I'm thinking about going to the Devens Tour this year but have a few general questions.

What hotel does everyone usually stay in?
How secure is the site at night? Can we leave the cars and trailers on-site instead of dragging everything to the hotel Friday and Saturday nights? I think I would rather leave my tire trailer there than an unsecured hotel parking lot. Can you tell I'm a bit paranoid?
How hectic is the schedule, such as... do the organizers get ticked off if you don't head to impound exactly on time? I haven't been to a national event.
Are the tech guys looking for any reason possible to kick cars out, my 5 point is about 8 years old. It has Y shoulder belts and I want to do a roll bar and individual shoulder belts when I replace them.
Any advice for a first timer at a national event?
Lastly... is anyone traveling through northern Jersey with a (half-empty) two car hauler to get there?

I still haven't decided if I want to go, the 4 hour drive has something to do with it. I'm not sure if I can procure a car trailer for the weekend. Also, I'm not all that competitive locally so I would be going just to be beaten by a different group of people... yet no one has registered in CP yet!

#1 - hotel: I dunno
#2 - site: Site is locked at night, very secure and in a wooded secluded area. Yes you can leave trailer, car, etc at site.
#3 - impound: If you can't get your car to your grid spot after your 3rd run you have bigger problems. Impound is in your grid spot after your 3rd run.
#4 - tech: Most important is having all the required stickers and correct (8" min) car number and (4" min / 50%) class letters on the car. Belt dates are not checked for Solo2. If you are in a class with a minimum weight you will need to know it and go to the scales after your 3rd run before returning to grid.
#5 - hints: Walk the course with a knowledgeable person. Distance is everything. If you are using v710's or A6's bring lots of water and a water sprayer. Water down the tires between each run (and not just a quick spray, spray as much as you can, less than ambient is optimal). Bring Off! (Devens + June = Mosquitos!!!!). They require you to have a rule book (borrow someone else's) for registration.

Will you running in be in FS? It could use a few more cars. I know of at least one more FS driver that's going, but who has not signed up yet.

#6 -- Plan for rain. Try to bring some decent rain tires and pack your rain gear and footwear. It always seems to rain the weekend of the tour.
#7 -- There is A LOT of real estate at Devins. Be ready for a fast, open course. (This is a good thing, IMO.)

I did the tour last year in FS and didn't think it was at all overwhelming. It was the first SCCA event I had ever been to, FWIW. I was pleasantly surprised by the people I met. I guess I thought that having more national-level folks would mean bigger attitudes. (If there were, I was lucky enough not to run across them.)

The only thing I would have done differently was to stay to walk the Sunday course on Saturday night, since I ended up missing the Sunday a.m. morning course walk due to the event start being moved up. Oops. (I did walk it between the second and third heats, but only got to go through once.)

I'm local to Mass., but not the specific area. But I know people who are, so I could try to help out advice on hotels and such. Since I don't post on this board much since I sold my Camaro, it'd be best to drop me an e-mail.

-John
(I'll be running in SS this year.)

Tech should be just like your local events. They will (should?) have the required stickers at tech as well. Some free, some a nominal charge. Know your wheelbase and min weight, I think P classes are weighed at impound, correct?

There may be a car or two in CP that'll register at the last minute.

Bear in mind that there is a very strict sound limit at Devens. From our region website:

QUOTE

1. The required sound limits will be 90dBA measured at 75'.

2. Sound may be measured from any side of the vehicle at any time and includes such noise sources as intake noise and tire squeal.

3. Vehicles such as those in FM and CM which have a GCR-mandated maximum length may exceed that length for the purposes of installing an alternate muffler or exhaust system. The additional length may serve no other purpose.

This limit is virtually the same as the NMHS limit of 94dbA measured at 50'. Enforcement will be very strict and competitors are strongly encouraged to do their best to be significantly below these limits.

The violation policy is as follows (these will apply at both NMHS and Devens) :

1. After the first violation, the competitor will be required to demonstrate that an effort has been made to reduce sound levels before being allowed to make a second run. This determination will be made by the event chair or a designee.

2. If the second run is still in excess of the allowed sound limit, the competitor will not be allowed to make any additional runs at that event and the competitor will be required to again demonstrate that improvements have been made before being allowed to participate at further events.

3. Event staff reserves the right to red-flag a car in excess of sound limits and no re-run will be given.he sound control folks will be keeping a detailed log of sound levels at every event. This is part of our compliance agreement.

Competitors should recognize that we are implementing this policy as an effort to maintain continued use of our sites. The risk of losing Devens due to sound problems is *VERY* real. We cannot afford to be lenient about this whatsoever- whether it's an AM car or an HS car, if it's too loud, the car will not be allowed to participate until the sound level is reduced. *This is a non-negotiable item and the Solo Chair will not entertain discussion on this during the event if a car is determined to be in violation of these rules.*

As for where to stay, this is pretty much as close as you can get.

http://www.marriott.com/hotels/travel/boss...-common-center/


These aren't too far away:

http://www.ichotelsgroup.com/h/d/hi/1/en/h...equestid=528337

http://www.super8leominster.com/

That's just a quick search. Decent areas. I worked in Leominster, stayed at the Super 8 once. I think Jim Garry stays there when he comes to events.

