2008 12 Hours of Temecula #2

[Pho'dUp]

Jason and is his crew run a great event here at Temecula. Sean, just call and the resort and ask about campsites. You can always just drive up the day of too.

Common and do it Spring Rubber! It'll be nice to hear some music out on the race course.

[L8 APEKS]

So if you aren't camping...where can the racers set up a "spot" to rest/wrench/nap/etc during the event?

[shudder]

Originally Posted by L8 APEKS

So if you aren't camping...where can the racers set up a "spot" to rest/wrench/nap/etc during the event?

Anywhere you like. Seriously -- there's all sorts of space available right along the course, and right where the camp spots are. Of course, the earlier you arrive, the better your spot will be, but we really should all try to hook up and get a complete STR locale going. Folks up for that???

I haven't reserved a campsite yet. Still too wrapped up in 24 Hours of Adrenalin afterglow. Are there even any Lower Merlot spots left? Poor me... O_o

Can Willie and I double up with anyone? Our tent is small. Really. Okay not so much. (That's turning into a boring tune, huh? -- I'm just really bad at making plans.)

We'll be racing solo again, both me and Willie.

[L8 APEKS]

Originally Posted by shudder

Anywhere you like. Seriously -- there's all sorts of space available right along the course, and right where the camp spots are. Of course, the earlier you arrive, the better your spot will be, but we really should all try to hook up and get a complete STR locale going. Folks up for that???

I haven't reserved a campsite yet. Still too wrapped up in 24 Hours of Adrenalin afterglow. Are there even any Lower Merlot spots left? Poor me... O_o

According to Vail Lakes' website, ALL of the Lower Merlot spots are still open. This confused me a little!

I was also wondering about a big STR trackside setup. How can we make this happen??

Do they just let people set up anywhere along the course, or only in a specific area (say, start/finish area)?

Sorry to ask stoopid Q's, but there's no FAQ anywhere for endurance events.

[surlygal]

Originally Posted by L8 APEKS

According to Vail Lakes' website, ALL of the Lower Merlot spots are still open. This confused me a little!

I was also wondering about a big STR trackside setup. How can we make this happen??

Do they just let people set up anywhere along the course, or only in a specific area (say, start/finish area)?

Sorry to ask stoopid Q's, but there's no FAQ anywhere for endurance events.

Long answer:
Not all the lower merlot spots are open I checked this evening.

I understand your frustration and all the questions, just show up with some support early, it will all make sense when you get there. This is still very grassroots, your not going to see a huge turnout like some of the other endurance events.Instead your going to find a bunch of real positve racers out here having fun and leaving their ego's at the door.

Short answer:
Quit your bitchen show up to race, you'll never regret it

[shudder]

Originally Posted by surlygal

Short answer:
Quit your bitchen show up to race, you'll never regret it

L8 APEKS -- I know how you feel! But, Traci's absolutely right. I felt the same way as you when I went down to T for my first race there in Jan 07, but it really does make sense once you get there. You are free to set up your EZ-Up or whatever right along the main drag that racers use to head out on the loop. In fact, when you do this you see folks whizz by all day and give them a bell or two. It's fun and very (sort of) relaxed.

To give you a bit of an idea of where the track starts, lok at this map: Lower Merlot. The track start for this race, assuming we go out along the lake and then up Dam Climb, goes from left to right right where the words "Lower Merlot" are on the map. When you get tothe capital M in Merlot, it turns up toward the top and heads out to the lake.

So, there is a fire road right along the letters, as noted above, and we set up support along the road.

Bathrooms are right across the loop road from camp 241.

Camps 224, 223 and 222 are down a little hill as you head out toward Merlot Mesa. Merlot Mesa are sites that are not near the track, but I have stayed out there camping, and then set up support near track as noted above.

Jason Ranoa (race org.) runs us on a "Parade Loop" at the start of the race to stretch us out a bit, so he leads us out on his 4 wheeler or motorcycle at Camp 231 or so right at 9AM sharp and then has us a loop out along Merlot Mesa, down to Camp 130 where we got right, down to Camp 148 where we go right again and up the little hill where we pass Rincon on our right (which is up another hill), around the big oak (which is the odd green dot in the road just below Lower Merlot), then head out on the track through the camps right over the capital M in Merlot.

