July 1 Event

[Tom Hunsinger]

Everyone: Please watch for an announcement posted to this thread on Friday afternoon regarding the status of Sunday's event. I cannot go into specifics right now but a decision and an announcement will be made at that time.

Thank you for your patience!

[Tom Hunsinger]

Short and not so sweet, I had to cancel Sunday’s event.

The blame lies solely on me. My ignorance and inexperience of safety requirements led us into a situation where we could not get the proper sanction for the event. More importantly, to make the event worthwhile to entrants would have posed serious safety risks to our entrants and non-participants in the area. I realize how large an inconvenience this is to everyone involved and I am deeply sorry for causing it. You all have my sincerest apologies.

I am at work and can only send off this brief announcement. Feel free to post any questions and comments and I will be happy to take the time to answer them frankly; after all, I now have all weekend. :o

[khammack]

Tom, it was the right thing to do. Best to make sure everyone is safe. Most of the Chiefs looked at the site and thought we could make it work, but MD just took up more area than we expected and we were unable to come up with a safe course in the area we had to work in.

[mjmauro]

I don't believe Tom should be taking blame for this problem which we all knew would very possibly happen while trying out new venues. It will probably continue as we seek replacement sites as well.

I am glad that Tom had the foresight and the guts to cancel this event before 200 people got there and either created an unsafe situation or came away with ill feelings because the course could not live up to anything close to what we have come to expect in Colorado.

I'm sure we have learned a lot form this.

[RanGVR-4]

Aw that puts a damper on my day. Oh well, if it cant work, it just cant work. Is there any word on if there will still be another event at jeffco, or will that one be cancelled as well?

[ncaruso]

Too bad, but we all respect your decsion, and appreciate you willingness to choose safety overall!

[RAB]

You did the right thing Tom.
Cour-age: mental or moral strength to venture, persevere, and withstand danger, fear, or difficulty.

[Van]

Well since we all expected to be autocrossing, maybe we all should meet up at Centennial or IMI and do some karting!

Van

[Randy]

Nice idea Van! I'm in!

[russjnco]

I guess the question I have is first and foremost, does this automatically put the September 9th event into doubt as well? Also, will there now be consideration to make the Divisional a points event? Just trying to get my ducks in a row so that I can get the minimum number of events in before the baby arrives :D

[mitrebox]

Tom, You did the right thing. Even though I would not have been able to attend, I feel for everyone who registered. But to put on an event where there are really severe safety issues is counter to what our club is all about; running fun, safe events for both drivers and spectators.

Glad you had the Chutzpah to cancel -- don't obsess or feel guilty. You are a mensch.

Hopefully see you all soon with my new ride. (Now I'm obsessing!) :cool:

[Randy Hickman]

Ditto on everything everyone said already. If it aint safe, it aint safe, and you did the right thing, Tom.

[LoCore]

Well done Tom. I appreciate you showing the leadership to make the hard decisions.

[lrmauro@msn.com]

Tom, Good call. we understand and agree with it.

[Van]

Tom, I'm glad you made an executive decision for the better of the autocross community, but............. now my Sunday will consist of mowing, weeding, repairing various household items, dishes, vacuuming, etc.

Thanks a lot! ;)

Van

[dan86]

Good Call, Tom. :)

While i was hoping to see how the car handles with the new sway on black top (similar lookin to Hearland Park) , i was probably gonna miss the Official Toyota meet down in Castlerock... now i can make it!:p

[SubaDrew]

Bummer about the race. I pass by the lot every day and I do think it would be an interesting event with a small course. Maybe we can try it some other time.

Alas the back up plan... Ken and I will be out at IMI early Sunday trying out my new rib protection. Any other karters wanna come out?

[Tom Hunsinger]

Tom, I'm glad you made an executive decision for the better of the autocross community, but............. now my Sunday will consist of mowing, weeding, repairing various household items, dishes, vacuuming, etc.

Thanks a lot! ;)

Van
I feel your pain because that is what I'll be doing also!

[lonemustang]

You did the right thing, Tom.

Any replacement event(s) elsewhere planned?

-dw

[fast_eddie_72]

Well, nothing but my thanks and admiration to all the folks who organize these things. Can't wait 'till the next one!

