With all the interest in getting new sites, I thought I'd post a little info on the process, just so people know.
The goal of recent administrations has been to focus on obtaining sites within a one hour drive of our core area of Raleigh, Durham, Chapel Hill. We'll obviously consider something a little farther if it's fantastic (like VMP) but, our focus is on finding quality sites close to home.
For a site to be considered it goes through a series of steps something like this:
1) Somebody mentions a great site and asks that we check it out.
If it's not too far, and seems free of obvious other problems we'll take a look at it. If it's got other obvious issues (like too small, already recently investigated and rejected, or not free of cars on autocross days) it might not even get visited.
2) If it seems to have potential, the site is examined and it must meet some minimum criteria to be worthy of further consideration. It must be:
- geographically suitable (not too far)
- available on autocross days
- affordable
- at least as good, and probably better than something else we currently are using
- reasonably free of obstructions
- have a suitable surface
- approved by the autox VPs, Sr VP and/or President as a suitable site
3) If all the above tests are passed, I will begin negotiations with the site owner or manager. Sometimes things break down here and sometimes they don't. It just depends. I must say that overall, I've had pretty good success at getting access to sites, once we get to this stage.
Incidentally, once a site has been placed on the "under investigation" list, if you happen to know about it, we ask that you keep it quiet until an official announcement is made. There have been rare cases in the past where the rumor mill is believed to have had a negative impact on works in process.
I need the eyes and ears of all the club members to keep an eye out for new sites, relatively close to home. We don't want you to contact anybody or make any phone calls. If you just email the address or location to me that is all you need to do. If there happens to be a published phone number on a sign or nearby building, copy it down. Send me the info via email and a description of what you've seen. We'll do the rest.
Incidentally, it can take anywhere from six months to three years to negotiate the use of a new site. If the site is a commercial property that is not used to holding driving events on their property, it will probably take a year or more.
Since I took over this job from the famous Ed Gelston (the guy who found Laurinburg for us), we've landed the following sites:
Lumberton Airport (but subsequently had to leave two years later..)
The Old Sanford Airport
RBC Center (what a great place that was!)
Rockingham Dragway
Virginia Motorsports Park
and a military site that we ultimately couldn't use due to a hurricane!
I'm sure more will come... but patience and the eyes of every one out there are needed!
Miles Beam
Site Search Coordinator
mbeam@milestonetechnologies.com
919-773-1772 (work)
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