gg_got_a_tesla
Model S: VIN 65513, Model 3: VIN 1913
Zex, we caught a few autocross runs around noon. Saw a Roadster do 37-something and an MS that got close at 38-something?!
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Refuel 2014
- Thread starter doug
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- TMC Connect
Oh I miss typed. the course was that short...I ran a 36.646
and the other guy was .25 faster:crying:I saw your car in line for the parade but missed you. Hi. We'll need to have a Bay area mini EVent or something sometime
For mid afternoon autocross, two of the manufacture-plated cars were Tesla drivers back and forth, not sure what best time ended at...but pictures:
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I did not participate nor register for the TT also because of the insurance issue. I was very disappointed with the decision to only allow TT participants to use the super chargers. They were provided by Tesla, not speed ventures. I was sharing my car with another driver, so the car was in both A and B groups. We could not regain sufficient energy to enable us to keep participating without the SC. Speed ventures staff were unsympathetic and did not try to remedy the problem. Had I paid for the TT just for SC access, the insurance company wanted a notarized letter from speed ventures that despite the TT being on the registration that I did not participate. Way too much hassle. Next year there needs to be adequate fast charging for everyone.
(/complain off)
(/complain off)
@Andrew
I wish we had a chance to chat throughout the day. I had multiple ask me about the charging protocol. My standard response was something like this...
I didn't hear of any complaints to them on the superchargers, but maybe there were.
Anyway, bummer your day was not as fun because of supercharger issues.
Sidenote: I thanked the maestro at the TT car lineup profusely after doing my run for having us, getting the line going, etc. After that I offered a suggestion that next year they split the TT into two groups and let the drivers know ASAP so we can coordinate first group SC topoff before second group SC topoff. Perhaps there are some other concrete small adjustments that can be made; like NOT having the superchargers at the parking area but rather having it like a car wash where "stall row" is an "island" that have a "drivethru" type system where people could stack up 3 cars deep to wait in line. Speed Ventures was very receptive to recommendations.
Sidenote 2: There was also a bit of a mixup regarding the scheduling of the TT driver's meeting and the parade lap that ended up preventing some drivers from joining the parade lap that wanted to. (I heard about this 2nd hand.) There's definitely room to improve things but, frankly, the number of moving parts at that event that ~10 people (that I saw) were coordinating was pretty impressive.
I wish we had a chance to chat throughout the day. I had multiple ask me about the charging protocol. My standard response was something like this...
I didn't hear of any complaints to them on the superchargers, but maybe there were.
Anyway, bummer your day was not as fun because of supercharger issues.
Sidenote: I thanked the maestro at the TT car lineup profusely after doing my run for having us, getting the line going, etc. After that I offered a suggestion that next year they split the TT into two groups and let the drivers know ASAP so we can coordinate first group SC topoff before second group SC topoff. Perhaps there are some other concrete small adjustments that can be made; like NOT having the superchargers at the parking area but rather having it like a car wash where "stall row" is an "island" that have a "drivethru" type system where people could stack up 3 cars deep to wait in line. Speed Ventures was very receptive to recommendations.
Sidenote 2: There was also a bit of a mixup regarding the scheduling of the TT driver's meeting and the parade lap that ended up preventing some drivers from joining the parade lap that wanted to. (I heard about this 2nd hand.) There's definitely room to improve things but, frankly, the number of moving parts at that event that ~10 people (that I saw) were coordinating was pretty impressive.
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Gizmotoy
Active Member
I know it's too late now, but you should have asked around a bit. I don't think we had the opportunity to meet. Brianman, Denarius, myself, and a bunch of others technically registered for the TT were helping all comers work in on the Supercharger rotation. You're correct in that technically that was SpeedVentures' position, but while they seemed to care, for us this was essentially a community event. No one would have said anything if you charged up. Especially if you told them your car was running both groups despite not being in the TT.
That said, it was occasionally crazy down there. Everyone who showed up for the parade lapped absolutely PACKED the paddock around the Superchargers, and it was insane. I made the mistake of putting all our stuff down right by the chargers, and always had a hell of a time getting back to it. Other than that, the Superchargers were consistently used but there wasn't really a line. Everyone was really friendly, essentially announcing, "I'm pulling off the charger, who needs?"
Sorry that hurt your enjoyment of the event.
People should simply be required to stay at their cars during charging and ideally not range charge if possible during the day at least. Time trial people could jump in when needed. If they had enough HPWCs then you could top up while your car was cooling off after charging to 80 or 90%.
