Save the Date - 2020 Annual Sevens HPDE Event at NJMP - October 17/18, 2020

[Croc]

NOTE: Late change in dates as a result of NJMP needing to accommodate some event-related COVID changes

 

It is now Saturday October 17 and Sunday the 18th, 2020.

 

Numbers are capped at 15 cars - no exceptions

 

 

 

This is a 2020 Save The Date notice for the Annual Sevens HPDE Event at New Jersey Motorsports Park.

 

Subject to final confirmation we have landed on Saturday October 17 and Sunday October 18, 2020.

It is later than previous years as the traditional June/July dates are no longer offered by NJMP Drivers Club. Looking at the options available to us:

• March and April are too cold with a chance of snow still out there
  
• May is traditionally unsettled according to our resident weather expert, Yellowss7. Like all weather forecasters he is always certain and frequently wrong...
  
• June/July - no suitable dates available
  
• August - too stinking hot and humid
  
• September/October - best options available to choose from and weather is more temperate.
  

 

As in prior years, NJMP Drivers Club will be in full command of operating the day. They have generously allocated HPDE sessions to participants that will be seven-only. This is desirable as you do not have to be out on track with big heavy cars around you and your momentum will not be impeded by some big heavy car slowing you up through corners. The NJMP Drivers Club rules and regulations apply for registration, technical inspection, driver qualifications and all aspects of safety in compliance with New Jersey laws. They will offer the registration site and collect all fees for this event. Tom and I are responsible for the restaurant reservations.

 

 

The preliminary 2020 schedule looks like:

 

Friday October 16: Arrive in the PM and set up. Karting event. Casual dinner at Clubhouse

Saturday October 17: Thunderbolt HPDE. Dinner TBD (trying for Food Truck at Garage Mahal)

Sunday October 18: Thunderbolt HPDE. Awards dinner (casual) at Clubhouse

 

The good news from this is we have 2 whole days on the Thunderbolt circuit. This is something we have never managed to do before given it is the most popular circuit at NJMP. So this will be a good opportunity to get some quality track time on a fresh track for many of you. It also has a good infrastructure of garages and an observation tower to take in the entire track.

 

 

 

While the Lightning Circuit is a good fun momentum circuit, the Thunderbolt circuit is very different by being more technical in nature. The first half of the circuit is fast, long straights, fast sweepers where the key is to carry as much speed as possible. The second half of the circuit is tight, technical and quite slow in average speed. This part contains the Jersey Devil section comprised of the most radical decreasing radius corner of any race track in North America, then a heavily off camber slow left corner which rewards experimenting with different entry points, apex points and exit lines.

 

For those who have never participated in this event then two videos of the event by Glen S, forum member, Lotus Enthusiast and all round good guy, will help you appreciate it.

 

2018

 

 

2017

 

 

 

For an instructional look at the circuit, below is a 360 degree video. For those who have not used one before then:

 

1) Click through this video into youtube itself.

2) Play the video

3) move the camera around by (a) the arrows top left, or (b) clicking your mouse on the video playing and dragging to look behind, up, sides or down

 

If you move the camera to point down slightly you will see I overlaid a track map on the passenger seat below the speed. You may have to move the view slightly right to read the various captions anyway as the youtube screen size is narrower than my video edit app. Sorry no sound as this camera does not have an external mic.

 

Time:

0:00 Leaving the pits - where to line up to await going out on circuit

0:23 Pit lane and the turn onto the circuit

0:40 Leaving the pits and the blend line you should follow merging onto track

0:52 For the next two warm up laps I have added text commentary on some of the more tricky corners and what you should not do.

5:35 Some clean laps at a good moderate pace. There was too much traffic to be really quick but this will show the various lines. I deliberately tried lots of different lines in the Devil to show you what happens - the speed is relatively low. Experimentation will teach you a lot about your car in this corner. Just watch the entry speed on the decreasing radius right hand corner on entry into the Devil - it will catch you out first time.

10:38 I lap a Stalker.

19:19 I follow Tom so you can see the track lines from a different perspective.

