When Do I Have to Leave for Nationals?

[Michael Palero]

I was looking at the run group schedule, and it says I run Thursday & Friday.

Does that mean the latest I can get to Topeka would be Thursday Morning?

Or do I still have to be there Monday morning for tech and registration?

[Jason Isley BS RX8]

Wed at 4:00pm tech closes. There is no tech or reg on thurs.

[Will Kalman]

I say get there on Tuesday night. Then get a good night's sleep, get up, walk the course, get your car teched, spectate, walk mid-day, spectate more, talk to your friends who have driven already about the course(s), watch where the cones are being hit and any other "trouble spots". Walk the course in the evening - try to get a friend or 5 who have already run to walk with you. Enjoy the Wednesday banquet.

Get a good nights sleep, wake up Thursday morning refreshed and ready go get to the event site early for more walking and making sure that everything's in order - gas in the car, air tank filled, all necessary tools, etc present and accounted for.

If you're in contention for a trophy - or winning - go grab a nice dinner with friends, go to bed. Wake up Friday morning refreshed and ready to go. If you've totally screwed your runs up, go to Club Orleans or Baby Dolls until they close. ;)

If you're trying to minimize time off for work, get a friend to drive straight through with you. Expect about 24hours total drive time. You'll save two vacation days that way. Make sure one of you starts to sleep early in the trip or you'll both be tired at the same time towards the end.

[Michael Palero]

Thanks Will. That pretty much answered most of the questions I had.
And thanks for the thought Jason

I didn't know Baby Dolls was a chain.

[Randy Chase]

I agree with Will. Get there Tuesday night. Pull the car then into the CalClub Topeka garage and start making major changes. Keep working on it all Wednesday. Stop working on it around 1:30am Thursday morning and then go to your lodging to get 4-5 hours of sleep.

Or maybe not the best way.

Driving, I always take I-15 to I-70 to Topeka. With limited time, Day 1 is to get to Green River or Grand Junction. Day two is from there to Topeka, about 11 hours. If you have more time... day 1 takes to you Las Vegas. Day three to Denver. Day 4 to Topeka. Coming back, I take the 335 to 54 to I-40. A little bit longer, but a different change of scenery. Take a radar detector.

[Christine Grice]

Interesting, when we tow out there we always go the southern route (I-40 to tucumcari cutoff, 54?, to 335) It is an easier tow, less likely to stress the rig and break down, because the contenental divide is not as high. Then as a change of scenary we go the northern route (I-70 to I-15) to come home. About 24 hours of driving time, not including breaks or sleep.

[Bob Beamesderfer]

I agree with Will. Get there Tuesday night. Pull the car then into the CalClub Topeka garage and start making major changes. Keep working on it all Wednesday. Stop working on it around 1:30am Thursday morning and then go to your lodging to get 4-5 hours of sleep.

Or maybe not the best way.

Driving, I always take I-15 to I-70 to Topeka. With limited time, Day 1 is to get to Green River or Grand Junction. Day two is from there to Topeka, about 11 hours. If you have more time... day 1 takes to you Las Vegas. Day three to Denver. Day 4 to Topeka. Coming back, I take the 335 to 54 to I-40. A little bit longer, but a different change of scenery. Take a radar detector.

Randy, It's Mike. Mike Palero. Not Bill Schenker.

[Bill Schenker]

Ha ha!

[David Avard]

Bill's car is always in too many pieces to make it to my house.

He was talking about the Elise. I probably still have $1000 worth of Lotus (fiberglass) dust in our garage.

It would be interesting to see how well Bill would do at Nationals if he was concentrating on driving rather than fixing/repairing his car 24/7.

[James Wilson]

Take your time, do not cut it close...Will's suggestions are good ones! Nationals are not a time to burn it out there, arrive 10 minutes before tech/course closes, eat dinner at 1am and wake up 10 minutes before you run. Taking your time, enjoying the Nationals experience is very important, and can help stave off jitters of the first-time trip.

Besides, it's not like you have to take off time from work

[Doug Teulie]

Solo Nationals:
Arrive on the weekend. Get some runs in the sand box before your event.
You have to wake up early and don't forget about the time change.
You and 800+ racers all walking and parking at the same time.
Rain, cold wind, hot sun, ice all in the same day.
Solo Nationals, See it all!!

[Patty Wang]

2 days to get to Topeka from LA. So I'm guessing it would be best to leave Sunday afternoon/evening to get there by Tuesday.
Friday is the last day right? so another 2 days to drive back.....arrive in LA by Sunday night.
So about 7-8 days total right?
Unless Mike decides to take some unexpected detours

[Jayson Woodruff]

They've done some tech and reg Thur morning by appointment only. It's real f-n early in a -2h time zone though, I don't recommend it.

