Posted By: Mary
VINTAGE CAR RACING IN JEOPARDY AT PUT-IN-BAY - 07/25/12 06:44 PM
Wouldn't it be fun to watch vintage sports cars racing at the Put-in-Bay Airport? It would bring lots of participants and spectators to the island during an off-season time; it would bring business to the town; and it would bring some national fame and publicity to Put-in-Bay for something other than fishing and boating.
The Put-in-Bay Road Racing Historical Society has been holding a revival rallye every summer for the past three years to bring back memories of the old days in the 1950’s when sports cars used to have official races on the island roads.
In 2010 and 2011 the rallye included a day of time trials on the runway at the airport, without damage to the runway. After last year’s rallye the organizers were given the go-ahead to have actual racing at the airport this year. Preparations have proceeded for a year on that basis, with the date scheduled for Sept. 20.
However, at a meeting of the Port Authority within the last week, a consulting engineer told the Authority members that the racing would damage the runway. Now the whole thing is up in the air.
The rallye organizers need a decision by Monday so they can cancel plans for any activities at the airport and spectators and participants can cancel their reservations at Put-in-Bay.
My take on this is that the Port Authority should allow the racing this year and see what happens. If there is damage to the runway, it won’t be a big problem this year, since apparently, the runway is scheduled to be resurfaced later this fall anyway; AND, the P-I-B Road Racing Historical Society has pledged to give up to $5,000 toward any damage; AND, if there is found to be damage caused by the racing, the Port Authority can make the decision whether to ban it in the future.
Let’s let it happen this year. If you agree, we need to send e-mails to the following people on the Port Authority, just saying that you would like to see the racing happen at least on a one-time basis. If it works out this year, it could mean thousands of spectators for this event in the future. If not, nothing lost for this year. Give it a chance.
Write e-mails to:
Put-In-Bay Port Authority pibtportauthority@frontier.com
Terry Burns, Chairman tburns@baymec.com
Sharon Gray, secretary pibtportauthority@frontier.com
The Put-in-Bay Road Racing Historical Society has been holding a revival rallye every summer for the past three years to bring back memories of the old days in the 1950’s when sports cars used to have official races on the island roads.
In 2010 and 2011 the rallye included a day of time trials on the runway at the airport, without damage to the runway. After last year’s rallye the organizers were given the go-ahead to have actual racing at the airport this year. Preparations have proceeded for a year on that basis, with the date scheduled for Sept. 20.
However, at a meeting of the Port Authority within the last week, a consulting engineer told the Authority members that the racing would damage the runway. Now the whole thing is up in the air.
The rallye organizers need a decision by Monday so they can cancel plans for any activities at the airport and spectators and participants can cancel their reservations at Put-in-Bay.
My take on this is that the Port Authority should allow the racing this year and see what happens. If there is damage to the runway, it won’t be a big problem this year, since apparently, the runway is scheduled to be resurfaced later this fall anyway; AND, the P-I-B Road Racing Historical Society has pledged to give up to $5,000 toward any damage; AND, if there is found to be damage caused by the racing, the Port Authority can make the decision whether to ban it in the future.
Let’s let it happen this year. If you agree, we need to send e-mails to the following people on the Port Authority, just saying that you would like to see the racing happen at least on a one-time basis. If it works out this year, it could mean thousands of spectators for this event in the future. If not, nothing lost for this year. Give it a chance.
Write e-mails to:
Put-In-Bay Port Authority pibtportauthority@frontier.com
Terry Burns, Chairman tburns@baymec.com
Sharon Gray, secretary pibtportauthority@frontier.com