Re: Live from the Phoenix LODRS
 

We're on hold for dust right now. The wind has picked up and is blowing dust all around. It's sprinkling on and off a little also. We're probably done for the day, but no official word yet. I'll keep you posted.


-Toby

Re: Live from the Phoenix LODRS
 

I'm sitting watching the snow build up about 90 miles north of Firebird. No wind now, but it was blowing 40 to 50 mph a couple of hours ago.

Re: Live from the Phoenix LODRS
 

The wind has picked up even more and it's raining now. They just pulled the plug on the day. Racing will resume tomorrow at 8:30 AM with Stock eliminations.


-Toby

Re: Live from the Phoenix LODRS
 

Hope you guys can get it in, but you just may want to have your things packed just in case. I have a kittle over 2 inches of snow on the ground. Fireplace and beer are in order!

Re: Live from the Phoenix LODRS
 

Super Stock Q3 is now up. I barely made it up there to catch the first pair. :)

http://www.mediafire.com/?s5svccv6x5475


-Toby

Re: Live from the Phoenix LODRS
 

Stock Q3 is up. I added some subtitles to it so it's a little different than the other two. I just noticed that I left a "t" off Bob Elliott's name. Sorry about that Bob!


Preview:
http://i15.fastpic.ru/big/2011/0220/...9b1c4c9be3.jpg

Re: Live from the Phoenix LODRS
 

Great Job Toby! That must be one great camera. I can't get over how steady it is. Keep up the great work.

Sam

Re: Live from the Phoenix LODRS
 

It's still wet out this morning, but it's not raining. It will be a little while until they get the track dry. Maybe the sun will peek out to help the drying process.


-Toby

Re: Live from the Phoenix LODRS
 

Very good Toby thanks again. I am surprised that you got a picture of Jimmy D. Did security show up after you took the picture of Jimmy D.?

Re: Live from the Phoenix LODRS
 

Hell Larry, with all your inside info I'm surprised you didn't fly out there and protest him with another of your hair brained accusations. No wonder you can't win.

Re: Live from the Phoenix LODRS
 

They added a person to the bottom of the sheet in Stock. I guess because we didn't get to make the last scheduled time run. The revised sheet is posted on DRC. All first round opponents stay the same except the number 1 qualifier gets a bye and the person he was supposed to race runs the person added to the bottom. The later rounds change significantly though with three possible second round heads-up races.


-Toby

Re: Live from the Phoenix LODRS
 

Awesome job Toby !!! Thanks much !!!!

Re: Live from the Phoenix LODRS
 

They just announced they will be calling Stock to the lanes in about 15 minutes.


-Toby

Re: Live from the Phoenix LODRS
 

Right after they called Stock to the lanes it started sprinkling. It's not sprinkling very hard, but the clouds look pretty dark out to the west. So we're on hold again.

EDIT: It's raining pretty steady now, so it will be a while before we run.


-Toby

Re: Live from the Phoenix LODRS
 

Please tell us what camcorder you are using, it is getting very good pictures. how expensive was it ?

Re: Live from the Phoenix LODRS
 

It started snowing again here about 6 a.m. and has not stopped. Got over 4 inches on the ground now. I live abut 90 miles northwest of Firebird and the weather says it is moving in from the west heading east. I do hope you get this in, but be safe.

Re: Live from the Phoenix LODRS
 

Have they ever had a race stopped for dust and rain on the same weekend before this?

Re: Live from the Phoenix LODRS
 

It's a Sony HDR-CX110 Handycam. I bought it used from ebay for $280. If I would have waited a few more weeks I could have got one for $239 with free shipping. There is someone on there that has a whole bunch of factory refurbished ones he's selling for the price above. I haven't checked lately, but with the quantity he had on there a few weeks ago, I would think he still has plenty left. I think they retail for about $439 or somewhere around there.


-Toby

Re: Live from the Phoenix LODRS
 

Yes, Novadude. Happens more than you think.

Re: Live from the Phoenix LODRS
 

Bob,

I'm also reducing the quality from 1920x1080i at 17 mbits/s down to 640x360p at 1 mbits/s. If I encoded the videos in 720p at 3 mbits/s or higher they would look even better, but they would be way too big to upload through my phone. The H264 codec is an awesome codec.

You can also hook the camera straight to your HD TV through an HDMI cable (sold separately.)

When I get home I might encode some in 720p and upload them.


-Toby

Re: Live from the Phoenix LODRS
 

Even with the reduction they are very very good, great camera for sure. There are only 8 on ebay so I am going to follow them and see if I can snipe one. Thanks for the info and help.

