| Author |
Message |
bob snow (Resnow)
| | Posted on Thursday, August 23, 2001 - 5:52 am: | |
Check out www.virclub.com
It can be done. |
Tim N (Timn88)
| | Posted on Wednesday, August 22, 2001 - 6:38 pm: | |
The simpsons is definately the best TV show. Al of my senior quotes are probably going to be from that show! |
david schirmer (David)
| | Posted on Tuesday, August 21, 2001 - 11:14 pm: | |
This is a great idea to pursue. There is a continuing increase in the popularity of motorsports. I just recently read about a place in Virginia (I think) that had a sort of country club set up where members could take their cars on the club owned track. I believe that there were also other ammeneties such as a swimming pool and a restaurant. I know I would join something like that here if it were available.
The obstacles to surmount are pretty major. Some have already been listed. I know a guy who was in architect school and as his final project, did a design for a raceway. It is a massive undertaking. If he had taken it on as a project, it would have taken years to pull off. It would now be worth a fortune, and he would be racing cars whenever and wherever he wanted.
The biggest obstacle will be people in your way telling you why you can't do it. Don't listen to them, listen to the people who tell you that you can. And get them to help you do it. |
Martin (Miami348ts)
| | Posted on Monday, August 20, 2001 - 2:42 pm: | |
"You have tried boy, you failed, lesson to be learned...Never try!" - Homer Simpson- |
Tim N (Timn88)
| | Posted on Sunday, August 19, 2001 - 8:53 pm: | |
Thats a good idea that might pay off. If you build one, it would be a good idea to make a 1/2 mile front strecth so you could use it as a drag strip, like sears point. Aroud here the closest drag strip is island dragway, but it sucks. The closest good one is Englishtown, and thats 1 hour and 15 minutes away. Just a thought. Dont forget, trying is the first step toward failure (im kidding). |
arthur chambers (Art355)
| | Posted on Saturday, August 18, 2001 - 8:55 pm: | |
Kenny:
construction of a racetrack can be very tricky. Most people who build them have them designed. There is a good reason for that. Near where I live, a Ferrari owner (who I will not name) built himself a track at his house for his 125cc go cart. The settling has substantial land but the final turn leading onto the front straight is such that if you go off the track, you run into the shop (at about 80 - 90 mph).
There is a guy by the name of Ed Bargy who lives on the East Coast who has designed several tracks. If an when you get ready to do this, and you have enough land, I would search out a designer who has some experience before you start construction.
given what I do for a living: lawyer, who specialized in motorsports litigation, I have seen tracks with flaws in them that once built the owners refused to correct the flaws. An example of that would be turns 8, 8a, & 9 at Sears Point in Sonoma, California. When the motorcycles use that track, there is no run off room in those corners, and there has been over 10 deaths in those corners over the years. All of that could have been avoided with proper design, i.e., thought about the design with an eye to safety.
You idea is a great one and I wish that I had thought of building my own track when I was able to put it to a good use. Good luck.
Art |
Rob Lay (Rob328gts)
| | Posted on Saturday, August 18, 2001 - 12:22 pm: | |
A couple more examples in the Dallas area...
This was were the FCA annual meet was, I think he initially built it for around $500k...
www.motorsportranch.com
Here is another new one being built, this one will have 3 tracks that can be combined for a 4.5 mile track. This one is probably costing millons...
www.gunterring.com |
Russell Moore (Rem9)
| | Posted on Saturday, August 18, 2001 - 7:01 am: | |
Kenny,
There was once another young fellow with a wild idea. Something to do with the blossoming world of computers. Ever hear of Bill Gates? I also recall a small startup company called PC's Limited that was the manufacturer of one of my first computers way back in the dark ages. This was the startup company of Michael Dell. Today Dell Computer is the #1 manufacturer of PCs in the US. My point is, never regret thinking outside the box. There is risk in everything, but reward in many.
As an aside, the TR deal has been successful with a splendid outcome. |
Dr. Steven J. Solomon (Solly)
| | Posted on Friday, August 17, 2001 - 10:56 pm: | |
Kenny,
Major fortunes have begun with a dream. Keep at it and you'll eventually get it done. Be prepared for setbacks and compromises along the way since you will probably have to involve other people, each with his/her own agenda. Do not give up.
Some very rough estimates off the top of my head:
1/2 square mile=320 acres. You can build a 1.5 mile oval or a much longer road course within these confines, and have plenty of room left over for garages, parking, autocross track, etc. If you are lucky enough to find an irregularly-shaped piece of land that will match your track design you can get away with fewer acres (this could be done with as few as 48 acres if you were real lucky).
