Davis Motorsports Club

nesqu!k · Posted: Sat May 15, 2010 10:17 pm Post subject: AutoX at Cannery Park in Davis

As most of you know, there is a prime venue for autocross right here in Davis, the Davis Cannery Park (entrance visible at the intersection of Covell and J).

Over the years we have dreamed of being able to use the big open area to practice and improve our driving skills. While many of us have talked on and on about "contacting a city official to get permission or details on what we need to do", none of us has ever really, really done it. Until now.

My mom, being a very well-connected and well-known political official in Northern California, is actually good friends with the Mayor of Davis, Mayor Ruth Uy Asmundson (Filipino-American politicians like to connect with each other). She has provided me with the Mayor's email, and I plan on sending her an email asking for her support for opening up the park for the club.

Here is more or less of a final draft of my email, which I plan on sending to her within the next two days.

slapaddict · Treasurer Joined: 25 Sep 2007 Posts: 207

Good stuff Nestor. I think having an "official" from the SCCA speak on our behalf would go a long way too. Their main concerns are probably insurance, liability, and noise. If they tell us what needs to be done and we formulate a "business plan" that meets their requirements with professional testimony and assistance, I think this could happen.
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nesqu!k · Posted: Sat May 15, 2010 11:46 pm Post subject:

Definitely. The goal of this email is to get the ball rolling, and I'm sure it'll do just that. I'll let the draft sit until I get back to Davis tomorrow, at which point I will send the email.
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thebluereverend · DMC Contributor Joined: 17 Apr 2008 Posts: 362

It'd be pretty amazing if they let this happen
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m610 · Posted: Sun May 16, 2010 1:23 pm Post subject:

Do it! I big project like this will really mobilize the DMC members and will be great publicity.

I have already looked into what it takes to get access to the Cannery property and to do an event there, that young diver's clinic I've mentioned a number of times. There are two parts, getting permission to use the property, and working things out with the City of Davis. To get access to the property you'll need to contact the Contra Foods people. They own the property. Get permission and work out the details with them. Second, to do an event you get a permit at city hall. For low impact type events it just involves filling out forms and paying a $150 fee. For bigger events, one's that might bother the neighbors, they have to send mail to said neighbors describing the event and making sure there are not objections. The fee for this is $2000. That's a lot, but it makes sense, and depending on the event it might turn out the be a very minor cost.

Contact Sac SCCA to see if they'd be interested in doing an event here and then ask what they will need, etc. Offer to handle all local issues, etc. You might not get an event here this year because I figure their schedule is already set for this season.

We have a number of former DMC members that are active in SFSCCA. Contact them as well. I'm sure they can offer lots of help and advice.
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yellowlightman · DMC OG Joined: 06 Nov 2007 Posts: 114

Has anyone been to Cannery Park lately? I was there a month or so ago for the Emerson carnival, and the surface looked spotty at best. Is there a big enough surface is good enough shape to run an autocross?
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derangedtoolman · Posted: Sun May 16, 2010 9:02 pm Post subject:

nice work nestor. Hope everything works out. If ANY help is needed let me know.
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rustysrustyduc · DMC Contributor Joined: 28 Jan 2009 Posts: 541

One very small detail.. "spell check" before you send it.

Furthermore, the engineering dept used to use the back of Tupper Hall. And did so without incident (OK, that's just me talkin here) but you might want to emphasize it was a little too small/unsafe with the light posts. So the Cannery may be a much better location.

SRGUYINDAVIS · DMC OG Joined: 09 Aug 2007 Posts: 515

If anything materializes from this, let me know and I can get a lot of info for the City concerning insurance, sanctioning, etc.

One selling point is that SCCA puts on street survival schools that are aimed at teaching teen drivers car control skills designed to save lives. We could probably work it so that Davis students have a priority in registering for these events.
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A.Kang · DMC OG Joined: 02 Aug 2007 Posts: 3194 Location: Davis, CA

Great draft Nestor!

Maybe include links to the SCCA solo II site and the Street Survival page(s) so she can dig deeper if need be.

Think big!
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m610 · Posted: Mon May 17, 2010 8:46 am Post subject:

We should see if we can get a look at the Canery area, to see if it is even usable. Maybe all we'd need is for a street sweeper to go around it a couple of times, or for us to go out and pull weeds. It looked OK to me on Google Maps.

I think doing a clinic for new drives would be a great way to start and would build good will and a reputation with the city and town folk, plus it would/could be smaller and so would be good practice for larger events, such as 100 autox cars.

I have taken a driver's course and would have ideas for exercises and how to conduct them. Plus, DMC now has a member who instructed a BMW clinics. Plus now it looks like SCCA might be willing to get involved.
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SRGUYINDAVIS · DMC OG Joined: 09 Aug 2007 Posts: 515

Another thing to mention is the potential revenue that Autocrosses bring to the city. While it isn't tens of thousands of dollars every weekend, it would be a few thousand dollars every time there is an event.

