No more Ripken.

[BahnBaum]

From my local Harford County paper today, The Record:

Several members of the stadium's event planning staff cringed during Wednesday's stadium management board meeting cringed when [board chair] Campion confirmed the Aberdeen City Council agreed there would be no more auto racing events permitted in the stadium parking lot.

She said the council decided racing events caused damage to the stadium's asphalt parking lot, which never received its final seal coat.

Members of the stadium's event planning team had concerns that eliminating races and road rallies would cut a significant revenue source.

Campion explained it was too late to object to the decision, since a city engineer had completed a study and determined the damage was too great.

"I think we've done everything we can do," she said. "The city just told me it has to stop."

Alex

[islavov]

This is not good.
I hope they will change their minds and keep the extra revenue coming in, and keep us happy too.....

From my local Harford County paper today, The Record:

Several members of the stadium's event planning staff cringed during Wednesday's stadium management board meeting cringed when [board chair] Campion confirmed the Aberdeen City Council agreed there would be no more auto racing events permitted in the stadium parking lot.

She said the council decided racing events caused damage to the stadium's asphalt parking lot, which never received its final seal coat.

Members of the stadium's event planning team had concerns that eliminating races and road rallies would cut a significant revenue source.

Campion explained it was too late to object to the decision, since a city engineer had completed a study and determined the damage was too great.

"I think we've done everything we can do," she said. "The city just told me it has to stop."

Alex

[Pete]

I'll call my Ripken rep and confirm. I don't see how we did nearly as much damage as the morons who punched the holes in the asphalt for their big tents.

We'll see,

Pete

[ErikT]

I know the stadium has been a financial drain on the City of Aberdeen. I'm guessing any repaving would have to be paid for by the City.

It never received it's final seal coat?

[JimHarris]

I am pasting this in from the Philly Solo discussion board.

__________________________________________

The Rumor is true and the council has voted to stop Solo in the Ripken lot as of the end of the season. Ripken sees no problem with the SCCA events and is fighting the decision. I told Ripken that Phila Region will do what ever is necessary to help them out. As most of you know every year since we have been there Phila Region has made annual donations to the Ripken Foundation through the Holbert and other charity events. To date these donations have totaled over $10,000. I urge all the other clubs to do as Phila does and host a charity event this year at the Rip to support the hand that feeds us. I told Ripken that if they need any help in the fight to please me know.

Do not listen to any other static you might hear and please do not bother Ripken with inquires that will just waste their time and make them less interested in having us around. If you have any questions please let me know.

Never give up, Never surrender!

________________________________________________

Seems to me that, whatever the perception of the finality of the decision, the clubs involved, (nccbmwcca included) have to make an issue of it rather than just accepting it. The forces at work seem to be divided on the decision.

Thanks,

Jim

[Pete]

That was the impression that I got when I spoke to my rep.

Pete