Comments on: City of Alameda Now in Auto Racing Business

By: Action Alameda

Action Alameda — Sun, 15 Feb 2009 05:05:19 +0000

Because we can’t be everywhere to cover every event, and this is your chance to cover your sport they way you think it should be covered…

Comments on this post have been disabled because of the name-calling, in accordance with our Comment Policy. We’ll say it again – if someone from the community wants to submit an article that provides coverage of an upcoming event, we’ll run it.

By: Stephen_the_Red

Stephen_the_Red — Sun, 15 Feb 2009 04:51:25 +0000

Dear “Action Alameda” – Why should WE provide photographs and fact-checkable references regarding autocross events. Aren’t YOU the professional journalists who should be doing your jobs? Get off your lazy duffs, and waddle out to the track on the dates indicated. Get press credentials and get to work.

By: Apollo

Apollo — Sun, 15 Feb 2009 02:36:21 +0000

Author is in great need of a head-check. Your lack of understanding of the sport is ridiculous! Go watch and event or two, check the stats (so far I am not aware of one fatality at SCCA or PCA event), than write articles about it. Autocross is credited for many SAVED lives, rather than deaths. Most autocrossers gain superior driving skills that save them in daily commute.
Shame on you for being such a moron!

By: Action Alameda

Action Alameda — Sat, 14 Feb 2009 23:59:38 +0000

We will glady accept a submission including photographs and fact-checkable references from autocross enthusiasts/advocates who want to write something on the next event.

By: SCCA PCA Member

SCCA PCA Member — Sat, 14 Feb 2009 21:43:05 +0000

I would suggest that the writer of this blog come to the next event so they can write an article based on fact. The term “street racer” is far far from the truth. Autocross is a drivers skills event where the participant negotiates a clearly defined course of traffic pylons in the shortest time possible. It is not uncommon for top competitors to have there finishing positions separated by less than 0.100 of a second.

Porsche Club of America has been running at Alameda Point for the past two years and I wonder if any Alameda residents have even noticed us. You clearly did not notice us. We only leave behind dollars for the city and chalk marks on the ground after each event.

Please come to our next event and then write an informed article. I am sure the residents of Alameda, the city council and the thousands of bay area autocrossers would apprecitate more informed reporting.

By: Action Alameda

Action Alameda — Sat, 14 Feb 2009 05:13:09 +0000

Thank you all. You’ve written our article for us.

By: Audrian

Audrian — Sat, 14 Feb 2009 01:28:33 +0000

Please don’t delete this blog. And then attend one of your posted events, learn from it write what it really is all about, but include an apology on this current blog.

By: SCCA Member

SCCA Member — Sat, 14 Feb 2009 00:13:36 +0000

Please look at this MSNBC link to a story about the type of “Street Racers” that attend these sorts of events. Three generations of this family all participate in Autocrossing. I hardly think 2 grandparents and a family of 4 can be compared to the “Illegal Street Racers” in Alameda

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/21134540/vp/28998725#28998725

By: Porsche CLub Member

Porsche CLub Member — Fri, 13 Feb 2009 22:52:15 +0000

I too am a long standing Porsche CLub member who has been coming to Alameda for years to enjoy these PCA autocross events. PCA has been utilizing this Alameda site for several years to hold these family focused autocross events with no issues in the past. I’m nearly 50 years old and drive my street car at these events and dont think I fit the profile of a “street racer”. I’m a law abiding driver on public streets. Speeds at these events never exceed legal speeds seen on our public roads and any exhibtion of speed is strictly prohibited by the PCA organizers. Safety is reviewed at each event at meeting with all particpants. Course and drivers are closely monitored and course marshalls with radios are all trained to use red flags if a driver is being unsafe to stop the event – this rarely occurs as all drivers in PCA events typically obey safety regulations. The event does not draw spectators just particpants who stage their cars far from where drivers are manuevering around the cone lined course.

In my 35 years of attending autocross I have never seen anyone injured. This is a safe driver education/timed event where single cars move at around a cone lined obstacle course at controlable speeds. PCA has years of safely running these types of events and have qualified people to manage all aspects of the event from safety inspections of the cars to driver education.

The comparison of PCA autocross to street racing or sanctioned racing events such as Monster trucks isnt accurate. I can understand the writers concerns, but I would encorage him to speak with PCA officials.

Given that PCA has worked very well with the City of Alameda over the past several years in holding many events at this site in past years I dont see extreme liability risks as outlined in the blog above. PCA has a very responsible and mostly older membersip who appreciate the safety concerns of the city. We value what the city has afforded us in the past and hope we can continue to use the site in the future.

When my wife and I attend these events we spend money in the town of Alameda at resturants and other shops in the area. We would hate to see these canceled and not get to the area as often. I think you will find most PCA members to share similar focus on safety and all of us truly respect the privelige extended by the city and citizens of Alameda to use the site several times a year for these events.

By: Pete

Pete — Fri, 13 Feb 2009 22:50:11 +0000

While I don’t agree with the content of this story, I think in general the tone of the comments here are a little harsh towards the author. I think it’s clear he doesn’t know what autocross is, and isn’t aware that it’s been going on both at Alameda and all around him for years.

I think it’s very understandable for someone to hear the word “racing” and think “dangerous”. Let’s be frank- most racing is. But I suspect the writer hasn’t heard of “Autocross” before, and for good reason- it’s not dangerous and hence doesn’t make headlines. This despite the fact that it’s the second most common form of motorsport in the country, after drag racing. It’s done at around a dozen sites in and around the bay area, and literally thousands of sites across the country, by hundreds of thousands of people. The fact that the average person hasn’t seen headlines is a testiment to the overall safety of the sport.

I’d invite the author out to witness an event in person, see what it’s all about and then perhaps reconsider his stance. I suspect he’ll find the participants every bit as safety conscious as he is, if not more so. After all it’s their butts on the line.