Alternate Autocross Locations

[blacksheep-1]

We used to use McDill back in the old "McDill sports car club "days but as the place got busier we eventually lost access, then with the terrorist crap that pretty much sealed it. There is a decent chance of a new kart track going in near Bushnell, but I don't think it will meet our insurance requirements since it has a grass edge.

[Native]

Grass edges don't matter - heck, SPC has a concrete wall! It's distance from hard objects and curbs and such that there's rules for.

[blacksheep-1]

Grass edges don't matter - heck, SPC has a concrete wall! It's distance from hard objects and curbs and such that there's rules for.

Is this absolute fact? because I can put the fix in now.

[Loren]

The first question is "what will it cost?" The second question is "do we want to have events as far away as Bushnell?"

We could run events ON grass if we wanted to. As long as it's flat and relatively smooth and there are no obstacles in our way, it's not a problem. (of course, most of our folks probably wouldn't bring their daily driven street cars out for a flog in the dirt)

[Dave]

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.

As of yesterday, this issue is currently dead in the water.

[blacksheep-1]

The first question is "what will it cost?" The second question is "do we want to have events as far away as Bushnell?"

That's not totally the issue (although Bushnell is not that much farther away than Brookesville) it's another potential place to run autocrosses and you never know when you might need an extra one.
The cost is probably going to be insignificant since we'd be on the buddy system.