As said earlier, bring OFF! and rain gear. I'm not sure what the mosquitoes eat when they can't get human, and there have been storms at Devens that have rivaled the Bible. There have also been picture-perfect days. If it's sunny, you'll also need sunscreen and shade/hat. It's very exposed. Plenty of water, too. There is usually bottled water there for the Tour, but you can't be too careful with hydration at Devens.

What weather will we get this year? Anyone have a pair of dice we can roll?

The only activities Friday evening (probably after 5pm) are reg, tech, and course walks. No practice courses, etc. It's hard enough to get onto the site. We aren't allowed to run Friday

One of these summers we're going to have to have a FRRAX get together at the Devens Tour. Every year from here on out could be our last at that site. Seriously. (IMG:http://www.frrax.com/rrforum/style_emoticons/default/rant.gif)

Thanks for all the advice! I'm not running FS, but a streetable CP car instead!

My street tires are my rain tires, so if I'm driving the car there I'll be set. I used to carry OFF on the trailer so I'll have to load it back up. I'll have to get the stickers at tech, unless I can have them mailed when I register. I'll double check my numbers. No one has mentioned anything about the car being too loud yet. It has a full length leaky exhaust with a cat so it is on the quiet side.

Last time I weighed the car it was 3285 with a full tank. I have light rims, a Hawker battery, no emissions or A/C, and no rear seat cushions. So it isn't all that much lighter than stock.

I remember hearing a story about a guy at the Devens tour, but he was out in the weeds with a beacon thingy looking for a rare turtle or something. I think he wanted to shut down the event since it was turtle mating season... and the turtles were on opposite sides of the course!

Well I will be there in CP, If my new rearend gets here in time. I also will be in a overweight street car. I have also seen the mustang, its not a true CP car either. It should be a good matchup

Tours are administered Nationally, but pretty much run locally. You'll usually find the chiefs to be the usual faces you see running the event in the Region local to the tour. So, if the local Region that runs the Regional events are a relaxed group, you will usually find a relaxed event at a Tour. CP will sometimes weigh once or twice during the event, depending on the chief of impound, and how tightly-knit the CP group is. But even if all the CP competitors feel a weigh is NOT needed, if chief of impound says weigh, then you weigh. The scales are usually located in, or near where you tech.

It'll be good to see you out, Bill!

Praying for NO RAIN here but I'm coming.

Bret

(IMG:http://www.frrax.com/rrforum/style_emoticons/default/drink.gif) to overweight and under prepared CP cars! One look at my car and you'll realize I'm no where near being underweight. I'm actually on Hoosiers this season but I didn't see a place to make a tire selection until after I registered. I changed it afterwards but it isn't making the change.

I have a hotel room for 3 nights (leaving Monday morning), we can't leave stuff on-site Sunday night can we? Also I'm assuming tech on Friday evening requires we have the r-compounds mounted, kinda sucks since I'll have to change the tires just for tech then put the street tires back on. My hotel is about 1/2 an hour away.

One idea that you might be able to latch on to is this: If you know of several other competitors staying at the same hotel, carpooling may be the better option. For bigger events, I certainly don't like to go through the R-street-R tire swap.

Since we're a friendly bunch, look for your pony car driving cousins in FS, ESP & CP do give you more sage advice. See you Friday!

I'll ask around and see where everyone is staying, I'm staying at a hotel about 40 minutes away.

I've done 2 local autocrosses in a weekend before (Friday night and Saturday morning), I'm used to it but not looking forward to it. However it looks like rain Sunday so if its bad I'll just keep the street tires on.

Will they have a lunch truck/roach coach available?

Looks like some form of grilling going on Saturday - burgers, 'dogs, and all the fixins.

Anyone up for a (IMG:http://www.frrax.com/rrforum/style_emoticons/default/beerchug.gif) Saturday night?

(edit: kan't spel)

This post has been edited by Jeff97FST/A: Jun 3 2008, 10:09 AM

Do they allow grilling on site, if so I'm in but don't have much room to bring anything extra.

(IMG:http://www.frrax.com/rrforum/style_emoticons/default/beerchug.gif) depends on where and what the NNJR guys are doing,

Region is supplying the grills and food

Does a bear shit in the woods?

I'm in.

Your car # 45 right?

This post has been edited by SStrokerAce: Jun 5 2008, 06:47 PM

Well I got the parts, but the car wont be ready, so I am out. I will prob show up sat afternoon to see some people. What really makes this suck, it that it is the extra muffler that NER makes me run that has the install at a standstill. I still say a registered and inspected car should be exempt from their flawed testing.

#$%% $@ mustangs!!

At the end of Saturday I had the lead by 2 tenths, after the second run on Sunday I had the lead by 2.2 seconds! Coming through the line I heard the announcer say something about this run not helping any then he moved on to the next class. Turns out I lost the lead by 3 tenths for Sunday. Final results show an overall difference of .100 seconds. It was good competition and a great weekend. Too bad neither CP car could touch even the slowest FS car!!!

Well, it does look like CP beat the slowest FS car. Heck I think a Chevrolet Aveo would have served me better.

To say that the weekend was a disaster is the ultimate in irony. I couldn't get a clean run if I paid for it and had the dubious distinction of clobbering the most cones for the weekend.

Did I say that my results from the Devens Tour was the epitome of all that does suck? Time to put the thinking cap on and seriously re-assess running at the DC Pro.

Pick yourself up, dust off, and get back on the horse!