Possible Belle Isle contest

[Joseph Lijoi]

Just posting this to see if there is any interest in a stunt contest on Detroits Belle Isle Park.  We have a great potential contest sight there with acres of pavement.  It is the paddock area for the Detroit Grand Prix.  Keith McCrary has been posting about this sight.  We and Bob McDonald have flown there.  Keith works for the city and he is active in the community
so he is a potential liason with the city.  Bob was thinking early summer.  We are about 5 hours drive from Muncie so it could be a kind of Nats warmup if you like.  The race is June 21st so that date would be out.  I think we have room for scale too if someone is interested in being a CD for the scale part of the contest.  So it's an idea.  Just tossing it out to you Great Lakes area flyers.

[Randy Ryan]

Well I sure like the idea, but as for my participation I'm just not sure at this point. It would sure be a great place for it.

[John Paris]

Joseph,
What is the layout like for the field?  For example, how many circles could be set up, how big could the pit area be, is there a place for people to set up canopies and how far is parking?  I suppose I could do a mapquest and see if I can make sense of it, but your impression about what could be done is probably best. 

With respect to a date, don't forget that you have Brodak's the week before Father's day (12-16 Jun 12) and Sig on 23-24 Jun 12.  I think that Brad Lapointe also runs something that date as well in Dresden, so the Canadian draw might be reduced.  Frank Carlisle ran a contest a few years back at RCCD on the first weekend of June that seemed to not interfere with anything.  Perhaps that would be a decent date to consider for this one.

John

[Joseph Lijoi]

Joseph,
What is the layout like for the field?  For example, how many circles could be set up, how big could the pit area be, is there a place for people to set up canopies and how far is parking?  I suppose I could do a mapquest and see if I can make sense of it, but your impression about what could be done is probably best. 

With respect to a date, don't forget that you have Brodak's the week before Father's day (12-16 Jun 12) and Sig on 23-24 Jun 12.  I think that Brad Lapointe also runs something that date as well in Dresden, so the Canadian draw might be reduced.  Frank Carlisle ran a contest a few years back at RCCD on the first weekend of June that seemed to not interfere with anything.  Perhaps that would be a decent date to consider for this one.

John

We have room for at least four circles probably more.  Its all concrete.  Plenty of room for canopies either on the concrete or a grass field on the other side of the four foot high fence.
There is a better description on other posts about flying on Belle Isle.  There is a parking lot across from the field.  No trees but an occasional seagull.  Very clean air.  Come out and fly there give us a holler.  The pavement is like new.

[John Paris]

The trip is a little long except for a couple times out of the year with my current work location.  Be sure that when I return that you will see me at some of the gatherings.
John

[john e. holliday]

Is there two Belle Isle Parks?   I did a search map on yahoo and it shows an island in the middle of the river.   See a big sports complex for baseball,  the marina and only one way to get to it.   

[Joseph Lijoi]

Is there two Belle Isle Parks?   I did a search map on yahoo and it shows an island in the middle of the river.   See a big sports complex for baseball,  the marina and only one way to get to it.   

Doc

You have the right location, it is an island in the middle of the Detroit river.  The only way to get there is the Belle Isle bridge which is not a problem.  Access is free and the bridge is has two lanes in and two lanes out so it is easy to get to.  No traffic.

It might not be listed in any info but if you do a google earth it is the large paved area across from the Casino just south of the bridge.  There is a pit lane and grandstand for the races and it is just behind it.