Alternate Autocross Locations

[Gregbj8]

WHERE we have the events has been discussed in this thread so I will toss out the idea of another, larger venue, possibly in Lakeland . FAST used to run here a few years ago and I have a few contacts at the City. Let me know if you would like me to persue this. I recently noticed that the SCCA runs an event at the Orange County Convention Center, now that is big.

[Loren]

WHERE we have the events has been discussed in this thread so I will toss out the idea of another, larger venue, possibly in Lakeland . FAST used to run here a few years ago and I have a few contacts at the City. Let me know if you would like me to persue this. I recently noticed that the SCCA runs an event at the Orange County Convention Center, now that is big.

Definitely a topic for another thread. But, if you have good contacts for Marchant Stadium in Lakeland, please contact me or Steve. We'd love to get back there. The only reason we quit running there is that we lost our contact. The guy just evaporated.

Not interested in putting on events in Orlando, however.

[twistedwankel]

WHERE we have the events has been discussed in this thread so I will toss out the idea of another, larger venue, possibly in Lakeland . FAST used to run here a few years ago and I have a few contacts at the City. Let me know if you would like me to persue this. I recently noticed that the SCCA runs an event at the Orange County Convention Center, now that is big.

So does Martin SC Club. There's alot of light poles with concrete bases to dodge. Sadly many lots are covered with those plus drains. Kind of limits course design. Not as grippy as you'd think either for a concrete. I found it very difficult to find even with the neon announcement boards telling me where to turn. That's a huge complex.

Cannot have too many "approved" sites IMO. But I'm guessing fenced areas would be the most likely to be accepted to limit access for insurance approval. Someone told me there is a paved oval track at Bradenton Speedway. Too far for me but might make a fun "special" event for FAST one day with a few well placed cones? I assume they have their own insurance?

[aw614]

what about hcc on dale mabry or usf sun dome parking lot? too many light poles there and liabilities?

[impalanut]

The biggest lots I see around here are at the dog tracks or maybe it's jai alai in Tampa. There was a driver safety course at the one in St Pete, but the one in Tampa looks bigger.

[Loren]

what about hcc on dale mabry or usf sun dome parking lot? too many light poles there and liabilities?

I don't see anything usable at HCC on Dale Mabry.

The Sundome parking lot is iffy. Too many islands, curbs and poles in general. The largest usable space there is 300x300' with curbs on all sides (rendering the usable space closer to 200x200) and 6 light poles in the middle. Compare to SPC, which is about 400x600' on average (odd-shaped lot) with hard obstacles on only 3 sides of that space. We consider THAT to be a small site. I'd be hesitant to run anywhere that's much smaller unless we really had to.

But, keep the ideas coming! I'll evaluate anything you come up with, and if it's good, we'll try to pursue it!

[Loren]

The biggest lots I see around here are at the dog tracks or maybe it's jai alai in Tampa. There was a driver safety course at the one in St Pete, but the one in Tampa looks bigger.

Someone should check into the SP dog track. I've heard of events being run there. Seems usable. Just need to find out what the cost and requirements would be.

People have checked into the Tampa dog track and found it to be marginal. Rough pavement, sandy, and remnants of cut-off fence posts were mentioned. Doesn't sound promising. But, if anyone wants to give it a closer look, or a check for current status, please do.

Fairly recently, we've looked at Tampa Bay Downs and found them to be both too pricey (1.5x the cost of SPC, which is already expensive) and have insurance requirements that we can't afford to meet. ($2M coverage rather than our $1M)

For those looking, try to limit yourself to within 40-50 miles of downtown Tampa.

[Gregbj8]

I will check Marchant Stadium, the Lakeland Civic Center and maybe even the airport in the next month or so. My only point with the Orlando Civic Center is that those guys think BIG.

[Loren]

Oh, we think big. But, those sites are not easy to get (no site is), and anything that big is usually quite expensive. For instance, we've looked at Tropicana Field (which really isn't great... light poles), they wanted over $2k for an event there.

Please don't assume that because we run at SPC that we haven't explored a lot of different options over the years. (and as recently as last year) We have. It's just that SPC is available, and aside from being on the small side, it's an outstanding place to do an autocross. And other places either aren't available, aren't usable, or simply cost too much.

But, keep looking! Let us know what you find. If it's something we can use, we'll do our best to pursue it.

[shakedown067]

Say, did anyone ever get a hold of the Hillsborough Sheriff department for their site we talked about last year? I know my contact fell through, but I could try again.

[Loren]

No contact was made that I am aware of. Our biggest action last year was actually coordinating with TBD enough to get a good rate from them and ultimately determine that we couldn't afford their insurance requirement.

[shakedown067]

I wonder if they'd let us use the streets of their new "town!" http://www.hcso.tampa.fl.us/Articles/Ar ... -City.aspx

[Lava Speed 05]

Well there is also pasco county's Safety Town... but that definitely has curbs and it looks like tactical town does too...

It would be a blast to legally haul ass through a town setting like that, but curbing would definitely suck.

[rab]

When I was at the Martin club's school there was another student talking about McDill. Don't know if he was blowing smoke or if that place is viable, but I thought I would throw it out.

[rojeho]

When I was at the Martin club's school there was another student talking about McDill. Don't know if he was blowing smoke or if that place is viable, but I thought I would throw it out.

The season opening Pro Solo was at MacDill for a couple of years a long time ago. Back before the first Gulf war.

[shakedown067]

Yeah, I'm pretty sure McDill is still on major lock-down.

[Loren]

Some of the SCCA guys are trying to get the door open at MacDill again. They have the influence of SCCA National behind them, so they probably have a better shot than we do. Once they've opened the door, then we may be able to piggyback.

I've heard that it's actually one of the best sites in the country. Good concrete, good location, good size. SCCA and PCA used to run there, but it's probably been at least 15 years.

That one's on the back burner for now unless someone has some pull with someone VERY high up the chain at MacDill.

[yamaha731]

I work out there once and a wial. Its a pian in the ass to get in (full back round check maybe a full body cavity search if your lucky) and a much bigger deal to get on the airfeild

[shakedown067]

Yeah, it was a pain for my Sister-in-law (who's a Captan) to get more than two other people on base to play golf a few years ago. I'll be amazed if they ever open up to autocross events again. Although I guess they have opened it back up for Air Fest, so it seems they could handle small events like ours.

[Jamie]

AirFest is a different story...it's a major community/public relations event for the Air Force and the base, and for preparation and cleanup, the wing shuts the flightline down for most of a week with the Air Force's blessing. In other words, there's something in it for them. That's much different than giving 50-100 people access to your active flightline, with the chance that they'll (however accidently) drop something that will end up passing through and damaging a $7 million jet engine...and you'll get a chance to explain to your 4-star boss why you thought that was a good idea....

Not that it can't be done -- there are several Air Force bases currently holding events -- but there's lots of reasons to say no, and few to say yes, so it takes an enthusiast with the right leverage...no one's managed that quite yet. SCCA probably has the best chance simply because they're a national organization with a reputation and their own insurance lawyers. The local CFR guy working the issue is getting assistance from the SCCA National office -- they'd very much like to get MacDill on the national schedule -- and he knows there's a small enthusiast population inside the fence if he needs to hold us up as examples. Frankly, SCCA getting permission to do a single national event may initially be more likely than for local events -- it provides more opportunities for public relations. A National Tour the weekend before AirFest might be the way to go. Still many hurdles to jump, though -- they're working it.