THSCC Forums

Alright, the season is not yet here and some of you are going crazy because you can't drive. You are just sitting at your computer wishing you could do something to help the club. Well, you can.

We need new local sites. Most of us don't have an airplane to go fly around in but we can still get the bird's eye view. I've done some "Terra-Searching" via the TerraServer website. Basically, it's a site where you can view photos of earth. The resolution is good enough to see the painted lines on the parking lots- and most of the time, to be able to even see islands and connecting roadways!

So, here's my challenge to you. I challenge you to post views of the most awesome parking lots you can find. Try to stay within 60 miles of Raleigh. I'd really like to see most of you sift through the entire RTP, Durham, Raleigh area. There's some big lots out there that we need to find.

Here's a good example. I'm not sure, but I think this might be the Glaxo-Wellcome facility (or whatever they are currently known as)... Anybody know for sure?

http://terraserver-usa.com/image.aspx?t ... 7&z=17&w=2

Here's another one. The dark pointed lot in the upper right of the grid:

http://terraserver-usa.com/image.aspx?t ... 7&z=17&w=2

So, let's go guys and gals. You computer geniuses now have something productive you can do. Incidentally, you can get lat and long for every grid that shows up, so we can locate it terrestrially with a proper map.

Post your links below, and try to tell us what and where the place is if you know.

Miles
Site Guy

Before flooding Miles w/terra server links, be sure to review the scale at the bottom. For example, our RBC lot is here:
http://terraserver-usa.com/image.aspx?t=1&s=10&x=3528&y=19821&z=17&w=2
Note that it is about 200 yards x 150 yards. Since we know that's an ok size, your search should be in that ballpark.

Miles - what are the crossroads on those 2 maps?

_________________
Mike Whitney
whit32@gmail.com, 919-454-5445
V10, V8, V8t, I6, I6, V6, F4t, I4, I4, I4, I4, I2, 1, 1

First link looks like cornwallis and davis....

2nd is just north of 54 and alexander dr

Yup, just figured it out. The first one is the IBM Recreation Center. Hmmm. "IBM Sports Car Club"? It's a decent sized lot IIRC, but with islands.

_________________
Mike Whitney
whit32@gmail.com, 919-454-5445
V10, V8, V8t, I6, I6, V6, F4t, I4, I4, I4, I4, I2, 1, 1

Just using scale as a quick reference (and ruling out obvious no-go's like Cary Town Mall or Crossroads) you can find stuff pretty quickly. Here's an RBC size lot south of the Cary Auto Park area. No obvious islands or light stands.
http://terraserver-usa.com/image.aspx?t=1&s=10&x=3486&y=19784&z=17&w=2

I just discovered this- Here's a list of other sites similar to TerraServer:

http://mapping.usgs.gov/partners/viewonline.html

TerraFly is really nice because it labels the streets, and lets you click on the map- and it will try to tell you the nearest business or address you clicked on.

Otherwise, I have not figured out an efficient way to convert lat and long into a street address. There are sites to do the opposite though.

Very, very cool!

Miles

Along I-40 west of here:

http://terraserver-usa.com/image.aspx?t ... 1&z=17&w=2

I think this one is JR:

http://terraserver-usa.com/image.aspx?t ... 2&z=17&w=2

???

http://terraserver-usa.com/image.aspx?t ... 3&z=17&w=2

_________________
Mike Whitney
whit32@gmail.com, 919-454-5445
V10, V8, V8t, I6, I6, V6, F4t, I4, I4, I4, I4, I2, 1, 1

I think this is Hendricks Collision Center. Crash Lane in Apex....would we want to have an autocross on Crash Lane?

_________________
Stephen Westerfield
2009 Infiniti M35 | 2007 Honda Fit Sport | 2005 Ford Mustang GT |2000 GMC Sierra |1992 Acura Integra LS | Super Westerfield Bros Acura Integra

Take a look to the west. There is a sub division that is pretty close to the lot. They are worse than islands and light poles.

_________________
Jim Pastorius
2008 Silverado VortecMax
1992 Camaro CMC#92
2002 BMW R1150R

2009 3rd Place CMC Mid-Atlantic Championship
2009 CMC Hyperfest Winner

What is this? looks like a race track hiding in south Raleigh?

http://terraserver-usa.com/image.aspx?t=1&s=11&x=1785&y=9890&z=17&w=2

Return THSCC to its roots! A couple of places around Wilson.

Wilson Airport, think there still might be using it though. Would make for some interesting courses maybe even some nice rallycross courses inside the runways.

http://terraserver-usa.com/image.aspx?t ... 3&z=18&w=2


The fair grounds, it would make for good rallycross grounds. I think they still might use the inside of the oval for monster truck events sometimes. Its right off 301 in Wilson, bout a hour drive from Raleigh.

http://terraserver-usa.com/image.aspx?t ... 2&z=18&w=2


Ok Here is the humdinger, its a old flee market place right down the street[301] from the fair grounds, i mean like a 20sec if even that. I did notice the image is over ten years old, but as far as i remember there are no islands and not too many light poles.

http://terraserver-usa.com/image.aspx?t ... 4&z=18&w=2

Well, probably more appropriate than the Environmental Protection Agency!

The houses aren't close enough to hit, and we can control the perimeter easily enough to keep bikes and pedestrians out. Is the concern noise?

Noise. A good example is VMP. The local homeowners complained of the Sunday morning noise. So that is why events there can not start before noon. These people live next door to a drag strip.

IMO those house are too close. I don't see the fine residents of Cary tolerating the noise on Sunday mornings

_________________
Jim Pastorius
2008 Silverado VortecMax
1992 Camaro CMC#92
2002 BMW R1150R

2009 3rd Place CMC Mid-Atlantic Championship
2009 CMC Hyperfest Winner