I spent a few hours on the salt today. I took plenty of pictures that I put on my Facebook page. I did that mostly to keep Stan Back from seeing what I saw. I'll summarise the race course as not all that bad. Way better than last year (before the rains came). Last year the shut down was more brown than white from the 5 on. This year I went to the 12 and way around to the short course and to the camera and past the dike without seeing mud patch #1! (Caveat: Don't get too near the dike, but you knew that).
The race course per se is good. Not as bone-dry, hard and firm like you'd really want, but not all that bad. It'd improve with more sun and wind, but it looks decent. And it is much much much better looking since it spent a winter underwater. Dragging and other course prep continues.
The access road is bumpy, as it often is. (Salt isn't the best roadbed for heavy traffic), but it gets better and better all the way to the pits. The underground river is showing 1 or 2 blue spots (puddles in the salt) already. Be careful. The pits are prepared pretty well - the salt is smooth and Not bone dry but not bad at all. There's about 1 1/2 miles of pits just so everybody can have a front row seat.
The last I heard there were about 285 pre-entries. I haven't heard from JoAnn if there's an update on that number. Also - the toilets arrive tomorrow. If you've rented one for your pit - Honey Buckets will place it for you if you ask, but understand that they're installing over a hundred units and will be busy. Patience!
The start line is about a quarter mile or so from Land's End, like last year. There will be two courses - Course 1 is the long course, #2 is short and rookie and I think it's got timing lights all the way out to the 5 so it, too can be used as a long course. I'm not positive of these details, so when I hear different I'll tell you.
Yes, the ice truck will be there. Enola Gay cafe is the food vendor and will have a "remote" unit at the start line at least for the first few days.
And then there's "who's going to be there???" I saw the 44 lakester crew at the restaurant and I saw Jim Hoogerhyde's 666 electric racer. Other than that -- I know about as much as you do at this time. When I see wheels on the salt is when I'll confirm.
