For those that did not make it to TVR or TAC, John Barnett proposed an event to the SCCA region.

From John Barnett(email: crowmountainhillclimb@yahoo.com):

The board of directors need to meet and officially approve this.

TVRSCCA Board members are:
Rich Crowell
Larry Janzen
Tom Turner
Eddie Jory
Jim Burruss
Alan McCrispin

let them know your feelings and if TVR members let them know that- YES this is a good idea and YES I want to help make this happen, then it will be a no-brainer.

Why: I, and others, feel that TVR needs/wants/desearves a big nice fun event. We travel here and there and it would be nice to have something, at least once a year, where we could put on something really special. The airport, as we all know, is not the greatest (I don't think its all that horrible but I'm in the minority bigtime) and just about everybody in the SE knows, or has the perception, that the old airport isn't worth driving in for. We don't have hardly any roadrally interest right now, and Aaron and I have the only two logbooked rally cars in the state so a clubrally could not be justified by TVR alone. So...we can't (right now) have a SEDIV Solo2, prosolo, a solo1, roadrally, clubrally, we don't have a track and probably will never get one.....

so what would:  

-will allow the highest number of TVR members to prep the widest array of racecars and enter a high speed event in their own backyards

-SEDIV championship event

-A real test of driving skill on a spectacular road

-Establish connections with a friendly local government that wants us to come play and have a good time

-Give something exciting to a local community while promoting the good name and reputation of SCCA.

-Promote TVR and gain some membership for the region

-Have a big, fun TVR event that could possibly be held for years and years once established, bringing recognition to the region and having an event where all our existing and future SEDIV racing companions in Chattanooga, Atlanta, Birmingham, Nashville, Jackson, The Carolinas, Florida, and anywhere else can come visit us.  

-Give local drivers a fast event, at a level above Solo2/Slaloms, that is in their own area and doesn’t require a long haul.  

???

A hillclimb.


Proposed event:  Crow Mountain Hillclimb, a SCCA SEDIV Solo1 divisional event.

Where: North Jackson Co. event HQ'd in Scottsboro.

When: October 2005. Solo1 steward has assured me we will get a spot on the 2005 Solo1 schedule as a divisional event with the approval of the region, the division, and the SEDIV RE's in July.


I have assurances from the Scottsboro government that we will be provided the local support to close the road and additional local support with promotion and operational assistance.      

How: TVR needs SCCA MEMBERS.  Join SCCA! workers have to be trained SCCA members, and we will need everybody and I mean everybody. long story short- we will get lots of outside help but we need everybody here to pitch in, if even in the smallest way. Now is the time to put up or shut up.  The opportunity is now here to do something huge and fun that could lead to other even bigger things and get some momentum in the other direction. I need you and the region needs you.

SCCA Solo1 Hillclimbs are the now step-child of Road Racing, but offer the WIDEST possible field of car classes available:  Spec, GT1-5, GTU, IT, showroom stock, T2, SPO, and STREET PREPARED Solo2 classes! SM, STS, STX, ASP, BSP, CSP, DSP, FSP, and on and on... if you want to race something and have a cage in it, you're close, very close to being legal.  


so, if you want to run this proposed event:
1. cage your car if it's not.      
2. This will not be a novice event. you need to run two(2) flat solo 1's to get your Solo1 license. you have a year and a half. I suspect that VanCleef Racing will soon announce a special deal on cage installation.. just a hunch. (wink)  

If you want to work (much more important):
talk to me and we can discuss what YOU would like to help with and I'll find you a position that will best match your skills/interests I would obviously never ask anybody to do something they didn't really want to help with or weren't suited for. happy workers equals happy racers.  


If approved by the region and the division, this event would be very, very special... one of only two in this whole part of the country.  There is a N.Carolina event in the spring and we would mirror this with a fall event.  the closest event of this type is nine hours away, and the second closest is in Pennsylvania.  Third closest might be Pike's Peak but anyway....


we can do this, but everybody needs to help to make this what it could be.  


I have received already, and will continue to receive help from Mark Mashburn with Central Carolina Region. thier event is what I'm shooting for:  

http://www.blueridgehillclimb.org/

I'm going in May to check it out and take notes and inspect some "behind the scenes" stuff

...much, much more later, but I hope everybody gets half as excited as I am over this opportunity.