Barber/Auburn FSAE Practice

[Peter Jones]

Barber Motorsports Park in Leeds, Alabama, and Auburn University's War Eagle Motorsports are once again putting together a competition practice. Tentative date is 23 January 2010. Eligible cars are those that have passed FSAE tech (i.e., 2010 cars are specifically dis-allowed), and are still in condition to pass tech for the rules under which they competed. Cars will be teched, noised, and braked. Teams will have the opportunity to run through all four dynamic events in one day to practice the demands of keeping up with a competition schedule. AutoX and Endurance will run on Barber's road course. This time, unfortunately, we will have to share the costs of the event (insurance, ambulance, set-up), and will need to collect an entry fee (the total is something like $3,000, which will be split between as many teams as show). Yes, multiple cars per school are allowed. No, we do not guarantee good weather (but probability of snow is low). Caution - we are still working this event out and getting it set, but it now sounds to us like it will probably go, and so we figured we'd better get the word out to you. If interested, please contact Peter Jones jonesp1@auburn.edu (334) 844-3368.

[Peter Jones]

Barber Motorsports Park in Leeds, Alabama, and Auburn University's War Eagle Motorsports are once again putting together a competition practice. Tentative date is 23 January 2010. Eligible cars are those that have passed FSAE tech (i.e., 2010 cars are specifically dis-allowed), and are still in condition to pass tech for the rules under which they competed. Cars will be teched, noised, and braked. Teams will have the opportunity to run through all four dynamic events in one day to practice the demands of keeping up with a competition schedule. AutoX and Endurance will run on Barber's road course. This time, unfortunately, we will have to share the costs of the event (insurance, ambulance, set-up), and will need to collect an entry fee (the total is something like $3,000, which will be split between as many teams as show). Yes, multiple cars per school are allowed. No, we do not guarantee good weather (but probability of snow is low). Caution - we are still working this event out and getting it set, but it now sounds to us like it will probably go, and so we figured we'd better get the word out to you. If interested, please contact Peter Jones jonesp1@auburn.edu (334) 844-3368.

[BMH]

How much interest has there been for this event? I'd like to talk our team into going.

[Peter Jones]

Just 2 so far - Auburn and Louisville. Probably because I guessed long on the cost. I'm working on getting that down or sponsored, and am optimistic.

[BMH]

Cool, well Ill discuss this event to my team and hopefully we can attend this event! I think it would be a very good option for our team since ~90% of our team members are new plus it would be a good opportunity for testing/training.

[poe21]

any news on this event. Mississippi State University is interested, especially since we never got the car to run last year at Barber(I hate electrical problems).

[Chris Texas]

Why no 2010 cars allowed? You are doing your own tech.

Chris Drew
Team Captain
THE University of Texas at Austin

[MarcusT]

@ poe- Currently the Barber race is still on. If you guys are interested contact our faculty advisor,Dr. Peter Jones (jonesp1@auburn.edu) for more information.

@ Chris- To tech a new car would be difficult for the volunteers and staff, who are mostly FSAE alumni. If the car comes with it's previous tech stickers it is alot easier to check it to make sure it is still "sound". But feel free to speak with Dr. Jones to see if it would be possible to bring your 2010 car.

For all interested this was a very fun event last year and would be a great learning experience for all involved. We are planning (fingers crossed) to bring 3 cars this year. Since we are only guaranteed one competition this year, we will be using this event to get newbies and new section leaders familiar with the competition setting and coping with problems associated with them. Hope to see you there!

[Peter Jones]

I just want to let teams know that the probabilities of this event actually happening are good. The words of Barber's General Manager are "This event will take place!". The date is fixed at 23 January. We're still working on cost for insurance and ambulance, and so don't hold me to this, but my guess is no more than $300 per car, and perhaps as low as $100.

Currently interested teams are:
Auburn
Georgia Tech
Louisville
Mississippi State
Southern Poly

Possibly thinking about it:
Alabama
Oklahoma State
Tennessee Tech

[woodyracing]

do ya'll use the whole road course or the cut-off at T5?

