GPF Update

[Casey Creamer]

Hello fellow Stone Bridge Drivers,

 

You should all be aware that the Watkins Glen Grand Prix Festival is and always has been a rain or shine event. Generally we have been blessed for the past thirty two years with very good weather. There have been major storms leading up to our event and major storms on the Saturday after our event, but at the worst we have seen just a few minor sprinkles here and there on the day of our event.

 

The best way to ward off the rain is to come to the event entirely prepared for the worst. Bring your rain jackets and umbrellas, and even rain pants if you have them. In fact I went to REI this time last year and bought myself a new rain jacket just because I managed to wear mine out by packing it for our event for the last thirty two years without having to actually wear it.

 

And by the way, for those who like the top down experience, if it happens to sprinkle or even rain hard while you are on the Old Course doing your laps, do not even think about stopping to put up or take down your top. Once you start, there will be no stopping for anything other than a train approaching the rail road tracks. As long as you keep going, you should be able to stay dry enough.

 

I don’t know what the weather report is, but I know that our weather is changeable enough in this region that the weather report doesn’t do you much good anyway.

 

I am looking forward to watching all of you do your best to keep up with the car ahead of you.

 

See you soon,

 

Casey

 

[Casey Creamer]

Hello fellow Stone Bridge Drivers,

 

You should all know that each participant in any Stone Bridge Driver event gets display parking in one form or another on festival day after your two lap tour of the Old Course. You not only have the best parking spots at the Festival, but the display of your car IS an important part of The Festival.

 

Franklin Street reopens at 8:00.

 

Technically you are parked in for the duration of the festival, but there are a few ways around that if you really need it. Each Stone Bridge Driver event parks in a different place, so the possibility of being able to sneak out early varies with each event.

 

If you absolutely, positively, have to get out of town before the latter part of the event, you can opt out of display parking at the end of your second lap. Opting out of parking is not recommended, but if you insist on not having your display parking, when you get to the main intersection at 4^th and Franklin, opt out at the end of your 2^nd lap by one or both people in the car putting your arm out the window and pointing straight ahead. That will give the Police officer and Elizabeth (our 4^th and Franklin person) a heads up to clear the intersection so you can continue down 4^th street and fend for yourself. If you opt out, do not even think about parking in Lafayette Park with the Porsches from the Tour de Marque. Any car without the right sticker in that park will be towed.

 

If you are with Tour de Marque/Porsche you will be going straight at that intersection anyway. So if you have to opt out, you must stay with your group until they turn right on Perry Street at which point you should point straight ahead and go straight. Please do not try to turn left until you are past that intersection.

 

Now back to the rest of you. If you turn the corner at 4^th & Franklin and head in the direction of the parking, you will be parked whether you wanted to or not. Once you are on Franklin Street after the end of your 2^nd lap you are committed to parking. You will not be allowed to turn around at that point.

 

First you need to know how to count laps, even though our traffic staff is counting for you and you just need to follow our directions. By the way, only follow directions from people who are wearing yellowish vests or police or fire personnel.

 

Your first lap starts the first time you cross the S/F line regardless of where you entered the course to get there. And your second lap starts the second time you cross the S/F line, regardless of where you exit the course to park.

 

So, if you are looking to opt out of the parking, after you have crossed the S/F line the second time, when you get to the intersection of Fourth and Franklin the next time, point that you want to go straight and then you are on your own. If you follow the rest of the group that will be parking, you will be parked too, no exceptions. And of course if you are following someone who decides to opt out, take notice of them pointing their way out so that you don’t make the mistake of following them after being told so much to keep up with the car ahead of you.

 

Please follow the directions of all traffic and parking people. The most important direction will be that all cars are to be parked nose in. We have a lot of cars to put across the Old Course in a very short period of time. While one group is parking, the next group is already on course doing their laps. This complex choreography only works if the group of cars that are parking get off of the course in a timely manner.

A timely manner is my polite way of saying RIGHT NOW!

 

One key element to that is parking nose in. After your whole group is completely parked, you can find a way to turn your car around if you really need to.

 

Here is the parking breakdown event by event.  (maybe the word breakdown was poorly chosen)

 

Porsche Colors.

You are really locked in with no way out until the SVRA cars are done with their laps.

 

Tour de Marque/Porsche

 

All of you will be parking in Lafayette Park and will have no trouble being able to leave at any time. But, why would you want to leave such a beautiful setting?

 

Concorso Speciale:

 

You are pretty much locked in for the duration although there are a couple of creative ways to get out of there early, but you should plan on being there at least until the SVRA Cars arrive.

 

Glenkhana:

 

You are on display, but there are ways to leave if needed. And if you opt out or leave early you won’t get to participate in the surprise that will happen at 5:50

 

Vintage Motorcycle Rallye:

 

How hard can it be to sneak a Bike out?

 

Founders Tour:

 

You are on display, but there are a few ways out for some of you via the side street.

 

Sporting Roadster Tour:

 

You are on display, but there are a few ways out for some of you via the side street.

 

Concours d’ Elegance:

 

You are on display all day and as soon as the Race Cars leave, you can get out of there.

 

Glenora Run:

 

Now this one is a little more complicated. You will be parked on the closed Franklin Street diagonal to the curb between 4^th and 2^nd Street. If any of the ones on Franklin Street leave early it will really harm the display. But those on Franklin Street must move their cars by 8:00 at the latest. At one point we lost the privilege of parking diagonally because a few cars didn’t remember to leave by the time we had to open Franklin Street, which is also a state highway and has to open on time. Now we are back to diagonal parking there, but it will only work if every Glenora car remembers to be gone by 8:00.

 

LOONY Lotus Rendezvous:

You need to be on display because everyone likes to look at Lotus cars. And you will see that if you get hungry, there will be plenty of food available within a very short walk, so there is really no need to leave early.  And if you leave early, you will miss your 5:50 surprise.

 

 

So you see that most of you really won’t have much of a problem, but by all means if you are worried about getting out early, just opt out at the end of your laps when you get to 4^th and Franklin.

 

If you decide to opt out, make sure you let your intentions be known at 4^th and Franklin, because once you make the turn to head toward your parking area, you will be parked. There is no way at that point to turn you around or get you out of the mix. You will be parked with the rest of your group.

 

Please remember that display parking not only gets you one of the best parking spots possible, but it also is a very important part of our festival for the rest of the spectators. They love wandering over to your particular area to see all of the cool cars.

 

As long as you keep up with the car ahead of you, it will all work out just fine.

 

See you soon,

 

Casey

 

 

[Casey Creamer]

Hello fellow Stone Bridge Drivers,

 

8/22 is the deadline for all registrations in any SBD events that are not already full. And the few that are less than full, are only missing a very few cars. So now is the time to round up your procrastinating friends and get them to get the job done.

 

Assuming they will be able to keep up with the car ahead of them, even though they were behind in their registration.

 

Casey