[Kevin D]

I'm trying to find Service Locations for LSPR. I have some possibilities but the question is, is it big enough?
So, I'm asking the experts, how much area does each team need to adequately Service?
Or should I say, how much area should each car be allowed?

I know different teams have different service vehicles and some teams service multiple cars, but in general what do you need?
Car width plus three feet on a side? four feet?
What do you think?

 

[Anders Green]

I would say a lot of people use a van and an EZ-Up. My standard issue Dodge van is 6'6" wide (excluding mirrors). Add an EX-up with one foot of spacing on both sides, and that's 10+1+1+6.5 = 18.5 feet. I think less than that would be extremely cramped.

Now if only I had an EZ-Up... I wouldn't be so drenchy in the rain.

Anders

 

[jandreini]

I'd say about 40' by 20'.

 

[randyzimmer]

1. People are hogs and take all the space they can get away with.
2. Being in a hurry and backing up with a helmet on in the dark means an extra margin should be allowed for roadway access.
---
At the run-offs, where space is always a problem, there is a single access for crews and they must be escourted to their spot and instructed of the space limitations. Takes an extra couple of workers who have to be firm. I hate those guys! Helps if the area is regular and can be measured out like mid-ohio. If like road atlanta, your parking nazis need to be creative and make allowances for short spots, ditches and other natural problems with the area allowed.
rz

 

[FrankenJetta]

For safety sake I think about a parking space for a van and a parking space width + 3 feet is enough. More is better.

A plea from the back of the pack is to PLEASE be willing to tell teams "You are taking up too much room". When the back-packers arrive at service sites we are often hard pressed to find spots. Which, when caused by teams needlessly taking up extra space is frustrating.
This is one reason I love the style of LSPR when services move from place to place. By the time we arrive spots are vacant. When service stays put for multiple services we get stuck with crap, often unsafe (due to being un-level) places to work on a car.

 

[Bruce]

>This is one reason I love the style of LSPR when services
>move from place to place. By the time we arrive spots are
>vacant. When service stays put for multiple services we get
>stuck with crap, often unsafe (due to being un-level) places
>to work on a car.

OTOH, if there's only one service area (which is the trend) your crew can get there the day before if necessary to stake out your spot.

BW

 

[mdhimes]

The more the better really. If I had to throw some numbers out there it would be about 40X15. One thing is for sure though, teams will make due somehow even if they have a less than optimal spot.
The service area at mt bohemia this year was excelent. Tons of room, decent surface, and in a good location as well. In my opinion it would be cool to see all of the saturday services there. The down side to that though is that there wouldn't be a copper harbour service which, I am sure, is good for the local economy and fun for the racers to.

 

[cblakely]

15' x 40' would be a minimum. That gives you enough room for your truck (22' duallie F-350) and the race car, and it's wide enough for some kind of shelter. I have a 12x12 easy-up. The square ones are definately the best deal ($100 for that, vs $500 or $600 for the 10x20).

 

[akuhner]

I second the 15x40 minimum. However, there does need to be some consideration for the fact that some of the po'boy teams need two service vehicles (i.e. we use an SUV and a Forrester), plus an EZ-up or tarp setup. Service at LSPR this year was pretty good, it was just a little hard to find space in that town by the water. I also have to vote for one service area! That was great at tall pines, but wouldn't have worked for LSPR if you ask me - transits would be a nightmare we we were in Houghton the whole time. The only thing I didn't undersand about LSPR service was having to move between the ski area parking lot and the town 3 times on day 2, they were so close anyway and the town was more fun to hang out in.

Alex

 

[Parker]

I understand that I am in the minority when it comes to service vehicles. Havir's truck is huge.
The dimensions of the truck alone are 8.5' x 36' and then you have to be able to open the doors which requires 4' to the rear and to each side. If you add the EZ-Up to the equation at 10' x 20',and room to move around the out side of the poles, about 3' on each side, you are looking at a very large area. That comes to 32.5' x 40' at a side-by-side set up.
This is a sufficient amount of space and a little more is preferable.

