solo II venues - unwritten rule??

[finboy]

Parking lots/venues are hard to come by.

Clubs have their "home" lots, where a person/persons have had to jump threw tons of paperwork to get permission to host a Solo II event on their property.

They have made a relationships, and have expectations to keep with the venue property owners.

New clubs pop up and want to host their own Solo events.
Great...

But make the effort and find your own sandbox to play in.

Vette guys = Bronte Go
MSCO = Hershey Ctr
Bmw = MDS (in concord)
HADA = Ontario place/Brampton sports center
twin lakes = Molson center
etc. etc...

it isn't fair when another club contacts a place and tries to use the same venue as an existing club.

If you have tried searching for a venue for your club, you know exactly what i'm talking about, and can probably relate.

But for the new clubs that want to host an event..

Try to find a different venue.
- you get your own sandbox to play in
- you can host the event the way YOU want to
- people relate certain lots with certain clubs


out of professional solo courtesy.. why not contact the hosting club, and see if they would have an issue with it.

maybe its just me being overprotective, and being a dink about it
but club organizers who have secured places might know what i'm talking about.

for those who haven't attempted to secure a venue for solo II, it isn't as easy as you would think

otherwise, i wouldn't bother posting this

sound fair??

[Tony Kloosterma]

what is this about?
SPDA did ask for permission for an event at hershey

Is it us?

[finboy]

we could discuss this topic off the board, it was more of a general request

no chews to one club specifically, I'm just saying for those who might want to start their own solo II series.

Encourage them to find their "own" lot before hitting someone else's.

[Tony Kloosterma]

finboy, the post is more then a general request
or it appears to be so
if you have issue with some one spell it out

SPDA got permission from msoc for using the lot.

I want to make sure we are clear on this.

You have an issue with someone else take it directly to them

the cloak and dagger stuff is for kids

Tony

[gatherer]

I thought the Brampton center was more or less a any club lot .... since TAC and BAC also use that lot....

on the curious side of things since the GO people allow solo 2 at the bronte stations would they allow other clubs to use other lots (since I know that bronte isn't the only huge lot they have.... might an area for a club to look at.....IMO

[StewPiddass]

Speaking of which Dave, TLMC would love to co-host a pro-solo this year if you guys are interested, we provide the venue, you guys bring the tree and timing equipment. We have a great lot and were discussing how cool it would be to have a pro-solo there during our event last week-end.

[Suzie]

Originally posted by finboy
maybe its just me being overprotective, and being a dink about it


YOU?!?! an overprotective dink? Why, I couldn't even imagine that!

:cool:

Suzie

[MitS]

Originally posted by gatherer
I thought the Brampton center was more or less a any club lot .... since TAC and BAC also use that lot....

on the curious side of things since the GO people allow solo 2 at the bronte stations would they allow other clubs to use other lots (since I know that bronte isn't the only huge lot they have.... might an area for a club to look at.....IMO

A pro solo that is not on a long weekend would be awesome!

[finboy]

Originally posted by StewPiddass
Speaking of which Dave, TLMC would love to co-host a pro-solo this year if you guys are interested, we provide the venue, you guys bring the tree and timing equipment. We have a great lot and were discussing how cool it would be to have a pro-solo there during our event last week-end.

kewl T-san..

i'll speak to my MSCO sistas and see if we could do a joint event.
what date are you thinking??

I've been dying to make it up to one of your events, word on the street is you have a fantastic lot.

i'm also helping out the Ottawa guys, they're in the process of hosting a Prosolo/regional weekend in august.

so there might be two more this season... who knows :)

I'll holla back when I get in touch with DD

sounds good!!!


dave t

[finboy]

Originally posted by Suzie
YOU?!?! an overprotective dink? Why, I couldn't even imagine that!

:cool:

Suzie

you know i love you ;)

[StewPiddass]

We'll hafta firm up a date with the city but maybe August 29 or Sept 12?

[Suzie]

Originally posted by finboy
you know i love you ;)

I've heard that rumour :eek:

Suzie

[Greg F]

Originally posted by finboy
kewl T-san..

i'll speak to my MSCO sistas and see if we could do a joint event.
what date are you thinking??

