Frequently Asked Questions
The following questions and answers were generated based on several years of web site and at-the-field questions to members of the Bayside R/C club.
Q. Is the Fremont field location closed?
A. Yes, the field was closed on September 30, 2010. This is in order for a future BART station to be constructed at the site. The club is currently looking for but does not have a new field location at this time.
Q. Should I join if the field is closing?
A. The club will make available month-to-month memberhip options to those who wish to use the field until it is vacated. Please contact a Bayside R/C Club Officer for more information.
Q. How do I find out when a new field is available?
A. A notice will be posted on the Bayside R/C Club web site as well as an email will be sent out to all 2010 members who signed up for email notification when they joined the club.
Older Questions (no longer valid with the closed field)
Q. I drive R/C cars, why do I need AMA membership and/or insurance?
A. The current land Bayside is using is actually owned by BART, and slated for the future Warm Springs BART Station. Until then BART has gratiously allowed Bayside to use the current facilities. AMA is required of all users under the agreement between BART and Bayside. Additionally, the average car currently being run at Bayside weigh between 4 to 10 lbs, and can attain speeds of approximately 50 mph on our track. Though unlikely and generally considered safer that airplanes, a car of that weight and speed can do a lot of damage, under the right circumstances, jump the fence and easily reach Warm Springs Blvd.
Q. What if I have R.O.A.R. insurance, is that acceptable instead of AMA?
A. Unfortunately, the answer is NO, due to the agreement with BART, but also since that insurance only covers participants at R.O.A.R sactioned events.
Q. I just want to come out and fly and/or drive for the day. Do I need to be a club member?
A. You would have to be a member, or a guest of a member and have AMA insurance according to our rules. However, it is not unheard of for someone with a plane or car and AMA membership to be allowed to fly or drive at our field by asking one of our members. For aircraft, under such circumstances or as a guest, an understanding of our field rules, boundaries and plane inspection will be necessary. One can speed up the process by reading our club rules on our website. If you have not been solo’d by your “home club” one would also need to fly with a Bayside instructor.
Q. What is AMA insurance?
A. First, AMA is the Academy of Model Aeronautics. Becoming a member with the AMA grants you access to liability coverage for the operation of model Aircraft, Boats, Cars, and Rockets, comprehensive general liability protection for model activities for members, clubs, site owners, and sponsors and accident/medical coverage for members. This insurance helps protect you, your property, and the property of others while engaged in model activites at an AMA site. And as stated elsewhere, membership is required to use the Bayside field.
Q. I’ve lost my password to the member’s area of the website. How do I get it again?
A. At present the member’s area is undergoing serious construction, so it is not available. Don’t worry, when it is working again there will be a way for you to get access to it and new passwords will be assigned.
Q. When is the car track and/or field available for use?
A. If you are a member of Bayside R/C club, both the track and flying field are open nearly every day, seven days a week, 365 days a year. Electric models can be operated from 7:30AM, Gas from 8AM, until dusk. Again membership is required and members are provided with gate access.
Current rules require that 2 adults be present, one of whom must be a field marshal for aircraft. Cars do not have this 2 person rule as of yet, but it is a good idea for safety reasons.
Q. Are there car races at the track?
A. There are impromtu races. They are generally run when several members arrive and are ready to run. There are some plans for intraclub races in the future, but nothing has been finalized.
Q. Are car track, helicopter area, aircraft areas and runway actively maintained?
A. Yes! Bayside R/C club is a member operated organization and all areas are actively maintained by MEMBERS. As with anything, some areas need more work than others, and some members are more actively involved. As a member, you too can help shape the club into an even better place to be. For example, the popularity of our current car track is a relatively new (in 2006) development, brought on by several serious car members who wanted to work on it and make it a more challenging course to run. The car members are still fine tuning it, and thus work occurs on the car track on a more regular basis. Other parts of the field are more developed and tend to be improved as needed.
