What Makes it a Great Venue ?

[Dave M]

Good Stuff

Keep it coming, and please, be detailed. Don't just say one race like Camden, or Lockhaven, what is about those places that keeps you coming back.

My list:

Camping in the pits, or directly adjacent. Close enough I can walk up to camp and grab a water during the races.

A Carnival Atmosphere. To be part of something within the city like a water festival is awesome.

Decent Pits - meaning can cart into water without obstacles like rocks, ledges, drop off's, etc. I prefer grassy pits for the mod races.

Allow pets.

And one of the most important to me is have a race that is competitive, fair, and not a long course.

The race comittee is genuine and concerned about you haveing a good time. They accomodate schedules if possible, and listen to you and try to help. Especially if it a weekend race and you traveled a long distance.

Testing - IMPORTANT to me.

Prize and tow money help but if I am on the fence and two venues same weekend, will take the money race if all others things are equal.

Facilities are important. Porta Potties, and enough of them, and they are cleaned each morning. One of my local races in the fall never includes porta potties. They do in the earlier race, but never in the fall. I never understood that. Makes for a lot of lawn watering behind trailers.

From what I am seeing so far, and this thread has probably covered less than 1% of the racers out there, a good time and carnival like atmosphere seem to be a ticket.

[BP125V]

slightly different perspective

How easy or difficult is it to set up and run the race? Judge's stand near the pits or far away? Spectating area near the pits so we can use one set of speakers for both? Where is launch ramp for safety boat? Is the microphone/PA amp near the judge's stand? Shelter for registration and driver's meeting? Shelter for Saturday dinner?

None of the above is as important to me as the course and water conditions followed by the type of pits we have, but the above sure does affect whether or not I think a site is good or just ok.

Bill

[Haüenstein]

Family considerations

The highest priority for me is a venue the entire family can enjoy. In simplest terms, this is a place with shaded pits and, more recently, a playground (I enjoyed the playgrounds as a racer kid, too). Being in town with access to food, bars, shopping, etc., is ideal—it's not very fun to sit in some pit all day 20 miles from the nearest town.

In this regard, my favorite race sites of all time are Burlington, WI and Lambertville, NJ. In fact, Burlington was only missing one crucial element for a great race venue: water deep enough to race in.

A nice dinner out at a local restaurant is a good reward for either (a) racing well or (b) spending all day at a boat race.

Other pleasant race sites:

Wakefield, MI
Oshkosh, WI
Bakersfield, CA

I'm sure there are many other places around the country that are similarly appreciated by not only the racers but their families and friends.


Mike H.

[reed28n]

Activities for the whole Family

We used to have a boat cruise through the 1000 Islands after Saturday Racing.

[David Weaver]

Great Race Venue

1) Good race course in terms of shape, distance and prevailing water conditions. Clean water is always nice.
2) Control - over body of water, pit area, parking etc.
3) Access to camping (immediate being best), hotels, eats, stores etc.
4) Good location for judges' stand and placement of clock (if applicable).
5) Prevailing weather at date of race (not too hot, not too cold, not windy).

Constantine, MI is one my favorite venues and it meets the above. Food on-site during the day, a bar in the VFW, good infrstructure for outboard racing.

A good organization can overcome a venue lacking some of the above attributes. I agree with Bill Huson that Camden was a wonderful racing venue.

[froggy3racer]

Great Race Venue

I agree with David Weaver on Constantine. I always try to make it to that race for several reasons;
1. It's only about a 3 hour drive from home.
2. It offers a good, challenging, and competitive race course.
3. You have the VFW for beer, food, and beverages morning, all day, and night.
4. You are close to town.
5. It is close to my hometown.

I do wish the banks were cut at more of a gradual incline as the big cliffs can be pretty bad in some areas.
I would like to see more play areas at the race sites as many of us have young children and grandchirldren that are now coming to the races.

The big thing that I miss at ALL of the races is the ability to have a campfire. This use to be the greatest way for everyone to swap stories and build memories. It doesn't happen any more! Most people take off to their motel or restaurant and you never see them again. I, myself, camp near the pits and that is where I stay. I don't have an extra vehicle to bop around in. I prefer to stay in the camp area and hang out with the folks camping. BRING BACK THE CAMPFIRES!

