Local auto-x club is on the verge of extinction

[Jand3rson]

This is some SHIT. Our autocross club holds its events at the local fairgrounds, in the rather large parking lot. Well, day before yesterday, the asphalt surface was chipsealed. For those who don't know what that is, they basically spray asphalt glue all over the perfectly good surface, and coat it in black asphalt gravel. So now the surface is essentially nothing more than a gravel road that stays in place. It's like 10 grit sandpaper. Tires will not last more than about a day's worth of runs.

They're trying to find someplace else already, but it's not looking good. There's not really any other local parking lots large enough, and the ones that are big enough are littered with either light poles, parking blocks, or stupid islands of ugly trees.

The organizers of the club are pretty seriously pissed, and the fairgrounds doesn't seem to care much at all. They notified us a week before doing it, and didn't even pay any attention to the club's objections. We pay them an OUTRAGEOUS amount of money for each event, and they don't even care that now we're basically out of a place to hold our events.

[Danny]

Shitsweak.

No stadiums near Bend?

[Jand3rson]

Nope, we're a pretty small city by comparison. The largest in central Oregon, at around 80k, but not large enough for things like stadiums or anything. The closest thing we've got that we can use right now is about an hour away, the parking lot of HooDoo ski area in the Cascades, but in about 2 months, that parking lot is going to be knee-deep in powdah.

[atomic]

The local events in the area are always held at a community college campus. Is there anything like that around their close by that might have the space needed and might be able to talk with to hold the events at?



Good luck

[Asbradley21]

Here we use either a high school football stadium parking lot (rather large, people in the south LOVE football of all types.) or an abandoned airport taxiway.

Why the fuck did they recover the surface like that without consulting all clubs that use the area?

[E30nate]

that sux man. how far is bend from like portland or some other major city that would have something?

[Jand3rson]

Here we use either a high school football stadium parking lot (rather large, people in the south LOVE football of all types.) or an abandoned airport taxiway.

Why the fuck did they recover the surface like that without consulting all clubs that use the area?

Because we're the only ones that use it in a manner where the actual surface quality would make any difference. We're also the only ones that use the parking lot for anything other than parking. Any other event held at the fairgrounds is IN the grounds.

We have a large community college here, but it's located at the top of a very steep, hilly area, and the parking lots are split 37 ways from Sunday, and very small. No abandoned airports, either. I do know of one are that could possibly be big enough, but one entire side of it is flanked by a 10 foot tall cinder block retaining wall. One of the super/turbo charged guys makes boost coming out a corner and loses it, and it's all over.

[JGood]

You realize the costs of that lot? As in, the original costs and maintenance costs? The $2k-$3k that most autox clubs pay per weekend of use isn't much of anything in comparison. At least in my area...

[Jand3rson]

Yes, I understand that. I never said I don't. I said it fucking sucks.

[DSP74]

It does suck, but welcome to autoxing. Get involved with the club to help secure new sites. Some clubs are manned by just a few individuals doing all the work and that will help contribute to it's demise.

A 1 hour drive is no big deal really. Sounds like you guys may have gotten spoiled just a little bit. FWIW even should you secure another site, for schedule variety it would be worth looking into the site that's an hour away.

Google earth will help to spot something that your missing. Auto auctions, closed department stores/supermarkets, high schools. With creative course setup a pretty small lot can be fun.

Good luck.


As a ps question do you know that the club payed alot for the site? I'd be surprised if they actually did. Most small clubs can't afford to pay much of anything for a site, simply due to insurance costs.

[Lodsin]

OUTRAGEOUS amount of money for each event, and they don't even care that now we're basically out of a place to hold our events.

Isn't the money spent mostly on insurance?

[gazellebeigem3]

We just lost a stadium lot, but we are lucky to have one of osu's massive parking lots. I sure you guys will find something, even if you have to work around light poles.

[DSP74]

Isn't the money spent mostly on insurance?

In there case yes usually always. Many lots are rented for almost nothing due to insurance costs. High lot rent, plus insurance equals an impossibility for anything but the largest region events.

Even National Solo wasn't/isn't paying for heartland park topeka.

[Raxe]

Take it to the streets! That'll teach 'em.

[rwh11385]

Damn, and you had those neat magnets made up too?!!!11