The Devil in the Dark 2014

[Terry Hanushek]

The Jersey Racing Board (Northern New Jersey and South Jersey Regions) and New Jersey Motorsports Park announce the fifth running of The Devil in the Dark 12 Hour endurance race on NJMP's Thunderbolt Circuit. The 2014 edition will be held on Saturday, 26 April 2014 and will again run from noon to midnight. There will be an SCCA Test Day on Friday, 25 April for 12 Hour competitors and other closed wheel cars.

This race is a continuation of the successful events run in the past four years. The format and rules will be very similar to last year with a no major changes from previous years' events. The open refueling rule is being retained as well as the consolidated endurance classes introduced in 2012. There may be some fine tuning of the endurance classes. If you missed The Devil last year, be sure to put it on your calendar for this year.

The entry package will be posted on the DLB online registration system in a week or so. Registration will open on 1 February 2014.

More participants, more fun in 2014!

SAVE THE DATE

Terry

[RSTPerformance]

Can't wait!!! Time for us to start working on a driver line up for the RX8!

Raymond

[Terry Hanushek]

This year for the first time ChumpCars and LeMons conforming to the NJRRS LeChump rules will be eligible for The Devil in the Dark. This is an ideal opportunity for teams to participate in an SCCA 12 hour day-night enduro.

If you have any questions on eligibility or licensing, please feel free to contact me - THanushek at rcn dot com

Hope to see ya at the The Devil

Terry

[kevin22]

I have seats in a Spec Miata or the whole car available for rent for the 12 hour race. This is the car I qualified on pole with for the Summer Thunder race. 1:35.0. This car also won the Pro IT championship. I can take care of everything, prep, tires, fuel, crew etc. just show up. If your interested, email me at kevin at techsportracing dot com
Kevin Anderson

[StephenB]

Kevin,

Didn't realize you also had 2 RX8's. We should get all them out on track together some time, maybe at the Devil in the Dark

Stephen

[kevin22]

I dont think the rx8s will see the devil in the dark, but they are available if i can put drivers in them. I would like to get the SM on track in the devil though. I will have one of the 8's at Pocono in May. I am looking to focus more on testing in the spring then events. It is important to me that the cars do what they are supposed to before they show up at a race.

[webhound]

Enough laps for you to beat us, doc!

We made 6 by my count too, plus one during a fcy for a radio cluster eff. We used dead stock fill jugs with the stock fill neck on the car, flapper still intact. We stood still for at least 4 minutes, which was horrible. So yeah, we gave up some laps just due to a non ideal setup.

I want to keep the car Chump eligible, and they only allow +2 gallons from stock in a cell, which IMO may not be worth it for us.

I guess we just work on getting more speed to make up for our short runs! . We were like 400 pounds plus heavy for the LCC rules, there's speed there.

W

[Terry Hanushek]

Is supremacy in E5 becoming a grudge match?

T

[webhound]

Is supremacy in E5 becoming a grudge match?

T

If we can call you 'Humpy Wheeler' Hanushek, and it gets more people interested in LCC/E5, then hell yes!

[CRallo]

Reg was ugly. VERY ugly and people lost track time as a result. I don't understand how it could have ever been scheduled the way it was. The volunteer excuse doesn't cut it, there were many people new to SCCA that were SLAPPED in the face by this. AND PEOPLE LOST TRACK TIME THEY PAID FOR.

My drivers went to reg early and WERE TURNED AWAY!!!

LED's bugged out one of my drivers as well... especially regarding closing rate. There are small bars. maybe out law the long ones or make them tape the middle third?


15 votes for 12 to 12. If staying up late is a problem, get up later. The dark that we get with 12 to 12 is SO much more in the spirit of a true endurance race. I partied until 4 with my drivers and was the youngest one there by a mile so age is no excuse

The pit exit closing on that early yellow was VERY RUDE.

Great event sans the reg and the pits/pace car bit. I swore I was going to drive this year, but brought a team of drivers together with a car and chiefed it instead... Most fun and best experience I've had not driving in a while. Crew chief, Driver changer and spotter... It kept me busy... The Sunday I packed up a different car and drove to the Glen. Good times.



I'm very very VERY much against changing the time. Unless it is to go later... Please don't let it happen. The event is growing and people like it the way that it is.

[callard]

Chris,
Lighten up. It was another great event by the NJ folks. Well constructed ositive suggestions always help to improve future events. And it was us old guys who taught you how to party til 4. Maybe later we'll show you how to take it til dawn.
Your friend Chuck

[mossaidis]

Sounds like a great time by most. Sorry I missed it and meeting a lot of you guys in person for once, hopefully next year.