I point all of this out hoping to be allotted suitable space and also to suggest that the larger truck may become the trend. With the Partnership Package requiring (I believe) the new single service area per day, It will allow someone to run multiple cars from one very large vehicle.
Consider a Semi-Truck (someboby will do it) is 8.5' x 75' + 4' both sides and rear to open doors, and services 3 cars perpendicular to the trailer, requiring 24' from the side of the truck to the tail end of each EZ-Up (20' EZ-Up +4'), now it's 79' x 36.5'.
It will be easier for teams to become larger only being required to set-up once a day.

I absolutely loved the service area at LSPR on Saturday 2003. I think everybody had room. I ask that you and the other organizers consider using it for the only service area on Saturday.


-Parker

 

[Don Kennedy]

Single service area per day requirement?

With the Partnership Package requiring (I believe)
>the new single service area per day,
>-Parker
Is this a fact? It's not really possible for some rallies (without many more additional transit miles and hours!).

 

[MDBodnar]

RE: Single service area per day requirement?

Partnership Program --- I would say all bets are off:
-- Mitsubishi out
-- Subaru and Air-Force questionable
-- Series Sponsor(s) no word -- gone with Mitsubishi's withdrawl...?

What irk's me about this is that the partnership program requested a 3 or 5 year agreement from the organizers, but evidently no similiar contract exists with the Sponsors (another SCCA failure to to think beyond today?).



Service Areas Size: Parker -- Good Point

However: would it be a problem if as part of the entry fee you were alotted a 20x40 spot and if your vehicle required more space you were charged?

Let's say I have a 60 car event planned and I have 60 traditional service spots allocated. The extra room required by a larger, more professional setup could cost as much as an additional entry fee...

While at first that might seem excessive, the big teams are in the minority. The rally can run without the big teams, its the little teams that keep the events alive in the current cost structure.

This is one way to think about service space. (The semi with three cars should be allocated the equivalent of three 20x40 spots .. so they would only be charged for space beyond that...)

I think this is a reasonable expectation for both the Organizers and the teams. This would be the same type of thinking as a truely Pro only event, 20 teams at $2,000 a vs. 60 teams at $667.00. (Although I think a Pro only event would be even more expensive, but it all depends on the demands of the sponsors...)

FYI -- S*D will have a charge for space beyond what we establish as a the standard service area (20x 40 is likely), it won't be even close to an entry fee. That is this year -- if we have to accomadate more larger teams I could easily see deciding to up the extra service area cost to maintain the balance between our capacity and our entry fees.


Points to ponder...

Mike

 

[Parker]

RE: Single service area per day requirement?

Firstly, I don't know any details of the Partnership Program. I thought I heard somthing about a single service, and I know nothing about how or if the Manu's are still involved. I was merely speculating on the program for the sake of the discussion.

I see nothing wrong with an additional charge for larger service areas although a second entry fee seems excessive to me, but I have nothing to compare.
If an event chose to charge me an additional fee because I have the need for a larger vehicle, in return I would expect to have an assigned and marked service spot. This would negate the situation of getting to a service area only to find my two spots were separated by two other teams.

-Parker

 

[jblewis]

RE: Single service area per day requirement?

Also to be considered:

How many other teams (with not-so-big trucks) will pony up the fee just to get more elbow room?

JB

 

[Kevin D]

RE: Single service area per day requirement?

It doesn't matter how much you charge if there is no extra room to sell. Suitable areas are only so big. We are looking at renting some land for service which will cost money. We have even explored the possibility of buying some land and making a parking lot, that costs even more.
We could run it like the government does with water or pollution. Every team gets 40'x20' then the small teams could sell thier extra "space rights" to the big teams. If we get too many semi-trucks, you could enter an event, not run and make money selling your service area space.
Part of the Partnership Program is to have one service area a day, we are also asked to have assigned parking 30 days before the event or something like that. I was told that longer transits would not be a problem if that was needed to accomplish one service area.
One problem we have is that the nice service areas are not in the town where the businesses are that what to make money off of us in return for using the area's roads.
40'x 20' or so gives me a place to start, when the snow melts I'll need to get out and do some measuring.