Post by tedebayer on Jun 11, 2013 14:17:53 GMT -5
I have been asked this by several people and thought I'd explain in a forum setting. There are a number of variables to consider...
#1. Delays - delays can occur from timing and scoring issues, mechanical failures (and subsequent re-runs for those on hill behind), accidents and weather. Steve Eckerich has worked his rear off to insure our timing and scoring equipment is dependable. A good deal of money has been spent to update our scoring and communications equipment to prepare for the Dragon hillclimbs. Mechanical failures can occur to any of us... sometimes something simple ("Uhmmm... I'm out of gas.") or complex ("Mr. Corner worker... that glowing metal in the road behind me appears to be 3rd gear from my tranny.") As a driver, you are responsible for preparing your car and avoiding all mechanical failures possible. Accidents are a part of hillclimb. Might be a tire de-beading or a touch against the wall that crunches a fender on a tire. We have a flat bed and a hook truck spread out over the mountain to jump in and get that car and move it to a safe location so we can continue runs. We will bring it down the hill between run groups so we can keep moving cars through. The weather? We can't control that... but we DO run in the rain. We don't run in thunderstorms and our stewards carry a lightning strike meter so we can get early warnings to get corner workers and spectators to a safe location from the advance notice. Some drivers do not run in the rain...(particularly specials and open wheel cars) but most experienced hillclimbers say that it is a good opportunity for newer hillclimbers to familiarize yourself with the course at moderate speed. Every run, your mind is seeing a pattern of turns and as that pattern becomes before natural and comfortable, you will be able to identify where you are more easily... and set up for next turn apex more accurately... as opposed to reactive driving where you turn as it is revealed to you. It's an adrenalin rush but it is not the fastest way...
#2. Groups - we plan to run three groups of 26-28 cars in each. We plan to move as quickly as we can to get you on course... but our priority is still safety. The sooner you can get back to paddock and we run course check, the sooner we can release the next group to begin their runs. DO NOT SPEED ... but don't go on tour and stop for conversations with course workers. WAVE and let them know you appreciate them! Also, keep an eye out for them on the way down... they will be cleaning the course, checking for gravel and any changes in road surface.
#3. Shuttle buses - We likely will have a lot of spectators on the hill for this weekend. Families, kids, sports car fans, locals, tourists, car club members, and motorcycle riders up for a run on the Dragon. We will only run buses as needed between groups and have worked out a bus schedule with Graham County Transit to move people as efficiently as possible.
Note : A few drivers have asked about the spectators, shuttle buses and decorations... and said "Ted, you running a race or a circus?" LOL Well, I remind them, we are getting to run on this beautiful site because of the generosity and hospitality of Graham County, the City of Robbinsville and the Cheoah area under the US Forest Services control. We get a wonderful site where we are appreciated, where we can run without a rental fee and where we can share our sport with the Southeastern United States as ambassadors for Hillclimbing, and the Southeastern Division of SCCA. The spectators, the kids, the merchants, the locals... they are why we get to run. There is no admission charge for them... not even for the shuttle bus rides. We have and will continue to accommodate them, make them feel welcome and appreciated. Many of them are just like many of us when we were young... watching Chimney Rock Hillclimb and dreaming of getting to run one day.
So... the final answer? How many runs will we get? Based on the numbers I am seeing and our history of past events, statistically you will have 11 to 12 runs. IT may be more and it might be less. I think several drivers got 19 runs at one event last year at the Dragon. Usually by Sunday noon, a few cars fall out with mechanical problems, a few drivers run out of gas and tires, a few decide "that's as fast as I can go" or "IF I can go faster, I don't want to try it today!" IF the numbers reduce, we MAY go to to two groups. We will do our best to get you 11 to 12 runs over the weekend but as you can see, there are lots of variables. You control the ones you can, (gas, car prep, returning to paddock)... and we'll do our best to get you up the hill as many times as SAFELY possible. When you are not running, come on up to launch, get some food, look at times, socialize with our drivers, sign some autographs. THIS is hillclimb... a truly unique and special motorsport. We look forward to sharing it with you.
Last event, we had about 43 drivers. As of today, we have 80 cars signed up. There IS a reason.
