----- Original Message -----
From: Anthony Tabacco <atabacco@california.com>
To: <Majordomo@autox.team.net>
Sent: Saturday, April 22, 2000 11:41 AM
Subject: Alameda comments
> the two site at Alameda have different good and bad points.
>
> The concrete apron (seaplane basin) where most previous events have taken
> place is really flexible because it is long and wide, more than 15 acres,
> level, with no obstructions. It would offer total flexibility for course
> design (you could even stripe the course on either side of the cones!). It
> has great area for grid. It has AC to concrete transitions but is large
> enough to run it all on the concrete (but not on AC) if you wanted. It is
> where local auto dealer groups have recently been running dealer training
> "autocross" demonstration, so the ice has been broken with ARRA (the
> redevelopment authority),and is also currently leased one weekend a month
to
> a flea market that makes a bigger mess than we do. It is far enough from
the
> Leese Tern, an endangered bird that lives next to the runways where
FA-18's
> and 14's took off for years. The bad points are that it is next to movie
> studio tenants (small issue) and is also more visible to the public( big
> issue).
>
> The second site is adjacent to the Hornet. It is approximately square with
> an AC surface and undulations similar to Stockton. It does have
electroliers
> but the spacing is such that they would be a minor impediment to course
> design, and there is ample room for good design flexibility and grid. It
is
> not as large as the basin but it has restrooms, a minor but significant
> course criteria to us old guys. More importantly, it is far from the Tern
> and even though it is next to the public attraction of the Hornet, it is
> removed from casual access by the general public.
>
> If it were my call, I would go with the Hornet site as the permanent
> arrangement with option of using the basin on a limited basis.
>
> DO NOT UNDERESTIMATE THE SIGNIFICANCE OF MAINTAINING A LOW PUBLIC
PROFILE.
> Alameda is a conservative town (newly wed/nearly dead) and having fun with
> cars is not something you are going to want to wave in front of people who
> want this whole area to be a nature preserve and homeless enclave. You
must
> pass the basin site to get to City of Alameda and ARRA offices, and to a
new
> youth skateboard park (don't let you kids be exposed to actual car
> control!). The bird is a really big issue, although you have to wonder
what
> afterburners or passing though those turbine blades must have done to them
> psychologically. Comments? Anthony Tabacco
>
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