Danville first autox

Jordan Normark · **Posted:** Tue Mar 10, 2015 4:25 pm

What happened to the old bus? For a school bus, it had a very professional look to it.

Not to beat up on our current bus too much, but I did feel a little bit of shuffle during a first to second shift coming back into Raleigh on Sunday. We are pulling quite a load with that trailer which appears to sit on a bottomed out springs 100% of the time. The good news is that I tried the A/C again and after a few minutes it was blowing cooler than ambient air. Probably low on charge? A trailer-less school bus would probably be the best value replacement for our current rig.

Scott Johnson · **Posted:** Tue Mar 10, 2015 4:51 pm

Jordan Normark wrote:

What happened to the old bus? For a school bus, it had a very professional look to it.

Not to beat up on our current bus too much, but I did feel a little bit of shuffle during a first to second shift coming back into Raleigh on Sunday. We are pulling quite a load with that trailer which appears to sit on a bottomed out springs 100% of the time. The good news is that I tried the A/C again and after a few minutes it was blowing cooler than ambient air. Probably low on charge? A trailer-less school bus would probably be the best value replacement for our current rig.

Old bus - Ron Spencer was able to SELL it to someone to use a camper/mobile ham radio outfit (pretty sure that's how it went). I think he got HOTM for actually getting us money out of the old bus.

A primary motivator for not using a school bus was maintenance cost. Bus parts cost more than HD truck parts. By a lot. I have all the tools we need for working on the current "bus," including a jack big enough to lift a corner of it. The old one? Nope.

Matt McGrain · **Posted:** Tue Mar 10, 2015 4:54 pm

Honestly, my favorite format is what NCR does at Cherry Point, 3 runs in the a.m., lunch, 3 runs in the p.m. My testing is pretty conclusive that having a full belly (usually ten dollars' worth of 5 Guys) then immediately doing three more afternoon runs or sprints to downed cones, depending on your shift, is totally doable.

Great event even with the little stuff Brice mentioned. The wireless not being setup wasn't really a big deal because the stickies were a nice touch to build the excitement after you cross the line.

I must have held the limited for a second and half heading into the last three cone wiggle in, wiggle out slalom. Looking back now, third probably would have helped and the 3-2 shift would have been pretty easy while sweeping out for the angled slalom at the pavement change. D'oh!! :stick:

RickyBeam · **Posted:** Tue Mar 10, 2015 5:14 pm

Scott Johnson wrote:

I'm pretty sure we could get an old surplus school bus and fit everything we need in that.

We (Team Duff) looked at a number of options before snagging the mobile DMV office we roll out in today.

First, when's the last time you drove a full size school bus? Those things are huge. It's like driving an aircraft carrier. The 8'x35' RV is a breeze in comparison. Second, unless you're talking *very* old, it'll be diesel, and thus, uber expensive to fix anything at all on it. (been there, that bus is now storage at Phantasm. And we don't wanna know how Hung got it there.) However, I do so love air brakes.

For reference, Mr. Lee (L&T next door to Duff Central) had a church bus for sale some time ago. It might still be there.

As for generator... I have a beefy one my dad used to use to power the house. (overkill) And we have a small, cheapy from HF -- think weed-eater. Then, there's the 10KW one built into the RV -- 1gal/hr, 4cyl ford tractor motor!

Aaron Buckley · **Posted:** Tue Mar 10, 2015 5:19 pm

I like the concept of a long 5th wheel trailer. Finding a good used gas powered 1 ton (single rear wheel or dual rear wheel) pickup trucks for not a ton of money is relatively easy. The maintenance on one of these can be done on it by a host of people in the club. As it wears out, it will be easier to sell/replace. Finding buses and selling buses are a chore and limited people in the club have an understanding of the inner workings of a bus.

Finding a good used trailer that can be modified to have some windows put in it might take some time, but if taken care of, can last a long, long time too. - AB

RickyBeam · **Posted:** Tue Mar 10, 2015 5:27 pm

Aaron Buckley wrote:

inner workings of a bus

Most of the handicap style buses are an upfitted truck/van chassis. School bus or "tour" bus, yeah, those are special snowflakes.

DickRasmussen · **Posted:** Tue Mar 10, 2015 5:40 pm

Anyone here have any knowledge regarding the brand new (I think) custom trailer Triad bought in the last year or two?

Also, their first generator ended up being an off brand which according to one source was not what was supposed to happen. It is (or hopefully by now, was) extremely loud. A quiet generator in my opinion is a MUST due to its proximity to all the "stuff" that is going on all day and where workers and competitors need to hear and think . . . which frequently means Honda, especially if you want high quality power also. Even the Onan in our camper van was much too loud as anyone who pitted near it over the years can attest.

