Interest survey - airstrip buggy event

Interest survey - airstrip buggy event

Post by Mark Frasie » Tue, 06 Jul 1999 04:00:00


HI there,

4 of us flew at a section of runway at former Dow AFB, now part of Bangor
Intl Airport this weekend. While we were there, Bob Hogan came up with a
potentially good idea - a week long (or so) buggy rally at the now-closed
Loring AFB in Limestone Maine. Limestone is waaay up there in northern
Maine. Every year they have a big Phish concert up there that draws
thousands. The fans pretty much all camp on the base, I guess. Bob thought
that if Phish could use the base that maybe we could, too. There is a big
push to get businesses into the complex now, and they have a website set up
that gives some details ( http://www.loring.maine.com/ ). There are a few
aerial shots of the complex. The main draw for us would be the
still-maintained 12,100 ft runway, but there is also a giant 125,000 sq ft
hangar with a 60' ceiling... if we could use that we'd have something to do
if it rained! (there are a bunch of other buildings w/ 20'+ ceilings, too).
There are also some other taxiways and runways, 75 miles of paved roads
(don't know if they're in use, wooded or powerline lined) onsite camping
($5/tent, $15 RV hookup), at least one onsite motel, bowling alley, canoe
rentals, child care, and yes, what you've all been waiting to hear, an
onsite beauty salon!! Northern Maine is very flat so the wind should be
pretty good.

Site fee might be a factor... if there's interest one of us will look into
it.

Who'd be interested in coming up? If we had to charge to cover a site fee
what would be reasonable? I don't think any of us would be interested in
making any money from this.

Check out this page, too... http://globe.lmi.org/parcels/LORING/Loring.htx .
They have an aerial photo of the runway area (lots of pavement!) and  some
video fly-bys.

Other negatives - a few hours drive from the nearest major airport (tho
there may be flights from Bangor to Caribou). Pesky bugs at some times of
the year. Basically in the middle of nowhere. Runways are probably aligned
parallel to the prevailing winds ... right?)

There's no sense in us doing any more research if no one's interested, so
let me know if you are!

Mark Frasier

PS...

 
 
 

Interest survey - airstrip buggy event

Post by Mark Frasie » Tue, 06 Jul 1999 04:00:00

Quote:

>thousands. The fans pretty much all camp on the base, I guess. Bob thought
>that if Phish could use the base that maybe we could, too. There is a big
>push to get businesses into the complex now, and they have a website set up
>that gives some details ( http://www.loring.maine.com/ ). There are a few
>aerial shots of the complex. The main draw for us would be the
>still-maintained 12,100 ft runway, but there is also a giant 125,000 sq ft
>hangar with a 60' ceiling... if we could use that we'd have something to do

I found out that the concerts were only in 96 & 97. Here's an aerial of the
show. 70,000 attendees. http://www.phish.com/greatwent/aerial.jpg

There was also a famous UFO incident there in 1975.

distances:
Boston Mass- 420 Miles
NYC, New York - 600 Miles
Chicago, Ill - 1225 Miles
Toronto, Ontario - 700 Miles
Montreal, Quebec - 380 Miles
Portland, Maine - 309 Miles

20 miles from Presque Isle airport serviced by 19 seaters from Boston & 9
seaters from Portland Maine.

And that's gotta be all you ever wanted to know about Loring.

Mark Frasier

 
 
 

Interest survey - airstrip buggy event

Post by Bob Pebl » Tue, 06 Jul 1999 04:00:00

Looks like an awesome site.  My favorite local buggy site used to be a portion
of an old air force base runway on the local university property until they put
up the light poles & parking stones and turned it into a parking lot. :-(  They
paved paradise and put up a parking lot...

Bob

Quote:

>HI there,

>4 of us flew at a section of runway at former Dow AFB, now part of Bangor
>Intl Airport this weekend. While we were there, Bob Hogan came up with a
>potentially good idea - a week long (or so) buggy rally at the now-closed
>Loring AFB in Limestone Maine. Limestone is waaay up there in northern
>Maine. Every year they have a big Phish concert up there that draws
>thousands. The fans pretty much all camp on the base, I guess. Bob thought
>that if Phish could use the base that maybe we could, too. There is a big
>push to get businesses into the complex now, and they have a website set up
>that gives some details ( http://www.loring.maine.com/ ). There are a few
>aerial shots of the complex. The main draw for us would be the
>still-maintained 12,100 ft runway, but there is also a giant 125,000 sq ft
>hangar with a 60' ceiling... if we could use that we'd have something to do
>if it rained! (there are a bunch of other buildings w/ 20'+ ceilings, too).
>There are also some other taxiways and runways, 75 miles of paved roads
>(don't know if they're in use, wooded or powerline lined) onsite camping
>($5/tent, $15 RV hookup), at least one onsite motel, bowling alley, canoe
>rentals, child care, and yes, what you've all been waiting to hear, an
>onsite beauty salon!! Northern Maine is very flat so the wind should be
>pretty good.