23:50 Returning to the pits and back of pits

 

 

 

This will above all be a social event. We do it to enjoy our sevens' unique handling and performance capabilities in a facility that allows safety compared with doing the same on road (which would be illegal too). There will be no racing or timing of events. We want the atmosphere to be relaxed and social and above all enjoying our cars as they were designed to be used, in a mutually respectful and safe manner.

 

Final details will be posted as they come together. Final confirmation pending from NJMP Drivers Club. Registration will not open until last week of August. In advance, feel free to PM Tom (Yellowss7) or me on this forum if you have questions. Alternatively you can email sevensarefun AT G mail DOT com

 

Tom and I are looking forward to welcoming you to the 2020 event!

 

Edited August 25, 2020 by Croc

[xcarguy]

Another great video by Glen....

 

[Croc]

Have a youtube video display on me!

 

[xcarguy]

Never can get mine to display....what am I doing g wrong?

[Kitcat]

It lives!!!

Good work Tom and Croc! Things weren't looking so good for this event continuing last summer.

Edited November 12, 2019 by Kitcat

[wemtd]

Bravo! You’re on my calendar- hopefully This gives all of us time to have our cars in top top shape (and repair/break them a few times beforehand)

Edited November 13, 2019 by wemtd

[fastg]

Vacation booked

 

Graham

[Vovchandr]

Penciled in.

 

This time I'm not driving it for sanity's sake. I've joined all you fancy enclosed trailer folks.

[Kitcat]

This event prompted my decision to buy an enclosed trailer 8 years ago. The thought of the typical rush-hour take-no-prisoners traffic on I-95 pushed me into it.For the previous 4 years I had driven to all events, far and wide, and always somehow made it home. It makes life easier, tho trailer ownership its not without its own trials and tribulations.

[Vovchandr]

This event prompted my decision to buy an enclosed trailer 8 years ago. The thought of the typical rush-hour take-no-prisoners traffic on I-95 pushed me into it.For the previous 4 years I had driven to all events, far and wide, and always somehow made it home. It makes life easier, tho trailer ownership its not without its own trials and tribulations.

 

Yeah I'm happy I did it but I'm well aware of the consequences of having another trailer. It's just like having another project car in a way. This makes it my third trailer. I have an open 6x10 for misc jobs, enclosed 6x10 for my race bike and other misc jobs/storage and now a 7.5x18 aluminum for the Caterham.

 

Right now engineering a way to have my XC70 to be comfortable towing upto 5000lbs. Rated for 3300lbs but with proper upgrades it should be fine for 5k and thats where I draw the line. (Brake control, weight distribution, class III, R brembo brakes, R motor, other misc etc). After looking into it for a long while the math checks out. We shall see if practice does (car is still relatively light and aerodynamic profile is different than regular tow rigs). Really can't/won't justify having another vehicle for the ~10 times a year I need to tow things. It won't be ideal but it should do the job.

Edited November 13, 2019 by Vovchandr

[Croc]

Vlad - Steve M has a XC70 and was towing his Caterham in a trailer. I think his trailer dimensions were smaller than yours and probably lighter as a result. I remembered it well as it was nice a nice package. I like the new Volvo SUV range. Pity about its lack of a V8 engine...

[Croc]

Never can get mine to display....what am I doing g wrong?

 

 

1) type "[yt]" html

2) past in your youtube / xtube /etc address, in this case "https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gnO2eOShf7Q"

3) extract the code   "gnO2eOShf7Q" and delete everything else

4) finish off by typing "[/yt]"

5) end result should look like [yt]gnO2eOShf7Q[/yt ]   extra space added to just illustrate what it should look like.  If you delete that extra space then....

 

 

 

 

Text looks strange I had to do it as PHP HTML as the forum software was automatically deleting the text to try and post the youtube.

Edited November 13, 2019 by Croc

[Kitcat]

Right Vlad. I have had every mechanical issue with my trailer short of fire, and was close to that once. Just keep those wheel hubs greased. And upgrade to radial tires immediately, and carry 2, not 1, spare tires, and a trailer wheel ramp for tire changes, and ....

BTW, I have a spare brand new, Prodigy RF proportional trailer mounted brake controller system (model 90250) if you need one. I plugged it in once and it works as advertised. It operates via blue tooth so no wire splicing is needed. Mine has worked flawlessly for 7 years. I had to get an adapter plug so it could read the trailer signal-apparently the trailer's LED lights confused it. That adapter cost $15 maybe.

