MINI-NATS XXVI |
 |
Mini-Nats 26 planning is coming along nicely – it’s going to be a great event this year! The schedule for this year’s event will look pretty similar to those of you who attended the fantastic 25th anniversary event put on by Richard Ravel and team. We figured we shouldn’t mess too much with a good thing. Following is a basic schedule, and all the information you need to know about the event. If you have any questions, don’t hesitate to contact me at chair@mininats.com and I’ll answer them, or get them answered for you. This year we are featuring CSX2196, the famous "Flip Top" 427 Cobra prototype.
(We have some special guests this year. The Cobra Roundup, formerly “Western States Cobra Bash - Track Day”, is taking place on Thursday the 2nd. This is their big annual kickoff event too, and a lot of them are going to be staying over to join us for the car show and Open Track. It will be great to have these folks join in our fun. If you’re interested in checking out their event, or doing some Open Track with them, check out http://www.cobraroundup.com.
Please feel free to contact me for anything related to the Mini-Nats.
Chris Davis
Mini-Nats XXVI Chairman
chair@mininats.com
Navigation shortcuts
*NOTE: If you simply need to send a payment, click the Paypal button and enter the amount you owe. No need to resubmit your entry form.
Friday Morning: Discounted Track Time!
Friday morning, from 9am to noon, we will be offering an “Open Test” day – a chance for seasoned (Read: No Yellow group) track drivers to sort out their machines. Those who choose to enter their cars in the Friday Car Show at Sycamore Park will get this time at a discount - $75 for the whole morning!
Anyone taking advantage of this offer MUST have their car PRE-TECHED as we will only be doing FINAL tech Thursday afternoon and Friday morning. No full tech until late Friday morning – see section below on Tech Inspection.
Family Oriented Fun
Independence Day is a family weekend and Mini-Nats XXVI will fit that bill! We are planning some activities for children of different ages that will blend in with the rest of the car-related activities. More details on this will be forthcoming. If you have any specific suggestions we are definitely interested in hearing from you.
Registration
Online registration will open up in the second half of March. Paper registration forms will be mailed out in the April Driven. An email indicating that registration is open will go out to everyone on our email list. If you are not sure if you are on this list, then please send an email to Walt Boeninger at webmaster@norcal-saac.org and Walt will make it happen. We will also update you via DRIVEN, however, the latest and most up-to-date information will always be posted on our web site at www.norcal-saac.org. So….please visit often
Hotels
We have already blocked hotel rooms at the Travelodge (formerly Best Western Golden Pheasant), the Baymont Inn, and the new Holiday Inn Express. The first 2 are right next to each other. The fancy Holiday Inn Express is brand new this year, and just up the street from our regular haunts and is quite nice. The Travelodge will be our “headquarters” hotel but they are all close, it really doesn’t matter. You can begin reserving your rooms now. Our largest block of rooms is at the Travelodge. Just be sure to tell them you are with the Shelby Club to get the special club rates.
If you have any questions or issues please contact Richard Ravel at Richard@RavelFamily.com.
The numbers for the hotels are:
Willows Travelodge (Golden Pheasant) 249 North Humboldt Ave, Willows
1-530-934-4603
Baymont Inn 199 N. Humbolt Ave, Willows
(530) 934-9700
Holiday Inn Express 545 N Humboldt Ave, Willows
(530) 934-8900
At-the-track Registration/Sign-in
For those of you that will be coming up Thursday evening we will be setup for you to sign in and get your registration packets on Thursday evening. We are hoping to be setup at the track in the late afternoon, probably from 5-7pm (earlier if possible).
The registration area at the track will be staffed all day Friday, Saturday, and Sunday and will be the central hub for all questions and communications relating to the event.
Hospitality
At the track we will have a hospitality area setup next to registration with plenty of water to drink as well as snacks and a place to just sit and relax in the shade.
We will also have our traditional hospitality rooms #151 and adjoining #150 setup at the Travelodge each evening after the other activities.
Lunches at the Track
We’ve arranged to have a sandwich/salad line provided by the Thunderhill Grill. This proved to be a popular option last year and it’s back, with a flat $10 fee and your choice of salad, drinks, sandwich makings, and dessert. The regular grill will still be open as usual, should you wish that.
Paddock Parking
We should be able to begin parking in the paddock by 5pm on Thursday evening. As we have done in the past couple of years, if you have a group of 3 or more that you want to park with, you will be able to provide us with that information on the registration form and we can allocate an appropriate amount of space for you. We will have open parking areas designated for others on a first-come, first-served basis.
Thunderhill has a covered parking area and we will be taking reservations for $75 per space for the weekend. Each space will hold two cars nose-to-tail. I believe that we will have approximately 20 spaces available and these can be reserved when you register for Mini-Nats. This is a good reason to register early.
Dave and Anna Lewellen will be our Paddock Marshalls this year. As part of your registration process, please contact them, at racerrie406@yahoo.com and let them know what vehicles you will be bringing and what your needs are, so that they can accommodate you. We'll have plenty of room, but we want to organize it for ease of parking and efficiency.