I've been dying to make it up to one of your events, word on the street is you have a fantastic lot.

i'm also helping out the Ottawa guys, they're in the process of hosting a Prosolo/regional weekend in august.

so there might be two more this season... who knows :)

I'll holla back when I get in touch with DD

sounds good!!!


dave t

As Homer J. Simpson might say, "thank you Jebus!"

[tanney]

Yes indeed it would be a curtiousy to the clubs that have run at a specific venue if the newer clubs approach the established club first, then the venue.

If the venue offers the use of it's lot, a quick phone call or e-mail to the club that HAS been using it should be a MUST.

Now if both clubs lose the lot due to one idiot at the newer clubs event.......... tar and feathering WILL be allowed (and encouraged), publically of course!

A little leg work goes a long way. If you actually do go after a lot and land it, you'd be extremely pissed if another club came along and used your leg work to get their foot in the door! Lots are hard to come by....!

[Marsh]

Originally posted by tanney
Yes indeed it would be a curtiousy to the clubs that have run at a specific venue if the newer clubs approach the established club first, then the venue.

If the venue offers the use of it's lot, a quick phone call or e-mail to the club that HAS been using it should be a MUST.

Now if both clubs lose the lot due to one idiot at the newer clubs event.......... tar and feathering WILL be allowed (and encouraged), publically of course!

A little leg work goes a long way. If you actually do go after a lot and land it, you'd be extremely pissed if another club came along and used your leg work to get their foot in the door! Lots are hard to come by....!

What if your club is desperate for a lot, and politely asks another club "Would you mind if I approached your lot owner about a date for us to host a regional?" and that club member rather un-politely tells you to go to hell and stay away from his lot? This happened to me a few years ago. So in that case am I supposed to not host a regional because some wanker doesn't want to share.

[tanney]

That's a tough one, as is this whole topic.

I know of a club that was offered, by the venue, the use of their lot (that is being used by another club) and it was politely turned down so that toes weren't stepped on. That club went and found another lot.

Some clubs have gone to great lengths to secure lots and don't want to jeopardize those lots. Other clubs may just not want to "share".

If ten clubs were to use the same venue, there wouldn't be much interest in the venue because every event would be held there. Then there is the issue of increased noise complaints, etc.

Yesterday showed that there are some real wankers that show up at events (not participating) to show off their "manhood" by doing stupid burnouts next to the course.

We should have pelted them with beer cans..... that is something they could probably relate to..... dickheads!

[Marsh]

Originally posted by tanney
We should have pelted them with beer cans..... that is something they could probably relate to..... dickheads!

BTW we have called to police to report plate numbers of those people in past (and would have yesterday if anyone with a radio or phone was close enough to read them.

The police have been HIGHLY receptive to this and it helped get us even more respect. If we ever got a noise complaint in Woodstock I'd be surprised if a cruiser even bothered to come down an tell us. We have an excellent relationship there.

[tanney]

I just thought it was humourous that some dickhead in a minivan was displaying his manhood by doing burnouts for us..... If you want to display your manhood, buy something other than a late model minivan!!!

I bet if we were close enough to see he probably had a Number 3 Forever and and big Bud Number 8 stickers on the van somewhere (hey, and I'm a NASCAR fan)

[eddie 82]

As originally suggested, this unwritten rule is out of professional solo courtesy

The fact remains, no club owns a lot, the property owners do. Any club can approach these owners and request use of their lot. The obvious downfall is that should something go badly, you've spoiled it not just for yourselves.

Its a choice that needs to be made.

No matter which choice you make, you have to be prepared to face the consequences.

And if you don't think news travels in this community, you'd better think twice.

[Daveg]

Originally posted by tanney
I just thought it was humourous that some dickhead in a minivan was displaying his manhood by doing burnouts for us..... If you want to display your manhood, buy something other than a late model minivan!!!

I bet if we were close enough to see he probably had a Number 3 Forever and and big Bud Number 8 stickers on the van somewhere (hey, and I'm a NASCAR fan)

_______________________

...what colour van was it? It probably wasn't me...

and Nascar fans drive pickups, not FWD minvans, please don't group us together.

daveg

[tanney]

It was a brown rwd van....... a gm product I do believe. And we can't forget the crotch rocket that did the 2 minute burnout....