Take care,

Ed

[RogersWRX]

Geez - good thing I checked the forums - can we send an e-mail out to the announcent list ?? I'm sure there'll be a few people showing up at Jeffco Sunday morning, but it sounds like the right decision was made. ;)

[Tom Hunsinger]

Geez - good thing I checked the forums - can we send an e-mail out to the announcent list ?? I'm sure there'll be a few people showing up at Jeffco Sunday morning, but it sounds like the right decision was made. ;)
It is going out tonight, it's the earliest I could have it out.

[Tom Hunsinger]

I have a little more time now to give a little detail on what happened so you folks know that this should not happen again, plus I would like to give some credit where credit is due.

When Dan Hackett, the Chief of Safety, was checking out the course he discovered that MasterDrive would be at the lot at the same time we are. This was something I knew but had not shared with him. It would be impossible to have the MasterDrive participants sign waivers (they are minors for the most part) and we would not have control over them. Given the nature of the events and the lack of hard separation between participants and there is only a chain link fence between 6th Avenue access road and our event, we needed to have two things: 75 feet between hot areas of our event and the public (non-waivered folks), and a spectator sanction instead of our usual non-spectator sanction that offers more coverage for the event.

Dan wisely escalated the issue to Divisional Safety Steward, Josh Hadler. Josh did everything he could do to get us an event, working with the national office and the safety committee. Michael Feldpusch did what he could to give course that pretty much met the necessary criteria for safety and fun if not long, but we could not come up with a spectator sanction in time for the event. I would like to thank Dan and Michael for their efforts in trying to get this difficult project almost completed. I would really like to thank Josh for his efforts. He spent a lot of time trying to make this event work and was very patient and clear in schooling a naïve Solo Chair on what was necessary for the event from a safety standpoint.

I should have brought in Dan Hackett long before we scheduled the event. Going forward, when a new site is being evaluated I will get Dan and Michael out to the site, create a proposed first course on paper and have all Chiefs sign off on it.

I don’t think Jeffco Stadium will work for us when MasterDrive is at the lot. The trouble is that they are at the lot 50 weeks of the year (they cancel about two events yearly, the Wednesday before the weekend). If we are going to run there we will need some help from them. Would any of our MD folks be able to get me contact info so I can see if we can get a date or two from them?

Here is what I am thinking and let me know what you think: I would like to see if I can arrange to have the September 9th Jeffco event held at the Loveland Dog Track if it is available. I know it is not the best surface in the world but the lot is big and I have heard that the owners should be receptive. I will also try to squeeze in an event to replace this one, if possible. Any thoughts or suggestions?

[usakubko]

Well since we all expected to be autocrossing, maybe we all should meet up at Centennial or IMI and do some karting!
Van
If anybody else wants to do this then I'm in too. Could be a fun day. I might end up going to Elitch's though...
Btw, thanks for letting us know Tom. It's a bummer, but I'd rather be safe than sorry :)

[dan86]

Well since we all expected to be autocrossing, maybe we all should meet up at Centennial or IMI and do some karting!
Van

If anybody else wants to do this then I'm in too. Could be a fun day. I might end up going to Elitch's though...
Btw, thanks for letting us know Tom. It's a bummer, but I'd rather be safe than sorry :)


I'd be down, depending on what time, you guys wanna do it.

[RogersWRX]

I agree the Loveland dogtrack isn't the most "raceworthy" surface, but a day or two up there might be a nice change for our northerly Ft Collins and Cheyenne drivers!! :D

[SuperWhiteGT4]

I can agree with that. A northern event would be awesome.

From what I understand, the problem is that it's not a grippy surface, and the surface destroys tires on heavier cars. Am I right in that understanding?

That lot is HUGE though. Lots of possibilities for courses, IMO.

[Randy Hickman]

...but a day or two up there might be a nice change for our northerly Ft Collins and Cheyenne drivers!! :D

Amen!

[Nick Leone]

This sucks! but this means that I can now get an SCCA membership woo hoo

[LoCore]

The Cloverleaf Dog Track lot in Loveland currently has some giant piles of asphalt waiting to be installed somewhere.

We suspect it is headed for I-25, but you never know ...

