THE LAMEST DAY 2009

GENERAL

Race Weekend: 3-4 October 2009

Entry Deadline: 25 July 2009

Late Entries: Considered case-by-case, space permitting

Track: Nelson Ledges Road Course, Garrettsville OH (2 mile road course)

Track Map: It looks something like this. Fancy video version here.

Schedule:
Friday, 2 October '09
7am: Gates Open
9am-4pm Nelson Ledges Organized Track Testing (details below)
2-5pm: Mandatory Friday Tech inspection (Every car and at least one driver per team MUST be present for Tech Inspection on Friday--no Saturday Tech will be offered!)
5-6:30pm: Statewide Mandatory 4,800 Calorie Dinner Break
6:30-9:30pm: Mandatory Light Inspection & Tech Re-Checks (All racecars MUST show up for light inspection on Friday night)
7-10:30pm: Night Practice (no charge)

Saturday, 3 October '09
7am: Gates Open
10:30am: Mandatory Driver's Meeting
11:30am: Cars enter track for transponder/parade laps under yellow
noon: Start
midnight: People's Curse

Sunday, 4 October '09
Noon: Checkered Flag
12:30pm: Awards
5pm: Gates Close

PRE-RACE TRACK TESTING

Friday,10am-4pm: Nelson Ledges-Organized Track Day. You must sign up at the track office Friday morning, and attend a mandatory meeting at 9:45a.m. in the tech building. Cost is $120/car with one driver $30 for each additional driver, payable to Nelson Ledges. For more info,contact Kerrie Lane at the track: kerrielane@aol.com or 440.548.8551.

THE CARS

Lights:This is a night race on an unlighted track. Each team must provide its own illumination. While good-quality, properly aimed OE headlight systems are generally up to this task, aftermarket driving and/or foglights are also legal. DON'T OVERTHINK IT: A small number of high-quality, properly mounted, correctly aimed headlights or driving lights is much more effective than a large number of crappy add-ons, or overpowered projector lights, or fancy-pants spotlights.

•    During daylight hours, forward lights may be removed if desired.
•    Lights, mounts, and associated switches and wires are considered safety items and do NOT count toward the $500 build total.
•   From dusk to dawn, all cars must have at least two working headlights,one working taillight, and one working brake light. Multi-filament combination tail/brake lights are acceptable.
•    The center of all lights must be no higher than 6 inches above the car's hoodline; roof-mounted lights are not allowed..
•    There is no limit on the total number of lights. However, lights must not be unduly dazzling or distracting to others.
•   All lights must be properly aimed. Cars with mis-aimed lights may be black-flagged at any time. For good aiming advice, check out these sites:

•    http://www.coolbulbs.com/HID-VISUAL-HEADLIGHT-AIMING-PROCEDURE.pdf
•    http://www.automedia.com/Aiming_Headlights/ccr20010801ha/1

•   Teams whose lights are deemed overly dazzling, insufficiently bright,badly aimed, or problematic in any other way may be black-flagged atany time.
•    All lights must be present and working during tech inspection and mandatory Friday-night testing.

Side and Rear Glass: no restrictions

Noise Limit: 92dB @ 50 feet

PITS & PADDOCK

Overnight Camping: Camping in Paddock OK. Since you've got to be at the damn track all night anyway, there's no charge for camping at this one. (There are also no RV hookups, so hey--you get what you pay for.) Campfires and barbecues are allowed, but all flames must be well contained. Contact the track for more information on rules and facilities.

Vehicle Restrictions: Support Vehicles: Two-, three-, and four-wheeled vehicles are prohibited, except for race officials or as race support vehicles. No joy riding is allowed. If your kid decides to do the "Nelson 500" in the paddock area, chances are you'll be picking up said vehicle at the barn at the end of the weekend. Drivers of any support vehicles must be 18 years of age or older, posses a valid driver's license and insurance.

Pit Assignments: First come, first serve.

Barbecues Allowed: Yes. Grilling is permissible in the paddock area as long as it's attended and food bribes are offered to the front gate. (They prefer their steak medium.)

Running Water: Potable water in the bathrooms. Non potable water and compressed air are available next to the Tech Building.

Bathrooms: Multiple permanent bathrooms; showers are located in the main restroom building near Timing/Scoring

Electrical Hookups: No. Please bring generators for any needed power. Remember, we're in the middle of Amish country here.

