Sun Valley Road Rally - 246MPH Veyron

[GregWeld]

Originally Posted by Paraman1

Is that the stretch of road leaving Sun Valley going towards Stanley ? If so they missed the mark when they turned around
Shoulda kept going for the twisties and hauled ass on the straight stretches on the other side heading towards Lowman . At least that's what we used to do on the bikes

The "pit" is a wide spot in the road (west side) just north of the SNRA... they then send the "heats" (groups of 10 cars) north to the start line and run them SOUTH. The spectators sit WAY BACK on the hillside in the brush and dust on the east side of 75. Last year a Ford GT did manage to go off roading to the tune of 100K in repairs.

Originally Posted by Ketzer

Wow. Don't sugar coat it GW.
I'm guessing you offered some pointers to the event coordinators and they were unreceptive? Really a shame to read you that disappointed in something so neat and so close to home....


Jeff-

It's a long story. Beginning with the organizer promising VIP Credentials for "all the activities" based on my level of sponsorship/donation. After 3 visits to his place of business - each time with another level of "I'll get it - I'll have them - Come see me"... nothing materialized. What I did finally get was a note on the back of a business card "authorizing" me and my guests to all access.

Boarded a bus at 7:00AM --- along with every other spectator that could pay $10 and get a wristband... dropped us off at the spectator area around 8:00AM. From there - you could go NOWHERE... and you had access to NOTHING... including the promised "plenty of water for the VIP's" etc. (therefore we did not take any with us)... There was nothing but dust and sagebrush. You can not possibly go anywhere because the hi way is CLOSED and you have no car (no cars are allowed - period)... so there is nothing to see before they run - you can't talk to any of the participants because they are "there" and you are stuck in no mans land. The event which was to start running around 9 -- finally got going around 10:30....

We decided after watching this for a bit - that we'd take the buses back -- so hiked to where that line was forming. About 200+ people in line -- each bus hauls 42 people - 5 buses. They shuffle one bus -- loading people -- then when that's full - the next bus and so on. I am the head of the line at the last bus as it's filled - therefore denied to board. No problem -- we'll then be first in line for the next trips. I'm NOT a prima donna -- I'm okay waiting in lines - it's not a big deal. However, the bus loading process takes so long that the hiway has now been closed so they can run another heat. Which means the loaded buses CAN NOT drive in to town and drop the folks off and then be ready to run back empty between the next heat when the hi way is opened to traffic...

That means the entire heat of cars must run -- then the bus needs to head to town -- only problem with that scenario -- they can't make it in to town and back before the hi way is reclosed. So we must now wait for another entire heat. Just the closing process alone takes 35 minutes -- then the parade of the next heat up the road - then wait for them to be run one by one (10 cars per heat).

I boarded a bus at 2:00 PM after being in line at NOON....

By now -- they have completely run out of water for sale - there is no food for sale... there is no shade - and because you're standing in line -- you've missed the two heats that have been run while you're left to pick your butt.


By this time I've organized the bus loading process -- by simply pointing out to the head BUS BOY -- that he would have more than an hour between each bus boarding possibility. If he was to count the 42 people per bus -- have them stay in their line - then count 42 more people and have them form line for bus # 2 at approximately the location where that bus would come to a stop behind bus #1 etc -- that ALL the buses could then load simultainiously - thus avoiding the hi way closure delay etc. Seemed extremely simple and he did as I asked. I had people thanking me profusely... I was the new dust hero. LOL


The addition of a simple hand held radio would have also made things a little smoother because he might have been able to ask that the road not be closed until the full buses left.... but now we're way out in front of this brain dead group.

The funny thing is that I'd made my "donation" and asked for nothing. I told them I wasn't interested in the dinners -- or meeting anyone -- or being a PITA. I was simply happy to be "a part of it". Period. I was TOLD however that at this level I had full access to EVERYTHING... Well... Okay -- but there is no way to access anything - so what's the point of them making all these claims.

When I asked the BUS BOY (man actually) - "is this the way this always works?" he said -- NO! We have twice as many people this year! Okay then -- good! EXCEPT that since the promotor SOLD tickets to all these spectators - then he should have known how many people there would be! Plan for it! And by the way -- if the water is running out (and they're selling it!) Send someone to get some more of it!

But mostly -- after seeing the way this is run. I really just don't want to be associated with it. I'll do something else.

Originally Posted by Che70velle

Yeah Greg, I have to agree with Ketzer. Although poorly ran, it really is for a great cause. Is there a "board" behind this event, or is it just a dude calling the shots? Would it make more sense, as a spectator, to watch this from a helicopter? Maybe Charlie will donate a helicopter to watch from next year?

Uh.... Just..... NO.... I'll find something else to do.

[glassman]

Great explanation Greg. I hear you. But "dust hero"? i got a kick out of that one too....Sounds like the beginning of the end to me...

[GregWeld]

Originally Posted by glassman

Great explanation Greg. I hear you. But "dust hero"? i got a kick out of that one too....Sounds like the beginning of the end to me...

It's a PARTICIPANT event and not a spectator event - there is a difference.


After doing it for 6 years - you'd think they'd have it figured out. People were more than a little PO'd.... and that's just not what you want them to remember or think of when they talk about the area or the event. Sad.

[Lenie]

"dust hero" new screen name eh.

[RDuke]

Sorry for your experience, but I'm not surprised with your experience from the D-bag's associated with L4P / Goldrush / BenChen / NickJim, etc. From what I understand it's best to avoid those clowns.

[Ketzer]

This sounds familiar to me. When my wife and I have a bad experience, unless it's sooo bad we are forced to say something, we usually don't make a scene. We just don't ever go back. I know everyone has a different philosophy about this, our way is to just not ever do business there again.



Jeff-