aoda begins

[Funk]

checking in!

here to stop the abomination of florida.

THIS ISNT NASCAR PEOPLE, WE CAN DO IT, I KNOW WE CAN.

TOGETHER WE CAN STOP RELYING ON OVALS

[steve]

TOGETHER WE CAN STOP RELYING ON OVALS

fuck ovals

[OniS14]

i like triangles...and trapezoids

[Jordan T]

how so? fundraiser?

[S13_01]

well this isn't gonna change unless we get off our asses and do something

[dudocius240sx]

i truly hate oval tracks. man i bet if we could get a parking lot or anyother type of track, man oval make me sick.

[Jordan T]

rent out big lots or somthing.

[S13_01]

rent out big lots or somthing.

every lot that is usually tried, the owner doesn't know what drifitng is and they don't want tire marks all over it... its retarded..

[Jordan T]

hmm, i can think of a few. maybe put some $$$ together and buy some old lot?

[S13_01]

hmm, i can think of a few. maybe put some $$$ together and buy some old lot?

which ones? and if money was put together for a lot problems would start coming up...

[Jordan T]

yeah. ppl would bitch.

[truffle_shuffle!]

hmm, i can think of a few. maybe put some $$$ together and buy some old lot?
Insurance> youz

[Jordan T]

???

[Hella Slow]

Insurance> youz


+ 1,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000

it will never happen! never ever!

its been talked about 100 times and still will never ever happen!

so stop.

[JC]

You challenged me.
You taught me.
You excited me.
...miss you dday

[marksaccord95]

insurance is NOT expensive

its finding an open lot that will allow drifting is the challenge.

even cones are only $2.50 each.

[shift-lock]

Works like this people!!!

Support the events we do have so the organizers can save their money to hold larger events at better tracks/ Lots etc....

No one is just going to pull 10,000 dollars out of their ass for 40 cars to run moroso. Its just not within or realm. You thought 100 bucks was bad, try 400.

It starts at a grassroots level and makes its way forward from there. If you don't support what we have at the moment then progress will not be made ever.

If ovals are we have now then so be it. We started the osw program with the intention of raising money to repave the infield. Then we'll be able to set up an awesome layout. But we cannot do that unless everyone supports it. Bitch about ovals all you want but If you were stuck in the woods with nothings but worms to eat would you eat them or starve to death???

[Funk]

id jerk off and take a bunch of nyquil, either way id win

[OniS14]

private airport..one issue of Top Gear had a "track day" at a private airport..but it would have to be more than just tampa..we would have to get a large amount of people to sign up and participate to keep entrance fees low

airplanes leave skidmarks too..
the only one thing i would prevent them from letting us rent the runway is that..
A] lots of tire on the ground...we have to pay for someone to clean that up
B] fluids from the cars [oil/coolant/brake fluid might leak on the runway]
C] people might trash the place..so we need to supply trashcans
D] port-o-potty...a bear shits in the woods..but i wont..so we gotta rent one
E] homeland sercurity is a bitch

if i was rich..i would try n get some companies to help sponser the event...
but if they probably dont see anything profitable to them..
the reason professional events are so successful is TV coverage

[Just Dave]

private airport..one issue of Top Gear had a "track day" at a private airport..

What do you suggest they tell the planes trying to land while your event is occuring?

There is an abandoned private airport in odessa but I doubt the runway is wide enough to make an effective course and its about ready to be torn down in the way of progress.

[Kung Fu Grip]

Couldin't we do a fundraiser and buy a couple acres of land up north of us in Land o' lakes,brookesville or somewhere or find a store thats been vacant with a big lot that is for sale??

[Kung Fu Grip]

haha we just need to find a mall that's vacant and just take it over or rent the lot ...

[lunchbox]

i wonder if we could get the road corse track at gainsville where they do the auto x

[Kung Fu Grip]

Shit,my dad is buying 11 aces of land pretty soon by brookesville I wonder if he'd let us use some of the land to hold an event...hmm. I don't know if he's neighbor's would like that tho ... :lol:

[NismoZ]

i wonder if we could get the road corse track at gainsville where they do the auto x

HAHAHAHA good luck, i tried drifting at one of their auto-x events and the old farts nearly had a stroke. they even tell the auto-x'ers if you get more than 2 tires in the grass your out.

[forceFEDs13]

everyone wishes that they could have a private track.....but from what ive seen.....90% of bay area drifters are broke as hell.....including me......heres what you do......find an old bitch with a huge house....fuck her silly, and marry her.....then ask her to make you a track, or wait till she dies and have a huge house of ur own and lots of money!!!!

but thats unlikely to happen.....so.......find somewhere to drift around ur city.......pay for gas and thats it......no entry fee..... just look out for the police ahahahaa <=====my daily grind

shit......