Pit Hours: Just be polite to the neighbors.

Fuel Sold On-Site: Race fuel is available at the track by prior arrangement with Kryde racing (330-854-4889 or kryderacing@aol.com). Maps and directions to other local fuel suppliers will be available at the track.

Dead Cars: Be prepared to bring them home.

THE NEIGHBORHOOD

Closest Airports: Cleveland Hopkins Intl. (CLE) and Cleveland Burke Lakefront (BKL) - Cleveland OH

Weather: Ohio in October - Sunny, rainy, and mild? Mild blizzard? Current Conditions.

Lodging:

Rodeway Inn, 4248 State Route 5, Newton Falls, OH 330-872-0988

Holiday Inn Express, 4185 State Route 5, Newton Falls, OH: 330-872-6000

Comfort Inn, 136 N. Park Avenue, Warren, OH: 330-393-1200

Best Western, 9172 Market Square Drive, Streetsboro, OH: 330-422-6446

More nearby hotels on Nelson Ledges lengthy hotel list.

Fuel and Parts:

Speedway, 10769 North St, Garrettsville, OH - (330) 527-2666?

Harshman's, St.Rt. 305(East of Track), Garrettsville, OH

Advance Auto Parts, 8055 State St, Garrettsville, OH - (330) 527-7197?

Carquest, 8147 Windham St, Garrettsville, OH - (330) 527-4311?

Kohler Auto Wrecking, 10545 Bancroft Rd, Garrettsville, OH - (440) 548-5817

Valley Tire Sales, 7856 State Route 303, Windham, OH - (330) 527-2674?

Food and Supplies:

Giant Eagle, 8005 State St, Garrettsville, OH: (330) 527-4015

Porter's IGA, 8283 Windham St, Garrettsville, OH: (330) 527-2253

First Aid:

Trumbull Memorial Hospital, 1350 E Market St # 3, Warren, OH - (330) 841-9011?

Robinson Memorial Hospital, 6847 N Chestnut St, Ravenna, OH - (330) 297-0811?

DIRECTIONS

Nelson Ledges Road Course is located on the south side of Ohio State Route 305 in Garrettsville Ohio between OH-282 and US-422. It is approximately one mile east of the intersection of OH-282 and OH-305.

From Cleveland Metro and East: Take US-422 east to OH-282. Turn right (south) on OH-282 and follow it to the end. At the stop sign, turn left on OH-305 and watch for the track on your right.

From Points West: Take I-80 east (The Ohio Turnpike toll road) to exit 192, which is OH-44. Exiting the toll- booth, turn left on OH-44 heading north. At the second traffic light, turn right OH-82 heading east. At the traffic light in Hiram, proceed straight ahead from OH-82 onto OH-305. At the traffic circle in Nelson, proceed as straight as possible to stay on OH-305. Watch for the track on your right approximately 2 miles east of the traffic circle.

From Akron and Points South:Take I-77 north to OH-21 (exit 146) toward I-80. Merge onto I-80towards Youngstown (The Ohio Turnpike toll road). Exit at OH-44 north(exit 193). Turn left on OH-44. Turn right on OH-82. Stay straight togo onto E. Wakefield Road/OH-305. Continue to follow OH-305. Passthrough one roundabout.

From Columbus and the Southwest:Take I-71 north to I-271 north. Exit I-271north at US-422 east. Take US-422 east to OH-282. Turn right (south) on OH-282 and follow it to the end. At the stop sign, turn left on OH-305 and watch for the track on your right.

From Pittsburgh and Youngstown: Take I-76 west (PA/Ohio toll road). Merge onto I-80 west. Take exit 209, which is OH-5. Exiting the toll- booth proceed west on OH-5 to OH-534. Turn right on OH-534, heading north. At US-422 turn left heading west. At OH-305 turn left again continuing to head west. Watch for the track on your left about 4 miles from US-422.

From Erie and Points Northeast: Take I-90 west to OH-11 south. Proceed down OH-11 to the OH-5 & OH-82 bypass around Warren. Go west on the 5 & 82 bypass to US-422. Take US-422 west to OH-305. At OH-305 turn left continuing to head west. Watch for the track on your left about 4 miles from US-422.