Summit owns the dragstrip in Norwalk right? Summit Motorsports Park?
So... Why don't we see if they want to do a group rate/ sponsorship. They may even have a local hotel they do business with (possible discount that way) and some other things they could help with.
Nominating a committee to set things up sounds like a hassle. Let everyone have a say, then the locals can take things in to account and guide the direction they need to go.
If donations towards the event are involved, see if there's a night we can rent the track, that would be a GREAT use of donated funds. Even if its a Thursday... Its summer, I'm sure people can make it work somehow.
Is that on topic enough Nick or should I have just post that the dragstrip is 766 miles / 12 hours 38 minutes from my door?