Miles

[sidehappyside]

i hate ghetto drifters. especially the kind that is so broke and cant afford anything nice, but they buy spray paint and all sorts of ghetto stuff for their car. I dont care where I drift, Drifting at any event is fun because you dont have to worry about cops and you can go all out beacuse its usually safe except for the walls on the ovals. Im going to go wherever I can to get the most track time because thats what makes a driver good. osw is fun if you can drift the infield, the oval is boring and I want to know when the next drift day at Ocala is because that was really fun.

[lunchbox]

HAHAHAHA good luck, i tried drifting at one of their auto-x events and the old farts nearly had a stroke. they even tell the auto-x'ers if you get more than 2 tires in the grass your out.

yeah i remember that nonsence.. them getting super anal about the grass..

ive got a few acres in brooksville to.. most of the places have close neighbors. even if its 20 ACRES its still only a 1/4 mile away from someone elses property thats gonna complain... im thankful for the events that there are.

has anyone looked into sunshine speedway.. they have a track with a decent infeild that i do belive is kinda shut down .. maybe just maybe ill go by there tonight and investigate!

[Laurentz]

"car control clinic"

[marksaccord95]

i know the guy that runs sebring, ill talk to him next week.

[Funk]

mark you should, be sure to stress the things they want to hear

like attention to sebring.. and they could hold d1 events.. and such

ya hurd..

love yaaa

i wasnt` bashing fl drift events, i appreciate them...

i just hate ovals. :dunno:

[marksaccord95]

i dont care much for ovals, but what do i know, i havent had a car to drift in months.

[RoadRacer]

the bmw club rents a runway at the hernando county airport. It's not real wide and the surface is kind of rough, but it would be a change. Someone should call them and see what they require to rent it. http://www.co.hernando.fl.us/Airport/index.htm

BTW, Sebring is big cash to rent. chin/safe driver events are 275.00+ and that's for the long or short course.

[S13_01]

it is true that we have to appreciate what there is, its just a bitch for event holders to find parking lots, airports, etc.

[2Valve]

Ovals are derk, we need to get a section of sebring or road Atlanta or something badass and cool. Even if they PAID me I wont ever go back to Charlotte, OSW is boring, 2006 has sucked so far.... I'm down for paying between 75 and 200 $$ to drift somewhere cool......

[Silvia_San]

i hate ghetto drifters. especially the kind that is so broke and cant afford anything nice, but they buy spray paint and all sorts of ghetto stuff for their car. I dont care where I drift, Drifting at any event is fun because you dont have to worry about cops and you can go all out beacuse its usually safe except for the walls on the ovals. Im going to go wherever I can to get the most track time because thats what makes a driver good. osw is fun if you can drift the infield, the oval is boring and I want to know when the next drift day at Ocala is because that was really fun.
shut up mr. DC pays for all my entry fees lol.

[Jordan T]

i can pay for mine, i just need a new car.

[aphxero]

I'm pretty sure a parking lot is gonna be cheaper than OSW right?

Someone needs to talk to nekopunch. Ask how he does it. And btw, mranlet tries like hell to get good lots. it's just really hard in FL.

FL sucks.

[The Kyle]

I'm pretty sure a parking lot is gonna be cheaper than OSW right?

Not always.

If it's a nice, large lot that is often used then it would be quite a bit more expensive than a 20 year old circle track that only gets action a few times a month.

Also, if the lot is located anywhere near major traffic/commercial areas you can count on the insurance being extremely high...and neighboring businesses complaining about the noise and air polution. Which usually would result in either the event getting shut down early OR you being asked (or in my case being sent a letter) to never come back again.

Sebring, Moroso and Road Atlanta were all mentioned in this thread. The tough part of those is the fact that not only are they top notch facilities, but all of them have contracts with companies such as Skip Barber Racing School, Panoz Racing School and The Audi Driving Experience (just to name a few)....so they have to provide a certain percentage of their monthly/yearly available track time to each of those groups.

All of that means is if the track time that IS available, its going to be very pricey. The Short/Long course at Sebring can vary between 5, 7 and 10 thousand dollars depending on what time of year, month and configuration you want. Moroso is the same. Road Atlanta is a bit higher in price range than that. ESPECIALLY if you're a first-time renter. They give breaks for return customers if they like you and you don't cause a problem or have lots of damage/crashes.

The bonus of working with major facilities like those is the fact that usually everything is included in your rental fee. Such as fire crews, paramedics and sometimes even corner workers...so theres less 'outsourcing' if you will.

