Homestead FL Dec

[EnvyCycles]

Ok guys
Im trying to get as much info as possible.
I am planning to attend the DEC Homestead weekend.
I have only raced at Loudon NH and I'm a novice.

Can you guys please give me as much info as possible.
Hotel? Track? Trailers? Vendors? Gearing for 06 gsxr 600? Fees? Number plates? all info is greately appreciated.

Thanks
Darwin

[kl3640]

The Flordian Hotel (305) 247-7020 is the hotel that offers the CCS discount, but it's not the nicest place around.  I think that it's around $60/night with the CCS rate, and it's about 5 min from the track.

Paddock Garages at the track are included with your registration.

Registration is $75 for all day Saturday, and the races are $55 each on Sunday (not sure about the UNL GP shootout though, but I think that it's the same).  In FL, Saturday is all day practice and all of the races are on Sunday.

The track is much more open and has more high-speed sections than Loudon.  Gearing will depend a lot on your riding speed, your bike's power, and your weight.  The gearing would be a bit taller than Loudon I would think.  I have some fast friends who run 15/46 on SS/SB 600's, if that helps.

I'm not sure which vendors will show up, but you could check with CCS FL to see if they know (though Henry is in Macau right now).  Usually Prieto shows up at least, for parts, etc.  Dunlop, Pirelli, and Michelin are almost always there too.  They have Sunoco pumps there for 112 and lower octane fuels.  If you need R-Tech, the distributor is also a racer - let me know and I'll give you his contact info and he can bring it to the track for you.  If you need VP, you might want to check with Prieto to see if he's planning to bring any or if he'll bring some for you if you order it.

Not sure what you want to know about # plates.  Yellow for Amateur, White for Expert.  If you're worried about your #, just register with whatever your regular CCS # is and when you get to FL, you'll be told if you need to put an X on the bike.  Someone (at least Prieto) should be selling numbers and vinyl.

As for vendors, I would check to see if Sean Prieto will definitely be there, if you really think that you'll be relying on a (non-tire) vendor for something that's critical to your weekend.

As for trailers, you just park your trailer in the parking lot in the paddock in front of your assigned garage.  They kick everyone out at night, usually around 6PM, so you just lock up your trailer and they close and lock the gates, so not to worry.  Just to be safe, I usually take anything portable and valuable out of my garage and toss it in the trailer for the night and lock it up, because there are spectators (mostly squids) hanging out during the day, so if I lock it up just in case I'm late in the morning or if I leave before the gate closes, etc.

There is camping outside of the paddock, but there is a gate to the camping area also.  It closes early (last time I was surprised at how early it closed, something like 7PM), so you have to get in before it closes, then you can't get out until the next morning, which kind of sucks.  I've sometimes parked over in the parking lot by the main gate the night before when I've gotten in late, which is where you're supposed to go, but I'm not sure if you're supposed to be there all weekend or not.

BTW, the gate fee is $25 (no charge for camping) for Sat-Sun, but not sure if you go on Fri if there is any extra charge or not.  Also, if you go for Friday, check with CCS FL (Henry DeGouw) to find out what garage # you'll be assigned for the weekend, so that you can use that same garage for the Penguin day instead of having to move in and out.

If you're going to camp, plan to arrive on that Friday by 7PM.  Plan to be able to leave no later than 6PM on Sunday, but maybe earlier if your races finish up earlier and you're not sticking around for the trophy presentations.

Also, this coming December 5th, there is a Penguin Pro School on that Friday.  It's like a trackday except that you get some classroom instruction from whoever is teaching (last year it was Eric Wood), some feedback on your riding, a track walk, etc.  For the $250 it's well worth it, especially since trackdays at Homestead usually run close to $200, so for an additional $50-70 you're getting top-quality instruction as well.

Whenever I go to a new track, I always try to do the Friday trackday beforehand to learn the track.  In this case, you'll actually have the whole Saturday before the races to try to learn the track b/c in CCS FL they hold only practice on Saturday, but IMHO the extra time never hurts (plus the Penguin school is pretty good).

There is a concessions stand there for drinks and lunch, but it's a bit pricey.  They have the usual basic drinks (soda, water) and basic lunch stuff (burgers, dogs, fries).  But they charge a lot, like any sports venue, as would be expected.

I'm not sure about tech inspection at Loudon, but the CCS FL tech inspection is pretty similar to other CCS regions: safety wire oil bolt/filter/cap; calipers & pinch bolts optional, clutch cover bolt not required to be wired/siliconed (but good idea).  All other requirements for body work, numbers and backgrounds, etc, are the same as most other places.  Transponder needs to be mounted on tail.  SS/SB rules are generall per the CCS rulebook.

