What to expect at Nationals...

[SVTfocus]

I'm signed up for my first ever national event at Qualcomm this month and just wondered what to expect. I read over the description on SCCA.com, but was just looking for a bit more firsthand knowledge. I'm not planning on going Friday, as I really can't afford the day off work, but I'll be there bright and early Saturday. Should I expect to be at the track all day Sat and Sun? Will there be food and vendors, or just a bunch of racers? Will I be more nervous because it's a "National Event", or is it pretty much just like a regional event as far as nerves are concerned? Any other info is appreciated!

[chapmanr]

Its a lot more structured than our local events.

You will be assigned a grid spot by number order with your class. It will be the same both days. If you get a rerun, there is someone with a stopwatch monitoring you to make sure there are five minutes before your next run.

Certain stickers are required on your car at certain places. Either bring some magnetic material to put them on, or take some wax with you. Put the wax where you want the sticker to go, don't rub it off, and put the sticker on the wax. The sticker will come right off. The SCCA stickers cost (bring a few dollars), but the sponsor required stickers are free.

Allow time to put on a Tirerack window banner.

All the cones are numbered, and after each run an audit car collects sheets from each station. So, if you have a mystery cone, you can find out exactly which cone.

Although we have a lot of great drivers here in town, the collection of talent at a Tour is just awesome. Plan on watching and learning. Work the course if your feet are up to it. Find a national champion to discretely follow on a coursewalk.

Have a rulebook to take to registration (extensive discussion elsewhere on the forum).

[itrbruce]

Great answer, Ron, but I will add a bit to it.

Its a lot more structured than our local events.

You will be assigned a grid spot by number order with your class. It will be the same both days. If you get a rerun, there is someone with a stopwatch monitoring you to make sure there are five minutes before your next run.
Typically there will be an easel (like we use to post results during our events) with lists of names and your grid spot, i.e. I don't think you can expect someone to tell you your grid spot # at registration, which BTW you should try to get out of the way on Friday since the line Saturday morning can be long and time consuming when you might rather be doing other preparation stuff or walking the course (which people will do many more times than at regular events). Also, the course will be completely set up on Friday night, so you can walk the course then too. And, like Ron says below,
make sure you either have a 2009 rule book before you get in line (you can borrow one from a friend) or have the ~$15 to buy one. Also, if for some reason you should get protested, you are supposed to have a manufacturer's maintenance book for your car.

Certain stickers are required on your car at certain places. Either bring some magnetic material to put them on, or take some wax with you. Put the wax where you want the sticker to go, don't rub it off, and put the sticker on the wax. The sticker will come right off. The SCCA stickers cost (bring a few dollars), but the sponsor required stickers are free.

Allow time to put on a Tirerack window banner.
Others (including me) use the less classy method of rubbing the stickers onto your pants a few times to make them a bit less sticky. You probably shouldn't use this technique if you come wearing either a tuxedo or very dirty clothes. ;)


All the cones are numbered, and after each run an audit car collects sheets from each station. So, if you have a mystery cone, you can find out exactly which cone.
Don't look for numbers on the cones themselves, but rather each cone box position is labeled on the ground. One consequence of this is that while working on the course, you need to stay a bit more cognizant, for a couple of reasons: 1. the number of each cone hit needs to be recorded out in the field on the sheets Ron mentioned. 2. someone also needs to record the class and car number of each car regardless if they hit a cone, so there is just more "work" to be done. The good news, though, is there are many more people out on course to do the work.
One thing having all these sheets means is you can (and I would say should) go find them after your runs so you will know exactly which cone you hit as there will also be a detailed course map showing the exact location of each cone number (although you probably would want a friend to go look if you are checking in between runs). And I said should because at Nationals, the results came out and said I hit a cone on one of my runs, but I had not noticed hitting one during my run and the announcer didn't say I had, so I went and checked the run sheets and found that they did not say I had hit one either, so I got it removed from my results. This is undoubtedly a rare occurrence, though.
Also, I think Ron mis-spoke, these sheets do get collected during the runs, but not after each run. It seems to me it is more like ~2 times per each of the 3 runs (sorry, no 4 runs for small turn outs :) )


Although we have a lot of great drivers here in town, the collection of talent at a Tour is just awesome. Plan on watching and learning. Work the course if your feet are up to it. Find a national champion to discretely follow on a coursewalk.
A word of warning. Some people take the tour very (maybe too much so) seriously. One reason can be because doing well at the tour can be worth $$$ or sometimes in contingency prizes like tires or sometimes people are vying for sponsorships, but typically it all comes down to $$$. As a result, some will be less likely to want to be disturbed while out walking on the course.


Have a rulebook to take to registration (extensive discussion elsewhere on the forum).

And one last thing. In the past, the trailer actually broadcasts on a radio station that you can listen to for updates as to when your run group is able to go into your grid spots, start to run, and if you hit a cone, etc.

Oh yeah, and try to have fun, regardless of what Warren/SCNAX says :p

[73STS]

Doug

You should really try and get there on Friday.
If you can't make the test n tune, come down later for tech and registration.
Tech is open starting at 10:00 am and goes to 7:00 pm. Registration is from 5:00 - 7:00 pm. The course should be open from 2:00 pm till 8:00 pm. The lights will be on till 8:00 pm. Terry and Kim will be cooking food :) for everyone during registration.

It will take you time to tech and register and walk the course. Don't leave it till Saturday morning if possible.

[SVTfocus]

Man, you guys are making me nervous! Thanks for all the great help and advice. I think I will head straight there after work on Friday. I should be able to make it there by about 6, which should give me plenty of time to get checked in and walk the course a few times.

[chapmanr]

A Tour is really just a more structured regional with a lot of people you don't know. As Mark says, just allow yourself plenty of time because there are lots of people and a couple of extra steps.

Now, if you're entering the Pro the following weekend, there's a little more to it.

[SVTfocus]

I'll be driving my car in anger the next 3 weekends in a row... maybe next year I'll try the Pro.

[woodrufj]

... maybe next year I'll try the Pro.
I suggest you go and watch at least. Its the most spectator friedly format, especially Sunday.

Jay W