10 Feb 06, 09:00 am
OK, read, then post your commitment level!
To give a brief summary - Nenana has a plan for it's little community to basically become the racing capital of Alaska. They have several blocks of land that the city owns and wants to designate to diff motor groups - including us. They basically said Wednesday - we have land designated that no one can take away - come build a trail. We'll give you a place to build it, you design it, you build it, work with us.
The meeting Wednesday was with former Lt. Gov Jack Coghill, Judge Paul Verhagen, and Dr. Kenneth Eggleston. These are serious men with a great vision of what they want for their town. They have 53 page feasibility study already done. They have contacted other user groups such as the Fairbanks racing Lions, etc...
The original idea was a mud pit for mud racing, but trails are a start, and maybe even a tough truck challenge course type of thing - several obstacles in a huge (4-6 acre) circle so spectators can watch competitions. They want us to start ASAP. Their thinking - if they get us on board, and other groups that they have contacted can see someone actually doing this and join in quicker. They have planned snow-cross races, boat races, a mile long drag-strip, a paved 180 acre road course, BMX, Motocross, etc... They have land - they want to partner with user groups and work with the user groups to build the facilities/trails. We're in if we want to be. We would start with a trail we can build through a wooded section. Later we can work on clearing land and a challenge course more friendly to competitions and spectator viewing. We could also help with mud pit and mud races.
On our part - it will mostly be sweat equity - time and efforts, maybe some arranging for heavy equipment use to be donated (we have licensed operators in the club!) and maybe some funds as possible. This is a big decision. The officers are all in agreement that this is a huge opportunity in many aspects: It would bring recognition to AO, it would give us some experience we simply donât have the opportunity to get anywhere else, it could bring 4x4 competitions and thus Petersonâs media back to this area, and it can further pout AO on the map! With this decision is risk - either way we decide could make or break the club. If we dive in too deep and can't get the support - or if we pass this up and miss an opportunity - or if..... this will take some serious commitment from a majority of the members. This is something that can be started immediately yet also developed over many years.
This will take a lot of work, but the rewards will pay off. I can see this will be a benefit to Nenana, to our sport of 4x4'ing, and to our club. But, it will take a lot of work. 5 of us canât do this. 10 of us would be pressed to accomplish it. 15-20 would be more realistic to getting started. We will need donations of time, tools, equipment, and manpower. I may have access to some heavy equipment. We may be able to work with other companies that do community service an borrow equipment. We will need to layout, design, clear, and build. This will take a lot of work and we cannot commit to doing this if we are not going to have support. We can and will have others (non-members) offer help - and that will be gladly accepted, but to commit up front we need a commitment from our members.
Once we get started we foresee weekend work/camp trips. Leave after work on Friday and go down there, camp out, and work, work, work. IF we had enough for two teams, and everyone could commit one weekend a month, then weâd have people working every other weekend to accomplish this. Several of us can do Sunday night / Monday trips as well. When spring and summer arrive, we will need to be doing the work - so before we offer and then canât follow through, we need commitments. In or out. You say youâre in, then we will need you down there and working. As well we may need people to get on the phone with companies and solicit donations. There is a lot that can be done.
Whoâs in?
Also - what personal equipment do you have to loan?
To give a brief summary - Nenana has a plan for it's little community to basically become the racing capital of Alaska. They have several blocks of land that the city owns and wants to designate to diff motor groups - including us. They basically said Wednesday - we have land designated that no one can take away - come build a trail. We'll give you a place to build it, you design it, you build it, work with us.
The meeting Wednesday was with former Lt. Gov Jack Coghill, Judge Paul Verhagen, and Dr. Kenneth Eggleston. These are serious men with a great vision of what they want for their town. They have 53 page feasibility study already done. They have contacted other user groups such as the Fairbanks racing Lions, etc...
The original idea was a mud pit for mud racing, but trails are a start, and maybe even a tough truck challenge course type of thing - several obstacles in a huge (4-6 acre) circle so spectators can watch competitions. They want us to start ASAP. Their thinking - if they get us on board, and other groups that they have contacted can see someone actually doing this and join in quicker. They have planned snow-cross races, boat races, a mile long drag-strip, a paved 180 acre road course, BMX, Motocross, etc... They have land - they want to partner with user groups and work with the user groups to build the facilities/trails. We're in if we want to be. We would start with a trail we can build through a wooded section. Later we can work on clearing land and a challenge course more friendly to competitions and spectator viewing. We could also help with mud pit and mud races.
On our part - it will mostly be sweat equity - time and efforts, maybe some arranging for heavy equipment use to be donated (we have licensed operators in the club!) and maybe some funds as possible. This is a big decision. The officers are all in agreement that this is a huge opportunity in many aspects: It would bring recognition to AO, it would give us some experience we simply donât have the opportunity to get anywhere else, it could bring 4x4 competitions and thus Petersonâs media back to this area, and it can further pout AO on the map! With this decision is risk - either way we decide could make or break the club. If we dive in too deep and can't get the support - or if we pass this up and miss an opportunity - or if..... this will take some serious commitment from a majority of the members. This is something that can be started immediately yet also developed over many years.
This will take a lot of work, but the rewards will pay off. I can see this will be a benefit to Nenana, to our sport of 4x4'ing, and to our club. But, it will take a lot of work. 5 of us canât do this. 10 of us would be pressed to accomplish it. 15-20 would be more realistic to getting started. We will need donations of time, tools, equipment, and manpower. I may have access to some heavy equipment. We may be able to work with other companies that do community service an borrow equipment. We will need to layout, design, clear, and build. This will take a lot of work and we cannot commit to doing this if we are not going to have support. We can and will have others (non-members) offer help - and that will be gladly accepted, but to commit up front we need a commitment from our members.
Once we get started we foresee weekend work/camp trips. Leave after work on Friday and go down there, camp out, and work, work, work. IF we had enough for two teams, and everyone could commit one weekend a month, then weâd have people working every other weekend to accomplish this. Several of us can do Sunday night / Monday trips as well. When spring and summer arrive, we will need to be doing the work - so before we offer and then canât follow through, we need commitments. In or out. You say youâre in, then we will need you down there and working. As well we may need people to get on the phone with companies and solicit donations. There is a lot that can be done.
Whoâs in?
Also - what personal equipment do you have to loan?
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