FYI if any of you Raleigh folks see a camper van with "Orange Theory Fitness Holly Springs" graphics on it that is where our went.

Richard Casto · **Posted:** Tue Mar 10, 2015 8:14 pm

Regarding loud generators.... I assume it is mostly down to muffler design (compact and simple = loud)? Given the fabrication skills in the club, we could potentially decrease the sound level. But any solution would likely increase the bulk.

I have toyed with the idea of fabricating a custom muffler for both my personal generator and my push lawn mower! It just never rises high enough on the priority level to try.

Oh, and I like the idea of the 5th wheel trailer + tow vehicle.

Richard

Scott Johnson · **Posted:** Tue Mar 10, 2015 8:22 pm

We could get by with less trailer if we get rid of half the cones. That would also have the unintended consequence of better course design.*

*Says the guy that has attended about 6 events in the last 6 years.

RickyBeam · **Posted:** Tue Mar 10, 2015 8:23 pm

Richard Casto wrote:

Oh, and I like the idea of the 5th wheel trailer + tow vehicle.

Until you need a Class A CDL...

As for cones... I wish I had pictures of Drew's VR6 with over half the cones in it after picking up the rallyx course. (if you think we make a mess of the trailer, imagine the mess in his car.)

Aaron Buckley · **Posted:** Tue Mar 10, 2015 8:49 pm

RickyBeam wrote:

Until you need a Class A CDL...

As for cones... I wish I had pictures of Drew's VR6 with over half the cones in it after picking up the rallyx course. (if you think we make a mess of the trailer, imagine the mess in his car.)

Class A is needed for combined GVWR of 26000# or greater. No way in heck we would get near that with a trailer full of cones and some equipment behind any 1 ton. - AB

DickRasmussen · **Posted:** Tue Mar 10, 2015 9:36 pm

Richard Casto wrote:

Regarding loud generators.... I assume it is mostly down to muffler design (compact and simple = loud)? Given the fabrication skills in the club, we could potentially decrease the sound level. But any solution would likely increase the bulk.

I have toyed with the idea of fabricating a custom muffler for both my personal generator and my push lawn mower! It just never rises high enough on the priority level to try.

Oh, and I like the idea of the 5th wheel trailer + tow vehicle.

Richard

A lot of the noise from our's (in our van) and I think others like the Triad one is "mechanical" as far as I could tell. Not much room for muffler in the Honda EU2000i for example.

Arthur McDonald · **Joined:** Fri Aug 29, 2003 1:54 am **Posts:** 2052

Scott Johnson wrote:

But, I do miss the old bus at times. And split run groups.

Scott, I am immediately abdicating my Member-at-Large post in your favor. You are most eminently qualified!

Thanks for the reminder that we got rid of original school bus because it was a money pit whenever anything went wrong. Talking about that brings back some memories:

* We bought it at the end of Mark Senior's 2nd term as president ('99). Blair Still got it to use a tow vehicle/camper for his SCCA IT racing, but when his RX-7 was destroyed in a race, he offered it to us for a good price.
* We held a design contest to decide how to decorate it, and Mark Musser's kids won. Flames, checkered flags, American flag, and club logo made the list. My suggestion for a special comment about Triad painted backwards on the front axle was regrettably rejected.
* Aaron Buckley reported that he rarely let the engine drop below 4000 rpm on a trip from Cary to Rocky Mt.
* Shawn gave us the 0-60 time for the bus + towed Integra Type R. One minute.
* I jump started it with my '90 Mustang after a Sanford autocross.
* I taped a paper blue oval over the GMC logo on the grill for the 2002 Ford SVT press day autocross for the Focus SVT and supercharged Cobra Mustang @ VIR.

Attachment:

MVC-744F.JPG

* The awning joke started with this bus.

Jordan Normark · **Posted:** Tue Mar 10, 2015 10:36 pm

Richard Casto wrote:

Regarding loud generators.... I assume it is mostly down to muffler design (compact and simple = loud)? Given the fabrication skills in the club, we could potentially decrease the sound level. But any solution would likely increase the bulk.

I have toyed with the idea of fabricating a custom muffler for both my personal generator and my push lawn mower! It just never rises high enough on the priority level to try.

Oh, and I like the idea of the 5th wheel trailer + tow vehicle.

Richard

Like Dick said, it's probably mostly mechanical noise. Air cooled engines tend to make more noise than water cooled.

Richard Casto · **Posted:** Wed Mar 11, 2015 8:07 am

Jordan Normark wrote:

Like Dick said, it's probably mostly mechanical noise. Air cooled engines tend to make more noise than water cooled.

Edit: After searching I think small gas motors are mechanically noisy. Quiet box likely correct answer along with better muffler.

Richard

PS: All hail the traditional generator arguments!!!

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