Vendors
Please contact Joe Praxel @ 408-321-4346 or praxels@comcast.net to reserve vendor space.
Tech Inspection
All cars that will run on the track will require a full tech inspection. It is highly recommended and preferred that this is done before you arrive at the event. Pre-tech sites will be published the April DRIVEN and on the web site. As always, if you are more than 50 miles from the closest pre-tech site, you can get fully teched at Thunderhill at no charge. If you are within 50 miles of a pre-tech site, then there will be a $50 charge for the tech inspection at the track. Thus, it is best to get pre-teched before you get to the track. We typically have a wait for tech at the track, so getting pre-tech will also guarantee you the most track time.
Once you are at the track, there is always a “final” tech inspection that requires the authorized pre-tech form and you will need to present your safety gear.
Your helmet must have at least the Snell 2000 certification. While we accept “M” rated helmets, we strongly recommend the use of “SA” rated helmets. The major difference between the M and SA helmets for 2005 is the fact that SA helmets use a Nomex or other fire retardant liner and inner materials. They are also tested for different crash scenarios more appropriate to auto racing. Since we are strapped into our vehicles in our sport, and may even have fuel lines running through the cockpit, the SA grade helmets seem to be an obvious choice, but you are the only one who really knows your budget, car and helmet use(s).
Please check our web site at http://www.norcal-saac.org/ot/otcentrl.htm for all of the detailed information on our track rules and safety equipment.
If you are planning on running a car on Friday morning, you MUST have your car pre-teched as there will be no “full” tech inspection available at the track for Friday morning. You will still be required to pass the “final” tech inspection.
Open Track
The Mini-Nats XXVI Open Track Event will be held at Thunderhill Raceway. Open Track participation is restricted to Ford-powered cars and invited guests of the Nor Cal Shelby Club. Passengers with appropriate safety equipment (check our web site at http://www.norcal-saac.org/ot/otcentrl.htm ) will be permitted during selected track sessions. Passengers must be at least 18 years old, must sign a waiver, and must have the same safety equipment as the driver. All passenger waivers must be filled out at the Registration area.
Remember - Maximum sound limit is 103 dB(A). No open exhausts!
Open Track participants please note!
- A separate driver’s application must be submitted for each driver participating in the Open Track Event, even if sharing a car and run group.
- Open Track run group assignments are at the discretion of OTEC and event management.
- Each driver is responsible for reading and heeding the Open Track rules and tech/safety requirements! These rules are displayed on the Club web site at http://www.norcal‑saac.org/ot/otcentrl.htm
Some highlights of the Open Track rules follow:
- Driver and passenger helmets must have Snell M2000, SA2000 or better rating.
- Drivers and passengers must wear non-melting, closed-toe shoes (no sandals).
- All cars must carry a 2-1/2 lb. or larger fire extinguisher with a metal mounting bracket.
- Maximum sound limit is 103 dB(A). No open exhausts!
- No open-wheel cars.
- All open-cockpit vehicles must have roll bars.
- No passengers will be allowed in open-cockpit cars with driver-only (Cobra-style) roll bars.
- Cars in poor cosmetic condition, or in obvious need of bodywork, may be denied entry.
Run Group specific minimum safety requirements
-
Novice/Touring (Yellow): Drivers and passengers must wear long pants, long sleeve cotton shirts, and gloves (preferably Nomex).
- Intermediate/Fast Touring (Red): Drivers and passengers must wear long pants, long sleeve cotton shirts, and gloves (preferably Nomex).
- Advanced/Sport (Green): Drivers and passengers must wear long pants, long sleeve cotton shirts and gloves (preferably Nomex). All vehicles must have a minimum 4-point safety harness for driver and passenger.
- Experienced/Track Prepared (Blue): All vehicles, including closed-cockpit cars, must have roll bars. Drivers and passengers must wear fireproof suits and gloves (preferably Nomex). All vehicles must have a minimum 5-point safety harness for driver and passenger.
Safety
For the safety, comfort, and convenience of all, the following policies will be in effect in the Thunderhill Raceway paddock during the event:
- Reserved, group Paddock parking will be assigned by the Vendor Chair and Paddock Marshall. Your cooperation is appreciated. Specific areas will be set aside for certain groups.
- Wheeled vehicles may be operated by licensed drivers 16 and up only. This includes mopeds, scooters, bicycles, etc...
- No go-karts will be allowed in the paddock.
We are planning on a Vintage Exhibition race event again this year. This will be for Historic cars and vintage race Shelbys. Final entry will be determined by OTEC. This will be a separate group in addition to the Open Track run groups. They will have a morning practice session and an afternoon race on Saturday. Sign up for regular Open Track if you want more! Format is modeled after SAAC National except car prep level allowed. We want period correct cars... within reason. If in doubt, just ask Walt Boeninger at (408) 374-4258 or webmaster@norcal‑saac.org
Passenger Rides
Would your friends or family like a ride? We will have several good drivers ready and willing to give fun passenger rides in fully teched cars. Just send them to the registration area to request the ride and fill out the passenger waiver. All passengers must be at least 18 years old. Passengers must have the same safety equipment as the driver. We usually have a spare helmet or two and some gloves.
