[Racer Duck]

OK, I'm calmed down now. But I really got tickled reading the following story. It's about the extreme strain the IRL folks are under having to go from Mid-Ohio to Edmondton and be prepared to race 6 days later.

You can read the story here.

I got to thinking about what the NASCAR Cup teams go thru every year: Daytona to Fontana. What a way to start your season. So, let's compare.

IRL

• Mid-Ohio to Edmondton via Mooresville, NC. - 2400 miles
• Race 6 days after Mid-Ohio
• They have to have their paperwork ready for the Canadian border crossing.
• Have to rebuild their car at Edmondton.

NASCAR

• Daytona to Fontana via Mooresville, NC. - 2900 miles
• Race 7 days after Daytona
• IF they won the race, their car is taken away from them for an entire year - but that doesn't matter 'cause they have to use different cars in Fontana, so the trip back to Mooresville (or wherever) is mandatory.
• They have to have their trucks ready to pass the California DOT inspections. Failure means impounding until it does pass the inspection.
• These are not the same cars they had in Florida, so everything is different and they have to learn what the cars have on them.

Seems to me the NASCAR guys might have it a bit harder even though they get an extra day to travel the extra 500 miles...

Opinions?

[Bob Tanner]

Originally Posted by Racer Duck

OK, I'm calmed down now. But I really got tickled reading the following story. It's about the extreme strain the IRL folks are under having to go from Mid-Ohio to Edmondton and be prepared to race 6 days later.


IRL[list]
[*]They have to have their paperwork ready for the Canadian border crossing.
[*]They have to have their trucks ready to pass the California DOT inspections. Failure means impounding until it does pass the inspection.


Opinions?

I used to carry loads to Missasauga, ONT, St Johns, NS and Laval, Qc. You might be underestimating the rigors of getting commercial vehicles across the border, Duck. If you don't have your "i's" dotted and your "t's" crossed PERFECTLY, you probably will be held up. Remember, the border is basically run by Canadian bureaucrats, and you've dealt that mess enough you know what I mean. I'm not sure if the haulers need their loads brokered thru a Canadian company but if they do, there's another layer of hoops to jump through. One such broker in particular (Livingston), is run with all the inate effeciency of a license bureau.

The haulers I've seen all have PrePass and all the Calif chicken houses I know of are PrePass. The Ag checkpoints are another matter but haulers usually skate right through those. Plus, all the haulers are leased with low mileage and are kept up pretty well (sparkling, as a matter of fact). I have never seen one get any hassle by DOT.

But, I agree with you. The IRL team doth complain too much. It is pretty laughable, particularly with a team like Penske who should have moving race cars down to an exact science.

[WestCoast]

They have been doing it since the CAN-AM days, sounds like a non-story to me.
Also, try going south to the States, the "new" (USA) national security measures assume everyone is a terrorist now, and for the first time ever, as off next year a passport will be needed to go South/North. This will really slow things down.

[Racer Duck]

Originally Posted by Bob Tanner

I used to carry loads to Missasauga, ONT, St Johns, NS and Laval, Qc. You might be underestimating the rigors of getting commercial vehicles across the border, Duck. If you don't have your "i's" dotted and your "t's" crossed PERFECTLY, you probably will be held up. Remember, the border is basically run by Canadian bureaucrats, and you've dealt that mess enough you know what I mean. I'm not sure if the haulers need their loads brokered thru a Canadian company but if they do, there's another layer of hoops to jump through. One such broker in particular (Livingston), is run with all the inate effeciency of a license bureau.

The haulers I've seen all have PrePass and all the Calif chicken houses I know of are PrePass. The Ag checkpoints are another matter but haulers usually skate right through those. Plus, all the haulers are leased with low mileage and are kept up pretty well (sparkling, as a matter of fact). I have never seen one get any hassle by DOT.

But, I agree with you. The IRL team doth complain too much. It is pretty laughable, particularly with a team like Penske who should have moving race cars down to an exact science.

not underestimating crossing the border .. I've done it and, while you would be foolish to attempt it with paperwork awry, a little fore planning will insure a smooth transition. However, we both know even the best kept rigs have mechanical problems .. usually unplanned. And Murphy is usually around keeping things unpredictable, expecially when time is of essence. My son had the pleasure of co-driving Rich Bickle's Busch car to Las Vegas (an easy enough chore, some would say) but it still took a few team shirts and ball caps to grease their way across the Arizona checkpoint. All it takes is someone with enough power to have a rotten morning and, in turn, make life "difficult" for innocent drivers... As you know, they don't need a reason to decide to do a search or to check brakes and weights.

