THUNDER 2

Race Director
Pre-Race Information

On May 30 & 31 the NJBA will have its second race of its 2009 race season. We have been actively working on bringing you another race and our City of Lake Elsinore hosts have worked hard to accommodate us and are happy to have us back. Again, there will be strict city requirements and we ask everyone to cooperate. Several changes learned from the first race will be implemented. Please read the following information carefully. As important updates occur I will keep everyone posted.


1. Drivers Meeting: Mandatory attendance Saturday & Sunday morning at 7:00 AM sharp! Roll call will occur. Plan your drive accordingly as we are expecting large crowds.

2. Registration / Tech: Pre-register as early as possible before the race. This way information can be entered into our data base computer before we leave for the racecourse. This helps streamline our new Tower operation. Newsletters have been mailed. Tech will be on Friday, all day. Make it your priority to get it done. Do not leave it for Saturday as this will slow your call to the in Ramp. If you arrive late advise registration so they can make a list of boats for the morning. Registration will be from 1:00 pm to 3:00 pm Friday at the Race Tower on the levee, then 4:00 pm to 7:00 pm at the Holiday Inn, our host Hotel. Registration closes at 7:00 am Saturday. If you register late you may forfeit your first round of qualifying.


3. Pit Site Registration: All pits will be on the levee for this event. Due to another event going on in the stadium, no pits will be in the stadium parking lot. We will again be limited to the first 50 self contained race team vehicles for overnight camping. No overnight spectator camping will be available at the race course. Spectator camping will have to be at a local campground/RV park. Pit Access will open on Friday morning 7:00 am. No earlier! As before, all extra vehicles in the pits will pay a vehicle fee of $50. Camping fees are $80 for the weekend in the pits. You must keep your vehicle tag/sticker visible in the vehicle at all times or security will not allow you entry. You will be directed where to park. Since the Pit gates will open at 7:00 am Friday the 29th due to a special event at the Stadium we recommend arriving before 3 pm to limit traffic congestion, registration at the levee will be closed at this time. Pit Gates will then be closed at 10:00 pm Friday night until the following morning.

For clarification purposes:

Vehicle Fee: Any auto, pick up or vehicle not attached to a boat. $50 weekend

Camping Fee: Any motorhome, 5th wheel trailer, Pick-up/camper with sleeping quarters in the Stadium Pits. $80 weekend (limited to 50), limited to one per boat.


4. Hazardous Materials/Oil/Fuel: We cannot leave any petroleum products, oil or fuel cans in the trash. Everything petroleum related you bring you must also take out. At the last race several teams left fuel drums and waste. DO NOT DO THIS AGAIN!

5. Safety Equipment: Remember to check your safety equipment now before the race. There are specific guidelines based on your fuel type and class. A brief reminder:

A) Helmet
B) Ballistic pants
C) Helmet Restraint
D) Medical Tag
E) Fire Retardant suit (if fuel is Alcohol or Nitro)
F) Fire Retardant gloves/socks (if fuel is Alcohol or Nitro)
G) Goggles/Helmet Shield (no sunglasses permitted)
H) Certified Life Jacket
I) Current Physical (No physical/No race)

J) Throttle stops are required on all boats. They must be mechanical by design and application. Air actuated or electrically activated throttle stops are not permitted.

K) Lifeline Marine Safety Products has not confirmed their attendance yet

6. Time Restrictions:
Warm up – 7:30am Saturday & Sunday NO EARLIER!
Course closed – 7:00 pm Saturday & Sunday
Engines quiet – 8:00 pm Friday & Saturday NO LATER!

Let me explain again that these are strict rules put forth by the City of Lake Elsinore.

7. Test & Tune: There is no test and tune in the water at this event. Boats may not enter the water until Saturday morning.

8. Pit Parking: Our pits will consist of two areas. Both areas will be at the Channel. Pits will park parallel on the Levee. Access for boats and race teams will be the single lane levee road only. All additional vehicles must park in spectator parking lot. We must maintain the 25’ Fire Lane. Pit sites on the Levee are a maximum 15’ wide. You will be directed by staff where to park. All Pit Spots are “First come, First served”. Holding of Pit spots will not be possible due to the confined areas we have. If you want to pit with friends, your engine tuner, your boat builder, then arrive together.





A) Parking on the Levee.

- Maximum 15’ wide Pit spot
- Parallel parking only
- No tent camping is permitted
- No night parties or late night generators will be allowed.
- An all quiet on the Levee at 8:00 pm will be enforced
- Suggest you bring ground cover for the dirt (astro turf, carpets etc)
- No open fires or fire pits, BBQ’s are OK, recommend propane.
- All pit generators will require a fire extinguisher in their pit (size: 2A10BC)
- All carts must maintain a 5 mph speed limit at all times.
- A 25’ wide Fire Lane throughout the pits and on the Levee must be maintained at ALL TIMES


9. Spectator Parking: A large dirt spectator parking lot is located Southwest of the Stadium at the far West end of Malaga Drive, follow the signs next to the course. It is a short walk to the pits and the channel to our admission gate from this parking lot only. The fee for spectator parking is $5.00 per day. No overnight camping will be allowed.



