[flash]

SWEET!!! - congrats - i can't wait to hear the details



of course, now i have to drag my trailer over here next week and work on some new accessories - thanks for the motivation

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[Anchorman]

Early this morning, about to unload the cars. The lights (six banks of internal fluorescents, two rear-facing floods) are being powered by the trailer's generator. Pretty sweet, I must admit.



   

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[biotechee]

There's so much extra room in there, that you could have a party!



Glad to hear you made it safe and sound!

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[Anchorman]

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I'm thrilled to report that the two-day session was a success, VIR is a blast, and PETE, I NEED MORE BRAKES!!! The pads we put in were a great improvement, but I NEED MORE!!! I think it's time for me to give up on putting the 16" wheels and snows on, and going to Big Silvers! I'll just have to use the PT when the weather is inclement (read "snow" or "ice").



More later.

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[Anchorman]

We're back home, safe and sound. Truck, trailer, cars, and drivers all performed delightfully. Tomorrow, I'll write a bit more, and show some photos, including of the truck/trailer "fix" - the Sidewinder hitch device.



Here's one photo we thought showed an interesting comparison between us and a "big boy".



   



Picking up on a key point Flash has made, including on a current thread, you can see that the trailer is perfectly level, the truck is not "sagging", and the combo tows very well.

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[Anchorman]

Here's a photo of our "savior" - the Sidewinder 5th wheel hitch. As you can see, the truck bed still has the gooseneck hitch in it - the 5th wheel was able to be mounted in the correct position in the bed without removing the gooseneck. This gives the truck lots of towing options.



   



When the Sidewinder is locked into the fifth wheel, there are two "lugs" behind the pin that prevent horizontal movement at the pin. Rotation occurs rearward, at the vertical "pin" that is visible within the heavy steel that's under the trailer nose. If anyone is interested in further info on the hitch, see http://www.bigdiscountrv.com/fifthwheels/sidewinder.pdf.



We got into three situations which further emphasized towing "do's and don't's". Happily, we got out of one with pure luck; the other two were "escaped" with the help of walkie-talkies and slow, careful maneuvering. With a trailer like this, having a second pair of eyes that can walk around while the trailer is being moved is a virtual necessity.

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[Anchorman]

I redelivered our trailer to the trailer place yesterday for the "over the winter" work. Since the driver's side needs to be pretty much rebuilt as a result of my "incident" (I may have the courage to post a photo of the damage soon), we're looking into having that side provide access for car ingress/egress so that the contortions currently required to get in and out of the cars will be eliminated. One possibility being considered is two swing-up panels that would double as "awnings", providing a shaded place to sit outside the trailer. Other trailer modes/additions being considered are: a winch (I saw one installed below the floor, with a sheave that swings up for the cable when the winch is being used - really neat, and eliminates the tripping hazard that would otherwise result from the winch being mounted on the floor); exterior floodlights; interior floor-level lights to provide some visibility for tieing down the cars; something on which to hook/store the tiedown ratchets/straps; upgrading the weight rating from the current 15k to 18k lbs.; a roof-mounted HVAC unit; I'm sure there's more, but that's what I remember at this moment.



Looking at the Chin Motorsports calendar, we're considering doing a Roebling Road even in late March - anyone familiar with this track? Then we'll do Watkins Glen in mid-May, probably VIR in early July, and then possibly the Glen again, then VIR again, and then maybe Road Atlanta. If we do all of those, we'll hit our target of six events in a year. We'd like to do Mid-Ohio, but the only time Chin is doing that is Memorial Day weekend, and my son is getting married that Saturday. We talked about moving the wedding, but decided that wasn't wise.

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[Duckman]

Jim, you probably were referring to moving the date of the wedding on the calendar but, if that won't work, you could always change the location of the wedding to the track. You could hold the reception in the trailer and you and your son won't miss any track days.

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[Anchorman]

Yes, it was moving the date, not the location, of the wedding that we considered. You're idea - moving the location - is interesting but, I believe, equally (if not more!) challenging. Sometimes, it's best not to mess - but I certainly appreciate the suggestion. We'll simply have to find some other way to do Mid-Ohio.

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[flash]

lol - it was easy for us - moved it to tuscany from paso robles - went from 400 people to 8 - no family - done deal

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[mikeo]

Jim,



Roebling is one of my home tracks. I've been there about a dozen times. It was resurfaced last year so its in pretty good shape. The layout is essentially a series of sweepers with a 3000 ft front straight. Unlike most road courses the trick here is patience 'cause you are a long way from the apex when you turn in. There is one notable hazard area. Turn 9 trackout. The Chin folks will tell you all about it at the the driver's meeting.

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[Anchorman]

Thanks, Mike - sounds like Roebling would be a fun outing - and for my son, with lots of hp, a 3,000 ft. straight that doesn't have a slow speed turn as its entry (like the Oak Tree at VIR) should give him quite a speed fix. We'll have to see if we can work out a 6-day "vacation".

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[flash]

now you've got me shopping for stuff for my trailer - just ordered more artwork for the inside - building the entertainment system for it next weekend (tv/dvd/stereo/nav) and going shopping for a winch and a generator tomorrow

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[Anchorman]

Too bad we're not close enough to work out package deals. Are you going to mount the winch on, or in, the floor? I hadn't thought of anything but "on" until I was in a trailer earlier this week. Avoiding that tripping hazard looked really nice - but I'll know better when I get the cost estimate. I have a feeling I might end of tripping over the estimate - and then over the winch.

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[flash]

i have to see that t be sure, but yes, i am thinking about it - after some thought, i am seriously considering cutting into my floor for a few things - of course that means creating a belly pan, but i was going to do that anyway, and this could actually help with the lines

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[Anchorman]

The setup I saw had the ability for the winch control to be plugged into the winch or into a plug on the trailer wall near the ramp, allowing the operator to walk alongside the car as it's being winched into the trailer with no risk of the control cable getting run over. Of course, there are also wireless controls, but that's what was done in this installation.

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[Anchorman]

Here's where we stand today.



   



As part of the repair (I know - you still haven't seen a photo of the damage - it'll come), two "concession" doors are being installed - allowing the car doors to open for driver egress/ingress. A winch will be installed in a recess, with both a wired controller and a wireless controller. Some minor "fixes" are also being done.



Hopefully, the side will be complete by the end of next week. My son is having construction done at his house in advance of his wedding in May, and he needs to empty the garage by the end of next week. He's hoping the trailer will be usable so that he can park his Maseratis in it until the garage is usable again (it's being expanded from two to three cars wide). Bless my son.

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[Anchorman]

...and here's where we stand today. The repairs have been done, the door openings framed, and the doors fabricated.



   

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[RS Barn]

Jim,

I'm relocating RS Barn to your trailer.

I don't need no stinkin shop

Pete

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[Anchorman]

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