SHO National Convention
#10
SHO's EAST! Our Nations Capital and Beyond
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SHO National Convention
#10 |
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July 22-25, 2002 |
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FAQ/QUESTIONS/ANSWERS |
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Go to the main convention overview page (Click Here to go directly to the Pre-Registration Page) Last Minute news/announcements: Pre-Registration is now closed. EVERYONE DRIVE SAFE TO THE CONVENTION....KEEP THE RUBBER
SIDE DOWN, WATCH YOUR SPEED, LIKE THE BRITISH SAY: "SAFETY-FAST!" First mailing posted for those that didn't get it, new info added Some people did not get their mailing for whatever reason, if so, just click HERE and you can read and/or print out the forms that were mailed out. IF you need to add events (all events still available) just e-mail or call us to start the process or FAX the info/request to: 309-444-8570 FLASH! Frederick in drought, SHO Club to help out! It turns out that Frederick MD, our home base for the convention is in a drought, see this LINK to read about it. How does this effect us? First, we can NOT wash our cars with a hose at the host hotel. I am not sure if commercial car washes will be open, I suspect they will, but they may be costly and hard to get into. According to the story, we might even be fined if we take water from the hotel rooms and wash cars outside. I suggest that everyone bring at least a couple gallons of water for washing/cleaning of the car during the convention. The judges will NOT penalize a car for not being spotlessly clean during the SHOw. In fact, we may have an award for the dirtiest car! This can be a P.R. bonus for us, and can't hurt our fun at all. None of our events (other than the SHOw) revolve around water, and restaurants will still serve water with meals, but only if requested. Let me emphasize: THIS IS NOT A PROBLEM FOR US! In fact, like the proverbial "make lemons out of lemonade" saying, I consider this an opportunity to have some additional fun. Last minute details: After July 10, please FAX your Registration in or send by overnight or next-day courier. We will be leaving for the convention on the 20th so won't get your registration if it comes in that day. FAX, e-mail or Call us if in doubt about getting it to us on time, or if you are making changes. You WILL be allowed to register AT THE CONVENTION, but we would appreciate it if you would FAX your form to us or call us so we can have your registration packet made up in advance. It makes things go MUCH quicker at the registration table. Convention mailings: The mailing to those that have pre-registered was sent out June 7th. If you send in a registration and we get it after the 7th, we will mail your packet ASAP. That packet includes directions to the hotel, last minute instructions, and forms for those in the SHOw and in the track events at the drags and Summit Point. If you do not get your packet, let us know. If you have questions please contact us. DO NOT WAIT TILL THE LAST MINUTE TO PRE-REGISTER! Send in your Pre-Registration NOW so we can get as accurate a hold on attendance. It looks like this will be a well attended convention. Summit Point News/Rules: NEW INFO: NO convertibles can run without a roll bar/cage. bolt-0n factory hardtops allowed. (we know there were never any SHO Convertibles, but some people own convertibles of other makes, and if their SHO breaks down (never!) they asked about bringing them. Not to Summit Point for high speed touring. A full packet of information has now been mailed out. Here are the basics: NUMBERS: NOTE: the packet tech inspection form indicates you need numbers on both sides of the car 8" high. In your registration packet at the convention, we will supply you with a number that MUST be on the top-middle portion of your WINDSHIELD. That same number should be on the side of your car for the Summit point event. Don't spend money on custom numbers, we can put it on with shoe polish on the side windows, at the event, or you can use your own shoe polish at the event. If you already have numbers on your car, and they are not the number you got assigned for the convention, you don't have to remove them, but try to put a slash through them in masking tape/electrical tape/duct tape, so the corner workers won't be confused. INSPECTION: ALL vehicles must be inspected before you arrive at the convention. A tech sheet will be sent to everyone. It is your responsibility to make sure that all elements on the sheet are looked at by either you or a competent mechanic. DO NOT assume that your brakes are "ok". Last year several people wound up with zero brake pad at the end of the day. Best advice is to make sure you have NEW pads in the front and 1/2 pad or more in the back. Go with a good quality pad, not cheap parts store stuff. OEM Ford pads will work great for this type of event, but a mild race pad is better. Check SHOtimes.com and V8SHO.com for more info on what is available. Performance Friction, Carbotech, and others all make pads that will more than last for an event like this. If in doubt about something on your car, get it fixed! DRIVERS MEETING: EVERY driver must attend the meeting the morning of the race at the track. Be on time and we will get on the track on time. There will be a DRIVERS MEETING after the Tech Session Tuesday PM at 2:45pm. This is not mandatory due to the late notice, but it is advised that you be there. TIRES: 3/32 tread depth is usually enough for an event of this type, especially if you run race tires. Street tires should have at least that depth all the way across the tread. If the outside edge is bald, you may not be let on the track! Plan on running higher than usual tire pressures for street tires, follow the manufacturers instructions for race tires. Use 40 psi cold as a starting point for street tires. HELMET/CLOTHING: A Snell M95 or SA95 or newer helmet is required. DOT approval alone is NOT allowed, it MUST have the SNELL sticker. See below for some ideas