing. However, on a shorter track, it's possible that a longer session would cause the fast guys to have to deal with slow guys like me more often. :rolleyes: In other words, would the front runners have less total "open track" time for the day if they end up lapping me twice during the three 30 minute sessions at PPIR instead of once during each of four 20 minute sessions there. :confused:

Thanks for being willing to try different things to keep it interesting.

[LBB]

LBB, what are you driving? Sounds like you should maybe ask for a check ride next event :)

I was in the blue Elise and am definitely looking to move up to 3 as soon as I can. I asked about check rides, but there was a bit of a shortage of instructors, so didn't really get a chance to get the check ride in. Next time for sure...I hope... :)

[ker]

I was in the blue Elise and am definitely looking to move up to 3 as soon as I can. I asked about check rides, but there was a bit of a shortage of instructors, so didn't really get a chance to get the check ride in. Next time for sure...I hope... :)

just send me an email asking for an eval ride and what event so that i have the reminder.