The 24 Hours of Lemons Forums → Our Crappy Race → Testing before race in Houston
We are signed up for the test and tune on the Friday before the race, but we still want to take it out to make sure there isn't anything major that needs attention. Is there anywhere around Houston we can take it, like an old airfield, to test it out? Thanks
We took ours to the autocross today. I don't think there is another one before the race though. Might check with BMW or Porsche club and see if they are doing anything next weekend.
Or you can just take your chances - our car has been driven around the neighborhood sans stickers, lights (don't do this at night, btw), or any semblance of legality.
I meant to go today, but things were crazy this morning. Hopefully I can find something next weekend. We drove the car last year at the race and it go a weird vibration in it at some speeds, so that is all we need to work out. There is a neighborhood that never developed down the street from me we may go check out.
There is a neighborhood that never developed down the street from me we may go check out.
That sounds like as good a place as any to me. Have someone at the entrance to the neighborhood as a lookout for you know who.
That's maybe even a better solution than the test/tune the day before the race. Last October they changed the test/tune so that Lemons folks only had the track for 30 minutes out of every hour instead of the unlimited all-day on/off sessions that we'd had last February. I felt pretty cheated because of course while they knocked our available track time in half, they didn't lower the price any. I'm not sure I'd test/tune at MSR-H again on Friday unless they either change the policy or lower the price.
That's lame. I am going to go scope out something I saw on google maps that looks like miles of road that are uninhabited only 4 miles away. I love being close to the sticks.
MSR-H only did 30-minute sessions during the Test & Tune in October because the track had basically been closed for a private event almost all of October up to Lemons. This did not over joy a lot of the members.
Additionally, the Lemons Test & Tune costs less than a typical SCCA or NASA Test & Tune. Maybe due to volume.
The reality is, it's their track and their rules.
MSR-H only did 30-minute sessions during the Test & Tune in October because the track had basically been closed for a private event almost all of October up to Lemons. This did not over joy a lot of the members.
Additionally, the Lemons Test & Tune costs less than a typical SCCA or NASA Test & Tune. Maybe due to volume.
The reality is, it's their track and their rules.
You're absolutely right, it's their track and their rules -- but it's my money. I didn't bitch/moan about it at the time because it wouldn't provide any benefit, but the test/tune day was represented just like that: a full day of testing and tuning. When you only get 30 minutes of every hour to test/tune, that's not a full day of testing and tuning, it's a half-day of testing and tuning.
Not to be difficult, but I really don't care why or that their members were inconvenienced, or that it's cheaper to do it this way than through some other sanctioning body. I was sold one thing and got something different. You could call that a bait and switch, but I'm content to rely on the fool me once, shame on you, fool me twice, shame on me principle.
IOW, if you're going to do the MSR-H test/tune, you might want to call down there and find out what you're really getting before you plunk down your racing cash.
When I called down to reserve our spot (two of our four drivers have never been to MSRH and the third's only done it CCW) they told me that "they're not sure yet" if it will be a full test-n-tune day for Lemons cars or if it'll be 30 minute sessions like last October. They said that it would depend on how many Lemons teams sign up for it, and right now there's only 6 or so teams signed up.
Do they allow passenger to ride and instruct? I have been to this track a fair amount and one guy hasn't, so I was hoping to ride with him and give him some pointers. I may just give them a call.
The downside to that is that many teams dont want to put down money if they get caught up on the road or at tech, etc. Once at the track, we usually slap down the cash and go test, except last time, when they basically told us it would be the full fee for the two remaining sessions.
Troy wrote:MSR-H only did 30-minute sessions during the Test & Tune in October because the track had basically been closed for a private event almost all of October up to Lemons. This did not over joy a lot of the members.
Additionally, the Lemons Test & Tune costs less than a typical SCCA or NASA Test & Tune. Maybe due to volume.
The reality is, it's their track and their rules.
You're absolutely right, it's their track and their rules -- but it's my money. I didn't bitch/moan about it at the time because it wouldn't provide any benefit, but the test/tune day was represented just like that: a full day of testing and tuning. When you only get 30 minutes of every hour to test/tune, that's not a full day of testing and tuning, it's a half-day of testing and tuning.
