Tim,
First of all, you run a 1st class event!
Thanks to you and all your volunteers (especially Joe Daley!) who made it possible.
(why single out Joe Daley??? Because when he showed up at pre-stage, things started to Snap-Crackle-Pop!!!!)
Last weekend was my 3rd drive to Loring from Texas, and I plan to do it again in 2012.
I've run at Texas since since its inception Oct 2003, also have done 2 @ Mojave, 3 @ Maxton, 1 @ Miami.
Like LTA, all events strive to minimize grid waits.
My green Busa was 2nd off the line on Sat at 9:42am, spent a short time at my trailer pulling logs, a few ajustments, ran again at 2:32pm.
I am sure you agree, 4hrs sitting the the hot sun is not acceptable. As you point out there were several reasons for the long wait, some of those can be fixed.
On Bonneville events: they are 4-7days; 2 day events need shorter grid waits.
This Oct at Mojave Mike Borders is limiting entries to 120 two day + 30 Sun only.
Mike charges more, and thus can "afford" fewer entries.
I respectfully suggest that LTA limit entries and charge more.
Karl Gunter
As the race director, I would like to address the comments about the wait on Saturday.
1) With 160 vehicles in line, 40 vehicles per hour is a long wait. More than most are used to if they have not been to Bonneville.
2) There was a software integration issue that did cause a few very short delays in the morning. It was explained at the meeting Sunday if drivers were in attendance. The only way to address the issue Saturday would have been to shut down the system, reload software and restart everything which would have taken about 1 hour. We were all there to race, so it was dealt with manually.
3) The biggest reason for delays Saturday was that we broke a lot of gear. There were about 20 vehicle that broke, smoked, pulled out, lost power. When those issues occur, we have to hold the coarse until the cause of the problem is found and the vehicle is removed. If there are fluids present upon inspection of the at long shutdown, we then have to check 2 1/2 miles of racetrack for parts and fluids. It all takes time, but we have to be safe.
I again would like to thank everyone for there professionalism and understanding.
Tim
