Autobahn-Gate entry specifics

[deltadave]

Can we sign waivers, pay gate fees and get wristbands for the entire weekend on thursday night before the friday practice day?  Specifically, what will be the procedures and exact times available for gate entry?  May we please avoid the inconveniences that were incurred last year?  I'm not good at packing and upacking and packing and unpacking and packing and unpacking.

[weggieman]

Only if CCS personnel are there Thursday.

[Jeff]

Since this year, the track day on Fri is held by CCS, I don't believe there will be the same problem as last year. 

If there is another organization holding a track day, CCS has no control over who did and did not pay or sign waivers.  That being the case, since people abuse it and then SUE, they have had to empty the paddock on occassion.

[superspud]

Is there camping at Autobahn and if there is, where?  I've never been there before, and would like to go this weekend.

[Burt Munro]

Dave,

STT has a Track Day on Thursday.  Info I got is that CCS will not have access to the track until Friday morning at 7AM.....  Registration, Tech, etc.

Changes my plans.....  I had planned to camp there Thursday night.

As far as showers on site.....  unless something has changed since last year, the "shower" consisted of a water hose - cold only - at the base of North Track scoring tower.  Maybe someone who has been there for a Track Day this year can update this.

Rick

[Jeff]

There was camping last year.  Pretty sad that they charged for it.  Hell, for the amneties, they should have PAID us to stay there.

[superspud]

Yeah, I just called there and if anything I'm more confused from talking to her.   
She said the track day is considered closed at 5pm.  CCS has the track from Friday on, and then I asked her if there was camping Thursday night and I think she said no, but I asked her when we could begin arriving and that was Thursday night...

She also said they only take cash for gate fees, ie - no LP passes??  Anyone else use them there before?  Rick says otherwise, so I'm confused.

Oh and camping isn't $30/ person, it's $30 per RV/tent/vehicle....     I'm wondering how they calculate/ patrol this...  Would it make more sense to just get a cheap hotel?

[Burt Munro]

Might be tough to find a hotel within 25 miles......  and cheap won't be part of the discussion

.....  ARCA/IRL races at Chicagoland Speedway that weekend which is only a couple of miles east of Autobahn 

http://www.chicagolandspeedway.com/cgi-bin/r.cgi/cls_schedules.html?SESSION=r2hicFXvE&N=&weekend_id=1710

[ssduc750]

So, does that mean that there is no entry to the Track after 5:00pm Friday!!? That would be extremely stupid.

[superspud]

So, does that mean that there is no entry to the Track after 5:00pm Friday!!? That would be extremely stupid.

no CCS has the track all weekend, I think that 5pm Thursday is technically when people can start dropping things off for CCS.

[Burt Munro]

no CCS has the track all weekend, I think that 5pm Thursday is technically when people can start dropping things off for CCS.

CCS has the Track as of 7am Friday....

Here is the text of a message I sent and the reply today from Kevin Elliott...

-----Original Message-----
From: Recplex@aol.com [mailto:Recplex@aol.com]
Sent: Friday, August 25, 2006 1:22 AM
To: Kevin.Elliott@ccsracing.us; Eric.Kelcher@ccsracing.us
Subject: Autobahn Gate Questions


Hey Guys!

Some questions coming up on the Forum about Thursday access to Autobahn.  I got the impression from Larry Manor that there wouldn't be any Tech setup on Thursday night due to Friday being a Track Day.  I think some folks are a little gun shy after the Gate issues there last September.

Appreciate anything you can update to me - or to the CCS Forum.
http://www.ccsforum.com/index.php/topic,14653.0.html

 
Thanks!

Rick


..... and here was Kevin's reply:

Hello Rick,

I have no contact with the Thursday people, so we are not planning to even go to the track until 6:30am on Friday...I will not be part of the fiasco again. Besides, how many days of practice do you need before an event? They should just plan on a Friday arrival.


Kevin Elliott
Director of Operations CCS/ASRA


Although things are always subject to change, I wouldn't count on being able to get into the track Thursday night!

Rick

[deltadave]

Rick,  Thanks.  That is exactly what I was looking for.  A definitive answer on when we can get in.
Regards,
Dave

[Burt Munro]

Dave,

I found a cheap motel about 10 miles south of the track on I-55 for Thursday night if you want the information.

Rick

[ssduc750]

Again, how LATE can you arrive Friday and still gain access to the Track to set up for Saturday? Is it like Blackhawk or will I be sitting in my truck waiting to get in Saturday morning if I arrive say, 8:00pm Friday nite. I wasn't there last year, so I don't know of the nightmare everyone is talking about.

[251am]

Again, how LATE can you arrive Friday and still gain access to the Track to set up for Saturday? Is it like Blackhawk or will I be sitting in my truck waiting to get in Saturday morning if I arrive say, 8:00pm Friday nite. I wasn't there last year, so I don't know of the nightmare everyone is talking about.

Call the track or take a look at their website when you retrieve the phone #. The fiasco was that the practice was not run by CCS on Friday so everyone had to pack up and leave the track Friday afternoon, then go back in on Saturday and re-set.

  Camping? There's a $30 fee but there's really no green space to speak of to put a tent down. It's just one big blacktop slab of a parking lot. Trailer camping is more the norm.,  unless they have opened something up for us. Their website says they have showers? Did I miss the showers? I only saw the one outdoor unit next to the tower... 

[RCR_531]

They have new showers that are nice. I have been able to get into the track the night before up til 10:30pm with no troubles,but things may have changed on that.

[Jeff]

Last year it was screwed up in trying to get in late.  One weekend they let us, and the other weekend they didn't.  Of course they blamed CCS for it, but who knows.  There was no procedure put in place to get people to  sign waivers and take gate fees, etc.