This past weekend was an IVR race weekend out at the Wendover airport.
I've mentioned before how we lost the use of a promising new site, and
had to shuffle at the last minute to arrange the Wendover event. Not a
race track, but just a few hundred cones set up on a large expanse of
concrete, adjoing the old Enola Gay hanger out at the former Air Force
base.
Friday was cold, windy and miserable, but no real rain. Saturday was a
bit better, weather-wise, but we had four entries show up. Yep, just four.
We needed to generate about $3,000 in income for the weekend to cover the
expenses and pay for the next 12 months of our event insurance. Let's see,
3000 divied by four ... nope, I don't think we can charge that much. Later
that day a fifth driver showed up. It happened to be a fellow with a TR8
whose come out before. It's a licensed street vehicle, not a full blown
race car, but he enjoys it. The highlight of the weekend for me was taking
a few laps of the track in his car. Hoo boy!
Sunday was better, mostly clear, and we had a whopping *7* drivers! Wow,
I'm impressed. The club made enough to cover the site rental, the EMTs and
a few miscellaneous expenses, but no way to cover the insurance premium.
We needed on the order of 20 drivers each day, we didn't make it. When we
lost the Tooele track, I had thought that the club president might resign.
He's been at the helm for nearly three years, and had worked pretty hard
over the last year or so in getting the site, and was no doubt quite
disappointed. He did resign Sunday afternoon when the event was over.
Drat.
So now a few of the hardy souls who have stuck it out trying to create
a racing club with no place to race think that I would be a good choice
to lead the club. I would love to see this club stick it out and be a
big part of getting a decent road racing facility into the state. I might
even work on geting my own race car ready, especially after those laps in
the TR8.
I would hate to see it just come to a floundering end. There are no doubt
some things we can do to keep it alive, maybe even have another hillclimb
within a few months. But I already have a number of things competing for my
attention, though the Team.Net lists, the Fat Chance Garage business,
autocrossing, British Motor Club and local SCCA stuff all boil down to the
same priniciple, keeping the spirit of the classic sports car experience
fresh and alive.
The next IVR meeting is just over two weeks away, we'll see if I can
come up with anything.
mjb.
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