And for the record, I see as many number 3's or 8's on "Sport" mini vans as pick ups :D

[garfin]

A little leg work goes a long way. If you actually do go after a lot and land it, you'd be extremely pissed if another club came along and used your leg work to get their foot in the door! Lots are hard to come by....! [/B]
Interesting... I guess I'll throw in my $0.02... just for the heckuvit. I'm certainly not attempting to stir up the pot here, but as the former Solo Director of Toronto F-body Motorsports (one of the "new" clubs) I can certainly understand the frustrations experienced by those who are current tenants of specific lots and those who have gone thru the "search" process.
TFbM started having a "Solo Series" 4 or 5 years ago by "piggybacking" our events first with PMSC and more recently with OMSC. BTW, both of these clubs were extremely understanding, patient, encouraging and helpful in providing us with invaluable experience at learning how to do this! Such was not the case with other clubs that we had dealings with in this regard. The "piggybacking"was done for a few reasons:
a) 4 or 5 years ago, TFbM had probably less than 10 members interested in this sport.
b) we were not affiliated with CASC
c) we had none of our own equipment
d) we needed to learn exactly what was involved/required in order to stage our own events.
The process evolved slowly... more of our club members became interested in participating in Solo 2 events... the process of becoming affiliated with CASC was completed... timing equipment/software was researched and purchased along with the other "necessities".
And then the search for a lot began... and yes... it was a very frustrating experience. I was probably turned down by no less than 6 lots before finding a temporary home. The very first Solo event I put on for TFbM drew 34 drivers - all club members (or their guests) at a small but very useful lot in the city. Not the biggest lot, but not any smaller than other lots we had been "piggybacking" on. It had never been used for an autoX before and the back and forth with the City was hilarious! Aside from the usual applications, insurance certificates and permits, I even ended up sending them a clip of me going thru a PMSC layout at Fleming so they could see what an autoX was! Only trouble is, that this lot is unavailable after mid June, as it is used for parking on weekends for other events.
But given the nature of our cars and the experience of a few of our members at the Bronte lot, I contacted GO Transit. BTW, as of 1.5 yrs. ago, GO was not prepared to entertain the idea of offering up any of their other lots for this use. Don't know if that's still the rule. But in deference to the people at GO, they were more than willing to allow us to rent Bronte, as long as we were willing to work around the established tenant's schedule. That approach seems fair enough. I feel the decision on when the lot is used and by whom, ultimately rests with the landlord. Heck, it's their land.
So I find a lot that is of comparable size to Bronte and about half the cost to rent and we stage an extremely successful event at Seneca College's King Campus that other clubs were invited to. Only trouble is, that we failed to grasp the finer workings of Seneca's politicking and to make a long story short, the individual with whom the original deal was made, was overruled by another individual who had felt their toes had been stepped on. In all fairness, the Ont. Gov't also had dibs on the same lot for a motorcycle course, and they were just more influential than TFbM! Too bad we weren't told about this in the 1st place!
So with all of this frustration, it would seem logical that the different clubs could work in an atmosphere of "live and let live" so that everybody might benefit and gain maximun enjoyment from this sport. The bottom line (as was stated) is that there are just so many lots available, and heck, if I'm playing in a "sandbox" with a friend, and find a toy in there that doesn't belong to me, I'm gonna offer to let my friend play with it too, so we both can have some fun.
Being a "new" club doesn't necessarily mean that club is gonna wreck it for somebody else.
Ian Law has an issue last year with the usual lot he uses for one of his schools as it was having work on it. He was stuck for a lot for one of hisschools. I knew of a lot that was available (and that I was considering using for the following year - only because another club's Solo 2 director informed me about it) so I got word to Ian about it. He was able to run his school there instead.
Maybe I'm just being naive here, but it seems that this is a community of like-minded enthusiasts who are as helpful in areas such as this as they are when out at events when misfortune strikes an individual. The attitude I see is, "Gee, that's too bad. What can I do to help?"
This may not exactly be "misfortune", but I think everybody's on the same wavelength, no?

Best regardSS,

Elie

[TYSON]

Primer black Astro van, with no windows except what looks like they might have cut with a sawzall!:D

Onewheelerpeeler!

[Wesman]

I have been drooling over the new lot Ford has paved near the Oakville F***star plant. Heading South on the 403 towards Oakville, just before the Ford Drive exit, cast your eyes westward. It is not flat but it is one mile long, I'm not kidding. It is used for overflow inventory and therefore unpredictable how full it will be. Most times it is pretty near empty.

