I posted this on the SCCA forum and though I'd post here to for some feedback from all you guys and gals. I've already incorporated some of their suggestions at the bottom. All input is much appreciated!!

I've been contemplating this for a couple of months now and thought I'd put it to the board for some feedback. It seems that event sites are, at least in my region, are hard to come by and most of the sites within a few hours are go-cart tracks or parking lots we "modify" for our use. I guess my primary question is.......

Why hasn't someone built a dedicated facility for AutoXing?

I mean basicaly wer're just talking a piece of land and a big flat concrete/asphalt surface right? of course we'd want more than just that but this is the essence of it. Maybe since I'm new at this I'm getting in at a time when the sport is on an "upswing" and it seems like something like this could fly. I'm sure in the past less participation would not have justified it.

Anyway if someone....maybe me? .....decided this was a good idea, what would the ultimate venue consist of. I'm thinking of this as more of a private venture not necessarily tied to a Regional Club. It would be available year round for test and tunes, driving schools loacal or regional AutoX events. I'm also a General Contractor so this might help keep some of the costs down. Consider this a wish list of all the cool things that might be a part of it.

The List:

Asphalt and Concrete surfaces
Enclosed Storage (Race only)
Plenty of mounded grassy or bleechered spectator area.
ProSolo Night(I like that one!)
Central Timing Tower
Camping Facilities?
Concession Stand?

 

Actually, Mack... this is an idea that's been tossed around quite a bit. The Chicago region of the SCCA has been working with the Route66 Raceway officials to try and pave a permanent autocross site. They already have all the other 'amenities' of a permanent racing facility. Unfortunately it's proved to be cost prohibitive. They have generously offered to pay for 1/2 of the construction costs, but for even a moderately sized asphalt lot, the club's share would have been like $1million.

We'd all prefer concrete to asphalt, and that only would raise the price higher. Part of the problem is that autocrossing, due to it's grassroots nature, doesn't bring in enough money to justify such a project, on either the club or private level. Another example is Peru, IN... We are using a portion of closed down military base, which is really nice concrete. The site is leased on a yearly basis, at a very reasonable rate. Still, the manager of the site (Roger Johnson of Ohio) struggles to even break even each year. Autocrossing isn't a big-dollar sport. Yet the economic impact to the area is high... even though we autocrossers are cheap bastards, we still need hotel rooms and meals... so the local economy benefits.

Which is most apparent in Topeka where the Nationals are held. There, the Topeka government has recognized this and help the SCCA put on the big event at another closed down military base. They give the SCCA incentives to be there, and have even given the SCCA incentives to move their headquarters there. So the first 'permanent' autocross site might be in Topeka.

So the moral of the story so far, is that closed down military bases are the best sites because they have nice, mil-spec concrete ($$$$$) and are usually in remote places (noise). They often are donated to local municipalities by the military, who then market them as industrial parks an lease the space cheap. Perfect for us.

Why are the permanent drag strips and road-courses? They bring in money and lots of it. Spectators come to see it, big race promoters pay to use them, and large race teams pay the promoters to compete... it's capitolism at it's best. But it will never happen with something as grassroots as autocrossing. I wish it could, but it would be tough.

Final thought? Even at an amatuer club level, Road racing comprises 90% of the Chicago region budget yearly... that 10% isn't going to fund a private autocross venue. It's an interesting and worthy concept, Mack... but unfortunately I think it might be a lost cause. Maybe a good first step would be to get National level autocrossing on Speedvision. I'm sick of seeing Mud-Bog and Tractor racing on TV, and import-drags where Civics are running 18's with .852 reaction times. A good ProSolo program showcasing the .510 reaction times, and victories in elimination by thousandths would be much better TV... but someone needs to pay to get it on TV. Did I mention autocrossers are cheap?

 

Jason-

Thanks for the insightful comments. I think you've done a great job of explaining away the idea but I just can't take it might be a lost cause for an answer.

Lets just brainstorm for a moment. Take money out of the equation. Lets assume I just won PowerBall or something. I've got the perfect piece of property and the concrete is on it's way! What would the Ulimate AutoX Venue consist of. How big do the lots need to be? How many do we need? How do we accomadate spectators? How do we better accomadate workers? What are the short commings of all the existing facilities? Obviously they all exist with compromises. I'll probably have a better feel for some of this once I get out of my Region and participate in some National level stuff. And at that point I may see it as a lost cause to but I can't help it.......

I'm a dreamer!

And I'm firmly of the opinion that if there i a will there's a way!

 

Hehe... I wasn't trying to rain on your parade, Mack. I love your attitude.

For a perfect autocross venue, you would need a pad at least 1000ft X 1500ft. Preferably 1000ft. X 2000ft. Long, narrow configurations are no good. There also needs to be about 500ft. X 500ft. minimum for paddock. And if you were going to the length of building such a site, it should be able to hold Nationals... so we're talking 2 course pads and triple the paddock space.

So that's:
(2) 1000ft. x 2000ft. Concrete pads
(1) 1500ft. X 1500ft. Asphalt paddock (could be grass, the road-racers do it... but asphalt is preffered.)

You'd want it centrally located in the country, and near a major metropolitan area... but far enough not to disturb the suburbanites on Sunday morning. This really addresses the major shortcomings of all current sites, other than some nice indoor facilities instead of porta-johns. Also, a nice AC'd 'Timing and Scoring' building and an open-air tech-shed would be nice. Bleachers and concessions would take the cake.

Pretty much everything you see at Nationals! (AC'd trailers for T&S and old airplane hangars for tech/etc.)

Mack, you should come to Nationals... it's never too late to enter, you just pay a late fee. It would be great to see you and you could check out the National scene. It's an amazing time!

 

Jason-

Hmmmmm two million square feet of concrete for starters............I guess I'm gonna have to start saving my pennies!!

Oh, and I guess my backyards not big enough!

Back to the drawing board..........................

Don't think I'll make Nationals this year. I wish you guys and gals all the luck! I'll try and tune in over the net and root you on!!

 

You know if you really want to dream...

Build a large country club with meeting rooms, a restuarant/ bar, "pro" shop, big restrooms with showers.

You could also have a storage garage and offer people the option of keeping their car on site as well as a complete shop for repairs.

Then you could open it up to auto makers for corporate ride & drives, tire makers for the same reasons.

Just think, that 295 million dollar powerball could have made an amazing site.