Join us for a fun filled weekend at Watkins Glen, NY with our friends from the New York Tesla Owner's Club. Our clubs have been invited to join the annual Green Grand Prix on the world famous Watkins Glen racetrack in the beautiful Finger Lakes. The Green Grand Prix is a public outreach event with a fun range contest on 4/12/24. While the Green Grand Prix event is only one day, we planned additional optional events for the entire weekend. Come for the day or hang out with us for the weekend. More details are below.
Information about the event from Green Grand Prix website:
"The Green Grand Prix mission is to increase awareness of energy efficient, environmentally friendly vehicles. Its goal is to work towards making the Northeast a center for advanced vehicle technologies.
Our not-for-profit corporation partners with Watkins Glen International Speedway, the IMRRC, and the Sports Car Club of America, hosting an annual event for the past 19 years. The primary sponsors are Upstate NY Toyota Dealers Association and the Doris Bovee Memorial Foundation. The focus is on technology students, innovators, EV owners, and general public, drawing participation from high schools, colleges, innovators, and EV Club members, from N.Y. and several surrounding states.
The annual Toyota Green Grand Prix features a fun but challenging fuel economy contest run at approximately 45mph for all classes of fuel-efficient vehicles on the hilly WGI track for EV’s, plug-ins, and hybrids. Also included are tours of the track in alternate fuel buses, demonstrations, and educational talks on advanced vehicle technologies in the WGI Media Center. All our events are free and open to schools and the general public.
150+ High school and University technology students typically attended from approximately nine high schools, BOCES districts, and colleges."
Details on Green Grand Prix activity options for 4/12/24 ($100 for the rally, this fee covers the event insurance for the day):
REGISTER ON THE HOST EVENT SITE (CLICK HERE) AND ON DVTOC
Doris Bovee Memorial Road Rally (on racetrack)(Only 5 spots left, register ASAP!)
- Registration fee $100 (includes driver and navigator, 2-t-shirts, 2 lunches)
- Must have driver and navigator to enter (no helmets are required)
- Unrestricted tires as long as they are deemed safe.
- Tire pressures must be set to manufacturer recommendation
- 2-hour range conservation road rally on the Watkins Glen racetrack
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- Maintain speeds from 30 - 55 mph at all times
- 1 required pit stop for 4 minutes
- Driver and navigator may switch midway through if they would like
- Official rules for EV stock or productions vehicles click here
- Prizes will be awarded
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- Cars will be judged on both precision driving (maintaining perfect average speed for every lap) and also judged for total Kwh used for the 2 hours
Car Show (parking lot of racetrack)
- Registration fee $0
- Show off your car to the public and talk with students on being an EV owner
3 Laps on Watkins Glen Racetrack behind a pace car (after 5pm on Rally day)
- Registration fee $30 per car
- No helmets required
- No passing allowed, including pace car (speed restrictions determined by pace car, could be pretty fast but not guaranteed).
- Drivers must be 18 years or older.
- Minors in vehicles must be accompanied by a parent/legal guardian.
- Unrestricted tires as long as they are deemed safe.
- More information click here
Tentative Weekend Schedule:
- 4/11/24 - 7:00pm: Welcome to Watkins Glen dinner, location TBD
- 4/12/24 - 7:15am: Green Grand Prix begins! See below for tentative schedule:
7:15- 9:15am - SCCA registration for everyone (W.G.I. Tech Garage Office)
Tech Inspection and transponder attachment (WGI Tech Garage)
All vehicles must arrive with a full charge.
8:30 - 8:50am - EV and/or Hybrid bus reconnaissance lap for drivers and navigators. Cornell SAE EV display and talk.
9:20 - 9:35am - Drivers/ Navigators meeting ( WGI Tech Garage
9:45am - Practice Lap then line up on at Start/Finish
10:00-11:45am - Doris Bovee Memorial Fuel Economy Road Rally and Prius
Challenge on WGI long course. (Short course will be used in inclement weather.)
11: 50am - Transponder removal and recording of data. ( West side Tech Garage)
12:10 - 1:00pm - Boxed lunch (Media Center upper level)
12:15 - 1:00pm - Welcome, Introductions, Seminar on selected topics (Media Center Upper level) live streamed.
1:15 - 1:45pm - BAE ultra cap hybrid bus, and TCAT EV bus tours of track (starting from West SideTech Garage) Display of rally vehicles (WGI Tech Garage)
1:35pm - Autocross drivers meeting ( Tech Garage East Paddock)
1:45 - 4:00pm - Autocross ( WGI East Paddock)
4:30pm - Awards (Media Center Upper Level)
5:00pm - (Optional) 3 lap behind rally car on racetrack start ($30 fee for this event only)
- 4/13/24 - Morning (time TBD) Meet at Watkins Glen State Park (1009 N Franklin St, Watkins Glen, NY 14891) for walk in the park. Bring comfortable shoes, there are quite a few steps!
- 4/14/24 - Winery Tour?
Hotel information:
Campgrounds nearby:
Charging options:
- Highly recommend charging at level 2 chargers during meals, activities or overnight at your hotel. Please download the PlugShare app for details.
- Supercharging is available but a bit of a drive: Ithaca, (8 chargers - 40 minutes away) or Waterloo (Del Lago Resort and Casino - 8 chargers - 50 minutes away) at the top of Seneca Lake.
- Level 2 charging is available: in the Harbor Hotel (Seneca Harbor Park) parking lot, FLX Winery , Sapalta restaurant and multiple locations around the lake.
REGISTER ON THE HOST EVENT SITE (CLICK HERE) AND ON DVTOC
Upon registration you will receive an email from "Delaware Valley Tesla Owners Club" admin@dvto.club Check your junk/spam folders if you do not see it. This email will contain the most up to date information about this event and we will be able to email you if there are any updates to the event plans.
Please direct any questions about this event to christel@dvto.club
