Q For Sjpopo

[Matt]

Hey,
I was reading on some of the other boards and it seems like a lot of people don't don't much about what it would take to open a legal drag strip.My question is....do you think it's at all possible to get a legal drag strip sometime in the future ( like through donations or something)? What would it require (permits insurance)? I'm just curious if you knew anything about this subject. My dad used to race in fremont before they closed down the legal track. Why did it get closed down? anything would help.
Thanks
matt p.
PKR PRELUDE

[sjpopo]

Matt,

In November of 1999, I brought Brian Stickel out for a ride along. He was (is?) the Western US representative of the NHRA. He got a chance to take a look at a night of racing on a "slow" cold winter night. He agreed that racing was as big of an issue up here as it has been in other places in the state where legal racing programs have been launched. He offered the NHRA's help to find a promoter and sponsors for legalized racing if we could somehow come up with a minimum of 2000 feet of flat, straight asphalt to use as a drag strip.

Sponsors would be plentiful. A promoter and the NHRA would work to put together the necessary insurance and waiver documentation. The promoter would pay out the up-front cash to get the operation running, then reap the profits from the gate (tickets), concessions and sponsorship cash. The local police/sheriff where the races were held would win because the event would require off-duty officers to keep it in line. The local area would win by getting racers and spectators off the street, if even for a short time.

So, what's the issue? LAND. As I discussed in a previous thread, undeveloped land goes for over $100 per square foot in the bay area. So 20,000 square feet of land (2000 feet long by 100 feet wide) would cost in the neighborhood of $2 million just for the track alone. Politics play a hand in all this too because a track would have to be authorized by a city council who would have to answer to a bunch of people and businesses and environmentalists with their individual issues with racing, noise, exhaust, etc, etc.

What's the solution? Go east or south. I've got a lead on a big strip of asphalt in the Tracy area that is used only for pilot training. It's not an airport, just a big hunk of supposedly smooth asphalt/concrete in the middle of nowhere. Other than that, I would suggest contacting the fairgrounds in Santa Cruz, Watsonville and Monterey. Watsonville appears pretty cash-strapped and could use a money maker and they have a race track at their fairgrounds off of Highway 152 which is just over the hills from Gilroy.

Yeah, I know none of this is as convenient as a track in the bay area, but such is the price of success and technology I guess. I know I speak for myself and I bet I could guess that lots of cities around here feel the same way when I say that there would be a ton of support for a safe, legal, well organized track-based racing program.

Schel, I've run out of time to call the place in Tracy. Could you drop me an email at raceoptions@hotmail.com so I can send you the info on it?

Drive safe,

Ofc. Hoyt
Badge 3553
SJPD

[Matt]

Thanks for all the info. You should bring the nhra guy out on a hot summer night.
later
Matt p.
PKR PRELUDE

[GolfTT]

Has anyone looked into Alviso for land? I know it's starting to get developed now but it's probably the last option for the bay area.

Tim

[sjpopo]

The City owns a large portion of Alviso for the water treatment plant and flood control. That land has been worked into a bunch of flood control pools, so Motorcross is about all that could be held there.

The land that the City doesn't own, Cisco does. It's pretty much the last open land in the City.

Drive safe,

Ofc. Hoyt
SJPD

[BigAdRock]

Hi guys,

This is my first post here and I dont drive yet. I am only 15, but I am really hoping to build a racer by the time I leave high school.

Sorry to hear about your guys' racing problem. Up here where I live there is a NHRA Race Track. My neighbor races a drag bike there (Low 8's). But I know that they have a High School Racing Night on Friday nights. And you can compete for your school.

That is my little rant. But if anyone has any suggestions on how I can get enought money to actually fund one of these cars... Send me an EMail.

Thanks.


big_adrock@altavista.com

[jonnaro]

where do you live man?

and best way to get money is to get a job =)

[BigAdRock]

Haha, Thanks! Great Advice! "Get a Job" How many times have I heard that! I am trying, believe me. But no one wants to hire a 15 year old highschool student.

I live in Spokane, Washington. Its a little North of all of you... So that would be the problem. But the race track up here is pretty nice. I dont go out there yet but as soon as I have a raceable car... Oh yeah. But for now it is just about the parties.

Right now I am [Will be] Driving an '87 Subaru DL. Its nothing nice, or fast. But it gets nice Fuel Economy and will get me to school and around town.