Local businesses that benefit from Autocrosses: gas stations, hotels and restaraunts. Just another talking point.
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nesqu!k · Posted: Mon May 17, 2010 9:28 am Post subject:

Thanks for all the input and comments everyone, I'll definitely add in the email that the SFR SCCA people can help clear up any of the issues we might run into with using the lot, thanks for the tip, Glen!

I've revised the draft a little bit, and I've added in a few of your suggestions/comments/concerns.

m610 · Posted: Mon May 17, 2010 10:43 am Post subject:

Nice letter. You probably do not have to go through the mayor to do this, but having her on your side certainly couldn't hurt.

Suggestion, also mention the idea of teen driving clinic. It might not be your favorite project, but I think it is a good one for the reasons stated above, and therefore will probably make dealing with the city easier.

Also, that is not city property so they don't grant or deny permission to use it. They do get involved when you want to do an event that might disturb the neighbors, create traffic situations, etc.

I've got the contact info for Con-Agra Foods and for the person in city hall that knows something about this. I called Con Agra once but didn't get a reply.
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nesqu!k · Posted: Mon May 17, 2010 11:00 am Post subject:

Alright guys, here is the final version of the draft that I am sending in as of now. Wish us luck!

slapaddict · Treasurer Joined: 25 Sep 2007 Posts: 207

We should see if we can get a tour of the place too to see what condition the pavements in and if there are areas suitable for an autox.
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A.Kang · DMC OG Joined: 02 Aug 2007 Posts: 3194 Location: Davis, CA

updates?
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-Alex

"If you ain't first, you're last!"

nesqu!k · Posted: Tue May 25, 2010 8:34 am Post subject:

Still no reply... As soon as I get a reply, I'll post it on here. That being said, it's not looking very much in our favor, but I'm not going to give up until I get a straight-up "no".
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sharpie · DMC Regular Joined: 15 Jul 2009 Posts: 129

I will see if there's anything I can do to help. My dad is connected with the City Council and has served on city commissions before. He might be able to push a response from the city.
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m610 · Posted: Tue May 25, 2010 1:56 pm Post subject:

I don't think the city will be a problem, except fo the permit, which might be pricey.

We need to get in touch with Con Agra Foods. They own the property. Once we get that all worked out, then go to the city.

It might help if one of the activities we do there benefits the city itself, possibly a teen driving clinic, or some other public-good event.
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bokboked · xrotors>pistons Joined: 12 Mar 2008 Posts: 890

random suggestion...davis airport? since its all private airplanes right? its not all that busy and with the extra revenue coming from autox i dont think they'd object. super far away from anyone that could complain about noise too? just a suggestion
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nesqu!k · Posted: Tue May 25, 2010 4:09 pm Post subject:

^Very true. I remember hearing a few months ago that they might even close it down altogether. That would definitely be another great venue for us. If anything I really just want to get a response to show that our request is even being acknowledged to begin with. If we don't get Cannery, then I'll definitely look into the airport.
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A.Kang · DMC OG Joined: 02 Aug 2007 Posts: 3194 Location: Davis, CA

bokboked · xrotors>pistons Joined: 12 Mar 2008 Posts: 890

Lol yea I was just driving by and was like hmmm this could be veryyy niceeee for autox lol but yea gettig any positive response from the city would b awesome
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-Ed

nesqu!k · Posted: Wed May 26, 2010 9:26 pm Post subject:

UPDATE:

rustysrustyduc · DMC Contributor Joined: 28 Jan 2009 Posts: 541

Good work Nestor! Keep at it. A venue here in Davis for any motorsports event would be amazing.

Raptor22 · DMC NUB Joined: 02 Aug 2010 Posts: 44 Location: Davis

A.Kang · DMC OG Joined: 02 Aug 2007 Posts: 3194 Location: Davis, CA

^I don't think that will be big enough.

Our parking/grid space is usually bigger than that lot itself
Check out Oakland's lot:

http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&source=s_q&hl=en&geocode=&q=Coliseum,+Oakland,+CA&sll=38.545715,-121.784692&sspn=0.009985,0.022724&ie=UTF8&hq=&hnear=Coliseum,+Oakland,+California&ll=37.749193,-122.200118&spn=0.003569,0.005681&t=h&z=18
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Raptor22 · DMC NUB Joined: 02 Aug 2010 Posts: 44 Location: Davis

NegativeCambre · DMC OG Joined: 25 May 2009 Posts: 182

Its not overkill... because when cars go spinning off (and they will) they go in imaginative and novel directions--much much faster and further then you think.

Look at the kind of places that host autocrosses: Stadium parking lots, theme park parking lots, airbase tarmacs. The smallest venue I've ever gone to was the Sac chapter events in Stockton, and that venue blows. Postage stamp sized lot makes for boring courses.

Steve
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