Not to be difficult, but I really don't care why or that their members were inconvenienced, or that it's cheaper to do it this way than through some other sanctioning body. I was sold one thing and got something different. You could call that a bait and switch, but I'm content to rely on the fool me once, shame on you, fool me twice, shame on me principle.
IOW, if you're going to do the MSR-H test/tune, you might want to call down there and find out what you're really getting before you plunk down your racing cash.
I agree 100% I was charged the full $150 and only got 1/2 of a day of testing. Give me back $75 or tell the two GT3 cup cars that were out there to come back another day. There were at least 20-30 Lemons cars out there who paid the $150 and we all got screwes out of our track time. That's about two grand they fucked us over on. Pretty shady IMO, but like you said what are you going to do at that point.
Do they allow passenger to ride and instruct? I have been to this track a fair amount and one guy hasn't, so I was hoping to ride with him and give him some pointers. I may just give them a call.
No passengers on test/tune day.
We are planning on being there for the test and tune in Houston this month.
I hope it is a full day session, that will make it easier to manage the work and setup tasks.
Will jumpseat use for instruction be allowed?
Will jumpseat use for instruction be allowed?
It hasn't been allowed in the past.
I race with an MSR Member who is also qualified to instruct.
They would not allow him to instruct during the Test & Tune.
MSR has also had some management changes since the October race. So maybe things will be different for the upcoming race.
A agree with the crappiness of the 30 minute sessions. While it is unusual to us, they typically run 30 minute sessions between cars and motorcycles. So to them that's just the way it is.
Granted, I don't think they do that on SCCA or NASA Test & Tunes.
MSR offered an early Test & Tune for October on Labor Day weekend. It had low turn out. It was not the best of weekends but they did allow two Test & Tune Days for October.
Between Run Offs and the Private event. Labor Day weekend was what worked out.
Aside from all this, with Friday Tech during the Test & Tune, you are losing track time to Tech too.
I emailed MSR and they state : the track will be open from 9-5. There will be no breaks, unless someone has a major off or a major mechanical... you know Lemons cars.
So we are good to go there
Hey, that's great news. Now if I could just finagle a way to get out of the house for that weekend when I'm already spending far too much time in Houston this month...
Good to hear. I have a cell number to one of the guys to talk more about instructor riding along. Sounds like a possibility, but will know tomorrow.
I am paid up for Friday.
Have you heard about the instructor / jumpseat policy yet?
We have full belts and a race seat for a jumpseat, it's actually Kevin LePage's old nascar roadrace seat.
No, I haven't heard. What's the instructor/jumpseat policy?
No go on the instructor. Insurance doesn't allow it. We will be there bright and early on friday morning to get teched and have as much track time as possible. We will be in the HOV-Wreckers Miata (flat black) so if you guys need anything come over and get it from us,
If you have a miata, we will have almost an entire car in the back of our truck just incase anything breaks. If your's breaks, we probably have your part. We scored another miata for $400 that has a brown title so it can never be used on the road, so it's worthless to most. It even has a LSD, but even thoguh it would be within budget to swap that in, I still would feel weird about it,
I emailed MSR and they state : the track will be open from 9-5. There will be no breaks, unless someone has a major off or a major mechanical... you know Lemons cars.
So we are good to go there
This is the email I just got back from the GM at MSR.
Test and Tune days are open to the public, they are not specific to a group of cars. When cars on track have a significant speed differential and/or visibility disadvantage split sessions are required to protect all participants. The members, we are first and foremost a member track, that brought in their race cars were reaching 160 mph at the end of the straights. Drivers must always look no less than one second ahead of the car and drive to that point. Anything inside that one second can no longer be looked at. Slower cars and drivers are a hazard to themselves and others in that situation.
In short you can expect we will make adjustments as needed to insure the safety of all participants.
I love MSR but the test n tune opened to their members car is not jiving me like what you guys said. It is a members track and I understand that. Therefore, they could do what they please. I think if we bitch too much, MSR may just denied Lemon's from running there.
I was aso going to pre pay for the test and tune day But I think since its open to eveny one we may wait untill we get there and see how many of the 160 MPH cars show up so that we can get an idea of the amount of track time to expect.
If we get enough crap out on the race track the GT3s might stay away. We have to register for Friday and pay an additional fee?
The 24 Hours of Lemons Forums → Our Crappy Race → Testing before race in Houston