Another thing to take into consideration on those major tracks is insurance. Places like that don't just want a run-of-the-mill $2Million dollar policy...they require at the bare minimum $5M to $10Million worth of coverage. So the track time and the insurance will cost about the same.

None of these things are impossible, they're actually quite easy to do. The drawback is the fact that in all honesty, there is no way you'll get enough people in the Tampa Bay area or even FL to cough of the amount of cash required to make one of these events happen. Tracks require payment weeks if not months in advance, and insurance as well.

Again, it's all possible...it's just making all the pieces and interested parties come together properly and successfully that usually binds things up.

Good luck if anyone tries it. It's a lengthy and involved process :)

Kyle

[The Kyle]

Works like this people!!!

Support the events we do have so the organizers can save their money to hold larger events at better tracks/ Lots etc....

No one is just going to pull 10,000 dollars out of their ass for 40 cars to run moroso. Its just not within or realm. You thought 100 bucks was bad, try 400.

It starts at a grassroots level and makes its way forward from there. If you don't support what we have at the moment then progress will not be made ever.

If ovals are we have now then so be it. We started the osw program with the intention of raising money to repave the infield. Then we'll be able to set up an awesome layout. But we cannot do that unless everyone supports it. Bitch about ovals all you want but If you were stuck in the woods with nothings but worms to eat would you eat them or starve to death???


I think it's really awesome to see people running more events and providing places for people to drift other than the streets.

But. (some people here might already know what I'm going to say)

I have a HUGE problem with running drift events at any venue that has walls or anything that can cause severe damage to a car/passenger. While some of you guys will say "whatever dude! we just wanna slide! who cares if we crash!"...in the words of our parents...It's all fun and games until someone gets hurt.

Several people have damaged and even totalled their cars at oval events. Granted, most of those guys don't care (eventhough i'm sure deep down they have to care a little bit ;) )...but that's mainly because nothing DRASTIC happened.

Here's a scenario: Say 'Stevie Thompson' has a 240SX, is 18 and decides he wants to go to a drift event and it just happens to be at an oval track. He registers, gets his car ready and gets all pumped up. He shows up to the event, passes tech and gets placed in a run group with some other newbies.

It's Stevies turn, he accelerates down the front straight, but instead of 'Drifting' either something happens or Stevie is far too inexperienced to know how to correct a mistake and plows into the wall at ~40MPH. Now, Stevie isn't DEAD, but he's hurt. Say he totals his car and breaks an arm and cracks this or that and maybe has a few bruises.

Oops. The first thing that's going to happen (after Stevie is taken to the hospital via Ambulance) is the event coordinator is going to feel like shit because it happened at HIS event. The second thing that MIGHT happen is the track owner/manager starting to rethink his position on letting these events happen: "Hmm, these guys crash pretty often...but no ones gotten hurt till now. I don't like people getting hurt on my track, so no more drift events" (Not saying that would DEFINATELY happen, but is HAS happened with other events and even other motorsports other than drift)

The third and bad thing that you could almost guarantee happening is Mr. & Mrs. Thompson, Stevie's parents going to find what happened, how it happend and under what conditions they happened in. If they're not happy with the situation and circumstances, they'll call a lawyer and promptly try to sue the track owner, manager and the person responsible for making the event happen and keeping it safe (the event coordinator).

"Shut up Kyle, everyone signs a liability waiver before they come onto the track". So? Those liability waivers are the thinest layer of safety you have. Any good lawyer would be able to get that signature thrown out if he could prove that the conditions in which the event was run was unsafe.

Now, am I saying this situation IS going to happen? NO I am not. I am saying it is very possible and if it DOES happen, you can count on drift events coming to a slow hault in the area. If the media gets ahold of it, even worse.

What's the best way to avoid things like this from happening? Making 100% sure your first priority is SAFETY. A good way to head in that direction is to not hold events at venues with WALLS or major obstacles.

Granted, this same scenario could have happend at Ocala, Primus, SPC, Turner Feild, Englishtown or any other place DGTrials has held an event because there are trees, poles, curbs etc...but the chances of impact are much less because those obstacles are quite spread out and the course lay out goes around them and not towards them.

I'm not bitching, complaining or saying this or that event is BAD. I'm just wanting to maybe plant a small seed in some people's heads that this isn't a game folks. When people start getting hurt, events stop. The fun stops. God forbid someone dies out there, you can pretty much write off going to any events for a year.

I want to see Drifting progress in FL and the Southeast, I really do...but I want to see it done SAFELY. Things are way more fun and awesome when there's no one crashing or always having to worry about whether or not you're going to crash.

Personally, I'd rather not run an event than run an unsafe one. No one has ever gotten hurt at any event that I've been responsible for, and I want to keep it that way...and you guys should too.

