OK -here goes.
1) Nelson's tops speed will NOT reach 120. There will be a chicane to keep the top speed down.
2) Yes there will be night practice on Friday BUT it doesn't get fully dark until the last half of the practice session.
3) Suggestion - Get ALL of your drivers out on track first thing Friday night for SHORT 3 or 4 lap learning sessions. Do NOT let your first few drivers grind around for 30 straight minutes. Do 3 or 4 laps then switch drivers. This let's you practice driver's changes plus entering and exiting the track in traffic. It also let's you get out and talk about the track, braking points, gear selections, etc.
4) Make CERTAIN everyond gets a turn in total darkness. You will find that a) some guys love night driving. b) Some guys will be scared shitless. c) Others will have trouble with thier glasses or glare that will drive them nuts.
5) If one of your guys 'can't do it' ....so be it. Give them a break. It's no reflection on thier manhood, some guys just can cut the night stuff. Plan on double stinting them in the daylight or let them drive the transition time from dusk to darknes. This helps some guys get comfortable.
6) With the number of cars entered believe me, you will not have trouble seeing the track in front of you. The trouble will be the blinding glare from behind.
7) Some teams put strips of masking tape in the inside mirrors during the night sessions. This cuts out 50% of the light hitting your eyes.
8) I found that if the glare is too bad I will move the mirror 'up' just a bit. Then I 'duck down' to avoid getting blinded and the 'streach up' to look in the mirror when I need to see.
9) After you get enough seat time you will learn that you don't need to look in the mirror as you enter a corner to find out if someone is coming up beside you. You can tell by a) sound - you'll hear them next to you b) by the light on the roadway beside and slightly ahead of your car. Thier lights will illuminate the road next to you and will get brighter as they attempt to pass.
10) ALWAYS, ALWAYS, ALWAYS use hand signals to indicate passing. Believe me the overtaking driver can see your orange gloved hand wave PERFECTLY at night.
11) Remember, right hand waves cars around to your right. Left hand waves cars around to your left. NEVER stick your left hand out the window and point to the right (like I've see taught at some HPD schools) That's a great way to sever your arm when you roll.
11) Speaking of that.... put a door net in your car. They are cheap and its better than going through life with one arm from a roll over accident.
12) SOMEBODY will roll over during Lamest Day. Somebody ALWAYS has rolled during Longest Day in the past. Assume that you or your teamate will be the one upside. Prepare accordingly. If you don't roll consider it a bonus.
13) Nelson's is primarily right hand turns. But don't get too fancy with your light aiming.
14) Our team will be running two OEM headlights and two auxliary lights. That is plenty. Start with the headlights aimed staight ahead as normal. You can cheat them to the right a bit during Friday night practice as needed.
15) Don't add more lights than your ancient alternator can power.
16) Be CERTAIN to wire the light switches within easy reach of a strapped in driver. You will want to 'kill the lights' down to low beams only when you come into the pits or during yellow flag sessions on track.
By this point you are either taking notes or have written me off as a 'wind bag know it all'.
FYI - everything written above is based on my personal experience behind the wheel at 15 straight Longest Day 24 Hour events at Nelsons Ledgnes.
Been there, done that, can't wait to do it again.
Spud
Remember, it's never too early to start embellishing the past.
"so there I was, 90mph, sideways on the brink of death ..."
Another thought would be to aim two of the lights out to the sides (since there is no oncoming traffic to worry about) in order to help you see around corners?
