SoCal Tour and Pro

[Michael Wood]

First off, I'm not trying to stir anything up, here, or anything...I LOVE running at Qualcomm and have had a blast the four years I have made the trek down for the Tour. The folks in the region also rock.

But, why aren't the Tour and Pro both run at El Toro? It would seem to make sense, on a bunch of different levels (mostly logistical), particularly as finding asphalt to support a Nationals type course at SD gets harder, it seems, each year. Is it mostly because each region has both the interest and proven capability to support a National type event?

Don't get me wrong, I'm looking forward to coming down to SD for the Tour next spring, but I was just thinking about the various sites we have in California and El Toro is pretty amazing.

[Bill Schenker]

Here's a better question: when's the great NorCal Region (no sarcasm here; I mean this) gonna put on national events again? In the good old days, we Californians could get in 2 Tours and 2 Pros within 5 hours! And 'though the town of Atwater was a pit, Merced did have a decent Italian restaurant, and the concrete pad was wonderful with some great courses set there!

[Craig Naylor]

Per SCCA rules, regions can only operate events within their region. So to move it to El Toro, would be to take it away from S.D.

So many reasons to answer your question.... but they don't really matter, as the only relevant question is why do you beleive SD should they loose it?


But to take it a step farther, both the Q and El Toro are both short term solutions (ie AX sites) for both regions. Both have plans set in motion that as we come out of the recession, they will eventually go away. Based upon your "site" reasoning alone, I guess we should both loose the respective events as we loose the sites? Watch what you wish for.

[Arthur Grant]

I haven't been to Qualcom yet, but the idea of multiple venues is exiting to me.

My big hope is that SCCA doesn't schedule either on the same weekend as the LBGP again this year.

[Mike Simanyi]

...both the Q and El Toro are both short term solutions (ie AX sites) for both regions. Both have plans set in motion that as we come out of the recession, they will eventually go away. Based upon your "site" reasoning alone, I guess we should both loose (sic) the respective events as we loose (sic) the sites? Watch what you wish for.

Craig, I don't think Jon was saying Qualcomm is going away, therefore we shouldn't run there. I don't think he stated a wish that Qualcomm goes away. I think he was saying "El Toro grip and the site layout are amazing for Solo. Why don't we host both the Tour and Pro there?"

And while both sites are in jeopardy, long-term, neither is disappearing quickly on us. Let's not needlessly scare the people participating on our board.

Finally, if S.D. ever wanted to host or co-host an event at El Toro, I'm sure the SCCA wouldn't be so short-sighted as to prohibit it. Our two regions are very supportive of one another - both at the participant and administration levels - and I'm sure we would easily work out a solution.

Mike

[Bill Martin]

One downside to El Toro which affects only a minority -- but more for national events -- is the ban on camping. Both on site and in the local community. Admittedly, this is a small negative compared to the major site advantages.

The Irvine PD who provide park security have no policy against camping...but it has to be arranged by the property manager. Maybe AMCI in this case. I dunno if that has ever been tried.

[Eric Clements]

Per SCCA rules, regions can only operate events within their region.

When did they change that rule? It used to be that a region had to get permission from the region in which they wanted to conduct an event in. Central PA used to run events in NE PA territory when NE PA had no Solo program.

[Eric Clements]

One downside to El Toro which affects only a minority -- but more for national events -- is the ban on camping.

This came up on the Divisional questioniare. People want to be able to camp at El Toro. For a national weekend Qualcom is effectively closer for me than El Toro even though Qualcom is twice as far from my house. One trip to site vs three.

[Jayson Woodruff]

Still is.

Jay W

It used to be that a region had to get permission from the region in which they wanted to conduct an event in. Central PA used to run events in NE PA territory when NE PA had no Solo program.

[Giovanni Jaramillo]

My big hope is that SCCA doesn't schedule either on the same weekend as the LBGP again this year.

SCCA Pro Racing scheduling does not take into account SCCA Solo racing scheduling for any region. There is no actual conflict as we don't actually race at the streets of Long Beach. In the past we have had no events on that weekend of the LBGP, but if the region has only 1 weekend to race at then we take what we can get from AMCI (@El Toro) or Auto Club Speedway.

[Katy Nicholls]

It did not appear to me that anyone was suggesting that SD have the Tour taken away from them and I am not sure if the rule Craig posted about having to operate, "within their region" is accurate. It was just last year that there was discussion of potentially having the SD Region run the Tour at El Toro. While it is true the surface conditions are degrading at Qualcomm and that ET is one of the premier solo sites in the country, there are other mitigating factors that prevent the SD Region from choosing to run an event at ET.

The Solo community of the SD Region is quite different than CSCC. The vast majority of our hardworking volunteers that make putting on the SD Tour possible are either local only competitors or do not AutoX at all. It may come to this one day, but at this point to choose to move the SD Tour to a site outside the region can either have a significant impact on the number of volunteers we get to support our event or heavily burdens those who would still choose to volunteer due to multiple days of travel back and forth and/or accommodation expenses.

Although, I have at one point been one of the first to say it's all about the site, I have come to learn that when putting on one of these events, it is not all about the site....darn it.

[Bill Schenker]

Given all that, Mike W., I have a proposal for YOU and your fellow region members (and ours, too):

How about hosting a NorCal national event @ El Toro! I know, here I am volunteering OUR members, 'cause logistically, we'd have to help too, but maybe it could be made more palatable if it were the following weekend after our El Toro event - NorCal people could leave their rigs @ El Toro and then come back Thurs. night.

Crazy idea?

[Katy Nicholls]

I might have just changed my mind about it sounding like someone is suggesting the SD Tour be taken away? Unless you are suggesting an SD Tour the weekend before ET and a NorCal Tour after???