We ride all day, then gotta roll in by 9PM -- if you roll in at 9:01PM your last lap don't count.

There's some detail for ya. See ya there?

shud

[L8 APEKS]

Originally Posted by shudder

There's some detail for ya. See ya there?

shud

LOL...nobody is bitchin' at all...but if I don't know what to plan for beforehand, I will feel the wrath of my girlfriend who:

1) Does NOT fare well in hot weather

and

2) Needs an airbed to camp.

(I can post this because she isn't yet registered on STR....so shhhh! Our little secret!)

I just need to be prepared, more for her sake. hehe. If it were just me, I'd be content with whatever.

Thank you for the info...and yes...I registered solo yesterday. I will definitely be seeing you there!

[shudder]

...no, not about racing, about CAMPING!!

I just got spot 227 adjacent to other STR'ers. Cost for two nights is $81 smackers. Call Vail Lake Resort @ 866-824-5525, mention the race and Isela will grant you 10% off the normal rate -- she's a real nice lady that way.

We're up by the start of the loop, so may not need to set up separate support areas?...

We'll see I guess.

Here's what's still available right now for both nights:

225
226
233
234
237
238
239
240
242
243
244
245
246
249
250

Call now! Don't be reserved!

hth,

shud

[Pho'dUp]

Sean, you might be pretty much screwed just at item #1.

Originally Posted by L8 APEKS

LOL...nobody is bitchin' at all...but if I don't know what to plan for beforehand, I will feel the wrath of my girlfriend who:

1) Does NOT fare well in hot weather

and

2) Needs an airbed to camp.

(I can post this because she isn't yet registered on STR....so shhhh! Our little secret!)

I just need to be prepared, more for her sake. hehe. If it were just me, I'd be content with whatever.

Thank you for the info...and yes...I registered solo yesterday. I will definitely be seeing you there!

[shudder]

Originally Posted by L8 APEKS

2) Needs an airbed to camp.

BTW, I camp on an airbed. O_o

Anyone wanna make sumpin of it?

Huh?

Bueller?

Huh?



shud

[dubjay]

I'm in spot #228. I recommend my neighbors bring some earplugs for Saturday night. My wife says I snore when I'm very tired or drink a lot, so we may be in for a double whammy situation.

You may mistake the droning noise for a heavy breathing bear, but as far as I know, there are no bears to be found by Vail Lake.

[Pho'dUp]

Originally Posted by dubjay

I'm in spot #228. I recommend my neighbors bring some earplugs for Saturday night. My wife says I snore when I'm very tired or drink a lot, so we may be in for a double whammy situation.

You may mistake the droning noise for a heavy breathing bear, but as far as I know, there are no bears to be found by Vail Lake.

Oh jeez, I'm right next to DubJ. I've got earplugs but we're gonna slap a few of these on you too.

[allison]

Don't know if we're gonna reserve a spot or just go home ($40 a night is steep!).

FWIW, apparently they are changing a few things on the course, such as ASCENDING the bridges and switchbacks instead of descending them. So I have no idea if our pre-ride was wildly off base or not. This according to EC and one other guy.

[kev]

I'm thinking I might do this race. I'll probably drive in and go home. I like sleeping in a nice comfortable bed after the race.

[shudder]

Originally Posted by allison

Don't know if we're gonna reserve a spot or just go home ($40 a night is steep!).

FWIW, apparently they are changing a few things on the course, such as ASCENDING the bridges and switchbacks instead of descending them. So I have no idea if our pre-ride was wildly off base or not. This according to EC and one other guy.

You guys can double up with me and Willie. We're tenting it, so will have plenty of room on our little tract of land for another tent I am sure. Let me know if you and Justin wanna do that. It's all good.

shud

[allison]

Originally Posted by shudder

You guys can double up with me and Willie. We're tenting it, so will have plenty of room on our little tract of land for another tent I am sure. Let me know if you and Justin wanna do that. It's all good.

shud

We might take you up on that. We're pretty close (i'd say it's about a 25 mins drive?) so we may opt to go home as well. Maybe we'll chip in for the daytime campout

[shudder]

Originally Posted by Pho'dUp

Hey, Carl!! Pass 'em around -- I snore, too!!! (It's gonna be a symphony out there...)

[sdyeti]

Just curious...are folks camping so that when the race is over at 9pm they don't have to head home late?