Re: Live from the Phoenix LODRS
 

Here's the ones I was talking about:

http://shop.ebay.com/i.html?_nkw=hdr....c0.m270.l1313

Looks like he has sold quite a few and that he adds a new item as soon as one ends so he doesn't have too many on there at one time.

Also, I said I reduced them to 1 kbits/s that should read 1 mbits/s.


-Toby

Re: Live from the Phoenix LODRS
 

Wonder why 1320go on my phone doesn't show Firebird as connected?

Re: Live from the Phoenix LODRS
 

They just canceled racing for the day. Racing will resume tomorrow at 9AM with the same schedule that was posted on DRC.


-Toby

Re: Live from the Phoenix LODRS
 

Also, this is a rescheduled race so it looks like it will be random pairing for first round. I talked to Mike Rice and he said it probably is random pairing, but he isn't sure. He is going to check and have them announce it over the PA.

Alan has already announced that it is a rescheduled race and that you can withdraw if you want. To withdraw, you just don't show up and they will consider you withdrawn. If you want to keep the points and count the race you have to talk to Mike Rice.


-Toby

Re: Live from the Phoenix LODRS
 

I uploaded a video of the pits from the top of my ramp truck and some footage of Steve Couch's new DP:

http://www.mediafire.com/?s5svccv6x5475

Preview:
http://i15.fastpic.ru/big/2011/0221/...14e3e97950.jpg

Re: Live from the Phoenix LODRS
 

You have any idea of the car count, Toby?

Re: Live from the Phoenix LODRS
 

Should have waited a little longer to cancel IMO. And same with most people I've talked to. Hasn't rained a drop since the postponement. Could have got at least one round in and half the people could have gone home...

Re: Live from the Phoenix LODRS
 

That was my thought too, Mark.
The sun was out here on the west side when I heard the announcement.
But, how about the wind?

Re: Live from the Phoenix LODRS
 

Pretty windy and cold. I know this place has a history of being "iffy" when it's cold. But sun was out here too.

Re: Live from the Phoenix LODRS
 

When I was up at the tech trailer earlier today they just happened to be talking about that. I think the number I heard was 380 or maybe it was 280. I think a lot of people didn't come because of the weather forecast and others didn't come because there wasn't a national event the week before. I heard they were expecting 500 cars.


-Toby

Re: Live from the Phoenix LODRS
 

I would think all the fun that was had there last year didn't help either.

How was the track surface itself?

Re: Live from the Phoenix LODRS
 

I'm pretty sure I heard 380 cars. We will know for sure tomorrow.


-Toby

Re: Live from the Phoenix LODRS
 

I live in Anthem, the far north end of Phoenix (about 45 minutes from Firebird with no traffic). We had about 5 minutes of light hail today around 4:30. Then the clouds left and that was the end of that.

Re: Live from the Phoenix LODRS
 

Toby how can they do Random Pairing for the reschedule if the field was set ?
I think the guy with a first round bye might have something to say about that.
Besides thats about the only thing to look forward to being Fast anymore with a
odd number field.

Re: Live from the Phoenix LODRS
 

No doubt!

I thought the new surface was really nice.

Re: Live from the Phoenix LODRS
 

Bob,

Since they haven't run any rounds yet a rescheduled event is random pairing. Usually when an event is postponed until Monday they have already run a round or two. I don't think I've ever been to an event where no rounds were run during the scheduled days and it was postponed until Monday. Usually when that happens they run it the next weekend or later in the year. That's why I went to ask Mike Rice about it. They never did say anything on the PA about it though.

It makes sense that it should be random pairing though. If no rounds are run, it shouldn't matter if the event is rescheduled two months from now or tomorrow.


-Toby

Re: Live from the Phoenix LODRS
 

They did run random pairing this morning. I should have lost, but luckily for me they broke out by .002. It was a lot slower than I thought it would be. I would have ran .05 over all out. I was lined up with Dan Fletcher. I don't know what happened, but I ran the car two cars behind him. It could have been there was a heads-up race, but they usually just pull the car out from behind. Anyway, I'm lucky to still be in.

They got a late start because they were still drying and working on the track.

They aren't running any cars right now for some reason. Time to go shoot first round of Super Stock.


-Toby

Re: Live from the Phoenix LODRS
 

A Super Street Corvette crashed during first round. They were loading him into the ambulance when I went down to get fuel. Hopefully, it's just for precautionary measures.

It's still pretty cold here, but the sun should be coming out from behind the clouds pretty soon.

Too bad all you guys stayed home because of the weather. Looks like it's going to be a nice day today. :)


-Toby

Re: Live from the Phoenix LODRS
 

Reported on another site that it is Eddie Gilbert and he is alright.