Da Groj

After the successful discussion we had in a unrelated topic I Decided to start a new thread.

After trying to recall how locations were gathered back in the day. I remembered we have a wonderful relationship with the Local schools FSAE programs. and they tend to have some pull with the engineering departments, and in turn pull with the parking athority.

I went ahead and contacted the USF formula SAE team. since they are an engineering club that build a car for autocross competition. I figure if we offer the team, discounted entry fees and some money in return for using a lot at USF that kills several birds.

1. It secures the "Central" location we desire so much
2. It brings in young members, who have a history of getting involved
3. it opens up a door for other college FSAE teams in the area to use FAST as their proving grounds. even if we need to create a FSAE class to help them along. which in turn will open up more opertunities.

FSAE schools in florida
USF <-contacted
UCF
Embry-Riddle
FAU
UF

anyone I'm forgetting.

Which brings up a good point. what is "TOO FAR" for a f.a.s.T. event

Great idea!

treekiller wrote:Which brings up a good point. what is "TOO FAR" for a f.a.s.T. event

Figure about an hour from Tampa as a maximum, if for no other reason than to keep Bill (or whoever's towing) from having to tow the trailer too far.

Jamie wrote:Figure about an hour from Tampa as a maximum, if for no other reason than to keep Bill (or whoever's towing) from having to tow the trailer too far.

Yeah, Brooksville is about as far from Clearwater as I want to go. It is a killer to have to get up that early.

Actually it is my wife that tows (usually) and I drive my competition car. You have to convince her (and that'll be a tough sell) if you want to go further.

Actually, recent and unexpected changes in my employment condition once again make it appear that I'll be leaving the area. Someone else better step up and volunteer to tow, soon! :shock:

what is the weight of the trailer and cargo?

treekiller wrote:what is the weight of the trailer and cargo?

I've asked that before and no1 seems to know .

Is there a scale anywhere near where the trailer lives?

Just from my butt dyno I'll guess it's close to 3,000lbs. I've pulled 1,200-1,400lbs several times with my wagon and this trailer once. It felt MUCH heavier than my 1200-1400lb loads.

What did you have in mind Jeff?

I may have some contacts here in Lakeland (exit 28-38 area of I4) to include the Lakeland Airport SUN-N-FUN property, the Lakeland USA Speedway, and Some other City owned Property. I just need to get with some one to get the specifics of what they use or is typical in fees and such?

Actually at the SUN-N-FUN site they have an event every year that is called wings and things, and I know about 2 years ago they had a kart track set up so maybe a interesting way to get out there with some spectator action?

as far as the point of TO FAR well the St.Pete site is about 1hour20 min and that is about pushing it for a regular location but I would drive up to 2-2.5 for a good one time a season location. I Also wouldn't want to do more than 2 far locations a season, But that is just me and what I would do.

treekiller wrote:what is the weight of the trailer and cargo?

Very heavy for its size. Worse, the wheels are set far back so the tongue weight is high. At the next event try lifting the tongue. Just don't strain your back!

My Expedition handles it without any problem, but I'd hate to tow it with anything less.

How about a separate trailer-towing thread?

Keep us posted with any progress on this Jeff.

The entire central FL/west FL autoX community is pretty much all riding on Brooksville alone. If something was to ever happen with this site, this club as well as others would be seriously SOL.

I emailed every contact I could find on their website. no response. They have meetings every tuesday night according to their website. I can attend one of these meetings and bring up the issue. I would assume since the emails were sent last tuesday night their will be some discussion at tomorows meeting. I could use another member to show some force.

Jeff

I'd go, but I have welding class T + Th nights until May 15th.

Sorry.

treekiller wrote:I emailed every contact I could find on their website. no response. They have meetings every tuesday night according to their website. I can attend one of these meetings and bring up the issue. I would assume since the emails were sent last tuesday night their will be some discussion at tomorows meeting. I could use another member to show some force.

