Ashland / Medford, Is looking better all the time Options

[Randal]

I talked to Tony Boom: http://www.ssccmedford.org/Summits/2006/February.pdf

They have some good programs going on including a hill climb that is only a few miles out of Ashland towards the East.

Hoopa is about 160 miles, or about 4 hours towing a trailer. Much easier drive than from the Bay Area.

Thunder Hill is a little over three hours.

And I think Medford is more than half way up to JP and his racing programs. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/flag.gif)

Maybe there are some events going on in Redding (CA) as well.

[BKLA]

Are you thinking about moving up this way?

Portland and the new Oregon raceway park are about 5 hours north. There's a kart track in Medford as well. Aerial atoms are built nearby as well.

(IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif)

[J P Stein]

Yes, Siskiyou (spelling is optional) Sports Car club runs a series of AX s at that Kart track. I've been meaning to get down there for one.

[Lou W]

Met a guy who races these events, he's from here in Roseburg. He races 240 Z's.


Siskiyou Cascade Lakes Hillclimb 2008

2009

[koozy]

That's one darned good lookin 240. Always did like them.

[Lou W]

That's one darned good lookin 240. Always did like them.

He has a garage full of them, runs small block chevys. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/driving.gif)

[J P Stein]

He has a garage full of them, runs small block chevys. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/driving.gif)

I can't imagine why. A friend get 300hp out of his FP 2.8L Z motor and his engine builder says that now days 350hp is ordinary. He is quick at AX but sadly no longer comes out much.

That is some mighty pretty country down there. Housing is affordable if you stay away from Ashland.

[Lou W]

He has a garage full of them, runs small block chevys. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/driving.gif)

I can't imagine why. A friend get 300hp out of his FP 2.8L Z motor and his engine builder says that now days 350hp is ordinary. He is quick at AX but sadly no longer comes out much.

That is some mighty pretty country down there. Housing is affordable if you stay away from Ashland.

He's building another z car with 4 cylinder putting out something like 300 hp, says it will make him more competitive in a different class. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/ph34r.gif)

Yah, you're right, it sure is pretty country here. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif)

[Randal]

He has a garage full of them, runs small block chevys. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/driving.gif)

I can't imagine why. A friend get 300hp out of his FP 2.8L Z motor and his engine builder says that now days 350hp is ordinary. He is quick at AX but sadly no longer comes out much.

That is some mighty pretty country down there. Housing is affordable if you stay away from Ashland.

I was acutally stunned with the amount of great property on the market now in Medford. Sad to say it is because of the job situation for many.

But my hope is to find a couple of acres where I can build a BIG garage.

Heaven.

[grantsfo]

My Dad moved to Grants Pass and loves it there. There are tons of car guys there and some very nice Porsches in garages. Some of his freinds have machine shops and paint booths in huge garages on their property. They do full blown custom hot rods. One guy was working on 2 trucks and an old Ford sedan when I was there last and they looked show quality.

A time trail in Medford to Ashland area certainly would be easier than Hoopa from the Bay Area for me. .. its on its way to my Dads place so I 'd have a place to stay and I could combine visits to him with hillclimbs.

Would love to do another hillclimb this year!

[BKLA]

He has a garage full of them, runs small block chevys. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/driving.gif)

I can't imagine why. A friend get 300hp out of his FP 2.8L Z motor and his engine builder says that now days 350hp is ordinary. He is quick at AX but sadly no longer comes out much.

That is some mighty pretty country down there. Housing is affordable if you stay away from Ashland.

I was acutally stunned with the amount of great property on the market now in Medford. Sad to say it is because of the job situation for many.

But my hope is to find a couple of acres where I can build a BIG garage.

Heaven.

If you find something you like, and want some help in governmental approvals, planning, permits etc. Let me know..... I might be able to lend a hand... even barter my services for porsche parts! (IMG:style_emoticons/default/laugh.gif)

[Randal]

He has a garage full of them, runs small block chevys. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/driving.gif)

I can't imagine why. A friend get 300hp out of his FP 2.8L Z motor and his engine builder says that now days 350hp is ordinary. He is quick at AX but sadly no longer comes out much.

That is some mighty pretty country down there. Housing is affordable if you stay away from Ashland.

I was acutally stunned with the amount of great property on the market now in Medford. Sad to say it is because of the job situation for many.

But my hope is to find a couple of acres where I can build a BIG garage.

Heaven.

If you find something you like, and want some help in governmental approvals, planning, permits etc. Let me know..... I might be able to lend a hand... even barter my services for porsche parts! (IMG:style_emoticons/default/laugh.gif)

What I don't understand is why no one is setting up a small IDA <http://www.idaireland.com/home/index.aspx?id=3> group to help Medford get back on their feet. They have all the infrastructure at hand (University / reasonable property / beautiful country / great schools / etc. ).

I used to visit Ireland with the IDA before they closed their first big customer.... now they have secured over 1000 companies.

