Nationals in Lincoln Hotel talk

[Randy Chase]

For those that went to Lincoln last year-

1. I see there is a golf cart being offered for under $200. Is this worth it? I have worked many tracks and sometimes it can make a huge difference. At Sebring you would walk for miles without one. At Long Beach, it would only get in the way. Thoughts?

2. Any good hotel recommendations? Feel free to PM. I tend to stay in places like Doubletree, Hyatt, Marriot.... more than I would stay in Motel 6 or Raceway Inn. Anything convenient?

3. What are the awesome eating places I should go to? Now what if you can't eat beef?

4. Is there nightlife?

5. Any hints for those flying in and out of Lincoln?

6. Preferred roads to and from? I see 15 to 80 is suggested by Googlemaps.. but anyone prefer 15 to 70 to 76 to 80? Anyone still go the south route instead, cutting across Kansas and down to I-40?

7. Anything else for a first timer to Lincoln to know?

Thanks

[Randy Chase]

Also.. is anyone working a transporter for this year? Richard? If so... I am in.

[Aaron Goldsmith]

For those that went to Lincoln last year-

1. I see there is a golf cart being offered for under $200. Is this worth it? I have worked many tracks and sometimes it can make a huge difference. At Sebring you would walk for miles without one. At Long Beach, it would only get in the way. Thoughts?

if you are there for the whole week, then yes, that's worth it. Site is BIG.

2. Any good hotel recommendations? Feel free to PM. I tend to stay in places like Doubletree, Hyatt, Marriot.... more than I would stay in Motel 6 or Raceway Inn. Anything convenient?

Stay at the Embassy, it's down town right next to all the Restaurants and Bars, it's where they held the banquets last year and it's 1 block from the Lied Center where they are holding them this year. You'll have to pay for parking, but i'd rather do that than have to drive in and out every night.

I already have my room booked, my flights booked and my rental car reserved.

[Christine Grice]

Don't forget that the cornhuskers play at home on the 4th and the 11th so it would be a good idea to get Hotel reservations early.

[Eric Clements]

For those that went to Lincoln last year-

1. I see there is a golf cart being offered for under $200. Is this worth it? I have worked many tracks and sometimes it can make a huge difference. At Sebring you would walk for miles without one. At Long Beach, it would only get in the way. Thoughts?
LAP is similar to Forbes, except the courses are next to each other so no really long trip to the "north" course. I suggest something with wheels.
2. Any good hotel recommendations? Feel free to PM. I tend to stay in places like Doubletree, Hyatt, Marriot.... more than I would stay in Motel 6 or Raceway Inn. Anything convenient? Staybridge Suites is nice/newer

3. What are the awesome eating places I should go to? ? Now what if you can't eat beef? Sucks for you...sorry

4. Is there nightlife?Depends on who you bring...

5. Any hints for those flying in and out of Lincoln?Jon, Mari and I end up in Ohama's airport

6. Preferred roads to and from? I see 15 to 80 is suggested by Googlemaps.. but anyone prefer 15 to 70 to 76 to 80? Anyone still go the south route instead, cutting across Kansas and down to I-40?15/70/76/80 works well

7. Anything else for a first timer to Lincoln to know? Don't miss the speedway motors museum, presuming that happens again

Thanks

[George Schilling]

For those that went to Lincoln last year-

1. I see there is a golf cart being offered for under $200. Is this worth it? I have worked many tracks and sometimes it can make a huge difference. At Sebring you would walk for miles without one. At Long Beach, it would only get in the way. Thoughts?

The area is vast. If you don't get parking up front, a cart is beneficial. But if you're able to pit in the first two rows, no need.

2. Any good hotel recommendations? Feel free to PM. I tend to stay in places like Doubletree, Hyatt, Marriot.... more than I would stay in Motel 6 or Raceway Inn. Anything convenient?

We stayed at this years' official hotel won through Priceline. Decent with a decent breakfast included. Does not rise to the level of a Marriott.

