One Lap questions

So I'm planning to do OLOA soon with a good friend. Like 2021 soon, so it's not right around the corner, but I do have some questions that some veterans may be able to shed light on.

The rules say each driver needs at least 2 days of a driver school. Is Evolution an acceptable school?  Are there any that me and my co-driver may also consider if it's not up to par? My local track Hallett only has a one day racing school, and I imagine taking the same school twice is kinda silly.

How are you mounting the fire extinguisher as a temporary solution?

In reply to captainawesome :

Brocker wants two days of HPDE that includes a 'sessions of classroom instruction'.  Evolution is autocross, right?  So, they want review flags, or work on 'point to pass'... and track-specific stuff autocross school might not teach.  Plus, getting on track is important to see things at speed.  Also, yes, It's good to get two days, even at the same track... personally I look to have co-drivers that have ~6 days of HPDE and/or have been signed off solo.  It's better to have had some time on track, where you'll have been surprised by something... someone fast coming up, someone going off, etc.

Also, the route usually goes up around October... which might allow you to schedule an HPDE at one of the tracks on the route.  Which is good to shakedown the car/transit setup.

Also, you'll probably want to start watching the OneLap site in July, when sign-ups go live... based on the waitlist this year.

I've done HPDE twice at Hallett so far, with one day of those being a required driver instruction portion. Another track day at the full 3.1 MSR Cresson, but no real driver education to go with it other than typical safety meeting stuff. I imagine that, plus taking the racing class would work by the sound of it? For 2020 I have multiple Hallett days planned, Heartland in Topeka, Eagles Canyon, and probably MSR Cresson again.

I did see how quick it sold out for next year, so I plan to watch the announcement like a hawk. Good to know it's July though, I assumed it was the same time as the route announcement.

Also, the rules just say you have to have a fire extinguisher with you... it says nothing about it having to be mounted to the car.  That being said, I have seen one car that didn't burn to the ground on-track because of a turbo-oil fire stopped by the car-mounted extinguisher, and a different car (911) that caught a minor oil fire on the exhaust after almost every track session.  Ymmv.

Where are people typically putting a 2 lb fire extenguisher without mounting it to the car? Currently I'm exploring a bracket that sits it in front of the passenger seat but moves with the seat when needed.

Check out the NASA and WRL events for more instruction time. 

The HST program at Hallett is VERY lax on classroom and instructors. I already knew Hallett well from going there for years and doing track days on sportbikes. I was in A group by my 2nd day which was hilariously fun. 

Z06/Boss 302/Viper all on Hoosiers..............as I drive the track almost one-handed for point-bys in my 1.6 Miata on R888s. The closing speed is mind boggling.

I've usually had it in a storage box with the "use if something goes wrong"... I.e. flares and triangles, tools, hand lights.  Usually a smaller box that gets loaded in the trunk last and is always easy to access.  Then it sits in the paddock when on track.

So, it just depends on how much you've tweaked on the car, and think it might catch fire on track.  Brock wants you to have one, because stuff happens... but it's up to you to decide to what risk profile you can handle.

Similarly, he suggests you have a road atlas in the car... but doesn't make you use it.

Further, you tech the car... it's your posterior that's on the line... so it's up to you to make sure you and the car are up to the challenge.  That's part of the reason for the mandatory insurance limits.

I guess I just assumed it was required on track. My car shouldn't be at fire risk much more than others, but thinking it isn't a terrible idea to have one in cabin.

I'll have to look at my insurance policy to see if it will need any tweaks beforehand to meet minimum.

Okay. My insurance is set to 100k so that would need to be bumped before game week. How are you co-drivers handling this though?

In reply to captainawesome :

again, don't read too far into this.  The rules state everyone must prove 'liability' insurance of $500k minimum.  I've seen people supply their homeowners policy before, or your own coverage on the car that's going, or the coverage on your primary driver.  You just got to show, your name on a liability policy with $500k minimum.

Weird, but okay. I'll investigate further. My house policy is 300k so I'm still short in that regard. It's something to chew on, and I'm not sure my planned co-driver is as enthusiastic about the whole thing as me. I may need to consider finding a different co-driver.