Okay, I'm off my soapbox now...good luck guys. :)


PS: Sorry for the MEGA long posts...I haven't posted here in a really long time, so I figured I'm making up for lost time :) and I guess I might know a thing or two about what I'm talking about and wanted to share. :)

[aphxero]

Good points definitely. So what's the differentiating factor between FL and let's say... Every other state regarding the frequency of parking lot events?

Even the NW gets at least 25 events every year. The majority are not at tracks. I mean what do we get? Ovals and that's it? Honestly I'd rather take my chances on the street.

[ryojikaji143]

OK it breaks down like this. So you have to deal with a shit insurance company like KnK and you have parking lot owners bitching. Join an AutoX club, propose that you want to hold a gymkhana practice. This is wording that autoX and anyone who rents lots to autoX people should be familiar with. Even if they check with the insurance company about it, they will say it's safe. If you say drift, it is automatically assumed that you are talking about D1 and drifting $100,000 machines at 100mph into walls. Anyway, the cool part about gymkhana is, it's loosely defined. And because you are a member of a "respected" autoX club, you will most likely be able to use their venue. I know it seems like alot of work, but it's worth it in the end. I'm sure that it's the same in FL as it is here. AutoX guys control ALL of the amatuer venues. It sucks but you gotta play their game. Good luck.

-Matt-Panic!

BTW: Ocala is a sweet track ;-)

[ryojikaji143]

Also, don't any of your tracks have pro-pits? Thats where we hold alot of events. And since we have had many safe events, the track owners agreed to let us have a day on the real track! 90mph S turns here we come ;-) Building relationships and maintaining a positive image is what will help drift events progress. Again, good luck.

-Matt-Panic!

[Funk]

marks brothers plan of attack actually sounds really perfect.


im joining local autox..

[Jordan T]

gettum

[Adalaxy]

Has anyone tried looking into this?

Couple of weeks ago i was looking for a place to fly my model airplane out in the middle of nowhere in a Housing Devlopment that obviously didnt get devoloped. Anyway some parts were actually pretty well pieced together to form a "track" , if you blocked off certain area's with cones to keep the driver on course.

I mean there are some problems like getting the owners to let us do this and what kind of insurance would we need and such, but the benifits are pretty good. Being in the middle of nowhere, ample space if we get it , if were lucky we could "make" different tracks.

If we charge money and show the owners that its profitable (if it catches on) maybe they would let it happen more often.

You could also hold racing, time attack you name it. And i know some of these un-devolped area's have curbs but some dont it's just finding the right ones.

Anyway, anybody think this could be a executable idea? Please dont burn me if im missing points that obvious to make this impossible.

[Funk]

yah its impossible, but its a fun place to drift and you should PM with directions!!

[Adalaxy]

well the place i was at was actually in Citrus County. But i should find some places like it down here. Good place for a nighttime practice maybe.

[mranlet]

Has anyone tried looking into this?

If you've got a spot that you want to have turned into an event, Email me the info - mike.ranlet@dgtrials.com

I've had google earth on lockdown for the past few months for any decent sized slab of pavement. Now that the drift ambulance is back on duty, I've been scouting many of these as well. I have a list of 30 potential venues in or around (within 2 hours of) the Tampa Bay area, many of which I have been corresponding with for some time. There are some tentative events, but nothing that is solid enough for me to announce yet.

Here are some teasers to hopefully motivate people to not fuck up drifting's reputation:
-In 2 months, there are 3 venues that will be looking to rent out very large parking lots in excess of 300x500' with smooth pavement
-I am in the process of forming a program with a certian organization that will be building 40 acres of pavement this year, which will be constructed with the intention of being a drifting ar ea.
-There is a certian venue that has been used for motorsports before (although not it's primary function) that will be the site of an event in MayJune in which two simultaneous tracks may be possible. Final arrangements will be made this coming or next week.

EVERYONE PLEASE: be careful and hang in there until we can get FL back on the map!

[JC]

It may be further for some people, but I think you should check out Tarpon/New Port Richey.../Spring Hill areas. Even driving on 19, you will see many potential spots just from the road. I would have to think there are many more "hidden" spots as well where the property is not used and its just a big paved parking lot for example. IDK, but I dont think the owners of those types of properties would care much and may let people do "stuff" if money was involved.

[aphxero]

Any undeveloped housing is already a drift spot. You can count on it.

I have faith in my buddy ranlet. Make it happen ;)

[Adalaxy]

If you've got a spot that you want to have turned into an event, Email me the info - mike.ranlet@dgtrials.com

ill go see if its still as good as my memory says it is for this kind of event.

I've had google earth on lockdown for the past few months for any decent sized slab of pavement.

ditto...