[Bob Tanner]

Originally Posted by Racer Duck

not underestimating crossing the border .. I've done it and, while you would be foolish to attempt it with paperwork awry, a little fore planning will insure a smooth transition. However, we both know even the best kept rigs have mechanical problems .. usually unplanned. And Murphy is usually around keeping things unpredictable, expecially when time is of essence. My son had the pleasure of co-driving Rich Bickle's Busch car to Las Vegas (an easy enough chore, some would say) but it still took a few team shirts and ball caps to grease their way across the Arizona checkpoint. All it takes is someone with enough power to have a rotten morning and, in turn, make life "difficult" for innocent drivers... As you know, they don't need a reason to decide to do a search or to check brakes and weights.

Agree to all. I've found the AG inspection at the AZ line (They say that they're look for fire ants when they open a load that doesn't have produce on its BOL) are more liking to crack the box than they are in CA.

As far as your last sentence, I've found that if you drive a new or recent model and keep it clean, keep your mud flaps in good shape and keep your air lines tightened up, you usually get a green light. I've driven nothing but PrePass for the pass 3-4 years and that eliminates a LOT of hassle.

But that was in my last life and I've now moved on to a more mundane lifestyle.

[Racer Duck]

Originally Posted by Bob Tanner

Agree to all. I've found the AG inspection at the AZ line (They say that they're look for fire ants when they open a load that doesn't have produce on its BOL) are more liking to crack the box than they are in CA.

As far as your last sentence, I've found that if you drive a new or recent model and keep it clean, keep your mud flaps in good shape and keep your air lines tightened up, you usually get a green light. I've driven nothing but PrePass for the pass 3-4 years and that eliminates a LOT of hassle.

But that was in my last life and I've now moved on to a more mundane lifestyle.

I've been wondering when you were gonna hang up the steering wheel. Figured since I'm seeing your posts more often because you were parked 'cause of the cost of fuel.

I sort of forced myself into it when I formally walked out over a pay dispute back in Dec 2005. Up to that time I'd been logging as much as 80K miles a year for the previous 6 years. As I acclimated back to "normal" life I realized, as much as I enjoyed driving and missed the people I'd made friends with along the way, I was burned out and had no desire to go back.

[Bob Tanner]

Originally Posted by Racer Duck

I've been wondering when you were gonna hang up the steering wheel. Figured since I'm seeing your posts more often because you were parked 'cause of the cost of fuel.

I sort of forced myself into it when I formally walked out over a pay dispute back in Dec 2005. Up to that time I'd been logging as much as 80K miles a year for the previous 6 years. As I acclimated back to "normal" life I realized, as much as I enjoyed driving and missed the people I'd made friends with along the way, I was burned out and had no desire to go back.

Nope. My knees just gave out. I've been playing with part of a left ankle since 1969 (thanks to our friend Charlie and an RPG on the Rung Sat). Arthritis has set in on that and my L knee. plus my lower back. Sitting for hours at a time looking out a windshield just isn't the answer.

Now I take a short run (700-1000 miles) and back every two-three weeks. It's "walkin' around money," and keeps me feeling like a useful citizen. I need that.

Now it's just a matter of getting more exercise, annual physicals and waiting until we are forced to start drawing down our retirement plans. (Grrrrrr!!!)

I never made many, if any, friends out there. (No surprise there) I turned on the CB only rarely, and found that I had little in common with others at the truck stops.

So there you are. I'll be around until everyone finally puts me on their <IGNORE> list.

[Racer Duck]

Originally Posted by Bob Tanner

Nope. My knees just gave out. I've been playing with part of a left ankle since 1969 (thanks to our friend Charlie and an RPG on the Rung Sat). Arthritis has set in on that and my L knee. plus my lower back. Sitting for hours at a time looking out a windshield just isn't the answer.

Now I take a short run (700-1000 miles) and back every two-three weeks. It's "walkin' around money," and keeps me feeling like a useful citizen. I need that.

Now it's just a matter of getting more exercise, annual physicals and waiting until we are forced to start drawing down our retirement plans. (Grrrrrr!!!)

I never made many, if any, friends out there. (No surprise there) I turned on the CB only rarely, and found that I had little in common with others at the truck stops.

So there you are. I'll be around until everyone finally puts me on their <IGNORE> list.

fortunately, most of my driving was "delivery" though the thing that broke my back was the 600 mile 5 days in a row for 6 months route: I carried a load of auto parts 300 miles towards El Paso and met up with another driver coming from El Paso, traded trailers - his was empty or had "returns" - and came back. I had to meet him in time that he could be back in El Paso by 7:30 AM so he could deliver the parts to the various dealers, body shops and stores. On my end I had to inventory the parts and load the trailer plus turn in the returns. Usually it was 16 hour long days sandwiched between lots of sleepy weekends. Off hours during the week amounted to maintenance and repairs on the truck and myself; not much else.