Thanks to drivers, staff and corner workers for being a part of our sport and a great event series at the DRAGON ! CU up there...
#1. Delays - delays can occur from timing and scoring issues, mechanical failures (and subsequent re-runs for those on hill behind), accidents and weather. Steve Eckerich has worked his rear off to insure our timing and scoring equipment is dependable. A good deal of money has been spent to update our scoring and communications equipment to prepare for the Dragon hillclimbs. Mechanical failures can occur to any of us... sometimes something simple ("Uhmmm... I'm out of gas.") or complex ("Mr. Corner worker... that glowing metal in the road behind me appears to be 3rd gear from my tranny.") As a driver, you are responsible for preparing your car and avoiding all mechanical failures possible. Accidents are a part of hillclimb. Might be a tire de-beading or a touch against the wall that crunches a fender on a tire. We have a flat bed and a hook truck spread out over the mountain to jump in and get that car and move it to a safe location so we can continue runs. We will bring it down the hill between run groups so we can keep moving cars through. The weather? We can't control that... but we DO run in the rain. We don't run in thunderstorms and our stewards carry a lightning strike meter so we can get early warnings to get corner workers and spectators to a safe location from the advance notice. Some drivers do not run in the rain...(particularly specials and open wheel cars) but most experienced hillclimbers say that it is a good opportunity for newer hillclimbers to familiarize yourself with the course at moderate speed. Every run, your mind is seeing a pattern of turns and as that pattern becomes before natural and comfortable, you will be able to identify where you are more easily... and set up for next turn apex more accurately... as opposed to reactive driving where you turn as it is revealed to you. It's an adrenalin rush but it is not the fastest way...
#2. Groups - we plan to run three groups of 26-28 cars in each. We plan to move as quickly as we can to get you on course... but our priority is still safety. The sooner you can get back to paddock and we run course check, the sooner we can release the next group to begin their runs. DO NOT SPEED ... but don't go on tour and stop for conversations with course workers. WAVE and let them know you appreciate them! Also, keep an eye out for them on the way down... they will be cleaning the course, checking for gravel and any changes in road surface.
#3. Shuttle buses - We likely will have a lot of spectators on the hill for this weekend. Families, kids, sports car fans, locals, tourists, car club members, and motorcycle riders up for a run on the Dragon. We will only run buses as needed between groups and have worked out a bus schedule with Graham County Transit to move people as efficiently as possible.
Note : A few drivers have asked about the spectators, shuttle buses and decorations... and said "Ted, you running a race or a circus?" LOL Well, I remind them, we are getting to run on this beautiful site because of the generosity and hospitality of Graham County, the City of Robbinsville and the Cheoah area under the US Forest Services control. We get a wonderful site where we are appreciated, where we can run without a rental fee and where we can share our sport with the Southeastern United States as ambassadors for Hillclimbing, and the Southeastern Division of SCCA. The spectators, the kids, the merchants, the locals... they are why we get to run. There is no admission charge for them... not even for the shuttle bus rides. We have and will continue to accommodate them, make them feel welcome and appreciated. Many of them are just like many of us when we were young... watching Chimney Rock Hillclimb and dreaming of getting to run one day.
So... the final answer? How many runs will we get? Based on the numbers I am seeing and our history of past events, statistically you will have 11 to 12 runs. IT may be more and it might be less. I think several drivers got 19 runs at one event last year at the Dragon. Usually by Sunday noon, a few cars fall out with mechanical problems, a few drivers run out of gas and tires, a few decide "that's as fast as I can go" or "IF I can go faster, I don't want to try it today!" IF the numbers reduce, we MAY go to to two groups. We will do our best to get you 11 to 12 runs over the weekend but as you can see, there are lots of variables. You control the ones you can, (gas, car prep, returning to paddock)... and we'll do our best to get you up the hill as many times as SAFELY possible. When you are not running, come on up to launch, get some food, look at times, socialize with our drivers, sign some autographs. THIS is hillclimb... a truly unique and special motorsport. We look forward to sharing it with you.
Last event, we had about 43 drivers. As of today, we have 80 cars signed up. There IS a reason.
Thanks to drivers, staff and corner workers for being a part of our sport and a great event series at the DRAGON ! CU up there... 