Jeff

What location is this? USF? What time is the meeting? I can't say for sure yet that I can make it but I'll let you know once you post the details.

Loren and myself Attended their meeting yesterday and made some headway, they asked us to Identify which lots we wanted to use and we will need to prepare a site package, which we allready hopefully have.

Lot 29 A is very decent I am going to try and get loren to post an image of it here, good islanded off area for staging/paddock. and the SAE club allready has permission to use it. If we add our insurance to their activities I can imagine it's a win/win

we also came to find out that there is a thrid party that controls the sundome parking lots, sundome incorporated or the such. they have 3 large lots surrounding the dome and being a business may be intrested in making income. businesses are allways easier to approch then non-profits. Loren thinks it's going to be too expensive but you'll never know unless you ask.

if it is too expensive then that means we need to find ways to afford it. who has our site package?

What's a site package?

It's a proposal to a location owner. it tells a little about the club and our exemplarary saftey record. what the sport is and who benefits from it. Has the insurance documentation and a letter of explanation describing how they are covered. it also usually contains a proposed Site fee, and schedule. yadda yadda yadda. it's our application basically to use a given site. describe current and past sites and includes letters of refrence from the respective current site owners. IF SPC reccomends us, I think that would help the USF deal significantly.

I'm a salesperson, not a Word processing whiz so hopefully we can get someone on this, bind some up in nice professional looking folders. we would just need to taylor each proposal to a given site. 1-2 pages diffrence.

Well, that all certainly makes sense.

I have no problem putting together a site package, and also asking SPC and Brooksville if they would mind if we listed them as references.

BUT, if this is something that needs to be done in sooner than 3 weeks or so, better get someone else...lemme know.

By the way, thanks for attending their meeting. It'll be great if we can actually add a site to our schedule...

here is a link to a sat view of a site here in lakeland that is used about 2x a years as a new car sales man ride and drive for sabb, bmw and pontiac. I have seen the couses they set up there and are basically Autocross courses used to let car sales people test the cars just before they are released for sale. and this lot is vacant about 90% of the time! it is fenced with gated entrances and can ues the whole lot as the course and use the lakeland center parking across the street. or the site has a natural dividing line and can be used as our parking and course area.

this location would be only about 35 miles from tampa and is easy to get to from I4

so let me know what you guys think. and i can look into it further and or someone who knows much more than I can meet me over here to beter evaluate the site

http://maps.google.com/maps?ie=UTF-8&oe" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false; ... &tab=wl&q=

Native, I'm going away in 2 weeks for a week so there is going to be little to no progress made by me in the next 3 weeks. it's important stuff to have. as we grow, the larger and better sites will be a benefit. look how much brooksville increased the clubs exposure. and they try to keep people out of there.

TracAction: Go ahead, find out who runs the lot, that's all you can do. we have to remember it sometimes takes 25-50 proposals before a good long term site is found. find out who to contact, if you want I'll go up and help pitch the club when the time comes.

you have to follow up, if you give somneone the opertunity to not call you... they won't call you. get a positive yes or no before looking for the next site.

I can't see the link to the Lakeland site. But I think it is the same place that the SCCA used four years ago.

I believe we abandoned it because of the curbs, bumps, and dips. It's smaller than SPC and with a huge jump in the middle. It was reported that some cars were getting air over it.

Here is a picture from one of the events. You can sort of see the infamous jump on the middle right.

[quote="Jeremy"]I can't see the link to the Lakeland site. But I think it is the same place that the SCCA used four years ago.

I believe we abandoned it because of the curbs, bumps, and dips. It's smaller than SPC and with a huge jump in the middle. It was reported that some cars were getting air over it.

Yes that is the same location. As far as size I did drive out there tonight when i was at work and it may be smaller but it is an odd shape i think is the largest problem there... as for curbs there are none but there are grass island/strips in locations and like 3 drain/dips that look like they could be harsh

I'll go by there tomarrow durring office hours and see what I can find out.