[Terry Hanushek]

Chris

Reg was ugly. VERY ugly and people lost track time as a result. I don't understand how it could have ever been scheduled the way it was. The volunteer excuse doesn't cut it, there were many people new to SCCA that were SLAPPED in the face by this. AND PEOPLE LOST TRACK TIME THEY PAID FOR.

We are aware of (and embarrassed by) the difficulties in registration. It won't happen again.

Also understand that registration for this event will cause delays when most teams show up at the same time with a dozen or more crew members some of whom need weekend memberships. We can't completely eliminate delays but we can ensure that it will not intrude on practice or race time.

LED's bugged out one of my drivers as well... especially regarding closing rate. There are small bars. maybe out law the long ones or make them tape the middle third?

Some place, perhaps on another BBS, there was a discussion of LED's and possible solutions. We are looking at cutting the beam at or below horizontal to retain the advantage of LED while not annoying / interfering with other drivers. Your suggestions are welcome.

I'm glad you enjoyed the event and hope to see you out next year.

Terry

[CRallo]

Chris,
Lighten up. It was another great event by the NJ folks. Well constructed ositive suggestions always help to improve future events. And it was us old guys who taught you how to party til 4. Maybe later we'll show you how to take it til dawn.
Your friend Chuck

Just being brief and yes it was a GREAT event overall! Just wanted to make a couple points, not trying to beat a dead horse. Sorry I couldn't find you to say hi Chuck. I tried to catch your eye during the driver meeting, but you may not have recognized me with my hair cut...

Sounds like a great time by most. Sorry I missed it and meeting a lot of you guys in person for once, hopefully next year.

It was EPIC! Shoulda been there jerk

Chris



We are aware of (and embarrassed by) the difficulties in registration. It won't happen again.

Also understand that registration for this event will cause delays when most teams show up at the same time with a dozen or more crew members some of whom need weekend memberships. We can't completely eliminate delays but we can ensure that it will not intrude on practice or race time.



Some place, perhaps on another BBS, there was a discussion of LED's and possible solutions. We are looking at cutting the beam at or below horizontal to retain the advantage of LED while not annoying / interfering with other drivers. Your suggestions are welcome.

I'm glad you enjoyed the event and hope to see you out next year.

Terry

Thank Terry x10!

Understood about the Reg. Let me know next time if you are short volunteers, or they don't want to start early, I will help!

Biggest issue with the LED bars seemed to be judging the closer rates. I don't think that lowering the light will do much as the regular highs are... well pretty high, might not hurt though.

Amazing the turnout. can't wait for next year! My drivers all got hooked and are taking me with them where ever they go next... Currently planning for the 13 hour

[Knestis]

Watching it again this weekend, what lemons does very right registration-wise is decoupling and people...

** There's a list of every registered participant at the front gate. Anyone on that list gets a blue wristband. That list is a simple dump of anyone listed as crew or drivers and nobody cares which car you're attached to. If folks need temporary weekend memberships at an SCCA weekend, this would be the place to take care of it.

** Car "registration" and tech requires only one person serving as the representative of the team. For an SCCA race this could be the entrant and/or the registered DTR. This is what they tried to do - sort of - at the Devil, when they just asked for a person to get cars registered but it was in the mess of a bunch of people already in line to do weekend memberships, etc.

** Driver check-in just requires showing your license and printing/signing against a list of just drivers - literally just highlighted as each is processed. That gets one a yellow wrist band.

** With gear annuals, SCCA wouldn't have to do this, but driver gear tech includes pulling out your stuff, (literally) pointing at the SFI (blech) patch/sticker, and raising your hand when you're ready for the rotating guy. Interestingly, this approach - at every race - does a better job of encouraging proper gear than does the annual approach, under which I could be using a non-approved suit under my stickered helmet...

The approach at SCCA enduros continues the regular system that's centered on the driver, and assumes he/she has a car and crew.

K

EDIT - Implicit in the above is that these functions take place in different lines. Spread them out and let each work at its own rate.

[webhound]

Terry, you can settle the time argument by making this thing a 24 hour!

Then maybe I can stop thinking of doing the Thunderhill 25...

[JLawton]

I agree with the light bars. it did make it difficult to judge closing rates. And being the slowest car there, it was kinda important!!

[georgethefierce]

I asked over on the "other" place but should plop it in here too, are Prod cars not eligible for this race?

[Greg Amy]

Gotta run DOT tires. Request entry to one of the ITX classes and run DOTs.

[Terry Hanushek]

Jason

The Devil in the Dark is a DOT tire based event. Production (and GT) cars have not been classified because they are predominantly race tire categories. That said, the ITXn exhibition classes are available to accept cars which don't conform with any of the listed classes. A production car running on DOT tires would certainly be considered for one of these classes.

Hope to see ya at The Devil

Terry