But for 3 years I had the gravy job of all jobs: delivering vet supplies (we got the route because UPS was letting the refrigerated meds get warm in their trucks.) I'd load up at 5AM in Austin, drive to College Station (which I think has more vets per capita than anyplace else on earth!) deliver to the vet's offices there, then make a few stops along a winding route back. One of the places I stopped first became my first coffee break (tho I usually had to make the coffee) and occasionally help the vet do a spaying or castration while I drank my coffee. His son became an Olympic skeet shooter - was the top high schooler in the nation and #5 in the world in his age bracket when he was a Junior .. the daughter went on to CIA in NYC and became a pretty good chef. There was a semi retired vet, a friend of theirs, who had his supplies dropped at their place, and was the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo Vet. Good people, all of them. That's where I made most of those friends I referenced. Since I didn't have to go back to the terminal I could dally as long as I wanted, but I was usually home before lunch was over..... I was driving thru College Station past the A&M bon fire that collapsed the morning after at 7AM. Luckily, no one I knew was involved in that disaster.

Since we didn't drive big trucks and didn't go outside the state, we escaped a lot of the DOT rules, no log books, etc. .. which allowed the company to demand we drive long hours and lots of miles. In fact, they didn't allow breaks for meals or coffee .. you just managed to squeeze them in or did without. That lead to my ultimate downfall: I rear ended a civilian one day on my way back from Abilene and killed the driver. They claimed I fell asleep, but I didn't .. just took my eyes off the road for a few seconds while I put my drink back in the holder .. when I looked up, the light was red and the Camry was right in front of me - stopped. Even at 30 mph it takes a bit of room to stop when you're pulling a trailer... Company got sued, me too. My insurance defended me, then dropped me. Company had to pay $800K to the family .. I didn't have to pay a dime. That's when they started "forgetting" to record my arrival/departure times which lead to the dispute about back wages. I had my own log, but they didn't care. My lawyer suggested I drop the matter so they wouldn't roll over during the trials. After everything cleared all the courts, I got a bit obstinate about the $500 they owed me. Promised myself if it didn't come on the 1st December check I was walking .. it didn't and I did. Middle of the week with no driver available to take the San Angelo route .. put them in a big bind - 5 car new car dealers and 6 major body shops with no parts for their customer's cars that day - I got my revenge.

Since I was already drawing my retirement from IBM before I started driving, I wasn't broke, but it didn't cover everything. Finally applied for my Social Security about 9 months later. Now I'm double dipping, so to speak. Got a letter from SS Admin last month: seems I can work and make any amount of money I want come Sept without impacting my SS check. I'm thinking about it...

[Bob Tanner]

As long as we've blown this topic right out of the water, what the Hell...

I hear you. I took up driving back in 1999 when I tried to retire completely and about drove my wife nutz. I was too young (58 ) and she was still working for Uncle as Assist Security Officer at Homeport Pascagoula. (GS-something or other) I thought, What the heck. Where is there a job which pays enough to make it worth my time, yet demands nothing in the way of making corporate decisions, isn't labour intensive and I will have minimum responsibilities. Driving seemed to fit all the bills.

It was kind of crappy until they came out with the new Hours of Operation a few years back (Max 11 hours driving in any 14 hour consecutive period then a mandatory 10 hour break). After that it got good. No split days. Plus, it was kind of a kick when a dispatcher gave me a load to PU or Delv and I could tell them, "Sorry. I don't have the hours." One thing my Navy career taught me was the value of be able to say "No!" to anything.

I was already drawing my pension with 40% disability. At 65 I began drawing my pension from my career as a counselor and then in Jan I began drawing SS. Last month I said to myself, "Self, why the Hell are you doing this?" I came in from a run and told them I was giving two weeks notice. They asked me to stay and we worked a deal. They let me quit long enough so I could roll my 401K over to a more lucrative plan then put me back on the rolls in a "part time basis." Last month I drove around 1500 miles and this month'll be 1753 (a weeks mileage). They want to next week but I've made some medical plans so it'll be the first week of August when I take another load. I'll be gone less than a week and be back till September.

Unless I unexpectedly go Tango Uniform, things are very, very good for The Bobster.

[Racer Duck]

Roger on the blown topic.

IBM kicked me out at 55 in '98. (30.5 yrs on the rolls plus half a year pay to help sweeten the pot...) Wife left a year later with half my retirement. Looking back, it's the best thing that could have happened to me, but didn't think so at the time...

I hit the 65 mark last Nov. and am enjoying having nothing I "have" to do and nobody to report to. GTG's my hobby, so's racing. Bills almost all paid. Getting ready to hit the trails...

[clutch]

Originally Posted by Racer Duck

Getting ready to hit the trails...

Yeah, come on down for a fish

[Racer Duck]

Originally Posted by clutch

Yeah, come on down for a fish

that's very high on my "bucket list".