Lastly, the pre-entry deadline is noon on that Thursday before the event, so get your pre-entries in by then unless you're planning to post-enter.

I think that those are all of the questions and anything else that you need to know...at least that's all that I can think of.  Post up if you have more questions.  Just be sure to leave early enough to get there and get rested because the drive is a long one and you won't want to start off your weekend tired.

p.s.  The weather in S. FL is better this time of year, but it can still be pretty unpredictable, so if you rains and any other rain equipment, bring it.

p.p.s.  Even this time of year, when the weather is cooler, dehydration is a problem; the Sun can be deceptive in its ability to dehydrate you.  Definitely bring a cooler so that you can load it up with ice, water, and Gatorade.

p.p.p.s.  Check out the trackmap on the CCS website's Homestead page to get familiar with the layout (and also general info on the track), and check for on-board video on YouTube and elsewhere.

[EnvyCycles]

Awsome information...
My question about the number plate is in regards to me being a Novice rider at Loudon and having a white number plate with red numbers.
Do I have to register my self as an Amature? maybe Eric can answer this for me...

[kl3640]

Awsome information...
My question about the number plate is in regards to me being a Novice rider at Loudon and having a white number plate with red numbers.
Do I have to register my self as an Amature? maybe Eric can answer this for me...

You will need to get your CCS license, and will be licensed as Amateur.  You will need to run Yellow plates with Black #'s.  See the CCS rule book for details on size, acceptable fonts, etc.

[Jason748]

Awsome information...
My question about the number plate is in regards to me being a Novice rider at Loudon and having a white number plate with red numbers.
Do I have to register my self as an Amature? maybe Eric can answer this for me...

Yep, ask Eric for sure, but I'm 90% positive you would be a Amature (Yellow plate/Black numbers).

You should NOT need to buy a new liscense as the LRRS is a CCS affiliate, in fact you most likely will be running the same number, just with a X or XX behind it if there are duplicates.

[kl3640]

Yep, ask Eric for sure, but I'm 90% positive you would be a Amature (Yellow plate/Black numbers).

You should NOT need to buy a new liscense as the LRRS is a CCS affiliate, in fact you most likely will be running the same number, just with a X or XX behind it if there are duplicates.

Not sure, but I thought that it worked the other way around - in either case, call/email the office, ask Eric.  In any event, I don't think that you'll have to pay (at least not much) for the CCS license (not only because of the small amount of time remaining in this season, but because of the LRRS/CCS reciprocity)...if you even need one.

[Johnny B]

LRRS, like Florida CCS, is a CCS affiliate. Your LRRS license IS a CCS license, you're good to go with that. LRRS Novices are considered to be CCS Amateurs. You'll need the yellow plates with black numbers. Get them for the event and save them afterwards for when you bump up to LRRS Amateur.
The Penguin School will be on Friday the 5th. It will be just like the one you took at Loudon when you got your license, you'll just be learning the Homestead track instead. Eric, Jeff and Jerry will be doing the classroom and on track stuff. Cathy Curtin will be doing Registration and running Pit Out while Steve Aspland and I will be on Pit Lane, staging the groups and handling any issues that may arise. The local fast guys will be the on track instructors.
A good chunk of us New Englanders are staying at the Comfort Inn. The manager was a little spotty on the phone, but tell him you're going to the Penguin School and mention that you heard about the Student discount ($69.99+tax per night)

Comfort Inn
333 S.E. 1st Ave. US Hwy. #1 
Florida City, FL 33034 
Phone: (305) 248-4009

Sorry Henry, but last Feb. at the Floridian, the woman at the front desk screwed up my room and CC charges. (I have no idea how!) I had to make six trips to the front desk and wasted about an hour or two for some problem that seemed totally off the wall. I'm not going through that again.

[Johnny B]

p.s.  The weather in S. FL is better this time of year, but it can still be pretty unpredictable, so if you have rains and any other rain equipment, bring it.

[MELK-MAN]

That photo is CLASSIC!! I think that was just before i started racing but i heard all the stories. Man that must have been crazy..

Jon with CTR Suspensions and Eric with GMD will be there.

[Johnny B]

That photo is CLASSIC!! I think that was just before i started racing but i heard all the stories. Man that must have been crazy.

Guy doing the backstroke is Peter Kates of GMD Computrack Boston. Here's the entire gallery from that weekend.
http://www.lrrsracing.com/photo_memories/homestead,_fl_2000.htm

[skipper08]

Homestead is a very nice track, and fun.

hope to see you guys there.

[kl3640]

As long as we don't run in to any more Hurricane Gustav type events, should be OK :)  THAT was one wild weekend of racing!