Gizmotoy
Active Member
I didn't get the impression that people were being inconsiderate and leaving their cars on the charger after they were done. If I snuck away, like I did to photograph the TT, I put a sticky note on my window with "For disconnect call..." in case someone was desperate. That said, I do think most people were range charging (or at least I was, sorry), since that last couple percent makes a pretty big performance difference.
I would have happily hopped to a slower charger, but the 14-50s were all spoken for by non-Supercharger capable vehicles, and even then I used roughly 80 rated miles lapping one session. That's probably 2 hours of charging on 14-50 vs. 10 or 15 minutes on the Supercharger. It's probably better to not tie up a 14-50 everyone can use when you can get on and off a Supercharger quickly.
This....contributed to my voice going towards the end of the day. At least 3 times, I got no response to "Anybody want a supercharger?!" with a stall or two unoccupied.
That said, at least 3 times the call was followed by "ok, you in the green" pointing and slot occupation.
I didn't mean to indicate it was a big problem or a problem at all actually but even 5 min here or there adds up during the day and people were on a tight schedule.
I didn't know about the range charging and performance. That makes sense.
Maybe a dry erase board with car number and order list for which car is next to charge? Having everyone write their phone number someplace on their car or on the board would be helpful. Of course with the mobile phone apps people keep track of their charging so not really an issue. It's just such a limited resource and was trying to think of ways to maximize it.
I didn't know about the range charging and performance. That makes sense.
Maybe a dry erase board with car number and order list for which car is next to charge? Having everyone write their phone number someplace on their car or on the board would be helpful. Of course with the mobile phone apps people keep track of their charging so not really an issue. It's just such a limited resource and was trying to think of ways to maximize it.
Gizmotoy
Active Member
Certainly more and faster charging helps. As brianman mentioned, there were stalls sitting idle with some regularity. The main congestion point was between sessions one and two because they were so close together, with the separation further shortened by a long driver's meeting that locked charging owners into the classroom. Other than that, the chaos seemed to work relatively well... this time. It might not for next year, though, especially if Tesla doesn't bring more Superchargers and attendance increases further.
Certainly some kind of list would have helped with the crunch periods, but it didn't seem like there were too many of those. It might make sense to ask for reserved staging lane for Supercharger access next year if it looks like access will be tighter. Get in line, and wait to charge.
Certainly some kind of list would have helped with the crunch periods, but it didn't seem like there were too many of those. It might make sense to ask for reserved staging lane for Supercharger access next year if it looks like access will be tighter. Get in line, and wait to charge.
Kipernicus
Model S Res#P1440
Yes given the slow taper at the top of the pack, and the long down time between sessions, it seems like a car with twin chargers should be able to recoup 80 miles in 1.5hrs and that would be as good as queuing up for a supercharger. I suppose it's more work to put in 30 HPWCs vs 3 supercharger cabinets.
dandelot
Member
Showed up at the Hyatt to register and was blown away by the Tesla contingent.
Had no idea teslamotorsclub existed. Our model S has 1000+ miles...
Anyway, Sunday AM at the track (about 8am, I raced
a Lotus Exige that weekend) a few charge stations were unused so I
used one for 15 or so minutes, just for a few insurance miles
to get home to Burlingame CA. Owners I spoke to at the Hyatt and
the track were very nice indeed, though it really did not get through to
Judy and I what was going on. Maybe we'll be able to participate
next year.
The Teslas at the track made a great show in every way. Well done.
Even a few harmless (AFAIK) spins.
Had no idea teslamotorsclub existed. Our model S has 1000+ miles...
Anyway, Sunday AM at the track (about 8am, I raced
a Lotus Exige that weekend) a few charge stations were unused so I
used one for 15 or so minutes, just for a few insurance miles
to get home to Burlingame CA. Owners I spoke to at the Hyatt and
the track were very nice indeed, though it really did not get through to
Judy and I what was going on. Maybe we'll be able to participate
next year.
The Teslas at the track made a great show in every way. Well done.
Even a few harmless (AFAIK) spins.
That's me in the bottom right corner. asking 'Are you gonna take off all your clothes now and start spinning?'
but no, he is not from cali ;>
here is my AutoX best time
videos in my sig page ;>
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Gizmotoy
Active Member
Finally got some of my pictures posted up. The album is here, but I posted some of the better ones below. I think I may have got a couple incidental license plates. If anyone wants theirs removed let me know.
Album: TMC Connect ReFuel 2014 - an album on Flickr
Album: TMC Connect ReFuel 2014 - an album on Flickr
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