11. Pit Vehicles: Motorized Pit vehicles, (quads, scooters, rhinos, golf carts, etc) will be allowed within the confines of the course. However, no unlicensed drivers will be permitted to operate them. All pit assist vehicles require boat numbers visible. Anyone found riding their pit vehicle in the protected area will be subject to disqualification and removal from the course. Helmets are required on motorcycles or quads. SPEED LIMIT 5 MPH MAXIMUM ON ENTIRE COURSE!

12. Food/Alcohol/Pet Restriction: No outside spectator ice chests or coolers may be brought to the race course. No spectator food or beverages will be allowed in. Food and alcohol vendors will again be present at this event. No pets will be allowed. If you must bring your pet they must be kept leashed in your pits at all times.

13. Race Fuel: Race fuel will be sold at the race course. If you have any special needs contact Brian Busby to be sure he will have your brand or blend.

14. Communications: Our FM simulcast radio frequency will be determined at the Race Course. Don’t forget to bring your digital style radio for your pit. Your older analog style radio won’t cut it anymore.



15. Hot Lapping: We will be enforcing a strict 30 minute turnaround time “Water to Water” at this event. We cannot hold up the race waiting for a boat to show up at the ramp. This will be more evident on Race day as our boat count diminishes. If you plan on running in three brackets/categories be prepared to do this. If this situation presents itself to you then bring your tools, laptop, fuel, battery charger or whatever you need in your tow vehicle to prepare for your next round. Our program will move on without you and you will lose a round of racing.

16. Race Team Responsibility: You are responsible for the actions and behavior of your team members and your guests. Their misbehavior of breaking rules by off roading in protected areas, dumping oil on the ground, high speed driving of pit vehicles, etc. will have consequences that will affect your participation at this race.

17. Chapel Service: We are fortunate to have Keith Cordis with us at this Race. Services Sunday will be at 7:20 am.

As we get closer to race date I will update any changes that may occur with our event as it pertains to the race.

Sam Villavicencio
2009 Race Director

Thanks Sam, we are looking forward to another race at Lake Elsinore.

Pit Parking Update

This morning another planning meeting was held for Thunder II with the City of Lake Elsinore leaders. The Fire Department and leaders have been gracious in accommodating our request to extend the pit site width along the top of the levee to 20’. What does this mean to you:

1. Thank them when you see them.
2. A 25” wide Fire Lane must still be maintained.
3. When your friends/family/crew arrive, do not let them park on the road or opposite of your boat blocking the Fire Lane.
4. When our staff asks you to move your vehicle, (and they will) please cooperate.
5. A maximum width of 20’ is what you will be allowed: Enclosed trailer/canopy side by side; boat/canopy at 45 degrees etc….; make your pit work for you and accommodate each others needs. A spill over of tables, tools, pit vehicles beyond the 20’ mark will not work.
6. This does not mean make it a personal vehicle parking lot.
7. In- ramp staging will be on the slope, parallel to the Fire Lane, below the pit area on the levee.
8. The Fire Department will inspect us!



Thanks,

Sam V
Race Director

Sound Restrictions

I want to clarify for everyone the city noise ordinance we are being held to. We are permitted to Tech boats Friday, from 7:30 am to 3:00 pm only. This ordinance reads: “No Drag Boats shall be permitted to violate the city’s noise ordinance during the high school graduation ceremonies at the Diamond Stadium on May 29th.” What this translates to is no engines may fire after 3pm on Friday!


Thanks,

Sam V.
Race Director

Sam are you honoring Ihba membership Like Sdba Cdba Sldba which Lucus Oil is part of. Can we just pay for boat registration only To race with Njba.

I spoke with Ken at Lifeline today. They will be at Thunder II. This should be good news for those of you who need safety equipment.

I'm sorry Dave. As much as we would like to honor racers membership from other organizations, the NJBA is a club that is solely supported by its own memberships, spectator attendance, fund raisers and sponsor donations when we can get them. The NJBA is a racing organization run by the Racers for the Racers. Maybe we can encourage you to join us as well.

Posted By dave lipinski on 15 May 2009 12:48 PM
Sam are you honoring Ihba membership Like Sdba Cdba Sldba which Lucus Oil is part of. Can we just pay for boat registration only To race with Njba.

NO NJBA is not listed as part of the Lucas Series.I don't know why.