Parade Laps
Parade laps will take place at lunch time on Saturday and Sunday. Drivers must have a valid driver’s license and all vehicles must be approved by OTEC. (No motor homes or semis!) This is a GREAT chance to get your trailer queen or other non-track car out there for a cruise around Thunderhill with your family at a controlled (but still fun) pace. Helmets, gloves, and the like are not necessary for Parade Laps sessions. Seatbelts are!
FRIDAY ACTIVITIES
Discounted Track Time Friday Morning
There will be a drivers’ meeting at 8am and the track will be hot from 9am until noon. Signups are open to Red, Green and Blue Group drivers (in other words, no Yellow Group on Friday). All cars must be pre-teched to run Friday morning. The track will go cold at noon to allow time for participants to get their cars ready to go to the car show.
Car Show
We will have a popular-vote car show on Friday afternoon starting at about 2:30pm. This show will be in the town of Willows at Sycamore Park. This is an ideal car show location! We will line up all the cars at the track and will be escorted into town by the CHP and Willows Police starting at 2pm. The cars will be parked on the grass. There are lots of shade trees for people and nice open space for the cars. There is plenty of room and we will make appropriate accommodations for race cars with very low ground clearance. The escort and park entry will be streamlined to account for the heat.
We are planning to have some music and other family activities in the park (the pool will be open for the kids!) as well as some of the local organizations setup to sell snacks and drinks during the afternoon.
This show will be open to participation by Willows residents as well.
Like the Mini-Nats event, the car show will be Ford-powered cars. This includes Shelby Club members as well as Willows residents.
Evening Program and BBQ Dinner
We will have the car show awards ceremony and a brief program in the park at about 5pm. This will be just prior to starting our BBQ dinner that will be put on by the Willows Fire Department Volunteers. You will need to pre-purchase BBQ tickets. This can be done when you register for the Mini-Nats. They will be $15 per adult which will include a full dinner of tri-tip or chicken, salad, drink, and dessert. It will be $5 for children which will include a hotdog as the main course.
Return to the Track / Hotel Hospitality
We will be escorted back to the track by the CHP and Willows Police at about 7:30pm. After this you can return to the hotel and finish the evening with videos, snacks, drinks, and plenty of over-embellished stories at the hospitality suite.
IMPORTANT LEGAL NOTICE
If your car is NOT street legal, then you MUST be in the escorted group, both from and back to the track, or you WILL be cited by the police.
SATURDAY ACTIVITIES
At the Track
We will have our usual drivers’ meeting at 8am and then begin our open track sessions at 9am. We will take a lunch break at approximately 12noon for an hour and will allow parade laps for about 20 minutes during the lunch break. Open track sessions will continue until about 4:30pm.
We will have other activities going on at the track for different younger age groups. More on this as we get closer.
Evening Program
We will have our Saturday evening banquet / program at the Memorial Hall in Willows. We will have a buffet dinner that will cost $40 for adults, $10 for kids. You can sign up for this when you register. We will have our traditional raffle, a guest speaker (you won’t want to miss this one!!!), and our Big Wheel Award. The dinner will wrap up in time for the Willows 4th of July fireworks display which takes place at Jensen Park, and should be visible from the steps of Memorial Hall.
After the banquet you can return to the hotel hospitality suite for all the bench racing you desire.
SUNDAY ACTIVITIES
At the Track
We will have our usual drivers’ meeting again at 8am and then begin our open track sessions at 9am. We will take a lunch break at approximately 12noon for an hour and will allow parade laps for about 20 minutes during the lunch break. Open track sessions will continue until about 5pm. We’ll have a ladies-only session this afternoon.
We will again have other activities going on at the track for different younger age groups.
Once the open track sessions are over, you can say goodbye to your friends and we’ll see you at the next NorCal SAAC event.
OVERALL COSTS FOR MINI-NATS XXV
| Registration fee | $30 (required for Car Show and Open Track) |
| Covered paddock space | $75 for the weekend |
| BBQ Dinner (Friday) | $15 per adult, $5 per child |
| Saturday Banquet | $40 per person $10 Child |
| Friday morning track sessions | $75 with Car Show entry, otherwise $125 |
| Open Track | $260 per day (Saturday and Sunday) |
| Vintage Exhibition | $150 |
| T-shirts | $18 |
| Sweatshirts | $28 |
Event registration will open up later in the latter half of March. You can (and probably should) book hotel rooms now.
REMEMBER TO CHECK THE WEB SITE FREQUENTLY FOR UPDATES.
Please feel free to contact me for anything related to the Mini-Nats. I’d love to hear your ideas or comments.
Chris Davis
Mini-Nats XXVI Chairman
Chair@mininats.com