SCCA In Imperial Valley

[JLE1973]

I know SCCA used to run at Holtville Airport a few years back, does anyone have any contact information so I can make an attempt in getting it back online here in the Imperial Valley? Any help or contact info would be much appreciated. You can Email me At JeffEppenger@Netzero.net Thanks........

Jeff Eppenger

[JamesWilson]

Aviaton Concepts held the lease on the property until it was revoked by the County I think about 3 years ago. Big uproar as to what it could be used for....bids for crop duster airplane landing, Open Space environmental land, historical site, etc. were all thrown around until the movie "Jarheads" was filmed there a year or two ago. The film pretty much destroyed most of the land out there, they moved an awful lot of dirt onto the racing surface when I was there during shooting. On the other hand, a guy built a good-looking 12 mile + offroad track right next door, and you have to drive through HAIR to get to it...

Last I heard it was under the control of the Agriculture department and sold to a private individual. That was 10 months ago.

HTH,

[wolfgang]

Aviaton Concepts held the lease on the property until it was revoked by the County I think about 3 years ago. Big uproar as to what it could be used for....bids for crop duster airplane landing, Open Space environmental land, historical site, etc. were all thrown around until the movie "Jarheads" was filmed there a year or two ago. The film pretty much destroyed most of the land out there, they moved an awful lot of dirt onto the racing surface when I was there during shooting. On the other hand, a guy built a good-looking 12 mile + offroad track right next door, and you have to drive through HAIR to get to it...

Last I heard it was under the control of the Agriculture department and sold to a private individual. That was 10 months ago.

HTH,

I flew over it two day ago. Rwys are still Xed out (no aircraft can operate there) and they are clean. Looks the same as it has for over 12 yrs. except they used to grow a lot of carrots in that area, not much green there now! I would be interested in this as well, but I heard from someone that used to run out there that the rwys and tarmac are in pretty rough condition.
Karl
:cool:

[MX5bob]

Here's a site with more than most want to know:

http://www.airfields-freeman.com/CA/Airfields_CA_ElCentro.htm#holtville

[frosty]

Here's a site with more than most want to know:

http://www.airfields-freeman.com/CA/Airfields_CA_ElCentro.htm#holtville

Eeeeexcellent, now I can plan my invasion of the most sought after region in the world, Holtville! :rolleyes:

[woodrufj]

It mentions the porsche club ran there in 2001, and SDR did some races (club raceing probably). Might be worth contacting those bodies to get info. If nothing else is going on, I'd run it.


but I heard from someone that used to run out there that the rwys and tarmac are in pretty rough condition.

Yeah, I'd say, from Bob's link

the concrete blocks the runway/taxiway/ramps are built from (20' x 20') get pushed together by seismic & thermal action, apparently. This causes random blocks to crack & fold into a steeply ramped V. These V's can reach 3' in height.

Jay W
505/287 Dakota

[froggy47]

Driving time from San Diego?

:)

[JamesWilson]

Keep in mind guys that Imperial County is NOT allowing any more use of this facility, it is up to whoever owns it now. Also, it is VERY rough and would require several sections (read- most of it) of concrete to be shaved and repaired for it to even be considered.

The location may still be there, but its up to someone to contact the County and find out who holds the deed to the property, and go from there. We looked into it privately a year ago, and estimated repairs and resurfacing (option-dependent) was nearly $1M.

-JW

[MX5bob]

Keep in mind guys that Imperial County is NOT allowing any more use of this facility, it is up to whoever owns it now. Also, it is VERY rough and would require several sections (read- most of it) of concrete to be shaved and repaired for it to even be considered.

The location may still be there, but its up to someone to contact the County and find out who holds the deed to the property, and go from there. We looked into it privately a year ago, and estimated repairs and resurfacing (option-dependent) was nearly $1M.

-JW

Compared to buying and paving a dedicated autocross location that's cheap, but without owning it, paying for the resurfacing wouldn't be the way to go.

Also, keep in mind that Holtville is one of the hottest places in North America in the summer. :mad:

[barkingspyder]

Worse than Fontucky?

[woodrufj]

Worse than Fontucky?
Much, Much worse.

It also looks as if good tarmac doesn't stay that way for long. So 1M in repairs today could only last you 5years.

Seems to be a lot of dirt out there though.;)

Jay W
505/287 Dakota

[RickRacer]

I ran there a number of times when SDR ran road racing & Solo 1 in the early 90's. In Solo1, drove Tom McKeown's IT 510 and then the GT2 240Z we shared. It was a bit bumpy and getting worse, but look at those straights! Was a fun track, but yes, very hot there. Instead of tiger strips on the apexes, they had "clangers", large metal disks loosly anchored in the center that clanged when you ran over them.

[MX5bob]

Worse than Fontucky?

Yes, far worse. Routinely 110.

[frosty]

c:\AutoX\HoltvilleSCCA.jpg

I'd really like to see the picture you have here, but I just don't think this link will work...

[wolfgang]

Driving time from San Diego?

:)

Bob its about 1:10 from Alpine its the far east end of Imperial the desert miracle! True it hot out there (Africa HOT) but if I can frame houses out there in the summer, surly I can drive a car in those conditions if the tires don't melt off!
Ha!:eek:
Just run out there in the winter, its nice that time of year....
Karl

[froggy47]

Are you going to practice/event this weekend?

[CNaylor]

Several members of SCAT went out there privately in the Winters of 2002 & 2003. The contact we had then is gone. At that time there were some upheavals, but none on the marked track itself. It was very important to not to wander off of the track and cut across the runways or other areas, as you couldn't always see the upheavals until on top of them. The manager at the time indicated that the other runway was in much worse shape.

[wolfgang]

Are you going to practice/event this weekend?
PM sent:D