AUTOX lot scavanger thread.

[bogdan]

So, since everyone is looking around for autox lots at some point, I though we could all post them here so that it's not scattered in 100 different threads.
If you know of a good lot, but dont have time to take a look at it, or want to reccomend a good lot for consideration, it would be best posted here.

I'll start:


Current known lots:

-Bowie Stadium - used before, seems nice enough
-FedEx - out of the question. They want too much money, and the only people who run there are the SCCA sponsored autox's.
-Manassas Park H.S. Lot - currently planned for the August CCA event also.
-Ripken Stadium - new lot, good condition, plenty of space to run
-Rosecroft - Chunky.... at best, seem to always be open to runs providing their schedule permits.



Lots that could be under consideration:

-Montgomery County Schoolboard on Rockville PK - Large lot, minimal obstructions. Seems to be around the Center of the chapter. Plans fell through last time the CCA wanted to use it for a charity autox.

-Centennial H.S. Lot, Howard county - Seems on the small side, decent pavement, nice area to set up pits and staging etc. However, close to neighborhood and on the very compact course size. Easily accesible, near Rt 29.

-Towson University Stadium lot - Nice square size, freshly sealed and repainted parking lines. Neighbors reportedly complained a while ago, Towson holds events on weekens sometimes. Hike for VA people, but only 5 miles off Baltimore Beltway.

-Montgomery County Airpark - Idea thrown around... most likely closed on Sundays, nice long straights, could be interesting with the whole concrete thing. Not near a neighborhood, so nobody can complain about noise. Again, seems to be about the middle of the chapter.

-Montgomery County Fire and Rescue Traing Academy - decent ammount of space, on a slope. Condition of the lot is not all that great. There is access to a skidpad and a closed course (I think) where the MCPD conducts driving schools. Unfortunately, the MCFRTA has many classes on the weekends all year, sharing with fire trucks and controlled burn excercises are undoubtedly out of the question. Might be worth a shot though.

Lockheed Martin Building (old Comsat building off 270) - I have never even seen this lot, but there are large office buildings around there also.




I know some of you guys were talking about movie overflow lots in Columbia etc...
The chapter covers a large area, there has to be more we can use than just what we have right now.....

[Jed]

I'll throw in the one I know of:

Overflow parking lot at the United Artists theater off of Snowden Parkway in Columbia.

Maybe people can post on here who wants to volunteer to scope and measure them out and post the results on here.

I can check out the one in Columbia-Glenn and JV are nearby too.

[Pinecone]

MC airport is not likely to be closed on SUndays. Remember most private pilots work a real job and fly on weekends.

Most small fields are open 7 days a week, closed on Thanksgiving, Christmas and a 1/2 day on New Year's Eve.

[David Hicks]

I just thought I'd re-open this thread with a couple aerial images of potential parking lots.

The first one is a lot at Lake Braddock HS in Burke, VA. It seems to be a big lot, but is lacking a little bit in staging areas. Not very close to surrounding neighborhoods.



This one is the rockville school board lot. Not as big an area, but good staging areas.


<img src="http://tinypic.com/d8akh">


I don't know why these picture aren't showing up. I guess you can always copy and paste.

[bogdan]

This one is the rockville school board lot. Not as big an area, but good staging areas.

I tried talking to them and Montgomery college, but all I seem to get is a run-around. :roll:

[1996 328ti]

This one is the rockville school board lot. Not as big an area, but good staging areas.

I tried talking to them and Montgomery college, but all I seem to get is a run-around. :roll:

The problem was that MC used the lot Saturdays and Sundays.
If there was a day that is was empty we might be able to persue as a charity event. Because then I get can the charity involved who have better contacts in the county.

[GT]

The Mercedes Benz Club recently had an autocross at the WSSC lot in Silver Spring (off Rt.29). If they can use it, it might be an option for us as well.

[SharkD]

Hmmm... I wonder, are there any decommissioned runways in the area? I would think that perhaps local GA airports, devastated by the FAA's draconian DC-3 GA flight rules around post-9/11 DC would make some of the smaller airports, like College Park, open to alternative uses - especially since their traffic has fallen-off so much.

