new track in midwest/mid south, need input

wm711 · 01-31-2006, 05:01 PM

Ive waited a long time to post this. I am in final stages on inking a deal to acquire land to open a Country Club type race track operation, in of all places, western kentucky. We are 135 miles from Nashville, 160 miles from memphis, and 150 miles from st. louis, 220 miles from louisville, and 330 miles from chicago. closest track to us in Memphis Motorsport Park, which is not such a great road course. St. Louis is always booked, and not such a great road course either, to many walls. I really like Putman Park, but its a long way away, and stays booked most of the time. I just wanted to get feedback from you guys as to what you thought. I am getting much interest from the economic development community in this area on this venture. My question to you all, is this area to far out in the boonies to make a go of this type of venture? Please, there is a lot of brain power on this site, and I greatly appreciate your input. Location is just outside Paducah, KY. Thanks-Bill Woods

North Coast Cab · North Coast Cab's Garage

My novice opinion. Depends on your goal.
If you are looking for a Country Club type track then I would say you're too far out.
If you are looking for a World Class race facility then I would say you are too far out.
If you are looking for a place to build a nice recreational track for racing, DE's etc. then I think you'll be fine.
The biggest obstacle to the first two items is a lack of major metro area to get in and out of. You need to be within an hour of an airport for major events and you also need the support facilities in terms of hotels, restaurants etc.
That said, I admire you ambition.

John

rlane · 01-31-2006, 05:35 PM

I can see trips to Western Ky in my future!
It is a bit far and off of the major Interstates...but I will still come.
There was talk of a track near Lexington, what with the intersection of I-64 and I-75 but I do not believe anything came of it.

Porsche Doc · Porsche Doc's Garage

STOP!

Don't ink that deal.
You need to build it beween Nashville and Knoxville TN.!
Its a large dead spot for tracks. The east Tennessee and area
have tons of race cars and not a close place to run them.
The closest track to us is Road A and thats 4hrs away.
I can guarantee some dates.

Good Luck!
We'll probably be there.

wm711 · 01-31-2006, 06:10 PM

no major events. just driver eds and such. no stands or formal viewing areas. drivers ed is becoming big business. Economic development folks are really keen on the idea. Partnering with a highway contractor, so paving should come in pretty reasonable. Land is in a flood plane, which never floods, under power line easement. Land was VERY reasonable. Looking at a layout about 1.8 to 2.4 miles long, must have a drag strip incorporated though. Dale Jr. and Ken Schrader (spelling?)just bought the dirt track here, the Paducah International Raceway. Keep the comments coming-Bill

wm711 · 01-31-2006, 06:12 PM

also, site is 3 miles from interstate 24, which is east west from nashville to st. louis

wm711 · 01-31-2006, 06:16 PM

be assured, all your responses are presented to the Greater Paducah Economic Development Commission, to help us in this venture. So let her rip.

jwerion · 01-31-2006, 07:15 PM

Bill,
If your plan is to have a true Motorsports country club I think you need to be with in 1 hour to an hour & half max drive time from the major business districts or wealthier neighborhoods of one of the larger metro areas.
If it is to build a track in a community that needs the revenue produced from weekend track events and it helps the project make sense then it sounds like a very good location.
A country club type setting tends to cater to the executive that is normally short on time and the track would need to be close enough for them to leave work after lunch hit the track for 2-3 hours and be home for dinner.
If the track is out 2-4 hrs away people will drive that far in a heart beat for a weekend race or DE event. You just need to decide what your market is and what need you are meeting. Good luck it sounds like it would be a great project and alot of fun.

reddog928 · 02-01-2006, 09:30 AM

I congratulate you on your willingness to reach for your dream, I selfishly would like to see you closer to East Tenn, as Porsche Doc says...we have no facillity close.

Charlie

PM sent

Eric P · 02-01-2006, 10:05 AM

I'm in Columbus, Ohio. I have a lot of tracks, everything from basic (Putnam, Gingerman) to top-notch (Mid-Ohio) closer. Between PCA, vintage, and NASA I can race every other weekend and then some, much easier.

I'm NOT thumbing my nose, just giving you the perspective a lot of those in OH, IN, PA, etc. might have.

Depending on what you build, they might come. For instance, add a small oval to the complex that we roadracers could play on, and it might get more interesting...always wanted to do that...

wm711 · 02-01-2006, 02:19 PM

considering an oval for carts. there is no paved oval anywhere around for cart racers.

jwerion · 02-01-2006, 07:24 PM

Adding a paved quarter midget track might work well. When my daughter was racing junior class in quarter midgets most of the tracks and facilites where sub par at best.

beamonk · 02-01-2006, 09:05 PM

How far from Murray?

svochuck · 02-01-2006, 09:41 PM

Bill how many acres of land to do that ? how will it compare to motorsport ranch?
chuck

wm711 · 02-02-2006, 06:58 AM

45 miles from murray. initially, approx 165...not quite enough for all plans. just for fun-take a look at putnam park schedule this summer, it is full.

wm711 · 02-02-2006, 06:59 AM

http://www.putnampark.com/

wm711 · 02-02-2006, 07:02 AM

that doesnt even list the teams which have rented the track for testing in the off season.

mjshira · 02-02-2006, 07:19 AM

I think its a great idea. I know there are several of us in Southern Indiana who would be interested.

wm711 · 02-02-2006, 08:30 AM

120 miles from evansville

daleflesburg · 02-02-2006, 09:09 AM

My 2 cents.

With the somewhat limited number of tracks in the midwest, and the prices that most of them charge for a weekend, many of the car clubs have a difficult time breaking even on the events they plan.

12 or 13 years ago I talked to the fellow that built Putnam Park, and he told me that the reason he had so little facilities was that he planned it for a hobby track, for his use, and some of the local car clubs, and that he was really supprised at the interest on the part of car clubs (everything from Viper, Corvette, BMW, PCA, Mustang, Audi etc, and the interest on the part of SCCA groups, and even go-kart clubs) that he was overwhelmed. What started out as a hobby, hoping to break even, turned into a business that might even be profitable if he added some facilities (I'm talking bathrooms etc.).

I think the interest is there, and believe if you keep your rates down, so that they can keep their entrance fees down and still make a little money for their clubs, that the car clubs will find you and come the distance to you. It is not at all unusual for people to travel up to 6 hours to do a DE event with the PCA regions that I have done DE's with, and I have driven from Kansas City to Mid-Ohio to drive that track, and did drive from Chicago to Watkins Glenn one time.