Tri-Cities Potential Spots

Discussion of the search for new Solo II pavement.
michael.plaster
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Tri-Cities Potential Spots

Post by michael.plaster »

Since I'm stepping up and starting to be active on the message board I wanted to start a thread with some potential locations in the Tri-Cities area. This first post is the best location that I have seen and I think it could be a good fit minus the three dang light poles.

Second Harvest Food Bank of Northeast Tennessee
1020 Jericho Dr
Kingsport, TN 37663

This may be a pretty good location. We even have the possibility of running for charity and exposure for the good deeds they do.

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Re: Tri-Cities Potential Spots

Post by Scoob »

Unfortunately that lot is pretty small for autocross and the light islands make it effectively too small. I seriously considered buying that building to setup a rental kart business, but the outside lot needed a lot of work - and then 2nd Harvest bought it.
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Re: Tri-Cities Potential Spots

Post by thrdeye »

Yep, if there were no poles, it would be a good spot for a school or something, but we have to be 25 ft away from poles and curbs, per safety regulations, so it just isn't workable.
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Re: Tri-Cities Potential Spots

Post by JohnSmith »

thrdeye wrote:Yep, if there were no poles, it would be a good spot for a school or something, but we have to be 25 ft away from poles and curbs, per safety regulations, so it just isn't workable.
Just like Pellissippi always has the course 25 feet from poles and curbs :roll:
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Re: Tri-Cities Potential Spots

Post by thrdeye »

JohnSmith wrote:
thrdeye wrote:Yep, if there were no poles, it would be a good spot for a school or something, but we have to be 25 ft away from poles and curbs, per safety regulations, so it just isn't workable.
Just like Pellissippi always has the course 25 feet from poles and curbs :roll:
Ok - design a course (that people will actually want to drive) that keeps all of the poles and islands to the inside of the turn like Pelli. We probably do fudge it by a few feet, but the poles being on the inside of the turns make it a non-issue.
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Re: Tri-Cities Potential Spots

Post by djrogers1 »

When I first started autocrossing, I decided to "practice" on this lot. It is really ROUGH.....
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Re: Tri-Cities Potential Spots

Post by JohnSmith »

I think the poles are pretty well a non-issue, but the islands at Pelli and especially at Smokies with the distance to the edge curbing could be much better.
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Re: Tri-Cities Potential Spots

Post by Scoob »

If the KMart in Johnson City ever closes, that lot would be very large for us... Noise may be an issue with houses nearby, but something to watch for since KMart just announced a bunch more closures.
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Re: Tri-Cities Potential Spots

Post by djrogers1 »

Is there any pavement yet at that development site at the intersection of I-26 and I-81? I heard the latest proposal is for a large multi-dealership car lot.
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Re: Tri-Cities Potential Spots

Post by Scoob »

I haven't seen any activity up there at all. Don't think there's any money left to do anything until they get a few big signings.
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Re: Tri-Cities Potential Spots

Post by djrogers1 »

Scoob wrote:I haven't seen any activity up there at all. Don't think there's any money left to do anything until they get a few big signings.
They did a lot of grading, but I wasn't sure if there was any pavement. I haven't tried to access the site to take a peek. Maybe this week.
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Re: Tri-Cities Potential Spots

Post by MARKP »

No pavement there. Would be awesome for a RallyX.

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Re: Tri-Cities Potential Spots

Post by djrogers1 »

Thanks for the confirmation, Mark.
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Re: Tri-Cities Potential Spots

Post by michael.plaster »

http://www.wcyb.com/news/plans-to-build ... /209239814

Somebody should tell them to build a decent lot.
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Re: Tri-Cities Potential Spots

Post by Scoob »

That's on the wrong side of the state line for ETR, but does bring up an interesting point about the merger of Bass Pro and Cabelas. One would think one of the two would close since they are only 10 min apart. Either of those lots would work as a backup for autox. There are lots of islands in each, though.
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