(Visions of Cleveland's Burke Lakefront Airport dance in my head.)

Edit: The more I think about it, the better the idea sounds... Here's a list of good candidates from the DC sectional chart; * marks good runway/taxiway layouts.

College Park Airport (CGS) - College Park, MD
Washington Executive/Hyde Field (W32) - Clinton, MD*
Potomac Airfield (VKX) - Clinton, MD
Manassas Regional (HEF) - Manassas, VA*
Montgomery County Airport (GAI) - Gaithersburg, MD
Freeway (W00) - Bowie, MD
Leesburg Executive (JYO) - Leesburg, VA

[d328jet]

There is a HUGE flat (unfortunately) lot right next to Dulles Airport off of Old Ox Road. It's on the east side of the back entrance to the airport, just before the bridge over 267, and was meant for a move of the employee lots but it was found to be too small, so it has never been used, ie. brand new pavement sans pot holes. The only obstructions are down the center, sort of like most of NNC events. It must be airport property so they must control it... I'm not sure who to contact about it but I could check into it next time I go to work.

[hoyabmw]

There is a HUGE flat (unfortunately) lot right next to Dulles Airport off of Old Ox Road. It's on the east side of the back entrance to the airport, just before the bridge over 267, and was meant for a move of the employee lots but it was found to be too small, so it has never been used, ie. brand new pavement sans pot holes. The only obstructions are down the center, sort of like most of NNC events. It must be airport property so they must control it... I'm not sure who to contact about it but I could check into it next time I go to work.

I know the lot you mean (I used to work a block from there.) I did try to get it for our use as it is always empty, and was told that the airports lawyers would not allow anyone to use it for liability reasons. I never even got to pitch it to them as they didn't return phone messages, and when I finally did get ahold of a person, that was their response. They wouldn't budge, and I didn't have the energy to chase it anymore.

If you can get an in, go for it.

FWIW, I also almost had Wolftrap, but the Park Service nixed it (even though the Wolftrap foundation was ready to go.)

Kevin

[Rafgar]

There is a HUGE flat (unfortunately) lot right next to Dulles Airport off of Old Ox Road. It's on the east side of the back entrance to the airport, just before the bridge over 267, and was meant for a move of the employee lots but it was found to be too small, so it has never been used, ie. brand new pavement sans pot holes. The only obstructions are down the center, sort of like most of NNC events. It must be airport property so they must control it... I'm not sure who to contact about it but I could check into it next time I go to work.

The local Porsche club has told me that they are checking on that lot already. If you have any contacts at the airport, please let me or Kevin know and we will pursue it also.

Thanks,

[d328jet]

There is a HUGE flat (unfortunately) lot right next to Dulles Airport off of Old Ox Road. It's on the east side of the back entrance to the airport, just before the bridge over 267, and was meant for a move of the employee lots but it was found to be too small, so it has never been used, ie. brand new pavement sans pot holes. The only obstructions are down the center, sort of like most of NNC events. It must be airport property so they must control it... I'm not sure who to contact about it but I could check into it next time I go to work.

The local Porsche club has told me that they are checking on that lot already. If you have any contacts at the airport, please let me or Kevin know and we will pursue it also.

Thanks,

OK guys, I'll see if I can get an in through Independence Air's resources. We have to have contacts with someone who manages the airport. See what I can do...

Max

[d328jet]

By the way Kevin, can you email me some of the "pitch" highlites so I can use them to work my way past any unforseen red tape? It would help greatly. Feel free to email them to me.

Thanks,
Max

[Marcplante]

When flying into Dulles, I've noticed there's some sort of test track out there within about a mile of the airport. Does anybody know what it is? Some kind of government training center?...Hell, first they take away the NSA lot, then they build race tracks in our neighborhood we can't get to.

I USED to autox a lot...

[d328jet]

It's a police training center, not much chance of autocrossing there...