[grantsfo]

What I don't understand is why no one is setting up a small IDA <http://www.idaireland.com/home/index.aspx?id=3> group to help Medford get back on their feet. They have all the infrastructure at hand (University / reasonable property / beautiful country / great schools / etc. ).

I used to visit Ireland with the IDA before they closed their first big customer.... now they have secured over 1000 companies.

Poor logistics infrastructure hurts them in Medford just as it did originally in Ireland. I worked very hard with ports and logistics companies in Ireland to develop better capabilities when I was with Intel back in the mid 90's. We improved much of their outdated capabilities, but still ran into capacity issues that limited our expansion into that country. Central and SOuthern Oregon in general is a tough place to do logistics due to the fact you have to truck everything to international ports in SF or Seatle. But if they focused perhaps on making location for engineering/ design research and bioresearch that might be something they could pull off?

Ireland is really hurting in this recent downturn. Losing business to Eastern Europe where costs are lower. Ireland has been a victim of their own success recently as wages have gone up and Europe based manufacturers are looking for lower cost areas to do business. I have a freind who's father is part of the Waterford organization in Ireland and they manufacture much of their crystal in Poland now. Dell moving operations to Eastern Europe. Several Semi Fabs moving away from Ireland as well.

But overall I agree that Southern and Central Oregon are ripe for opportunity if they could form some IDA like organizations with some bright motivated people with industry connections. US in general is behind most developing countries in our industry development capability. We havent had to compete with the global economy for a long time. Now that Walmarts wont cut it local/regional governments might start waking up to the fact that they actually have to work to attract good jobs and industries.

[Randal]

What I don't understand is why no one is setting up a small IDA <http://www.idaireland.com/home/index.aspx?id=3> group to help Medford get back on their feet. They have all the infrastructure at hand (University / reasonable property / beautiful country / great schools / etc. ).

I used to visit Ireland with the IDA before they closed their first big customer.... now they have secured over 1000 companies.

Poor logistics infrastructure hurts them in Medford just as it did originally in Ireland. I worked very hard with ports and logistics companies in Ireland to develop better capabilities when I was with Intel back in the mid 90's. We improved much of their outdated capabilities, but still ran into capacity issues that limited our expansion into that country. Central and SOuthern Oregon in general is a tough place to do logistics due to the fact you have to truck everything to international ports in SF or Seatle. But if they focused perhaps on making location for engineering/ design research and bioresearch that might be something they could pull off?

Ireland is really hurting in this recent downturn. Losing business to Eastern Europe where costs are lower. Ireland has been a victim of their own success recently as wages have gone up and Europe based manufacturers are looking for lower cost areas to do business. I have a freind who's father is part of the Waterford organization in Ireland and they manufacture much of their crystal in Poland now. Dell moving operations to Eastern Europe. Several Semi Fabs moving away from Ireland as well.

But overall I agree that Southern and Central Oregon are ripe for opportunity if they could form some IDA like organizations with some bright motivated people with industry connections. US in general is behind most developing countries in our industry development capability. We havent had to compete with the global economy for a long time. Now that Walmarts wont cut it local/regional governments might start waking up to the fact that they actually have to work to attract good jobs and industries.

Right - "engineering/ design research and bioresearch" would be ideal.

It's time for the Oregon folks to become marketeers if they want to keep or augment their revenue base.

[J P Stein]

Guys, some folks like Oregon as is. That may be because there aren't 10 million people living there.....prolly the same reason you like the area in question.
It sure as hell is the reason I like the area. There are "only" about 1.5 million people living within a 25 mile radius of my home......and I don't like that.

[Lou W]

Guys, some folks like Oregon as is. That may be because there aren't 10 million people living there.....prolly the same reason you like the area in question.
It sure as hell is the reason I like the area. There are "only" about 1.5 million people living within a 25 mile radius of my home......and I don't like that.

Good point, I think there are alot of people here that are opposed to any pro-growth in Oregon, I think they want Oregon to become one big park. <insert treehugger smiley>

[J P Stein]

When I moved to Vancouver 30 odd years back there were 125000 folks in the whole county. You could find a solitary spot on the many rivers of the area to do some fishin'. Now there are 450000 folks and I'd need to take a number to get in line most everywhere...I mostly quit fishin' bout 10 years back.
That is progress.

Down So. OR. way there are some good rivers....Rogue, Umquah.....eh?

[EdwardBlume]

If OR folks like CA folks like the WA folks like the CA folks, the welcome mat has been pulled inside.

From my travels in OR though, it'd be a lot of fun if you've got good friends there...

[Randal]

When I moved to Vancouver 30 odd years back there were 125000 folks in the whole county. You could find a solitary spot on the many rivers of the area to do some fishin'. Now there are 450000 folks and I'd need to take a number to get in line most everywhere...I mostly quit fishin' bout 10 years back.
That is progress.

Down So. OR. way there are some good rivers....Rogue, Umquah.....eh?

We need to go fishing JP. The Rogue is susposed to be pretty good according to the guy who runs the fly shop in Ashland. Some big fish.

No numbers required from what I hear.

[Lou W]

North Umpqua river is suppose to be real good too, right down the street by my house.