3. What are the awesome eating places I should go to? Now what if you can't eat beef?

They have all the usual chain restaurants. There are a couple of steakhouses people were raving about. But hey, it's the mid-west. If you can't eat beef, you starve!

4. Is there nightlife?

Not much.

5. Any hints for those flying in and out of Lincoln?

Best to use an airplane. We flew right into Lincoln. A few dollars more but it saved an hour drive each way.

7. Anything else for a first timer to Lincoln to know?

Our Hoosiers picked up a ton of OPR. Kuhmo's didn't seem to be affected as much.

[Jason Isley BS RX8]

4. Is there nightlife?

Not much.

5. Any hints for those flying in and out of Lincoln?

Best to use an airplane. We flew right into Lincoln. A few dollars more but it saved an hour drive each way.

7. Anything else for a first timer to Lincoln to know?

Our Hoosiers picked up a ton of OPR. Kuhmo's didn't seem to be affected as much.

4. George is old, he was surely asleep by the time the street lights came on.

5. George got lost trying to get out of the airport parking lot, we had to find him and direct him out.

7. McWho dropped that OPR to slow you down.

[Aaron Goldsmith]

I also flew directly into Lincoln and picked up my car from the rental counter there. My flight is currently 350 round trip including fees, out of and returning to Orange County.

[Jason Rhoades]

We got there early for the Pro which got us in one of the first five paddock rows. Despite the lot's size, found it surprisingly walk-able, moreso than HPT or Forbes.

Did 15->80, with a tiny shortcut out through Provo. Decent drive, nothing too terribly hilly. A couple stretches in Wyoming really pushed the Tundra's range towing the enclosed trailer.

The OPR thing was pretty intense, had never seen it so bad before. If all our feedback was received, they'll provide a dedicated wet skidpad area to clean it off. Otherwise bring your torches and chisels.

There was like one guy in town selling race gas, and he may have run out once or twice throughout the week. If you need it, plan ahead.

Lincoln is a much nicer and more modern town than Topeka.

[Aaron Goldsmith]

Lincoln is a much nicer and more modern town than Topeka.

Agreed!

[Pete Loney]

OPR, OH YEAH....

This was cleaned up at home after the event....



Only from Day 2 OPR, 6 runs, 6 tires, we swapped the fronts 1/2 way through the heat in a 2 driver car.

My new cleaning technique, heat gun plus painters multi-tool.

[Jason Uyeda]

OPR, OH YEAH....

This was cleaned up at home after the event....



Only from Day 2 OPR, 6 runs, 6 tires, we swapped the fronts 1/2 way through the heat in a 2 driver car.

My new cleaning technique, heat gun plus painters multi-tool.

My cleaning tool....

http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&source= ... 41242&z=16" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[Mako Koiwai]

Has anyone every done before and after OPR removal test times

[Sebastian Rios]

Mako, you can have all the OPR you want...Make sure you go really wide and get all of it, preferably using Karen's Vette.

[Bob Beamesderfer]

Don't forget that the cornhuskers play at home on the 4th and the 11th so it would be a good idea to get Hotel reservations early.

An absolute must. There is NOTHING bigger in Nebraska than BIG RED FOOTBALL.

[Eric Clements]

The OPR thing was pretty intense, had never seen it so bad before. If all our feedback was received, they'll provide a dedicated wet skidpad area to clean it off.

Done! Laid out the site last weekend.

[Pete Loney]

Has anyone every done before and after OPR removal test times

Don't need to. You won't believe how easy it comes off with the heat gun.
Thus, you are sliding around on easily removable rubber until it is all gone.

IMHO why would you waste a lap or two sliding around instead of using the original rubber that will stick for sure.

One of my first events on freshly cleaned Hoosiers, I drove very consistently time wise each lap. Dropping my times by 2 to 3 tenths each lap.
The tires were VERY predictable from the first lap to the third lap.
That event I coned away my first win against Joey from turning into a cone with seemingly too much front grip. :unimpressed:

[Greg Peng]

That event I coned away my first... ...from turning into a cone with seemingly too much front grip. :unimpressed:

I'm noticing a pattern.

