Planet 9

moralem · #1 01-27-2009, 08:58 PM

I would like to test the interest of anyone in our region that might be interested in renting out Hallet in Oklahoma for day. Mid-week rentals go for about a grand for up to five cars. Additional cars are at 100 bucks. I do participate in DEs in my region but was thinking of just getting about 10 folks together that might want to take a day and run the track. Kind of have it at our disposal with out the other 125 folks that you usually get at a DE. Of course there would not be any track support as we get at a DE but with so few cars would we really need it. Just a thought......my buds think I am crazy and that I should stick to organized DE's.......just wondering.

**KS-CS** · #2 01-27-2009, 09:38 PM

I'd be interested, schedule permitting. It would definitely provide a lot of track time for the money, since you could basically have just 2 run groups of 5 cars.

Since it is officially called a Test Day, I would guess that it is left up to the group renting it to organize themselves, but I could check with Connie Stephens, who runs the show there, and ask her for more specifics if you'd like (I go there nearly every month during the season, for their High Speed Touring weekends).

moralem · #3 01-28-2009, 05:51 AM

You are much more articulate then I am......because those were exactly the points I had in mind but could not word them as succintly as you did....bang for your track dollar without the crowds, small run groups. I not sure how others would react to having to organize ourselves, but I am up for that.

If you wouldn't mind I would appreciate you finding out more information. I am about three hours south of the track in far North Texas and in my younger days did ride the track with CMRA. If folks are interested I am sure we can work out the logistics. Let's see what they say. Thanks.

**KS-CS** · #4 01-28-2009, 06:42 PM

Originally Posted by moralem

You are much more articulate then I am......because those were exactly the points I had in mind but could not word them as succintly as you did....bang for your track dollar without the crowds, small run groups. I not sure how others would react to having to organize ourselves, but I am up for that.

If you wouldn't mind I would appreciate you finding out more information. I am about three hours south of the track in far North Texas and in my younger days did ride the track with CMRA. If folks are interested I am sure we can work out the logistics. Let's see what they say. Thanks.

I'll PM you the actual response from Connie to my questions, but basically there is minimal support for the base price (i.e if you want corner workers, ambulance standby, tow truck, etc. it is extra). The renting groups pretty much set their own rules and regs (like PCA), but Hallett can help provide some guidelines.

If we went with a max of 10 drivers (2 run groups of the max 5 each), the base price would be about $160 each, and we could have the track from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. - that's a lot of track time. My only suggestion would be that it would be limited to drivers who have done at least 1 DE somewhere, since we may not have any official PCA instructors. The other cool thing about Hallett, is that it can be run in both directions, so we might be able to run clockwise in the a.m. and counter-clockwise in the p.m. - almost like running 2 different tracks.

Any particular time frame you were looking at to do this?

I can post up something on the Heartland Forum also to see if anyone around here is also interested, but why don't we start an interest list (for priority, but non-committal):

1. moralem
2. KS-CS

moralem · #5 01-31-2009, 05:36 PM

If we went with a max of 10 drivers (2 run groups of the max 5 each), the base price would be about $160 each, and we could have the track from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. - that's a lot of track time. My only suggestion would be that it would be limited to drivers who have done at least 1 DE somewhere, since we may not have any official PCA instructors. The other cool thing about Hallett, is that it can be run in both directions, so we might be able to run clockwise in the a.m. and counter-clockwise in the p.m. - almost like running 2 different tracks

1. moralem
2. KS-CS[/QUOTE]

Just checking folks to see if folks are interested out there. I know mid week my prove problematic for some but I was thinking a Thursday. Get into town on Wednesday afternoon meet up for lunch, get started early Thursday morning on the track and wrap up around 6 pm, dinner and a good nights sleep and back home on Friday. Hope to see some takers, only need 8 more to get this to a reasonable rate. PM if you have specific questions.

ul2fly · #6 02-01-2009, 09:08 PM

Are there session fee's?
I want to go but can't get away from work for 2-3 days.
Do any other tracks lease time?..........EDIT; OMG! the rates are out of the question.

BTW good idea!

**facelvega** · #7 02-02-2009, 06:52 AM

Safety is a personal thing (some people race on public streets, for example). I am not familiar with the track. Can you always see two to three corners ahead? Are there any elevation changes which create blind spots? If so, the lack of corner workers could have you run into someone who has spun out with no warning. Perhaps you could do it like they do at autocross - one group works corners while the other drives, then switch...

moralem · #8 02-03-2009, 07:15 AM

Originally Posted by facelvega

Safety is a personal thing (some people race on public streets, for example). I am not familiar with the track. Can you always see two to three corners ahead? Are there any elevation changes which create blind spots? If so, the lack of corner workers could have you run into someone who has spun out with no warning. Perhaps you could do it like they do at autocross - one group works corners while the other drives, then switch...

Thanks for the observation, certainly something to think about but the elevation changes are not that significant and with only 5 cars on the track at one time we should be able to space them out enough that you are not running up the tail of the car in front of you. But putting the other set up folks out on certain corners sounds like a good idea. In order to work out these ideas I just need to get folks interested. Also it does not have to be a three day event, I was just suggesting that. If folks want to show up the day of the event we could eat into our track time by debriefing and then get started. Folks can also leave at the end of the day or whenever they had enough track time. Just some thoughts to get folks interested.