Note From Your 2009 Local Hosts
Track 5: SportsZone

So you like the thrill of competition, huh? Atlanta is a sports lover’s dream! Whether you’re a spectator or a participant, there’s something here for you to do. While you’re thinking about it, SAVE THE DATE on June 2nd because that’s the evening that AIR has reserved a block of seats to see the Atlanta Braves take on the Chicago Cubs. More on that later! In the meantime, check out the following thrills!

May 30:
10:00 AM-9:00 PM
Atlanta Motor Speedway-Jeff Gordon Racing School
1283 Highway 19-41
Hampton, GA 30228
Phone: 770-707-7904
Drive time: 45 minutes south of the Marriott Marquis
Cost: $129.00 and up for driving school / $5.00 to tour track facility

Have the need for speed? Looking for the perfect gift? Feeling adventurous? The Jeff Gordon Racing School and Mario Andretti Racing School offer an unforgettable and thrilling racing experience. For the NASCAR enthusiast, the Jeff Gordon Racing School places you in the driver's seat of a real NASCAR race car to take the checkered flag. The Mario Andretti Racing School "World's Fastest Driving Experience" puts you behind the wheel in Indy-Style race cars, or experience the excitement of a road course in Formula 2000 race cars, race prepped BMW Z3 's or BMW 318i. If driving these cars wasn't thrilling enough, add the fact that you'll be taking laps on one of the world's premiere superspeedways at Atlanta Motor Speedway! Lucky for you, they’ll be in Atlanta on May 29th – 30th.

Ages: 18 and up for driving school / All ages for track tour

http://www.andrettigordon.com/
http://www.atlantamotorspeedway.com/visitors/tours/

May 31:
Various Tee Times available through Last Minute Tee Times
Bobby Jones Golf Course
384 Woodward Way
Atlanta, GA 30305
Phone: (404) 355-1009
Drive time: 10 minutes north of the Marriott Marquis
Cost: $25.50 to $40.50

Atlanta hosts its share of world-class golf tournaments including the AT&T Classic and the PGA Tournament in Duluth. The metro area has 71 public courses, 14 semi-private and 48 private courses that encompass everything from in-town spots such as Bobby Jones Golf Course to championship links at Château Élan Winery & Resort, Stone Mountain Park and Lake Lanier Islands Resort. Bobby Jones Golf Course, recently renovated with new Champion Bermuda greens, is an 18 hole public golf course that rests in the heart of Buckhead and just ten minutes from downtown Atlanta. Built in 1932, this John Van Kleek design has a rich history dating back to the Civil War. The Battle of Peachtree Creek, one of the most pivotal battles of the Civil War, took place in the valley of the golf course surrounding the clubhouse. Today, Peachtree Battle Creek meanders through this tree-lined par 71 championship golf course and comes into play on five of the eighteen holes. Elevated tees on many of our holes offer scenic views of the midtown Atlanta skyline. The tightly placed greens offer a challenging round for the skilled golfer, while the open fairways create a pleasant round for golfers of all skill levels.

Ages: all

http://www.bobbyjones.americangolf.com/
http://www.lmtt.com/Default.asp

June 1:
Time: 3:00 PM – 10:00 PM
Atlanta Rocks! (Indoor Rock Climbing)
1019 Collier Rd NW, Suite A
Atlanta, GA 30318
Phone: 404-351-3009
Drive Time: 5 minutes north of the Marriott Marquis
Cost: $15.00 plus $10 for equipment rental (if needed)

Put rock climbing on your “bucket list”! Atlanta Rocks! Intown is the largest indoor gym in the Southeast, with more than 12,000 square feet of professionally-designed, seamless climbing surface. Atlanta Rocks! Intown has approximately 50 top-rope stations, averaging three climbing routes per rope with difficulty levels ranging from beginner (5.4) through advanced (5.13). Aerobic exercise equipment is also available. This would be something totally different that you will remember for a lifetime … how cool is that?!!

Ages: 8 and up

http://www.atlantarocks.com/

June 2:
7:00 PM
Chicago Cubs vs. Atlanta Braves
Turner Field
755 Hank Aaron Drive
Atlanta, GA 30315
Phone: 404-522-7630
Drive Time: 10 minutes south of the Marriott Marquis via MARTA
Cost: $23.00 for tickets through AIR

Take me out to the ball game,
Take me out with the crowd.
Buy me some peanuts and Cracker Jack,
I don't care if I never get back,
Let me root, root, root for the home team,
If they don't win it's a shame.
For it's one, two, three strikes, you're out,
At the old ball game."

Jack Norworth’s 1908 classic song will be sung loud and proud as the Atlanta Braves take on the Chicago Cubs! AIR has reserved a block of tickets for Forum registrants and their guests. Watch this year’s Forum host city take on next year’s host city! The Braves Museum and Hall of Fame, also at Turner Field, features more than 600 Braves artifacts and photographs that trace the team’s history from its beginnings in Boston (1871-1952) to Milwaukee (1953-65) to Atlanta (1966-present). Both the Braves Museum and Turner Field are open year-round and would make an awesome pre-game event for you, our honored guest!

Ages: All

For information on purchasing Forum baseball tickets check the "Baseball" tab here:
http://www.airweb.org/forum09/

For more information on the Atlanta Braves: http://atlanta.braves.mlb.com/index.jsp?c_id=atl

June 3:
10:00 AM – 9:00 PM
Piedmont Tennis Center at Piedmont Park
400 Park Drive, Atlanta, GA 30306
Phone 404-853-3461
Drive Time: 5 minutes north of the Marriott Marquis/accessible by MARTA
Cost: $3.00-$5.00 per hour

Atlanta loves tennis! So, finding courts and a partner or instructor isn't too hard. Tennis in Atlanta is more than a sport; it's a way of life because Atlanta is home to the world’s largest recreational community tennis league in the world: the Atlanta Lawn Tennis Association (ALTA). With over 80,000 members, ALTA is ready to welcome AIR!

Ages: All

http://www.piedmonttennis.com/
http://www.altatennis.org/

Next month, we’ll tell you all about the Atlanta night life as we present “Bright Lights and City Nights!” There’s much to do after dark in the city so whether you’re looking to dance the night away (and really, who doesn’t love to dance?) or relax with dinner and a show, we’ll have something for you. In the meantime, we are ready to serve you as you plan your trip to Atlanta. If you have any questions, please contact any of the members of the Atlanta Local Arrangements Team:

Your Atlanta Local Arrangements Committee:
Andy Clark, Armstrong Atlantic State University <Andy.Clark@armstrong.edu>
Denise Gardner, University of Georgia < gardnerd@uga.edu >
Jonathan Gordon, Georgia Tech < jonathan.gordon@oars.gatech.edu >
Lily Hwang, Georgia Gwinnett College < lhwang@ggc.usg.edu >
Sean Mullins, North Georgia College and State University < SMMullins@ngcsu.edu >
Alice Simpkins, Paine College < simpkinsa@mail.paine.edu >
Barbara Stephens, Bainbridge College < bstephen@bainbridge.edu >
Sandi Bramblett, Local Arrangements Chair, Georgia Tech <sandi@gatech.edu>
Bill Hayward, Local Arrangements Associate Chair and Honorary Georgian, Northwestern University < bh@northwestern.edu >