AUTOsolo Venues

[dw]

With the current need for anything that's involved with central government there is a massive need to raise cash and, of course, the military have large amounts of their estate that are either not used or very little used......!

As you all know by know we currently use two venues - Montgomery Lines in Aldershot and Martinique down at Bordon. Both of these sites belong to the military and we don't know how much longer they will be available to us. The old tarmac at Montgomery Lines is beginning to break up in places and Martinique is heavily used by all sorts of military and non-military bodies.
We need to look for other venues - you all know the sort of size that we need. If you have any ideas of places that we can look at [and, if possible, a contact name and number] please could you pm either Richard Field, Steve Castle or myself.

David Walton

[AdamG]

I've known Solo's run at Barton Stacy before, CSMA WMX used to run a rally practice day there also.

How about airfields? Dunsfold? Odiham?

[loggyboy]

I approached the TRL in Crowthorne a few months back on this, sadly they cant do motorsport/testing at weekends, only during weekdays. However, with solos being faily 'quiet' due to road legal requirements and the possiblity of imposing a strict noise level it could be worth persuing further.

[Allan Brown]

What about Blackbushe Airport, on the old runway near the go kart track entrance? or Lasham airfield or even Thorney Island.
How about the carpark in the middle of Sulzers roundabout by DFS and Land of Leather?

[simonv8]

how about the M3 there are plenty of cones already set out

[tcc21racing]

How about here? http://www.wisleyairfield.co.uk/a-histo ... ield-site/
http://www.filmlocations-uk.com/AF1/AF1.html

[tcc21racing]

Or how about Farnborough airfield?

I did find this large car park on google
http://maps.google.co.uk/maps?rlz=1T4HP ... =en&tab=wl

[AdamG]

Or how about Farnborough airfield?

I did find this large car park on google
http://maps.google.co.uk/maps?rlz=1T4HP ... =en&tab=wl

Just looked on streetview and there seems to be a fence between each part of that car park.

[Paul Prescott]

Or how about Farnborough airfield?

I did find this large car park on google
http://maps.google.co.uk/maps?rlz=1T4HP ... =en&tab=wl

Just looked on streetview and there seems to be a fence between each part of that car park.

It's nice to see a bit of thought going into this. I'm not sure the RHS would welcome us though, although there's no harm in asking. As for Wisley Airfield, from the look of the web site, we would bring out every tree-hugger in Surrey if we got in there! I recall the committee have discussed both of these before... Keep looking, everyone, and if in doubt, ask.
Off topic, I know, but while looking at Google Maps in that area, I spotted this:
http://maps.google.co.uk/maps?rlz=1T4HPNN_en___GB215&q=51.316156%2C-0.471961&um=1&ie=UTF-8&sa=N&hl=en&tab=wl
I wonder how many times this sort of thing features on Maps or Earth...

Oh, it didn't work! Apparently, I am unable to shift the reference point of a Google Map to Bagshot, where you will see what I was on about...

[tcc21racing]

How about Brooklands museum or the surounding area? there is also the area of old runway above the old kart track.
http://maps.google.co.uk/maps?rlz=1T4HP ... =en&tab=wl

[Rob K]

Or how about Farnborough airfield?

I did find this large car park on google
http://maps.google.co.uk/maps?rlz=1T4HP ... =en&tab=wl

Farnborough Airport is only closed on Christmas day and Boxing day,and TAG do not want to upset the locals anymore than they do already.

[dw]

Paul / Adam

Re car park[s] at the RHS, Wisley. Simple answer - not a chance! They are always very busy during the week [up to say 60 or 70% full] and at weekends - don't even go there! The present Mrs W complains bitterly if she has to take one of her friends there on a Saturday or Sunday as parking is a real mare.

DW

[Allan Brown]

How about Legoland or Thorpe park car parks, I can't imagine their car parks are always full. They don't look very busy on Google maps.

[AdamG]

I think the problem is there is no real incentive for them to host an event,
There's no big money in it, and there's the potential hassle of local residents complaining etc.

If you ask someone if you can race round their car park at the weekend, they'd think it was some boy-racer Max-Power sort of thing.

Best chances are personal contacts (friends of friends etc), Motorsport enthusiasts, or possibly someone seeking publicity for a company/product.
Our other option is organise a Solo as a charity event as that is more likely to open doors, and once you have a foot in the door and show that we can run a safe, well organised event without destroying their venue, they're more likely to let us return.

[loggyboy]

Have contacted somone who was involved in organising track events at odiham, not reply as yet but as hes in service could well be abroard.

An to whom mentioned blackbushe, it tends to be busy on a sunday what with the market, and running on a saturday means its hard to get the cones set up before hand.