[Chris P]

Originally posted by Wesman
I have been drooling over the new lot Ford has paved near the Oakville F***star plant. Heading South on the 403 towards Oakville, just before the Ford Drive exit, cast your eyes westward. It is not flat but it is one mile long, I'm not kidding. It is used for overflow inventory and therefore unpredictable how full it will be. Most times it is pretty near empty.

Actually i don't beleive that lot is asphault. Look a little closer as i think its just a special tar paper covering?? :confused:

It would be a nice one though

[tanney]

that we failed to grasp the finer workings of Seneca's politicking and to make a long story short, the individual with whom the original deal was made, was overruled by another individual who had felt their toes had been stepped on.

Mmm, if this was a lot used by another club, how do you think that club would feel if they lost "their lot" because of someone that "failed to grasp the finer workings of [insert name here] politicing".

I am pretty sure they would be quite annoyed!

[Greg F]

I guess it's a good thing Wes forgot about wearing that mini skirt to kiss the class winners, what with all the talk about "displaying manhood" and such. :p

[garfin]

Originally posted by tanney
Mmm, if this was a lot used by another club, how do you think that club would feel if they lost "their lot" because of someone that "failed to grasp the finer workings of [insert name here] politicing".

I am pretty sure they would be quite annoyed!

Absolutely! They were - and so would I! This was in no way meant as a shot at the people who apparently had dibs on the lot in the 1st place (whether or not they were a "club" is irrelevant). If we had been accurately informed as to what the true situation was, with respect to their schedule on that lot, rather than being led down the garden path by someone who had no authority over that jurisdiction, it would have been a lot easier to take, and I would have thanked everybody for their time.
All I'm attempting to do here is point out the kinds of frustrations one has to deal with when going "lot shopping". As has been stated by others, finding suitable venues is not an easy task. I'd venture a guess that having an organization commit to a deal for 3 events, cash your club's cheque, provide assurance there would be no conflicts, allow you to stage your 1st event and then tell you on July 14 that your club is S.O.L for your next 2 events is an extremely rare occurence. In retrospect (a year later) I thought it would be an interesting experience to share, given this very interesting thread!:)

Best regardSS,

Elie

[holliko]

Originally posted by Wesman
I have been drooling over the new lot Ford has paved near the Oakville F***star plant. Heading South on the 403 towards Oakville, just before the Ford Drive exit, cast your eyes westward. It is not flat but it is one mile long, I'm not kidding. It is used for overflow inventory and therefore unpredictable how full it will be. Most times it is pretty near empty.

I been there and looked at the lot close up.... This lot is not paved.... From a distance it appears to be paved but in actual fact is a field (dirt) covered with a special cloth... I took a drive around with the owners permission and it is not suitable for AutoX....
Robert

[garfin]

Originally posted by Greg F
I guess it's a good thing Wes forgot about wearing that mini skirt to kiss the class winners, what with all the talk about "displaying manhood" and such. :p
Well excu-u-oo-se me, but... I was always under the impression that owning a minivan was the ultimate expression of one's virility!!:cool: What a no-brainer!
I mean... if you're floggin' around in a minivan, that's gotta mean you've got at least 2 kids... probably 1 or 2 more
What more could you ask for?!?;) I mean... how many kids are necessary for procreation in order for one to prove his manhood?!?
I rest my case!

Best regardSS,

Elie
'98 Dodge Grand Caravan 3.8 0-60=9.8 sec (timed by G-Tech) :D
2 sons, ages 19 and 21;)

[FastFox]

Originally posted by holliko
I been there and looked at the lot close up.... This lot is not paved.... From a distance it appears to be paved but in actual fact is a field (dirt) covered with a special cloth... I took a drive around with the owners permission and it is not suitable for AutoX....
Robert

Just goes to show I should have been paying attention to that filter cloth sales presentation, not just showing up for the free lunch.:p

Yes it is a special fabric that allows the water to filter through and reduce soil erosion. I was partly sleeping but I think that piece of land is leased so the Ford people didn't want to disturb the property too much. The cloth can just be removed when the overflow parking is no longer needed and the vegetation will quickly regenerate.

Definitely not for autocross.

[finboy]

Originally posted by StewPiddass
We'll hafta firm up a date with the city but maybe August 29 or Sept 12?


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