The East Coast Timing Association literally put the Laurinburg, NC area on the motorsports map. Having conducted land speed racing events at the Laurinburg-Maxton Airport for years, the venue and organization have earned both a dedicated following and reputation for well-run and safe events. Unfortunately, it seems that 2011 will be the last season for the ECTA to be holding events at Maxton as the group that oversees the property told the ECTA that they would not be able to use the runway in 2012 for events. The group is not going away, but instead, seeking alternate locations to go land speed racing. This is good news for racers, as the ECTA services lots of speed freaks east of the Mississippi. 

If you’ve been wanting to run down the mile long acceleration zone at Maxton, get off your ass and make plans now. This looks like one 200 club (Maxton specficially, not the ECTA) that will be locked down at the end of 2011. Grabbing a record this season may be like chipping your name into LSR stone.

The ECTA us actively looking for new sites that have at least two miles of undisturbed runway space. Know of any? If you do head to the ECTA website and shoot them an e-mail!

Here’s the announcement from the ECTA regarding this news:

 For the 2011 Maxton Race Season, the ECTA has come to an agreement with the Gryphon Group which will allow us to continue the use of the Runway through the October Event.

 

    It is the position of the Gryphon group that 2012 will see an increase in their training and traffic which will require them to fully use their leased area. In other words, they have written us a letter stating that it is their intent not to allow us any further use of the facility in 2012. During our meeting we agreed to look at possible ways to continue in 2012. The ECTA will continue to try and work with the Gryphon group as we move through this year.



    At our Board of Directors Meeting held last August, we mapped out a plan to find other possible sites to create a traveling series. This Plan was to have a couple of events in the deep south in winter, moving to a mid-states for early spring and late fall and a northern mid-summer event. We have been actively searching x-military airbases and have a couple of possibilities in the works. If you are aware of sites that have 2 miles of undisturbed runways, please let us know about them. The ECTA has no plans on ‘going away’ but it will be different.

 

    We collectively need to work together to insure our 2011 season at Maxton is successful by not interfering or disturbing their training facilities. Upon arrival at Maxton, you will be given a map of the off limits areas and no matter how tempting it might be to play in them…. it will be our responsibility to keep our people out of these area’s… our pit area will change and you can expect to see those changes at the Gate as you enter. The Gate will open on Friday morning at 9 am.



Thank you for your continued support,

East Coast Timing Association Staff

Joe, Donna, Keith and Tonya