>Site fee might be a factor... if there's interest one of us will look into
>it.

>Who'd be interested in coming up? If we had to charge to cover a site fee
>what would be reasonable? I don't think any of us would be interested in
>making any money from this.

>Check out this page, too... http://globe.lmi.org/parcels/LORING/Loring.htx .
>They have an aerial photo of the runway area (lots of pavement!) and  some
>video fly-bys.

>Other negatives - a few hours drive from the nearest major airport (tho
>there may be flights from Bangor to Caribou). Pesky bugs at some times of
>the year. Basically in the middle of nowhere. Runways are probably aligned
>parallel to the prevailing winds ... right?)

>There's no sense in us doing any more research if no one's interested, so
>let me know if you are!

>Mark Frasier

>PS...


 
 
 

Interest survey - airstrip buggy event

Post by Peter C. Hugge » Tue, 06 Jul 1999 04:00:00

Quote:
> They paved paradise and put up a parking lot...

> Bob

I remember hearing a comedian say something about how he tested
potential girlfriends - had something to do with their Joni Mitchell
tolerance.....  (c8
 
 
 

Interest survey - airstrip buggy event

Post by daForc » Wed, 07 Jul 1999 04:00:00


Quote:
>Looks like an awesome site.  My favorite local buggy site used to be a portion
>of an old air force base runway on the local university property until they

put
[]

Quote:
>>Other negatives - a few hours drive from the nearest major airport (tho
>>there may be flights from Bangor to Caribou). Pesky bugs at some times of
>>the year. Basically in the middle of nowhere. Runways are probably aligned
>>parallel to the prevailing winds ... right?)

for any prevailing wind, there will be at least one other runway almost at
right angles to that wind......
so the main runway is probably the one to count out, but the subrunways and
linking paths are a fair bet.....

Quote:
>>There's no sense in us doing any more research if no one's interested, so
>>let me know if you are!

bit far away for me......

steam and wind

--
       David Forsyth                 DaForce A-T Iwr.Ru.Ac.Za
Keeper of the listserver for South African Railways fans       _|_ His
Part time gricer, kiter, photographer, father etc etc           |  Way
http://www.ru.ac.za/departments/iwr/staff/daf/welcome.html      |  Up

 
 
 

Interest survey - airstrip buggy event

Post by Mark Frasie » Wed, 07 Jul 1999 04:00:00

Quote:

>>>Other negatives - a few hours drive from the nearest major airport (tho
>>>there may be flights from Bangor to Caribou). Pesky bugs at some times of
>>>the year. Basically in the middle of nowhere. Runways are probably
aligned
>>>parallel to the prevailing winds ... right?)

>for any prevailing wind, there will be at least one other runway almost at
>right angles to that wind......
>so the main runway is probably the one to count out, but the subrunways and
>linking paths are a fair bet.....

There are a bunch of linking paths, but it doesn't look like there's the
typical second runway crossing diagonally or at a right angle. Weird, eh?

Mark Frasier

 
 
 

Interest survey - airstrip buggy event

Post by daForc » Fri, 09 Jul 1999 04:00:00


Quote:

>>>>Other negatives - a few hours drive from the nearest major airport (tho
>>>>there may be flights from Bangor to Caribou). Pesky bugs at some times of
>>>>the year. Basically in the middle of nowhere. Runways are probably
>aligned
>>>>parallel to the prevailing winds ... right?)

>>for any prevailing wind, there will be at least one other runway almost at
>>right angles to that wind......
>>so the main runway is probably the one to count out, but the subrunways and
>>linking paths are a fair bet.....

>There are a bunch of linking paths, but it doesn't look like there's the
>typical second runway crossing diagonally or at a right angle. Weird, eh?

yes, weird, I  loooked at the aerial fotos afterward and noted that
must have either
- NO wind to worry about
- ALWAYS the SAME wind

might not be such a great buggy site after all.....

steam and wind

--
       David Forsyth                 DaForce A-T Iwr.Ru.Ac.Za
Keeper of the listserver for South African Railways fans       _|_ His
Part time gricer, kiter, photographer, father etc etc           |  Way
http://www.ru.ac.za/departments/iwr/staff/daf/welcome.html      |  Up

 
 
 

Interest survey - airstrip buggy event

Post by Mark Frasie » Sun, 11 Jul 1999 04:00:00

Quote:

>>There are a bunch of linking paths, but it doesn't look like there's the
>>typical second runway crossing diagonally or at a right angle. Weird, eh?

>yes, weird, I  loooked at the aerial fotos afterward and noted that
>must have either
>- NO wind to worry about
>- ALWAYS the SAME wind

>might not be such a great buggy site after all.....

The average yearly windspeed in Caribou is 9.9 mph. For comparison, LA is
8.0, Chicago is 10.5, Boston is 12.5. Couldn't find data on wind direction.

Mark Frasier