My buy-it-now price is $200 including shipping, about $100 off internet price, last time I ckd.

[Vovchandr]

Right Vlad. I have had every mechanical issue with my trailer short of fire, and was close to that once. Just keep those wheel hubs greased. And upgrade to radial tires immediately, and carry 2, not 1, spare tires, and a trailer wheel ramp for tire changes, and ....

BTW, I have a spare brand new, Prodigy RF proportional trailer mounted brake controller system (model 90250) if you need one. I plugged it in once and it works as advertised. It operates via blue tooth so no wire splicing is needed. Mine has worked flawlessly for 7 years. I had to get an adapter plug so it could read the trailer signal-apparently the trailer's LED lights confused it. That adapter cost $15 maybe.

My buy-it-now price is $200 including shipping, about $100 off internet price, last time I ckd.

 

Hm. I have been waiting on a Black Friday sale for this model Tekonsha 90195 P3 https://www.amazon.com/dp/B000P17NXQ/ref=psdc_15737671_t1_B007O5GXOG for sometime where I expect it to be about $100 according to the price history. I'm not familiar with your model at all or whether RF is an avenue I'd rather pursue and what the advantages would be. I do also have LED lights on the trailer as well.

[xcarguy]

1) type "[yt]" html . . . /QUOTE]
 

You had me at yt :jester:

Edited November 13, 2019 by xcarguy

[panamericano]

If the tow vehicle is relatively light duty, one can always drive...slower. gasp. Look ahead. Good luck.

[panamericano]

And, if ordering a trailer. it is usually easy to specify the same bolt pattern as the truck/car. That makes it easy to have 2 spare tires.

[FE07]

Vlad- just another option for you or anyone else without a tow vehicle. Rent from Enterprise commercial. F 250's set up to tow with unlimited mileage for around $110/day.

 

Gave my Touraeg Tdi back to VW couple years ago and have been renting from Enterprise since. Easy to deal with, more room in my driveway and no insurance, registration etc..

 

Course I have no way to move my trailer around in the driveway and have to plan ahead when I need a truck. Just another option.

 

Looking forwards to the October date. Hopefully no friends with kids getting married that weekend!!!!

 

Jim

[Vovchandr]

Vlad- just another option for you or anyone else without a tow vehicle. Rent from Enterprise commercial. F 250's set up to tow with unlimited mileage for around $110/day.

 

Gave my Touraeg Tdi back to VW couple years ago and have been renting from Enterprise since. Easy to deal with, more room in my driveway and no insurance, registration etc..

 

Course I have no way to move my trailer around in the driveway and have to plan ahead when I need a truck. Just another option.

 

Looking forwards to the October date. Hopefully no friends with kids getting married that weekend!!!!

 

Jim

 

Jim, I considered it.

 

Unfortunately closest one is over an hour + away. Meaning to pick it up > back home to hook > track > home to unhook> return truck > back home adds about ~5 hours worth of work/driving making it an ineffective option.

 

Car has proven to do about ~2000 pounds so far with basic setup on my smaller steel enclosed and 3 bikes in it without brakes on single axle. Aluminum trailer (2000lbs) and Caterham (1500lbs) and other misc shouldn't be much over 4000lbs. I have good confidence it should be able to handle it reasonably well after I'm done with the setup. Again stock rating on the XC70 is 3300, same chassis XC90 is rated for 5000.

 

Only wild card is pure physics of a huge/tall/long trailer behind my car. (it has extra tall ceilings too, luckily V nose and slant nose).

 

Croc, I couldn't find any references to Steve's XC70 on the forum or any pictures.

[BlueBDA]

Nice work Croc and Tom. It's on my calendar - looking forward to it. Oct 2020 gives me more time to get everything sorted on my car .

 

We just got a new Toyota Rav4 Hybrid. 1750 lb towing capacity (although the "Adventure Grade" Rav4 has 3500lb towing capacity - not sure what makes the difference). I'm looking into trailers like this:

 

https://www.alumaklm.com/utility/single-axle/6310-utility-trailer#standard-equipment

 

My car would fit, and it would put me under 1750lb. If I tilt it properly I might even be able to use that ramp for my car.