SAAC 45 location?

[Bigfoot]

^^
Wurd

[CSX 4133]

The cost for COTA for a weekend is 50K, not including safety crew, marshals, etc. This alone makes that venue hard to justify. Plus July in Texas is brutal during the day and barely tolerable at night, 28 years in central Texas taught me well.

Here's a breakdown on rental fees (assuming availability for SAAC 45) for major facilities.

http://blog.motorsportreg.com/global-race-track-rental-fees#.XXbtny2ZNQY

[Steve McDonald Formally known as Mcdonas]

JD's House is looking better all the time

[Rickmustang]

Wow. Expensive.

[Don Johnston]

Not listed are Sonoma, Laguna Seca and those crazy price NASCAR tracks with road courses like Fontana, Las Vegas, Charlotte, Kansas and others.  There are staggering numbers that obviously sober a lot of thoughts about the planning and decision making by the SAAC board when it comes to convention costs.

[Kent]

I really loved the saac meet at road of america in wisconsin, nice weather, good cars, good guys.

[Mike G.]

Is Lime Rock forever out of the question? Beautiful track and surrounding area. Mike G.

[rkm]

What about Gingerman? Low key, cute town nearby.  Not enough accommodation?

[Bill]

There is always Carolina Motorsport Park 

[CharlesTurner]

There is always Carolina Motorsport Park 

That's actually a nice track and probably not expensive like some of the others.  Raced there a few times.  Heard they paved some of the paddock parking area recently.

[deathsled]

I really loved the saac meet at road of america in wisconsin, nice weather, good cars, good guys.

Plus one on that.

[Cobrask8]

Now you are seeing some of the factors in planning a convention.

If SAAC does on it's own, they look at:
Track rental costs (everything)
Nearby Hotels large enough with banquet facilities
Population of SAAC members in regional area
Have they been in that region recently?
Locations for car shows
Feasability

The last many years, SAAC has partnered with various groups, so they become enslaved to a pre-determined site, dates, room.

Future partners will have a major bearing and impact on convention location.

And, an opinion by myself, will SAAC's board of directors ever want to try again on their own? I know the board wants to use a marquee/famous facility to get exposure, but many of us just flat do not care. A great convention can be put together at a reduced cost by using a non-major facility. Regardless, as you can see from the link, renting a track is a MAJOR cost.

So, find a great area with a killer hotel, and only rent the track for a day or two. Make the hotel the focal point. Do other things on other days?

Just some food for thought...

Dan

[madeulook]

Has SAAC considered one of the private country clubs, like Autobahn in Joliet, and in New York?

[TOBKOB]

So, find a great area with a killer hotel, and only rent the track for a day or two. Make the hotel the focal point. Do other things on other days?
Just some food for thought...

+1

TOB