[blueskyracer]

We took care of the campfire issue by buying one of those portable fire pits. Then when we were ready for bed nobody would leave. Party on

[raceright]

Jim and David to bad you missed Hartford..
Campfires are missing thats true. Constantine is a nice race yes.
But what makes for a great race that most are not mentioning is the fans-spectators..Events have many and it is pretty cool to sign autografts and talk to them.
As many people would agree any site is better than no site but I prefer sites that can draw People to watch, a few I remember
Lake Worth Fla
Depue Ill
Lock Haven Penn. (raced 500 hydro there)
Hinton West Va
Hartford Conn.
Winnona Minnesota

But I generaly like them all

Pat Wright

[ram95]

I had to look up the definition of 'venue': American Heritage Dictionary, govt issue 1987.. "venue - 1. the locality where a crime is committed or a cause of action occurs." Okay.

To me, one of the most important aspects of the race-site is the boat launch area.... but that's because I'm usually worn out at the end of the day helping to lug boats up a 30 degree ramp, muddy embankment, or converted cowpath. Like most of us, we don't usually sit around and watch someone struggle.

...how about: Standish Maine. Kiwanis campgrounds; Great beach pit area; place for kids to run & play; Camping; close to convenience stores & gas; generally great water conditions; good course layout; fresh water and toilet facilities; spectator friendly. Great location for clock where everyone can see it including racers and spectators and scorers can get to the portapotties without a ferry boat ride.

Crystal Lake - great beach for pitting, friendly atmosphere, good course, camping and campfires, portapots, spectators, Dancing Dog saloon in Redwood.

Kingston NH - Perfect course size, good beach and water access, pit boss parks your trailer, camping, convenience stores, good food, well-organized.press coverage; Can-Am challenges; great beach starts; special race events.

Taunton MA - Campground/playground, toilets; close to everything; good pitting and decent beach launch area; excellent course size and layout; good for beach starts; spectator friendly; easy to get to.

Haverhill MA - Great race-site; good pits and water access; right in downtown Haverhill on the Merrimack River at the Yacht Club; great food; great spectator involvement; good course size; 28 mile marathon too. Beer tent.

Thompson CT - State park/campgrounds, food vendors, good parking area, and pitting at the waters edge; plenty of room to race; front stretch right in front of pits; reasonable motels nearby.

[TPLACE31]

So Alex (RAM95) , it appears that if one was to attend a Race in Region One they would not be disappointed?

[immulmen]

So Alex (RAM95) , it appears that if one was to attend a Race in Region One they would not be disappointed?

That is correct!!!!!

[we need a boat on top of that trailer]

[sam]

I'll add something to this thread ... level pits & ramp area. That's the single physical fault at Lock Haven PA. The ramp is both steep and tall. Factors that mitigate this problem is the availability of friendly help and that the height gives some "staging area" - yeah, that's it, staging area . The second fault at Lock Haven is the schedule conflict with the Penn State football game 30 miles away ... makes it impossible to find a room if you have not booked months in advance for Friday & Saturday. I guess the mitigating factor with the room issue is that it encourages camping ... increasing the party atmosphere

The minuses disappear when you are there.

[sam]

One of the pluses at Lock Haven PA and Wilson NC are the highway access. Camden was a little remote, but that was a double edged sword. More remote is the Hinton WV site ... on its plus side ... how long is the pit beach at Hinton? ¾ mile? Not often that so many boats can line up single file down the beach.

[PopPop]

Quote; "In this regard, my favorite race sites of all time are Burlington, WI and Lambertville, NJ. In fact, Burlington was only missing one crucial element for a great race venue: water deep enough to race in."
Mike, Thanks for the Lamberville NJ plug. I always loved Lambertville however it has been a money losing race for DVORA, with small boat turnouts. Fortunatly DVORA has added the new summer Lock Haven.

[ram95]

For some reason, I want to comment about Grass Lake Michigan. THAT was a darn good race-site. And, Michigan Hydroplane did their best to organize the pits. They had a handle on the weather situation keeping rough water delays to minimum. The party at Brinkmans was super. Launching boats wasn't a hernia causing exercise at all. The inspection area was right where it should have been and the scales were down-low so's you didn't need a freaking crane to lift a D hydro up onto the platform. Adequate number of crappers!! Good food. GREEAT COFFEE (Kev)!! Downtown close by. Handy hardware store with friendly people. Friendly people at the grocery. BUT THE CLOCK... THAT MUTHA@#%^^&$# CLOCK WAS HARD TO SEE and the chute was a fricking traffic jam. A good time overall!!

Alex
2nd place DSH