Very true, and even after you've had more than 30 years at one site, you
can lose it, as in the Alameda County Fairgrounds in Pleasanton. In
hindsight, that lot is really too small, and never would have worked as the
sport grew, but for a long time, it was the only place to play.
Site managements change, new folks more noise-sensitive move in. For
instance, we had the San Mateo County Fairgrounds for a while, but homes
were/are on the other side of a wall. It didn't take long to lose that one.
For GGF, we jumped through hoops for noise containment to keep that
site, but elections happen and what one city council thought was okay, the
next one took the same noise data and used it against us. Political climates
change. Presently every year, we apply for an Albany business license, which
may be turned down or not. So far for 02 we're okay.
Hamilton Field in Marin was an awesome site, but dealing with military
(at the time) management was screwy. Then some retired admiral on the hill
didn't like the noise, and we were out.
Crows Landing, another great site, is in political limbo, having to do
with a 'clean up' problem which I think either NASA or the US Navy is
supposed to clean up before the San Joaquin County will take it over.
Meanwhile, we sit and wait.
Alameda is another where politics and who you know, and how much money
will you bring to the town have a lot to do with it...and finding out who's
in charge this week is a major hurdle.
3Com welcomes us with open arms, but won't do anything about smoothing
out the site. And its future is tied up in local politics (chaired by Willy)
so there is no way to predict its longevity.
Networks Coliseum will always jump highest for the highest bidder. We
can pencil in a date, but if a rock concert or whatever comes along, we're
out. They say 30 days' notice, but it's been less than that.
Santa Clara Fairgrounds might be a place, but its parking lot might be
the one for a rallycross. :) And, again, local politics interfere.
If anyone on this list has good political connections, and can land a
site, we've always given a year's worth of free entries. If it could lead to
a permanent site, maybe a life-time of free entries would be a good reward!
--Pat K
----------
>From: "Jerry Mouton" <jerry@moutons.org>
>To: "Dennis Hale" <dhale_510@yahoo.com>, "ba autox" <ba-autox@autox.team.net>
>Subject: Re: autocross sites
>Date: Fri, Apr 26, 2002, 9:25 AM
>
> Just be sure you don't go in somewhere
> and scare the bejeesus out of the owners and
> make it impossible for anybody to ever autocross
> on a good site. Not sure how you do that,
> but I'd watch it.
>
> Another factor is that some of these sites have to be
> "gotten" every year. Marina has been making bad
> noises, and I know Dennis works hard to keep
> the site.
>
> Jerry
>
> Jerry Mouton mailto:jerry@moutons.org Laissez les bons temps rouler!
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "Dennis Hale" <dhale_510@yahoo.com>
> To: "ba autox" <ba-autox@autox.team.net>
> Sent: Friday, April 26, 2002 8:54 AM
> Subject: autocross sites
>
>
>> At the risk of invoking the censor gods on this list I
>> would like to debate Sean O'Boy's statement wrgt new
>> sites and who/how they are gotten.
>>
>> The simple fact is every one is gotten by different
>> folks, and the story behind each of them is unique. I
>> don't think anyone has ever gotten one in a normal
>> business fashion. The business proposal of renting a
>> $5M lot for $500 and putting it in some jeapordy is a
>> really tough sell...
>>
>> Historic "revisionist" aspect;
>> Oakland Coliseum was gotten by Derek Israel, a
>> roadracer who was on the maintenance staff at the
>> place.
>> Candlestick was gotten by John Kelly as far as I know,
>> he can corresct this if necessary.
>> GGF has been gotten twice. The first time by Art
>> Munchuryan, a roadracer who at the time was pretending
>> to autocross, but in HS so.... The second time by a
>> guy in the Lotus club [I don't recall his name right
>> now] who just wanted to stage a charity fundraiser. He
>> never autocrossed. That event was a school.
>> Marina was gotten by Sherry Grantz, but she was
>> approached by a Street Rod club that was using it as a
>> swapmeet site.
>> Crows Landing was gotten by Art Segar, a roadracer. He
>> worked with Peggy to put it together.
>> The Livermore Streetrace was a deal done by Dave
>> Vodden when the SCCA office moved to Livermore. He has
>> never autocrossed AFAIK.
>> Every site has required extensive effort to "finish
>> the deal" and lots of folks have been involved there.
>> As Naseum.
>> The points are, anyone can get a new site deal, new
>> folks historically have been the ones to do it, and
>> autocrossers ought to be more active in the search and
>> not be so reliant upon others! Or at least not be
>> defiant of those folks that have helped.
>>
>> Let the games begin...
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>> =====
>> Dennis Hale
>> Yahoo! Games - play chess, backgammon, pool and more
>> http://games.yahoo.com/
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