I've done plenty of crazy travel schedules (ask James about my road trip to San Diego/Phoenix/San Diego/El Paso one day).

Most the time I have lots of flyer miles and few vacation days, so I play tricks driving the cars out on weekends and flying home and back out to race the following week. This is fun if you can hit a regional event on the way. I raced in regional events at El Paso and Oklahoma just passing through on my way to/from other national events. Makes the trip more valuable if you can do 3 or 4 races in one road trip.

Jay W

[Reijo Silvennoinen]

I agree with Will. Get there Tuesday night. Pull the car then into the CalClub Topeka garage and start making major changes. Keep working on it all Wednesday. Stop working on it around 1:30am Thursday morning and then go to your lodging to get 4-5 hours of sleep.

Or maybe not the best way.

I call BS.....Bill would NEVER do that. 1:30 am? Night before the Pro? Noooooo...

By the time the transmission was back in the car c/w freshly machined floater plate (thank you again Julie for finding the machinist!!!!)......and a course walk it was at least 3 am! }:)

Then up at 5 am to go for a walk.... ;)

Reijo

[Michael Palero]

freshly machined floater plate ...

I just came back from El Torito and....

Unless Mike decides to take some unexpected detours

Yeah yeah yeah.... I'm not going to get lost this time...

[Michael Palero]

Makes the trip more valuable if you can do 3 or 4 races in one road trip.

Jay W

I thought I was nuts. 4 races in 1 road trip? The best I ever did was 3 races/events in 1 weekend.
Willow Gymkhana, NOTLD AAA Speedway, then back to Willow for an open lapping day.

I can't figure out how you did Solo Nats + 3 regional events when only travelling to and then from Topeka...

[Sebastian Rios]

Day 1 Albuquerque
Day 2 Topeka
Day 3 wait 4 hours to get a paddock spot
Day 4 Pro Solo Action
Day 5 Pro Solo Action!
Day 6 Fly home
Day 7 Work
Day 8 Work
Day 9 Fly back
Day 10 Practice
Day 11 Cone all runs
Day 12 Break transmission
Day 13 Throw up a lot on drive home :barf:

[Steve Ekstrand]

Don't miss the 8 Girls, 1 Bucket Show at Earl's Farm Girl Revue

Those Midwest girls know how to pardee. :barf:

[Jason Uyeda]

Day 1 Albuquerque
Day 2 Topeka
Day 3 wait 4 hours to get a paddock spot
Day 4 Pro Solo Action
Day 5 Pro Solo Action!
Day 6 Fly home
Day 7 Work
Day 8 Work
Day 9 Fly back
Day 10 Practice
Day 11 Cone all runs
Day 12 Break transmission
Day 13 Throw up a lot on drive home :barf:

I tend to throw up any evening or morning that I'm not running... Not sure why that is

I don't mind the southern route at all. Simple, peaceful. Just try and do the 54 in daylight, much less stressful. Not a prob if you get to Albuquerque on day 1. But, you'll want to leave by 10 or earlier on your way back, which can be a little difficult

[Mako Koiwai]

Seb ... how about those snow storms on the way back using the Northern route ... and no motels available.

[Sebastian Rios]

Seb ... how about those snow storms on the way back using the Northern route ... and no motels available.

Oh yeah, that sucked too.

Day 13: Brave 70mph crosswinds and make it past Denver to get caught in freezing rain and snow through the Rockies with a tire going flat, fill the tire in gas station parking lot in each mountain town you come to with a 40' rig when you are still new to towing and maneuvering, seriously consider just parking it for the night in the gas station parking lot with the engine and heater on to ward off frostbite, seriously consider just driving all night....we finally found a room somewhere in Utah.

Southern>Northern.

[Aaron Goldsmith]

Seb ... how about those snow storms on the way back using the Northern route ... and no motels available.

Oh yeah, that sucked too.

Day 13: Brave 70mph crosswinds and make it past Denver to get caught in freezing rain and snow through the Rockies with a tire going flat, fill the tire in gas station parking lot in each mountain town you come to with a 40' rig when you are still new to towing and maneuvering, seriously consider just parking it for the night in the gas station parking lot with the engine and heater on to ward off frostbite, seriously consider just driving all night....we finally found a room somewhere in Utah.

Southern>Northern.

Noted, check weather before heading back.

[Richard Jung]

I was looking at the run group schedule, and it says I run Thursday & Friday.

Does that mean the latest I can get to Topeka would be Thursday Morning?

Or do I still have to be there Monday morning for tech and registration?

A couple of us were discussing the possibility of renting a 9-10 car transporter again. Anyone else interested?

Rick

[Mako Koiwai]

Sept. 2006 ... courtesy of Jeff Barco ...

[Jayson Woodruff]

Sept. 2006 ... courtesy of Jeff Barco ...

Guess which car is his.