New site, new event...

[treekiller]

Well I'm pretty sure I want to go ahead with a DE day at the "roval" at Ocala Speedway. since I need the attendee's to make the number work AND FAST has the experenced drivers I need to fill my instructor group. perhaps there is a bit of synergy here. If I can run the lapping day and DE sessions and time trial in the AM then we could lay out some cones and have a killer Autocross in the PM.

Of course we (TRAP) would benefit by having the experience and timing for the Time trial... and Fast would get a cool site paid for. I thought about having the drift guys come, but upon further review that might be more trouble then it's worth.

If you've never seen Ocala, It's a Tri-oval with a Series of 90's off the main straight, set up right it would make a cool mini road course of about .5 miles. and 5 turns.

even if FAST does not want to get involved I will still need a minimum of 10 instructors.

Thanks
Jeff Lloyd

[Loren]

Jeff, you should come to the meeting Saturday. (see the "meeting" thread)

I'll definitely be down for instructing if the date fits my schedule. Seems like if a safe (within standards) course can be setup, the only club expense for an afternoon autox would be insurance... that could probably be made to work if there's enough interest in it.

I've never run an autox on an oval, but that Rallycross we did on the dirt oval a while back was an absolute blast, and was perfectly safe. It warrants consideration.

Don't we have some members that live up around Ocala? Maybe one of those guys could jump in to chair the autocross?

[Native]

If we want to do this, and make it a FAST autocross, in order to get a new site insured, we/I have to submit a photo of the site (satellite shots have been ok for B'ville and SPC) with indications of course layout and boundaries, any obstacles, location of grid, spectator areas etc., including approximate measurements/scale. The underwriter at KandK seems reasonable. I can provide the forms that need to be completed (at least I think I have them somewhere... ).

Point being, if it's gonna happen this year, (and as long as we don't conflict with our 12/16 event), and I submit whatever to KandK at least 4 weeks ahead (more if we want to be sure they'll approve the site before we advertise), it needs to get moved on soon. IMHO, I wouldn't want to have to rush something together at a new site at the last minute - that's tricky enough to do at a site we're familiar with...but if it'll work, sweet. If not, next year?

[Loren]

Here's the Google sat view

From the looks of it, I could come up with a variety of ways to design a safe autox course out there which would include some banking (cool!), and even get some slalom action in if we wanted to. Many possibilities, just gotta keep our distance from the walls.

[Jamie]

I've never run an autox on an oval....

I have -- ran both on the Nashville Speedway oval with the local SCCA region there, and on a 3/4-mile oval in Richmond VA. Driving on the high banking at Nashville was a hoot...the windshield's full of nothing but pavement, and the car's down on the bump stops even at moderate speeds. For that reason, though, strange things can happen on the banking...contrary to popular belief, it is possible to spin up-bank. Richmond (which looks more like Ocala) was less dramatic. Not hard to design a good course -- might lend itself well to a Mirrorkhana.

[treekiller]

It won't be this year WE have the Rally on the 25th then a Rallycross @ east bay in January so I expect we can run this up the flagpole for February. I am waiting on some insurers to get back to me on this event. (trying to keep the $90 per student rate) I'll come to the meeting, I'm really looking forward to getting OCALA SPDY on board.

They are excited to have us and I think keeping the relationships good with the local tracks will be a HUGE asset in the future as sites get harder and harder to find. heck East bay was so happy they wanted to know when we would come back.

[WAFlowers]

Has anyone considered how we can get the club trailer to Ocala in time to do setup? The only thing I could see would be to tow it up the night before and then overnight in Ocala.

Google maps is estimating a 2+ hour drive from my home. I think it is optimistic.

I am so NOT getting up in the middle of the night (possibly as early as 4am) in order to target a 7am trailer delivery!

[Solar]

I know I can make the drive to Ocala in my car in 2 hours barring any traffic because I've done it many times. Towing a trailer might take a bit longer though.

[WAFlowers]

I know I can make the drive to Ocala in my car in 2 hours barring any traffic because I've done it many times. Towing a trailer might take a bit longer though.

My point, exactly!

[treekiller]

you might not need the trailer. when kenny brought the timing equipment to east bay it worked well.. since the autocross would be in the afternoon after the DE event the trailer would not HAVE to be there first thing heck really the cones are not required till after the time trial.. of course I know if your going up there you'll want to do both events.

The fast trailer is a bit heavy for the sentra's 2000 lb Tow rating, or I'd offer.

[Native]

So, is the plan to do an entire autocross after another event? Usually a full autocross takes us from 7 am to 4 pm. How is that going to work after a track event? I'm not nay-saying, just don't understand...

[treekiller]

if we get done in the morning, that should give us enough time to run 6 runs with 40 cars. in 1/2 a day. and no one is saying we need to stop at 5:00 the track is lit we could run until 7 or 8 if we need the time. to be honest the autocross is an exhibition event since I need many fast regulars for my instructors, and I expect everyone to be there anyway.

if a normal FAST event gets FCO by 10:00 am by moving the FCO to 1:00pm removing the lunch break and setup will have been taken care of should have a Full FAST event done by 6:00pm and to be honest I doubt there will be a huge turnout. I most likely will not fill the 40 spots. so if another 10 show up just for the afternoon auto cross a 50 in reality there will most likley be 30 or so cars attending. Remember Cars will allready have been teched, people registered, the course will have to be setup but that can be done quick.

My old SCCA region Ran split day autocrosses and with 2 half day events they are able to cycle 920 competition runs or 460 runs in 1/2 a day. so it's possible. 40 cars and 6 runs is only 240 competition runs. or 2 full hours of hot course.

[Native]

Sounds good.

Who should I give the insurance forms to in order to get the site approved? If this isn't something to go until Feb., there's plenty of time. Our regular Feb. event is tentatively set at B'ville on Sunday, 2/17., FWIW.

[treekiller]

Since we share the same Main Providor the insurance might be a non-issue. The biggest problem the insurance is having is hetting a lapping event covered under a club level policy.. If they say OK i'm sure it's not a big deal to roll the autocross into the existing coverage. since it's less "risk" then the TT

[SS1156]

This sounds like a lot of fun. I hope it works out.

[Lava Speed 05]

Did this idea fall by the way side or is it still being worked for a later date? I'm definitely interested if it's still a possibility...

[treekiller]

I have been working with another track. USA speedway, it's bigger and has more access, it's a matter of money at this point.