[slowTA]

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!

[35th_Anniversary...]

#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.

[Spooner]

#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.)