Annual Meeting Solo Agenda

[Bob Davis]

Come one, come all to the NER annual meeting this Saturday -- details found here:

http://www.ner.org/region/event/20120113_ner-annual-meeting-and-awards-banquet

Please know that, while we would love to see you attend the banquet, you can attend the meeting portion on Saturday free of charge. The Solo agenda is:

08:30 - 9:30    Safety School  - This is the first step to becoming a certified Safety Steward.
09:30 - 10:30  Timing School - Learn all about our timing processes and systems.
10:30 - 11:00  Instructor's forum - Instructors will discuss approaches to solo instruction. Students welcome as well!
11:00 - 12:00  Town Hall - Open forum to discuss all aspects of the solo program. Bring your suggestions!

Hope to see you all there.

[Chang]

Wow, that is different from what was discussed.  Not sure if we will be able to get there early enough for the Safety Steward seminar.  We had planned on getting there for 11am.

[NERDY]

To follow up on a conversation that was started at the Town Hall meeting on Saturday, if you're interested in a glimpse of the Thompson Motor Speedway site I have attached a couple YouTube links below.

These videos are from the first event CART held at the site in September of 2010.  I haven't been back since, but I will echo the concern that there isn't a way to set up a course that would meet the safety standards of our club.  Also the paddock area that was used is not paved.  The videos don't really show it (I need to get me a GoPro HD2) but the pavement isn't in the greatest shape either.

Please pardon the driving but this was my first event in the MR2 after buying it and this was Chris's second autox ever, first in the Camry.  (FWIW, the "Battle of the Camry Powertrains", as it was dubbed, was won handily by yours truely.  )

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n4rAgUFZDHg&feature=plcp&context=C327bda0UDOEgsToPDskLE9E998gN3UXZiWtPb0KxL

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hwoZsgTCdpY&feature=plcp&context=C32f42abUDOEgsToPDskKHZY7AzTrw-Dzppu9OR53s

Also, is the Horseneck Beach site still on the table for early/late events?  I certainly agree it's not an ideal site for several reasons, but it was awesome for the Team Challenge in 2010.  A "different" site for a "different" style event. 

Has anyone approached the Southern Auto Auction in East Windsor, CT about potential use of one of their many lots?  They have tons of paved acreage and maybe we could get a few events in before the locals start complaining (there isn't much residential land in that area and there are plenty of trees which could hopefully attenuate the sound some).

What about Rentschler Field in East Hartford, CT?

-Bryan

Edit:  I are fixed grammar.
Edit 2:  I remembered Rentschler.

[Solwyvern]

Chris and I ran several events with CART at Thompson in 2011.  They run a very different style autocross, and while the site works for them, I can't imagine it working for us.  IMO, there are simply too many near-to-the-course objects (trees, lighting poles, snack trailers, picnic tables, etc.)  to fit in the type of course we like to run while maintaining SCCA standards. 

[Forcednduckshn]

It really is a shame with the abundance of great sites in CT that no one is willing to let us use them.  But I can't blame them considering the political and social climate we deal with.  Most people in CT could care less about motorsports, nevermind tolerate "a bunch of gearheads making noise in a parking lot."  I say this relatively speaking of course, there is a huge contingent of motorsports enthusiasts in CT, it's just that as a % of the population, we are much fewer than say west coast/ Texas/ south east USA.  People can't be bothered, are ignorant and it infuriates me.

I work at P&W East Hartford and Middletown, and there is a fantastic lot right on the EH campus that is never used, next to one of the old hangars.  But I am absolutely sure it's not even worth asking them to use it.  UTC's rules of safety on site are extremely strict.  SCCA speeds in their parking lot would freak them out, no doubt about it.

Legitimately, I wonder if the Mohegan Sun/FoxWoods sites could be contacted about something like this.  With the lax "rules" they have to deal with regarding what happens on their property, they might be more approachable? I've got to think some of their lots are huge and could be used for an event.  Heck, maybe they could just build a huge paved site for outdoor special events.  The latter course being wishful thinking, without a direct contact or site in mind (I don't live in that part of the state and have only been to the casino's a handful of times, most of them drunk, and at night.)

I gave up most of my hope on a legitimate, fast SCCA site in CT a while ago.  That being said, I'll be splitting time 50/50 at NNJR region/Meadowlands (amazing site and great course designs for good SCCA National Tour practice being my main driver) and NER / Devens (Good site with a better talent pool) this year.  Too bad NER didn't have a site like the Meadowlands to use.  NNJR is a little under 2 hours away from me (I live in Hartford, CT), NER is about 90 minutes.  I can deal with that.  NNJR is the farthest I would drive though for a standard event.  There are also other organizations that use different sites, and offer a ton of runs on great courses, but the talent level is extremely low. Those are great for seat time and test'n'tuning, which I love.

I appreciate your ongoing effort in looking in to sites.  If there is anything I can do to help, please let me know.

-Nick

[Forcednduckshn]

BT, DT. 1996 NE Divisional was held there. It was a one shot. There was a company marketing the use of the building/hanger. We got access. Greg Vincent and I made appointments, unknown to each other, the same day.

1996? I was barely in High School then

NNJR has some great talent. It'll make the trip very worth while. Prolly a more relaxed atmosphere, too.

Oh definitely.  Perry, Namer, You, Winston/Co driver and many others.  I'll clarify my statement by saying "there are usually more national-level competitors at NER events any given weekend."  Though I have been to a few NNJR events where the quantity of talent has been just as big.  I have had an absolute blast at the NNJR events, and they are good people down there.  Perry has done a great job leading things down there.  He's like a Bob Davis  Good times at each site, and each club has it's own flavor.  I'm looking forward to the splitting my time, to stay fresh on different surfaces and environments too.

[recnelis]

I gave up most of my hope on a legitimate, fast SCCA site in CT a while ago.  That being said, I'll be splitting time 50/50 at NNJR region/Meadowlands (amazing site and great course designs for good SCCA National Tour practice being my main driver) and NER / Devens (Good site with a better talent pool) this year.  Too bad NER didn't have a site like the Meadowlands to use.  NNJR is a little under 2 hours away from me (I live in Hartford, CT), NER is about 90 minutes.  I can deal with that.  NNJR is the farthest I would drive though for a standard event.  There are also other organizations that use different sites, and offer a ton of runs on great courses, but the talent level is extremely low. Those are great for seat time and test'n'tuning, which I love.

[OT] This is my tentative plan for 2012 as well, except Meadowlands is <1.5 hours away whereas Devens is about 2.5 hours away. [/OT]

That video for Thomson doesn't really look that appealing. Kind of like a "runway style" course, except there's really only enough room to land a R/C plane.

[Furball]

One thing to keep in mind is obtaining new site access "anywhere" in New England.

Critically investigating Thompson is good for several reasons:

1) it "may" be viable only for a traditional  low-speed-novice style layout (can't see the vids here at work to opine further) for street cars only.  Solves 3 purposes:  beginners seat-time, a new site, a casual-day Solo

This is not a slam against the faster cars, but we should look at every option, and if one site is not viable for say, SM or A-Mod, we make it a non-points event.

2) If Thompson is viable as the above, that opens up us to offer an autocross day as a co-host with a group of regional MG-Triumph car type people, etc....

3) Somewhat real bathrooms (I assume) for family members and kids who may come and watch (I joke, but a perk is a perk)

4) If Thompson grows or expands parking pavement, we can then possibly offer the site as a bigger venue to the faster cars.

Look, I know who butters my bread, and if Thompson is offering an invitation of sorts to NER,  I'd  like to think we are sensible enough to return favor and make a new business friend if its a manageable site albeit with limitations. We do NOT have the luxury offered to us these days of someone always ready to say "hey it may not be best, but is there something we can do for each other."

I am not interested in always having a "fast Solo" anymore...I am interested in a fun day at an autocross. And sometimes that may require taking a step backwards with what we have grown accustomed to.

Just my .02

/eddie

[Leafy]

To follow up on a conversation that was started at the Town Hall meeting on Saturday, if you're interested in a glimpse of the Thompson Motor Speedway site I have attached a couple YouTube links below.

These videos are from the first event CART held at the site in September of 2010.  I haven't been back since, but I will echo the concern that there isn't a way to set up a course that would meet the safety standards of our club.  Also the paddock area that was used is not paved.  The videos don't really show it (I need to get me a GoPro HD2) but the pavement isn't in the greatest shape either.

Please pardon the driving but this was my first event in the MR2 after buying it and this was Chris's second autox ever, first in the Camry.  (FWIW, the "Battle of the Camry Powertrains", as it was dubbed, was won handily by yours truely.  )

And that was the last time I was ever slower than someone driving a Camry. As a note, that up hill is where the legends car got all kinds of sideways and ended up picking branches and leave out of his car after a woodland adventure. It was very rough there. And on course design, I was hitting 70+ at the top of that hill and going down I put it in 3rd a couple times. From the couple times I've driven with CART it feels like they try to make road courses out of cones.

[Furball]

...From the couple times I've driven with CART it feels like they try to make road courses out of cones.

Nods in somewhat agreement.

/eddie

[NERDY]

One thing to keep in mind is obtaining new site access "anywhere" in New England.

Critically investigating Thompson is good for several reasons:

1) it "may" be viable only for a traditional  low-speed-novice style layout (can't see the vids here at work to opine further) for street cars only.  Solves 3 purposes:  beginners seat-time, a new site, a casual-day Solo

This is not a slam against the faster cars, but we should look at every option, and if one site is not viable for say, SM or A-Mod, we make it a non-points event.

2) If Thompson is viable as the above, that opens up us to offer an autocross day as a co-host with a group of regional MG-Triumph car type people, etc....

3) Somewhat real bathrooms (I assume) for family members and kids who may come and watch (I joke, but a perk is a perk)

4) If Thompson grows or expands parking pavement, we can then possibly offer the site as a bigger venue to the faster cars.

Look, I know who butters my bread, and if Thompson is offering an invitation of sorts to NER,  I'd  like to think we are sensible enough to return favor and make a new business friend if its a manageable site albeit with limitations. We do NOT have the luxury offered to us these days of someone always ready to say "hey it may not be best, but is there something we can do for each other."

I am not interested in always having a "fast Solo" anymore...I am interested in a fun day at an autocross. And sometimes that may require taking a step backwards with what we have grown accustomed to.

Just my .02

/eddie

I certainly agree with you on all of the above points.  I just want the club to manage our expectations with regards to Thompson.  If we can use it for some kind of event, with whatever requisite limitations, it is certainly better than nothing.

Bryan