[Chris Autox]

Please have the tour at El Toro. The site in SD is in bad shape now not to mention the sound problems. I can speak only for myself but I won't go to SD any more because of those two things. Not to mention the extra 5 hours of driving( to and from the event) . El Toro makes much more sense . Why can't LA host both the tour and the pro a weekend apart at El Toro like we (SFR) did when we had our tours and pro's at Atwater. If I remember correctly the Atwater tour turn out numbers were always in the 350ish range. I believe we got those numbers because the events were so convenient for everyone to attend.

Oh wait, I know what it is. You guys can't handle doing two weekends in a row. Only SFR can pull that off. }:) Relax i'm just poking fun at you.


In all seriousness, Im sure we could get SFR to hold a tour and pro at El Toro if you would let us. We have the will but no longer have the site to do it on.

While were at it, let's have the western states championship and LA Divisional at El Toro while were at it. One can dream I guess.

Chris Cox

p.s. Pete, sorry about your S2K CR dude. Glad your ok.

[Craig Naylor]

What a can-o-worms.
Which is why I stated so many reasons... but the over all effect was a loss to SD if such was done.

Why, to start with the rule. Yes one can operate out of region, but one must go through steps to get regional approval from the other region. While AX runs independently, would Papa Cal cub have to be involved, due to inter regional cross pollination? I'm sure things could be worked out, but why they have a very unique site to start with.

Staffing, as Katy pointed out the regions are different. Don't know how many volinteers SD would produce out of area. A great deal of the Tour volunteers don't run. Would the pay to travel to do so, I have my doubts?

Short term long term site usage. Guess that depends on your definition. Who has their crystal ball that a park won't be built in Irvine, before a new stadium / parking structure or Condo's will be at the Q?

Other sites, if AZ or Las Vegas suddenly had a better site, or a site with longer term lively hood should we loose our event just because?

As someone who has run / worked / served as an officer at a club official / and Solo committee levels (all of the prior) in both regions, IMHO it was a rather selfish question to start with, and the net effect to accomplish would be taking a National event from another region.

[KJ Christopher]

I might have just changed my mind about it sounding like someone is suggesting the SD Tour be taken away? Unless you are suggesting an SD Tour the weekend before ET and a NorCal Tour after???

Bill wants to have an ADDITIONAL tour. He isn't suggesting SD go away.

[Bill Schenker]

I might have just changed my mind about it sounding like someone is suggesting the SD Tour be taken away? Unless you are suggesting an SD Tour the weekend before ET and a NorCal Tour after???

Bill wants to have an ADDITIONAL tour. He isn't suggesting SD go away.

Pttt. Bingo. ("Butch Cassidey and the Sundance Kid" reference)

Actually, I was thinking of another Tour or Pro, with preference being a Pro. Yes, 3 weeks in a row of national-level AX in the Southland - hosted by SDR, CC and SFR, respectively, starting w/the Q and the next two @ El Toro.

[Jayson Woodruff]

Dude, which way are you going? It's 75miles down an interstate.

Not to mention the extra 5 hours of driving( to and from the event).

[Bill Martin]

Chris/Mike, If all that's stopping you is a site, what about Lemoore? They ran there just last week. And I remember doing a Pro Solo there a few years ago.

[Theo O.]

Chris/Mike, If all that's stopping you is a site, what about Lemoore? They ran there just last week. And I remember doing a Pro Solo there a few years ago.

You have to give a blood sample to get into Lemoore I'm sure a lot of people won't get clearance

[Mike Simanyi]

Chris/Mike, If all that's stopping you is a site, what about Lemoore? They ran there just last week. And I remember doing a Pro Solo there a few years ago.

Whoa! I just noticed this thread ran amok. Just to be clear, I'm not suggesting there's *any* problem with S.D. hosting in S.D. and us hosting at El Toro. I like that setup just fine, and I'm sure the S.D. locals who work so hard to host the event really don't want to roadtrip just for the pleasure of working their tails off.

Besides, I enjoy running in S.D. It's more than just the venue - it's the environment.

And I'll add that yes, as a region I think we already bite off nearly too much. Hosting the Pro, coordinating the FSAE West competition, hosting a Divisional... it all adds up. We don't need to burn out the core members who make all this happen. Chris, I don't know why you guys are (were?) such gluttons for punishment.

Mike

[Arthur Grant]

My big hope is that SCCA doesn't schedule either on the same weekend as the LBGP again this year.

SCCA Pro Racing scheduling does not take into account SCCA Solo racing scheduling for any region. There is no actual conflict as we don't actually race at the streets of Long Beach. In the past we have had no events on that weekend of the LBGP, but if the region has only 1 weekend to race at then we take what we can get from AMCI (@El Toro) or Auto Club Speedway.

Understand the details, just a personal issue for me since I work for the public relations department of LBGP as a photographer.

[George Schilling]

Dude, which way are you going? It's 75miles down an interstate.

Not to mention the extra 5 hours of driving( to and from the event).

I was wondering the same thing. Apparently, Chris is a lot faster on an autox course than he is on the freeway.

[Rick Brown]

Dude, which way are you going? It's 75miles down an interstate.

Not to mention the extra 5 hours of driving( to and from the event).

I was wondering the same thing. Apparently, Chris is a lot faster on an autox course than he is on the freeway.

From Elsinore, AAA is 40 and Qualcomm is 70. So that's 110, not 75, and 220 "to and from". But still only 4 hours at legal towing speed.

[George Schilling]

From Elsinore, AAA is 40 and Qualcomm is 70. So that's 110, not 75, and 220 "to and from". But still only 4 hours at legal towing speed.

I believe he was referring to the distance between El Toro & Qualcomm.