The Wood River Valley may not be the capital of sports car racing, but it's becoming so popular that the regional chapter of the Sports Car Club of America probably will return next year for its third rally at Friedman Memorial Airport.
Friedman Manager Rick Baird told the airport authority at its Oct. 5 monthly meeting that 58 drivers participated in the weekend rally on Sept. 25-26. One of the drivers was airport authority member Ron Fairfax.
Baird said the club donated $1,300 to the Senior Connection on behalf of the airport board and Atlantic Aviation. He added that Boy Scout Troop 192 sold 350 hamburgers and "many more hot dogs."
Helping boost the valley's economy, albeit modestly, has been the objective of holding the rally at the airport. Baird said participants reserved 23 lodging rooms.
To a question about liability and accidents from Len Harlig, a former authority member and now on the Blaine County Aviation Advisory Committee, Baird said the race course in the transient aircraft parking area south of Atlantic Aviation is far from the active taxiway and runway. Furthermore, the club is heavily insured.
Fairfax, also a pilot, confirmed he saw no risks in holding the rally at the airport.
( Baird reported that the Tri BAH (Business After Hours) at the airport on Sept. 16 was one of the valley's most successful, with 375 people attending.
( Friedman Memorial will host a meeting of the Federal Aviation Administration's Runway Safety Action Team on Tuesday, Oct. 19, and Wednesday, Oct. 20, to review runway safety with pilots, control tower personnel and others involved in runway safety. A number of FAA specialists will conduct sessions Tuesday from 2-8 p.m. and Wednesday from 8 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. in the airport training room adjoining the manager's office. Sessions are open to the public, including a night tour of the airport.