DC Region Rallycross - Looking for a new venue.

FYI - Summit Point, as we somewhat expected, announced the sale of our rallycross fields to the State Dep't training facility next door, so we're now without a permanent site for Washington DC region SCCA rallycross.

If anyone in the area (say, within 100 miles of DC or so?) has a large amount of land, let me (us) know. We have a strong program and are very responsible with venues, and I'm sure there is a decent payment involved for the land use as well.

. The region is now actively investigating alternate sites to use for the 2014 season. We have the goal of finding a venue that is both as large and fun as Summit Point was, but everyone knows that's no easy task. So, we're calling on all of our competitors, friends, and family to help! Please keep your eye out for any piece of land we might be able to use and spread the word. The site stipulations are rather basic. It can't be paved, it can't have steep hills, it must be an open area without rocks or trees, and it must be within our region. Other than that our options are pretty wide open. If you happen to be driving down the highway and spot an awesome field, let us know. If you know someone that has some land that's not being used, let us know. If you're spending hours on google maps looking at satellite images and spot something, let us know. Basically, even if you just have an address or location and no contact information, we're interested in exploring it further. The region is determined to continue growing our program and is calling on all of you to help if you can. Please email rallychair@wdcr-scca.org with any leads or for more information

Will keep my eye out around here, but I thought dominion (yes I know they are a ways out form completing it) were building something in regards to a rally-x course?

Nope, doesn't sound like it. Apparently the "green area" at Dominion has to stay "green and unused" as part of the agreement they made to get the site. I suppose the infield may have some grass/dirt area, but who knows. It won't be built in time for this season either way.

First Cumberland and now this?

I really need to rectify my job situation, so I can go do a couple of these events before they get shut down.

Have they heard anything back from the people in Boonsboro?

I was even going to use my Christmas $$ to actually buy an SCCA membership for this and everything!

Not sure, I'm sure Adam will keep us all posted. The boonsboro site looked promising, and they seemed very interested to have us back, from what I heard.

Back when I was with the Detroit region, we often used county fairgrounds horse track ovals for our rallycross sites. Worked pretty well.

Might be something to look into.

Yeah, I think it has been looked at. The closest county fairgrounds that I know of are out in West Virginia though. Too much suburban sprawl around here :P

All of you have to move down to my neck of the woods now.

DId these guys say no: http://www.pwcfair.com/rental.htm

No idea, but I'll forward the link to our chair. Thanks.

Damnit! I do one run at Summit Point and now they're shutting her down!

No chance of renting the field from the state dept? ;-)

Boonsboro would be sweet. Or maybe someplace in southern PA?

Will be watching this, and keeping an eye peeled for a good spot. The Amazon got her taste of the dirt, and she liked it...

Is the place in lower Delaware where they do punkin' chunkin' to far away? That that's miles and miles of flat clear ground.

Triumphant return to Oakland Acres?

HappyAndy wrote: Is the place in lower Delaware where they do punkin' chunkin' to far away? That that's miles and miles of flat clear ground.

It's too far away for me, lol....

volvoclearinghouse wrote: No chance of renting the field from the state dept? ;-)

well, that's a question I will make some calls and find out the answer to, hopefully. I know for years Tidewater SCCA has autocrossed on the hovercraft paddock at Little Creek Naval Base, so it's not like the gov't would never rent out its property. But dealing with State is a lot more complicated than dealing with the CO of a military base (take it from someone who has done both!).

check with the management of the frederick county fairgrounds (it's in downtown frederick, where they have the fair, concerts and flattrack motorcycle racing) they have about 30-40 acres of grass with some paved pathes mixed in. If the rental isn't more then $5-6000 per an even it could be worthwhile, and they'd have grandstands for photographors and or spectators/would be competitors. (there's also a few performance shops within 15 blocks). It'd raise the profile and awareness of the program for sure.

also, check with laurel and pamlico racetracks (horse tracks) they're hemoraging money, so would possibly provide use of their infields for events

Well, E36 M3.

captdownshift wrote: check with the management of the frederick county fairgrounds (it's in downtown frederick, where they have the fair, concerts and flattrack motorcycle racing) they have about 30-40 acres of grass with some paved pathes mixed in. If the rental isn't more then $5-6000 per an even it could be worthwhile, and they'd have grandstands for photographors and or spectators/would be competitors. (there's also a few performance shops within 15 blocks). It'd raise the profile and awareness of the program for sure.

$5-6k per event would be way too steep. We max out at 60 entrants @70 per car....you do that math. I doubt SCCA wants to take a $1-2k bath per event!

Honestly, increasing the profile isn't the real goal - WDCR sells out every event and is the best-attended rallycross division in the country, IIRC. The downside to that is that we need big venues to host large numbers of cars like that....

i was giving worst case pricing, thr biggest likely hurdle with the fairgrounds would be scheduling.

There's also crumland farm (they've had concerts there; G love, Everclear. so crowds and cleanup wouldn't be an issue)

http://www.crumland.com/

http://www.hagerstownspeedway.com/info.htm

I used to go to truck and tractor pulls at this place called the buck. They have a pretty big field where everyone parks that would be useful. Worth a try. http://www.buckmotorsports.com/

edit: also, google maps says its 99.5 miles from DC, so it just makes your distance limit.

bucks would likely be too far as about 50% of the drivers live in NOVA. Great idea on the type of place though. Too bad Rousch creek is also too far. Is the latin american save as they're by the paint ball field. The back section of their course goes through an open field area. (maybe it's just time to cage beaters and go run the rally sprints)

http://baltimore.craigslist.org/reo/4195791638.html

11 acres flat for $49,500 zoned for recreation, no wetlands. Tell Heidi

irish44j wrote: Not sure, I'm sure Adam will keep us all posted. The boonsboro site looked promising, and they seemed very interested to have us back, from what I heard.

They would like to have us back. But they haven't purchased the adjacent parcel of land and what we used last time wouldn't support 60 drivers.