[Rad_ Delgado_]

1) I'm getting a Golf Cart this year, absolutely required, it should be part of the registration fees.

2) Embassy Suites, best place to stay. We stayed at the Residence Inn (Marriott) and driving back to the hotel is an Odyssey given the number of cops per capita in that town. Book now!

3) Great food in Downtown, very high quality places, not Lincoln-good but good-good. The prices are unbelievable, everything is so cheap that it makes you think to move there.

4) Massive Night Life. I spent 8 days there last year, and every day there was a nice bar to crash. Sometimes I got free drinks, sometimes I paid for drinks. No Baby Dolls quality place anywhere, we tried all of them and each one was worse than the other, the worse one is the most popular by the SCCA folks (National Champions's favorite).

5) You can fly Omaha or Lincoln, plenty of flights. I drove there and shipped the car in enclosed transport, easy drive in my road car, made a stop in Vegas both ways.

6) 15->80 is a beautiful road (especially around Colorado), but the Provo shorcut is better if towing.

7) Bring heat gun, painter's multi-tool, 2 workers. One worker to change tires, clean car, remove OPR, drive you back to the Hotel, the other to take on your work assignment. Be sure that the substitute worker is running the event in class not running when you're supposed to work, and give them both nice gifts. Bring your old A6/V710 and buy as many practice session tickets as you want, to tune the car and enjoy the event even more.

[Mako Koiwai]

How much do you pay your slaves, I mean friend/workers? ... where's the sign up sheet?!

[Will Kalman]

Also.. is anyone working a transporter for this year? Richard? If so... I am in.

Speaking of this, whoever is coordinating a transporter, talk to me. One of the dads at my kids' school owns a car transport company.

[Richard Jung]

Also.. is anyone working a transporter for this year? Richard? If so... I am in.

Speaking of this, whoever is coordinating a transporter, talk to me. One of the dads at my kids' school owns a car transport company.

I'll be putting a transporter list together soon.
Will, let's talk this weekend - thanks.

Rick

[Craig Naylor]

Randy,

While I did not go to Nationals I have been in, and or through through Lincoln many times for work. All the normal chain hotels are there. Many are nice. I like the Hampton inn right near the airport entry road. Price is good, rooms are typical for the chain, but my reason is the staff is wonderful.

Have traveled both 15/80 and 15/70/76/80. Definitely take the latter unless there is snow. Then stay south on the 40. (But highly unlikely in Sep.)

This is a college town. Nightlife in Downtown, all within a few blocks! And were not talking "small town Midwest" nightlife. Think cross of Gaslamp (Restaurants, walking around, and historic downtown), and PB (bar hopping).

Lincoln Airport is about the same size as S.D. terminal 1 back before the major face lift in the '80's, with the ease of access and short lines of S.D. commuter terminal. Omaha, is like S.D. today.

While out on Program, we've pulled closed 26' trailers with the Tundras loaded a few K over the 10k rating over the I70 passes (Vail, and Eisenhower tunnel) both directions at posted (65/70). You'll burn fuel (especially west bound), but the Trucks can do it.

And who ever posted about Cornhuskers football fans... we didn't have reservations once and had to drive in from over an hour away for a program, as there weren't any rooms available at any price (homecoming weekend).

[Kurt Rahn]

I just called to make reservations at the Embassy Suites, and was quoted $250 a night! I almost keeled over. Did anyone else who's staying there get a better rate?

[Randy Chase]

I did reserve online and was shown different rates. A couple nights were around $220 and the rest of the nights were $190 or so. I figured an avg of $200 per night. A bit disappointing. Seems we had better rates when someone reserved a block of rooms?

Makes me wonder if someone should take the bull by the horns and ask about reserving 50 rooms for SCCA.