We haven't asked anyone yet. Might be worth checking.

[scottherbert]

Tom,

Along with authority comes responsibility, and you exercised both properly; good decision.

I must admit, since I work across the street in the Federal Center and see the lot every day -- to and from work, I was looking forward to trying it out. But safety always comes first.

Scott Herbert

33DS Saturn REDLINE

[Warrtalon]

Tom, I would be ok with it if you kept the season at 13 events anyway, because that means we only need 7 to qualify. The 14 events putting it at 8 minimum was going to be tough (for me at least).

[Steven Trott]

I put deep thought into this. Since we cant race sunday, everyone is invited to my house for an all day Gran Turismo championship! I have GT4, a PS2, and a projection screen! Thats all we need! And beer will be aloud at this event! Can't go wrong peeps! It'll be the coolest thing in Cheyenne since...well, EVER!

-Steve-

[kirstein]

I think our planned season was about the largest that I can remember, with 14 events plus a 2 day divisional for a total of 16 days. Last season was 12 events plus 2 events run by the national office, 2005 was 10 events plus a national tour run by the national office, 2004 was 13 event (divisional included in those days) and a test'n'tune.
I don't think we've ever put together 15 locally run days before. 13 events plus a divisional is plenty!

[russjnco]

Given that it's already July, it may be a little less brain damage to try and secure another date at one of our existing sites. Especially if Master Drive is locked into the September 9th at Jeffco. Whether that be WA, Coors or PPCC if we still want to try for 13 events. Just my .02 anyway :)

[Chris_Swearingen]

Tom,

Just wanted to add my support. I know it was a hard decision, but it was the right decision.

--Chris

[RogersWRX]

I think the Jeffco site might work out some time in the future, if we can negotiate with Masterdrive to use both sections of the lot. That way we don't have to sanction a "spectator" event, and we'd get more real estate for the course.

If we do try for the Loveland dog track, I remember we hired a street sweeper company to come an sweep the course in the morning, after it had been set up. (I did't think we could get the lot swept the day/night before for some reason)

Tom we appreciate all the had work you've done securing the sites for us and stepping up as Chair. You're doing a great job - keep it up - Thanks!! :D

[SalineCO5]

I had Cirque tickets for Sunday, so wasn't going to be able to attend what would have been my second event. I would second trying to secure something up north like Loveland. I really doubt I will make the haul down to CO Springs for events, so something up this way would be appreciated. I'm sure the Wyoming folks would like it as well.

-Shane

[rgodby]

Hi Tom - While I couldn't make the event I am disappointed not to log in and see results. I appreciate you making the tough call. It feels good to be part of such a professional group. Grant mentioned at the DA meeting the other night he feels the CO region does so well nationally because of the professional way all events are run. This decision only reinforces that. If it won't work don't run it. Serious organizations step up and make those sorts of calls. Less professional ones don't. I don't know where that puts F1 back at Indy a couple years ago, but I digress... :D

On a north site at the Dog Track, speaking for us Wyoming drivers that would be a great change. First things first though - let's get the sites that work. Whatever happens with that site, I know it'll be the right choice.

Have a good weekend mowing/weeding/watching F1 or NASCAR on TV!

[gcrafty]

Tom, you made the tough call, and we all respect you for that. But Sunday was the day I was gonna whup you down in ES.
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George
72 ES

[Matt Leicester]

But Sunday was the day I was gonna whup you down in ES.
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George
72 ES

And more importantly, Sunday was the day we were going to whup on a road racer in ES:p

Matt Leicester

[khammack]

OK, now everyone needs to post the time they would have gotten if we had held the event.

Considering the room we had after MD took up their area, I should have received a time of 11.2250 seconds.

[Kentobeanz]

This thread sums up the quality of not only the event organizers, but also the competitors. A tough decision is made to cancel an event on very short notice, and the competitors praise the organizers for making the tough call. I like it.

Just another in a long list of reasons I miss competing at Colorado events...

K

[mitrebox]

OK, now everyone needs to post the time they would have gotten if we had held the event.

Considering the room we had after MD took up their area, I should have received a time of 11.2250 seconds.


If I had my new ride, I would have had an 11.102. :cool: