Manzanar for N/S Challenge ??

[dsmith]

Can see from the Google Earth picture that the tracks from the Time Trials are still there, so it must be a decent surface? But, outside of pitching a tent in one of the old concentration camp buildings, where does one stay, in Independence or Lone Pine? And are there enough rooms to go around? Has anyone run on that airport recently??

And, as an aside, what about that large, unused pad at the Tonopah Airport? I've walked on it and it's in about the same shape as the pad at Hawthorne, very usable with a little weed-whacking.

[S2kreno]

I volunteer to whack weeds:)

[AlexR]

Did we lose Hawthorne ? :( :( I was very very worried about that last year when they mentioned their book (with pics of celebrities i think?having been stolen.

did they ever get that returned to them?

Not to mention that one really pissed off lady who landed her plane for refueling.

damn damn damn :(

[dsmith]

As told in the latest Road & Tach it's an FAA thing, something about if an airport accepts money from them for improvements then they can't have any non-aviation events there. So, just like we lost Lovelock looks like Hawthorne won't be in the picture. I'm guessing that Stead may be troublesome for us in the future, as well.

[AlexR]

.. *frantically clicks around for the newsletter*

doh!

[Cody]

I'm really bummed about the prospect of no N/S challenge. :(

[jim.gandy]

Alex,

Good of you to remember about the Hawthorne airport lady's photo book.

Yes, it was located and returned to her. Vegas' event chairman had snagged it as he was packing up Sunday afternoon.

The unhappy female "co-pilot" probably didn't play a role in our current difficulties (as Dave says, it's an FAA thing), however I believe she had/has connections to someone on the Mineral County Board of Supervisors. Just a reminder to all of us that no matter where our events are held, no matter whether we're paying for it or not, we should always act the part of a grateful guest. IMO.

[Dave Deborde]

The surface at Lone Pine appears to be OK for Solo however weed wacking in advance would be required. The problem with Lone Pine is that there are no rooms available in Lone Pine or Independance for the Memorial Day Weekend largely due to 'Mule Days' at Bishop that weekend. There are seven motels in or near Lone Pine including a Comfort Inn and a Best Western. According to the Lone Pine Chamber of Commerce Mule Days uses all the rooms in the area every year.

I also spoke with a Lone Pine Time Trial Committee member and they have had to move a week before, or after Memorial Day in order to obtain lodging. The Lone Pine Time Trial is not confirmed for this year but will most likely be June 5 & 6.

Regarding Tonapah, I don't have any knowledge of the large paved surface. I think time is to short to try and organize an event at a new site at this late date and get approval to use the site if it is acceptable. Holding an event at Tonapah would require a trip down there now to survey the pavement to see if it is acceptable for a Solo event and to make contact with the officials in charge to determine if it is available for motorsports events. A followup trip would be required a week or two before Memorial Day to clear weeds and do any pavement patching neccesary. I don't think there is sufficient time to do this and get the event organized, a course designed and the event sanctioned this year.

Added to this is the fact that Las Vegas Region is finalizing the remainder of their schedule for 2010 and need to know if there will or will not be a North - South Challenge because they will schedule another event.

Likewise we need to start now to find a site in the Reno area to conduct a two day Region Solo Points event.

[dsmith]

So, does this mean we just retire the trophy after winning it, what, 11 straight years? :)

[Kevin M]

So, does this mean we just retire the trophy after winning it, what, 11 straight years? :)

Hopefully it's only on hiatus for a year. The FAA nonsense should be sorted out in time for 2012.

[Cody]

I sure hope so.

[AlexR]

Cool, i was about to ask if the FAA thing is from (set time period.. 1 year?) from when the funds are used / received, or if its a lifetime clause

Very unfortunate that we don't get to use hawthorne this year, guess you don't know how good something is until its taken away.

Kinda funny if we have a Nevada North / south challenge to be held in California :lol: Really close to ridgecrest too (home of the High desert trails rally to be ran April 17th)

[S2kreno]

The surface at Lone Pine appears to be OK for Solo however weed wacking in advance would be required. The problem with Lone Pine is that there are no rooms available in Lone Pine or Independance for the Memorial Day Weekend largely due to 'Mule Days' at Bishop that weekend. There are seven motels in or near Lone Pine including a Comfort Inn and a Best Western. According to the Lone Pine Chamber of Commerce Mule Days uses all the rooms in the area every year.



Condos. Mammoth.

[AlexR]

Maybe we can hold the north south in the mammoth parking lots ?

[Dave Deborde]

Condos. Mammoth.

It may be that some condo's could ba available but based on what the Chamber said all rooms in the area are normally used on that weekend.

Dave

[Dave Deborde]

Maybe we can hold the north south in the mammoth parking lots ?


I have no idea what the Mammoth parking lots are like and their availability. I don't think we have enough time to sort out a new site and find rooms this year and agree with our Board, we should do a regional event at a local site.

Dave

[Old Rallyist]

Any chance the SCCA Reno will be able to run at the Grand Sierra this year? That was a fun course and a well attended event last year.

[dsmith]

Any chance the SCCA Reno will be able to run at the Grand Sierra this year? That was a fun course and a well attended event last year.

Wes would know more than I, but I believe it's possible if we come up with the rental fee - which I think was around $3500.

[friwes]

I was finally able to talk to someone at GSR last week and they don't want us back because we didn't draw enough spectators. They want at least 1,000 spectators to make it feasable for them, preferably 2,000 spectators.

[dsmith]

Wow, they're livin' in dreamland.

On a related note, I see where Harry Reid was able to get a $60 million federal grant to build a public shooting range outside of Las Vegas, after getting the BLM to gift the land. Maybe we could get him to come up with some Federal money to build us a traffic school/student-safe-driving facility up here, which of course we could use as a solo site when not putting on Street Survival Schools. Cost a lot less than $60 million.

[sperry]

I was finally able to talk to someone at GSR last week and they don't want us back because we didn't draw enough spectators. They want at least 1,000 spectators to make it feasable for them, preferably 2,000 spectators.
:lol:

I've been to NASCAR races with less spectators.