[Peter Jones]

Woodyracing - T5. Hmmm. Don't have my course map with me. But no, it will not be the full BMP course. We want to keep lap time/distance somewhat similar to the FSAE competition experience, and also, we probably won't have enough volunteers to cover the whole track to FSAE standards.

All teams - One hesitates to say 100%, but the chance for this event actually happening are now almost certain. Also, the cost is down to a total of $1500, split on a per car basis (Auburn is bringing 3). Further, there is still a working chance that a sponsor will come through, making the event free to teams.

Very soon I'm going to be getting down to confirmation and arrangements.

[poe21]

so if a total of 15 cars show up, then it would be a $100 entry fee per car? Sorry, I was just a little confused by the wording.

Thanks,
Ryan

[jrickert]

In the past this event has been a blast. No static events. Just pure fun the way it was meant to be had. Happy new years!

[Peter Jones]

Ryan-

Yeah. Sorry. $1500/15=$100, assuming $1500 and assuming 15.

[woodyracing]

anybody know where I can find an onboard video of the partial course? Been searching on youtube and couldn't find anything. I've got thousands of laps on the full course but never done the partial

[Peter Jones]

UPDATE

Honda Manufacturing of Alabama has just agreed to sponsor this event. Therefore, the event will be FREE to all teams. Also - we are now in the detailed planning and scheduling mode. If your team wants to be in this practice event, they you need to contact me ASAP. It wouldn't hurt for teams that have already contacted me to reconfirm their interest. I need to know if you're coming, and how many cars.

Schedule will be as follows (more specific clock times to follow later, once I have better car numbers):
First thing - tech (confirmation check) and brakes (no formal tilt or noise, but we'll flag you if you pull all the packing out or leak stuff)
Second thing - Acceleration and Skid Pad running concurrently
Third thing - Autocross
Then Lunch break (so we will have to be really humping in the morning - learning to hump is what this is all about!)
Fourth thing - Endurance

AutoX and Enduro will be on the Barber track, coned to some semblance of an FSAE course. But we just can't cone out the elevation changes - you'll just have to live with them http://fsae.com/groupee_common/emoticons/icon_wink.gif

Peter Jones
jonesp1@auburn.edu

[RyMan]

To the teams attending,

What are your lodging plans for the weekend? On the off chance that some guys stick around after a full day of racing and party late into the night, I think it would be in everyone's interest to stay within walking distance of each other. So I am curious if anyone plans on spending Saturday night there, and if you are where are you staying?

[MarcusT]

Auburn will be heading back, since its only about 2 hours away. You guys are more than welcome to follow us back to AU. I'm sure there would be a couple of couches available to sleep on.

[Ben Jamin']

Just wanted to say that Barber was a blast. +1 to Auburn for getting it all set up. Chick Fil A hit the spot right before the 12:30 crash in the trailer. Loved the course, I hope to see the same one next year!

Hope to see a lot more cars next time. Auburn was off and on the track all day and GTs day was ended in endurance unfortunately and packed up early. The Ville had a great test and put an estimated 40+ miles on the car and one set of tires. Lots of driver training and a little trash talking between us.

All in all it was a great trip and hope to hear how everyone else thought it went too!

[Peter Jones]

Sorry so much time has gone by, but here's a quick wrap-up:

Between lack of money to fix old cars and lack of money to travel, attendance was way down at just three cars: Auburn, Georgia Tech, and Louisville. The decision was made to maximize time on the Barber track, and so Acceleration and Skid Pad were canceled in favor of more runs in Autocross and Endurance. All the cars got through at least two complete Endurance runs and tons of AutoX's. Good day, good running, great track. Tons of volunteers kept everything moving.

Here's a site with some photos. As you can see, Barber opened up everything for us and let us go.
http://www.eng.auburn.edu/~pjo...AE.Practice.2010.htm (http://www.eng.auburn.edu/%7Epjones/Barber.Honda.Auburn.FSAE.Practice.2010.htm)

Plan is to do it again next year. We hope to have more cars, and we expect to be way better organized. Please volunteer to help run the thing! See you then!

-Peter Jones
jonesp1@auburn.edu