I do liability with my umbrella policy. 

I've always mounted the extinguisher in the car for OLOA though it can be packed in your regular gear. 

Be prepared to register early. This year's event filled up within a couple of days. 

mazdeuce - Seth said:

Be prepared to register early. This year's event filled up within a couple of days. 

I'm pretty sure sign-ups went active around July, and they went to a wait-list the day the route was announced Sept 19th... but there'd been 50-60 signed up for the few weeks before that.  Still, though, a whole lot earlier than when I signed up in January back in 2017 & 2018

Captain Awesome,

As you can read, the veteran One Lap folks can be quite helpful.  Not only on a forum, but in real life and even during the week of One Lap.  It's a stellar group of people.  As Sleepyhead pointed out, an autocross school is good for autocross but not really what we need.  I really do want two one-day schools at speed, on a real road course, with an instructor and a classroom sessions.  Chin, NASA, SCCA, HOD and many others offer events that will work just fine.  Really all I need drivers to learn is if you drop a wheel off the track, it's better to drive four-off in the grass in control than prove that you can't save it.  

As to the fire extinguisher, I ask for one in the car, after that, it's your choice where you put it.  In the pits during hot laps it wouldn't be of much use if there is a need, but, it's your car, you figure it out.  Right in front of the passenger seat with a secure mount seems to work best.

As to the recent wait list, this concept is new to me and we all are trying to sort it out.  Typically, the next event opens up for entries without fanfare or notice, sometime in July.  

Brock

Brock2 said:

Captain Awesome,

As you can read, the veteran One Lap folks can be quite helpful.  Not only on a forum, but in real life and even during the week of One Lap.  It's a stellar group of people.  As Sleepyhead pointed out, an autocross school is good for autocross but not really what we need.  I really do want two one-day schools at speed, on a real road course, with an instructor and a classroom sessions.  Chin, NASA, SCCA, HOD and many others offer events that will work just fine.  Really all I need drivers to learn is if you drop a wheel off the track, it's better to drive four-off in the grass in control than prove that you can't save it.  

As the fire extinguisher, I ask for one in the car, after that, it's your choice where you put it.  In the pits during hot laps it would be of much use if there is a need, but, it's your car, you figure it out.  Right in front of the passenger seat with a secure mount seems to work best.

As to the recent wait list, this concept is new to me and we all are trying to sort it out.  Typically, the next event opens up for entries without fanfare or notice, sometime in July.  

Brock

Thanks for taking the time to pop in and add clarifications. I've got a Chin day or two loosely planned for the spring at Eagles Canyon as well as an MVP day at Heartland in the fall. Not sure if MVP is acceptable, but with those two plus my Hallett day it sounds like it will be sorted by the time 2021 rolls around.

In reply to captainawesome :

I'm not sure of MVP, as it's not one I've ever heard of before, but more track time is always better.  You should be fine.

Brock's my hero. I'm still trying to figure out where I want to mount the extinguisher. I had thought about back of the console, but a certain driver is a bit shorter than others and he'd never be able to reach it. 

Would one of the new Element fire extinguishers be considered sufficient? I ordered 3 of these as part of a group buy. They are reputed to be superior to standard extinguishers and are SUPER light.

In reply to dyintorace :

It's the first time I've ever seen one so I have no idea of their effectiveness but I'm inclined to allow them.  It's your car.  ;-)

Brock2 said:

In reply to dyintorace :

It's the first time I've ever seen one so I have no idea of their effectiveness but I'm inclined to allow them.  It's your car.  ;-)

Brock rules. 

also, little known fact... any LapDog who ticks off Brock enough is supposed to pay $20 towards the Alzheimer's Brock Yates Tribute Fund...

and this thread, I think, brings me up to $100 due before the start of 2020's OneLap?  But, knowing me, it'll probably go higher before then.

In reply to sleepyhead the buffalo :

Keep me out of your shenanigans.... 

When registration opens is there a deposit amount required or the whole enchilada?

In reply to captainawesome :

$500