on a place to start your search if you need a new helmet. Don't count on renting one at the track, although you might be able to borrow a helmet. NOTE a helmet is a very personal item to most people, something you sweat into, etc. If you autocross, or like these kinds of events, invest a couple hundred in a good helmet that will be YOURS and then you won't have to worry. Get a good helmet at a low price for the Summit Point Event: Check out these sites; http://www.racerwholesale.com They have some closeouts of Snell 95 full face helmets as low as 89.95! Top quality Snell SA2000 Simpson open face at under $220. Also visit: http://www.helmetcity.com They have some good prices on certain versions also. The Snell 95 units lose five years of usefulness, so you SHOULD get a much lower price on them. IF possible get a Snell 2000 unit. You will get 15 years of use if you take care of it. This year you need at least a Snell 95 sticker to participate at Summit Point. No helmet is necessary for drag racing unless you are in the 10's. Track rules: More on this in the packet, but basically, passing is allowed only in certain locations on the track, and NEVER in a turn! Passing in a turn may be reason for being kicked out of the event on the FIRST infraction! Safety is the first rule at this event. It is NOT a race, but driver training and education. If everyone plays nice, we will all have a fun and safe day. Do NOT follow excessively close. This looks neat in NASCAR and IRL/CART, but isn't safe with street cars and drivers that do not know each other. Leave a reasonable gap in front and behind. Track Etiquette: Passing: If you are holding up cars, then let them around in the passing zone. ONE CAR at a time may pass unless the car being passed slows and points more cars around. There is a reason for this. If more than one car passes, then the car being passed must slow so much that they don't get to practice going into the corners safe and at normal speeds. So be aware of what is happening. Let others around when needed, and when passing, be nice and don't cut in too soon. When pointing someone around, do it immediately upon entering the passing straight, don't wait till near the end of the zone. Slow slightly to let the car around since most of our cars have similar power, without slowing, the pass may not be safe if the car being passed doesn't slow slightly to let the other car around. Other rules: The packet you get will explain flags, corner worker stations and other rules. If you have a question, please ask: mailto:shoclub1@shoclub.com Drag Strip News: There will be open timed runs all morning, with plenty of time to get your car dialed in for eliminations. Remember we OWN the track for this event, no waiting on bracket cars, or imports. ONLY SHO's and invited guests of the club and host club will be present. NUMBERS: As with the Summit Point event, you will probably need numbers on the side or back windows. We can put those on with shoe polish at the track. You don't need to buy them. You must use the number assigned to you by us, and you must have the vinyl letters on your windshield at all times. After a lunch break we go into eliminations. The track will have a food stand open with pretty good food, or bring your own for a picnic. (NOTE: no alcoholic beverages allowed on the premises) Eliminations consist of two classes, Automatic cars, and manual transmission cars in a bracket elimination. Try to bring some shoe polish or special windshield stuff to put your times on the windows. If you don't know how it is done, lots of people will be happy to tutor you in the basics. The two winners will run for King of the SHO Hill! NOTE: Depending on the number of "non-SHO's" at the drags we may have a third class: "non-SHO.". If so, there will be an elimnation for all the non-SHO's and if the "king of the hill" SHO wants, at their choice, they can race the "non-SHO" winner for overall champ. (Some people fly in and rent, you can't rent an SHO, some people have their SHO fail and can't take it, they bring another car, and some people have sold their SHO, but still want to be part of the event, we don't want to leave these people out of the fun!). We expect to be done about 3pm to get everyone back to the hotel for a swim and rest before the Thursday night banquet. If you have never done drag racing at a track before, this is the time to do it! No pressure, lots of friends around to help and cheer you on, no losers, just people having fun. If you are afraid of beating on your car, then just drive it as fast and hard as you feel comfortable. Not every run has to be all out. Just being on the track is a blast, and the price is cheap. Try a slow start and when you get in second, then floor it and pretend you are merging on the interstate beltline around any big city! Possible dyno runs at the drag strip. We are trying to get a portable dyno to be at the drag strip. The cost is $70 for a couple of runs. This is about normal. We need about 30 people to commit before we can guarantee that it will be there. If you sign up and that part of the event is cancelled, you will get a full refund. This is not hard on a car, and a lot of fun to watch. Sign up when you send in your registration, or let us know to add it to your events if you have already sent them in. Caravan Information: So
far, we have several people putting together caravans from all over the
country. Ron Porter is putting together a big one from the upper
Midwest. Caravan leaders try to contact other leaders and see if you
can't all hook up and arrive together, it is a lot more fun. What Channel to use on the FRS or CB:
A Note about refunds: HOST HOTEL ANNOUNCED!
BUT, call the Hampton in Frederick, directly if you have problems with reservations:
Now, how do you get in on the fun? Just print out and fill in the pre-registration form at this link: 2002 Registration Form. Send it in with your pre-registration fee. In the spring we will send you a mailing as outlined above. See you at SHO's EAST! July 22-25,2002
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