Site suggestions thread

[SKI-R]

Stoney Nakoda Resort and Casino lot might suffice....or the Stoney Nakoda Band specifically because they're looking at ways to increase revenue/income opportunities for their members (including several development land zoning proposals that are currently under review/discussion).  It's frequently as windy as Fort Macleod however 

[PedalFaster]

income opportunities for their members

Paid course workers, anyone?

[Reijo]

What would be a good estimate for minimum lot size?

200 m x 100 m is a rough minimum for rectangular sites, while 500 m x 20 m is a rough minimum for runways. For reference, YYC measures approximately 290 m x 135 m, Westerner is a triangle roughly 220 m long and 110 m wide at its widest point (39 m at its narrowest), and Fort Macleod’s main runway measures 600 m x 22 m to the taxiway.

Edit: Westerner being 39 m wide at its narrowest point doesn't sound right. Let me double-check that.

Edit 2: I thought 39 m sounded too wide, but Westerner's probably actually around 40 m, as verified both by Google Maps' distance measuring tool, and by counting parking stalls.

Fort Macleod runway is 3000' long (close to 1000 meters) x 70 feet wide (I measured it).

R

[PedalFaster]

Fort Macleod’s main runway measures 600 m x 22 m to the taxiway.

Fort Macleod runway is 3000' long (close to 1000 meters) x 70 feet wide (I measured it).

We're talking about different things. Google Maps says Fort Macleod's main runway is about 2,997' x 70' (i.e. within 0.1% of your measurements). I was specifying the distance to the taxiway / exit road that we usually use as the "if the course goes this far then it'll be too long" point for our courses.

[SKI-R]

I can't recall the curbs/lights that exist, but here's some hasty dimensions to reference for Stoney Nakoda.

[Shifting gears]

I have been there numerous times( I don't have a gambling problem, honestly 😜) And I recall the lot being quite large🤔

[Reijo]

I have been at the Stoney site a couple of times too to look at it but it is on the smalllish side for autox.  Smaller than Red Deer for sure.   The Corvette club had a couple of events there as far as I know and then they gave it up ... I think one comment I heard was that it was on the small side.  The pavement is good though ... not very old as might be expected.  In the end I did not think of it as being very viable due to the size.

[John in Calgary]

Anyone think of any massive but now defunct and empty RV lots that might fit the bill?

[Cagare]

Anyone think of any massive but now defunct and empty RV lots that might fit the bill?

Asphalt condition, if it exists, is generally terrible. Most of them are outside of the City limits for a reason, so they can be gravel.

Good for Rallycross, or winter events, maybe.

[SKI-R]

Anyone have a contact at City Hall that could get a piece of the new Arena proposal parking area built to accommodate a suitable space?

Might as well think BIG!

[Reijo]

A big arena lot would be good ... however I also remember the arena the Flames group (?) tried to do near the location of the former Renfrew Chrysler where they had hardly any parking ...

Anyway, the other day I dropped by the Sears lot and I'd say it is a no-go ... far too small plus in the SW corner they have a parking lot - e.g. for SAIT students.  And then in the NE corner, the AVIS car rental place is still there that has been there a long time.    See attached photos (taken from next to the NE access road from 16th Avenue.

[Reijo]

Sears lot - photo 2 (I have a couple more).  This is too big to post as a single post but figured I would post the original photo so you can download and then zoom in and take a closer look.

Originally I had thought if you could go around the east end of the lot from the north to the south, you might have something but this is not really possible .. unfortunately.

Note that I was at the concrete curb for the entrance road (which is a fire/emergency route and we could not block it ... besides the concrete curb is there) ... so as far west as I could go in the NE lot on the north side of the old Sears store.

I had thought the lot was bigger than that ... but guess not.

[Shifting gears]

Was told by a friend tonight the Cardston Airstrip barely gets used like FM and there is only one house nearby and it's at the end of the runway👍

[rairdan93]

I was approached a few years back about hosting an autocross at the Stettler airport. It's very similar to Fort Macleod but I think Stettler's paved parking area is bigger. It's  kind of a mirror image of Fort Macleod other than the taxi lane is shorter going to the runway. Never thought much about it until now because its a bit of a drive for most. 2hrs from Calgary.  The parking area might even be bigger than the westerner lot. Pavement is in good shape if I remember correctly. The County of Stettler is motivated to rent it out according to Stettler's car club. The Stettler Car Club hosts a big weekend drag race event every july and have for about 10 years now. They even used to do Tuesday night drags once a month but not sure if that's still a thing. If you guys want to drive up here for a weekend or two a year to race let me know. My boss is a higher up in Stettler's club so if there is interest in this venue let me know and I will get you guys some contact information. I will also go walk around the airport to make sure its what i remember it to be.

[PedalFaster]

Just wanted to acknowledge that the suggestions on this thread are being monitored and vetted.

Dan, Stettler Airport is on the list. We're focusing on venues closer to Calgary for the time being, though, so no need to check it out unless you're dying to do so.