So when is the grand opening? - U-DrifTalk

Stinky · Veteran Member

So when is the grand opening?

Drifter · Owner

We'll have a sneak preview prior to November 1, 2009.

Minusdarkslide · Senior Member

I've got antsy in my pantsy! I'm excited! ...and telling everyone!!!

down_shift · Veteran Member

Before Nov. 1st? Not a lot of time left to make an announcement. Are you still looking for instructors?

-- Edited by down_shift on Sunday 11th of October 2009 07:24:19 AM

Drifter · Owner

down_shift wrote:

Before Nov. 1st? Not a lot of time left to make an announcement. Are you still looking for instructors?

-- Edited by down_shift on Sunday 11th of October 2009 07:24:19 AM

Yes, we will need 1 more drift instructor for the Saturday "sneak preview" coming October 17.

We'll be briefly open to the public from 7 PM to 11 PM that night, prior to our grand opening in the first week of November.

If anyone would like to apply for the instructor opening, please apply in person Monday through Friday of this week on-site at 2514 Moody Parkway, Moody, Alabama 35004.

down_shift · Veteran Member

Is there an email or phone number I can contact you directly at?

-- Edited by down_shift on Monday 12th of October 2009 05:14:59 AM

s13addict · Newbie

Byron, if you go to the homepage, you can see:

www.U-Drift.com

205-967-9919

Contact Us!

*press kits are now ready!

Drift-Relations@U-Drift.com

But I don't know if those are still valid e-mails/numbers.

----------------------------------------------------------------------

Anyways, if this is really about to get its feet planted and happen, then this could be pretty big. I've been following this site for years now, not really knowing if it was legit or not cause it never actually opened. But, I'm going to try to make the debut next weekend.

down_shift · Veteran Member

lol thanks. this site is a bit confusing.

buellblastin · Veteran Member

Is the preview a free thing?

Minusdarkslide · Senior Member

It's free to watch, but I think they are charging weekday rates for drifting; $5 per run or $50 unlimited until 11pm.

Those prices are worth it! I went out there today and slid around a little. The staff was also testing out their Mustang rental setup. We had a blast! The lot is really big.

buellblastin · Veteran Member

Those are really good prices. Especially for the experience you get. s Sadly the only car i have with a limited slip isn't running.

buellblastin · Veteran Member

Well I was there. Hate that the cops had to ruin it for everyone. But it was fun to watch. I really hope they don't pull the plug on it already. I'm looking forward to many more trips to U-Drift.

Drifter · Owner

I want everyone having a great time. The spectators, more than 100, had fun, and the drivers/passengers seemed to have a good time, as well.

It's also important to me to see drifting move away from public roads onto controlled, safety-designed private property (e.g. no opposing traffic, crash barriers, fire extinguishers, tech check inspections, helmets, EMTs on site, etc.).

In all fairness, I did have 1 single civilian walk over with a suggestion of adding some sound reflectors to angle tire/engine noise skyward. I thanked that person for at least offering a *solution* to me for what he perceived to be a problem for him...that's highly preferable compared to someone merely raging.

That being said, tonight was a very quiet night. As all of you know, U-Drift maintains a decible meter on-site. The more than half-century old SCCA autocross organzation, which runs events in-town, limits noise to 92db. Tonight, U-Drift never exceeded 90db (the actual peak volume was a bit lower, but for political reasons I'm going to keep that precise figure private for the moment).

The above is one way of saying that we were below all legal, established noise thresholds, which is what we want.

I'll be happy to explain this to Moody's city council when I meet with them on the 26th. U-Drift is getting drifting off of city streets and into controlled, safety-provisioned private land...as well as keeping all of the fun substantially below accepted maximum noise thresholds.

At this point my plan is to listen to the points brought up against our operation, as well as enact and embrace useful improvements from the suggestions received so far.

If U-Drift is given a reasonable hearing and opportunity to correct any fair criticisms/complaints, then I feel comfortable that we will be back open in a decent amount of time.

-- Edited by Drifter on Sunday 18th of October 2009 07:25:05 AM

-- Edited by Drifter on Sunday 18th of October 2009 07:42:35 AM

buellblastin · Veteran Member

I have one suggestion in dealing with the noise. I was told of a dragstrip in Florida that had put up plywood sound deflectors to prevent some of the sounds from bothering the encroaching neighborhoods. That could be a somewhat budget friendly method of sound control.

You could also get some of the water barriers in addition to the bails. Some of the slowed construction companies may be willing to rent, sell, or something.

But I am hoping for the best with this. Because we enjoyed getting the opportunity to watch some drifting, and hope to get plenty more chances. Maybe even to do some drifting myself. (try to)

bskip · Newbie

i had one suggestion. not about noise or anything. but getting a few more lights out in the drift area to where the peoplee can see the cars drifting and to where they can drift with their lights off. but just a suggestion. we gotta get this place back open first.

TONS-OF-FUN · Veteran Member

i got a couple suggestions, i was there last night and it was a blast, however;

- there needs to be a drivers meeting, to let the drivers know where to be drifing, and where to stop drifting, and what the course layout is

- there should be a "stop box" at the end of the course

- should be a safe area for the spectators to be away from the cars,

- id like to see more lights on the course, and the pit/staging lane

these are just suggestions, and im glad there's finally going to be a place like this,

buellblastin · Veteran Member

What if you try to get the media coverage you had before. That is how I first learned about U-Drift. I believe getting the word out would be great. Especially with a good message. Plus if Moody's city council causes problems it would make them look bad in front of everyone. Just like what happened with your first attempt.

Just some random ideas from inside my head.

-- Edited by buellblastin on Monday 19th of October 2009 04:22:59 AM

Drifter · Owner

TONS-OF-FUN wrote:

i got a couple suggestions, i was there last night and it was a blast, however;

- there needs to be a drivers meeting, to let the drivers know where to be drifing, and where to stop drifting, and what the course layout is

- there should be a "stop box" at the end of the course

- should be a safe area for the spectators to be away from the cars,

- id like to see more lights on the course, and the pit/staging lane

these are just suggestions, and im glad there's finally going to be a place like this,

Thanks, Joe!

That's definitely the sort of feedback that will help us look "crisp" at our Grand Opening.

TONS-OF-FUN · Veteran Member

yeah man, im not bitching, and even if you change nothing, it will be a drifters paradise

i REALLY wanna see you guys succeed with this place

-- Edited by TONS-OF-FUN on Wednesday 21st of October 2009 01:05:53 AM

Wanganwarrior · Member

so when is it opening back up?

TheFogMachine · Senior Member

Nov 1st I believe

Wanganwarrior · Member

TheFogMachine wrote:

Nov 1st I believe

is that forsure?

buellblastin · Veteran Member

Well we can't be sure till he talks to the city council.

seducksauce · Veteran Member

I think we should all show up at the city council meeting (at least if you're a resident of Moody) and show our support and back UD up. If you're a Moody resident then you should come to it and voice your support of this place. A few points I believe need to be made to the city council are:

-good source of revenue in a few ways, it's a business, but it also brings people from surrounding areas to UD, but also local restaurants, gas stations, and possibly even hotels benefit from would could be considered a "tourist attraction"

-it keeps a huge piece of land from just being an empty eyesore along Moody's main stretch of highway

-gives people a safe place to try out things that would otherwise be done illegally on the streets and be much more dangerous to themselves and bystanders

-it would also be a very unique attraction to the area that has very little to offer other than housing

Even if UD has to be limited in business hours to daylight, or something else within reason, I'd still be in favor of that. We need to make the point to Moody City Council of how great of a facility this can really be, and make sure they know what they would otherwise be missing out on.

I'm here to support you guys in anyway I can, just let me know what I can do for you and I'm down

Wanganwarrior · Member

^ +1

TheFogMachine · Senior Member

When's the meeting? If I can make it in, I think seeing some Georgia plates will reaffirm the fact that we NEED a venue like this.

Drifter · Owner

Our Council meeting is at 6 PM Monday at Moody City Hall (about two blocks from U-Drift), however, at this point I'm neither encouraging nor discouraging turnout.

My plan for this meeting is to recognize that I allowed too much noise to escape from U-Drift on 10/17 (e.g. the DJ speakers were aimed precisely at the residential neighborhood with the most complaints), then show our proposed sound barriers, and finally ask for a 5 month test period at our current location once the new sound barriers are erected.

TheFogMachine · Senior Member

haha . . . erected. . .

A good natural deflector/reflector of sound are dense tress and bushes. I'm not sure what's cheaper, cement barriers or buying developed trees and grown bushes, but, it's just another thing to think about.

Wanganwarrior · Member

Seriously, a lot of shrubs/bushes around the lot would prob help. More hay on the ground would help but hay gets wet and old pretty fast

seducksauce · Veteran Member

Well how did it go tonight? I couldn't make it. Had to help out the mom plus it was her bday so she guilted me into it...sorry about that. But what's the verdict? updates plzzz

Minusdarkslide · Senior Member

The suspense is killing me!!!

TheFogMachine · Senior Member

I am curious, myself as to how this turned out.

Drifter · Owner

The meeting went well. We had half a dozen respectful supporters show up, one respectful neighborhood association president voice noise concerns, and then that president acknowleged that our proposed sound barriers should solve their concerns.

I gave a good presentation to the city council, the council wanted to know if our proposed sound barriers met with Moody's aesthetic statute compliance (being researched), and the council also inquired about our $3 million liability insurance.

After the above, the entire council has decided to hold an offline workshop meeting with me in 6 days in which the plan is to work out a compromise on our hours of operation and noise limits.

So in a week I expect to be able to post a realistic schedule that will meet with both City and Drifter approval for a long term relationship here!

TONS-OF-FUN · Veteran Member

nice, im glad to hear you guys didnt get shut down