Cost per acre, raw land, large parcel, Putnam County, NY: approx $2-3,000 per acre. You may get a bigger discount for this many acres, I just don't know enough about the market. Land cost estimate:$640,000-$960,000.
Architect fees: This is a pure guess: $10-20,000
I heard that the cost to redo Lime Rock's track is about 3 million (but that may involve other improvements, besides re-paving). My driveway cost me $7,000 to pave, including all grading, gravel, etc. Cost per sq. ft=$2.91.
A 1 mile track, 40 feet wide is 211,200 sq. feet, at $2.91 per sq. foot=$614,592. Again, such a large project may qualify for a discount, or may be much more expensive if massive regrading/terrain reshaping is necessary.
You can probably erect a prefab type storage garage of 5,000 sq. feet for under $50,000 . Oil furnace to maintain our Ferraris at minimum 40 Fahrenheit all winter: $10-20,000
Fencing, permits, "political contributions" to local officials to overcome residents' complaints about noise problems: $100,000.
I have no idea what water, sewer and electric cost to bring in, but you could probably do without them if all you wanted to do was show up and race every weekend.
Total estimate: Let's call it $1.4-1.8 million.
Hmmmm, track rental fees @ $35,000 per day, 200 days a year=$7,000,000. ROI=350%. Count me in.
Seriously, I happen to think you have a great idea here. Since Bridgehampton closed, Lime Rock and Pocono are the only tracks within 2 hours of New York City, and each is booked solid. Just try getting lap or practice time at Lime Rock if you are not racing there in a sanctioned event, or as part of a car club. only 3 days a year are available for you to bring your car down and put it on the track. I think market demand will be high, and fees earned by renting the track out to clubs or groups can pay the ongoing carrying costs (mortgage, taxes, maintenance, etc.)
If you have the time, pursue this. |
1975 308 GT4 (Peter)
| | Posted on Friday, August 17, 2001 - 7:39 pm: | |
Here's a link that I think you may find interesting:
http://www.lastlapracefacility.com
Its a project currently underway in Arizona. A large Road Course/Oval and you can buy a house on a fair-size chunk of land (within the grounds of the track), with a huge garage and have year-round access to the track. Quite a few have sold already. |
martin wiescholek (Miami348ts)
| | Posted on Friday, August 17, 2001 - 8:17 am: | |
Kenny,
I have learned a lesson in life: "If you can dream it, you can do it" or if normal people tell you "that is crazy", you are on the right track to do great things!
Thank God I did not listen to my Aunt at age 14, otherwise I would be stuck in a 9-5 job and could not even pay for the Ferrari mouse pad, nevertheless for the real thing!
The idea is great. I have mentioned that before on the chat that the race tracks should use the recent Fast and Furious deaths as a promo. Land will cost different in different areas. There are government regulations to think about and paving a track is VERY expensive. One of the main reasons why F-1 teams spend money to rent a track and not own one. The new Toyota F-1 team for the 2002 season is currently renting a track in France for $ 35,000 per DAY!
From this point it may not be feasable just for a few guys to burn some rubber. HOWEVER, if you are really interested in doing something like that you should meet some GT-guys, Le Mans officials and see what it would take to get them to race on a new track and if they are interested in taking part of the design process. Go to races and talk to people. Get some feedback from them.
It may take you a few years to put this together but it is doable. It will not be easy<, but I guess you figured that already. One word of caution, most race tracks do not do good finacially. Although I believe that this is more due to a lack of management and promotion. If things are coming together you could always raise funds for the construction by public offering.
Let me use this to recommend a book to you:
Think and grow rich! by Napoleon Hill. It is a classic and will stimulate your mind to achieve great things. You will be most pleasantly surprise when you look back a few years from now how much you have achieved and why! Read it, live it!
Think small - make small bucks
Think BIG - make..... |
Kenny Herman (Kennyh)
| | Posted on Friday, August 17, 2001 - 12:31 am: | |
You guys keep your cars stored in your garages anyway, chances are your car would most likely be stolen from a urban or suburban area then from a place in the middle of nowhere. A good security system would do the trick. If your car is stollen, its stollen, you have insurance to cover it. Also, you can hook up with the local Ferrari Club and maybe you can make back some of the money you spent and charge them to take their cars on the track. The only thing I would worry about is the winter- the ice breaking up the gravel.
Have a good one,
Kenny |
Magoo (Magoo)
| | Posted on Friday, August 17, 2001 - 12:04 am: | |
P.S. Don't make apologies for your idea or your age. It's ideas and concepts like yours that have made our country what it is today. Keep thinking. MAGOO |
Magoo (Magoo)
| | Posted on Thursday, August 16, 2001 - 11:52 pm: | |
Kenny, It sounds great if there were a bunch of guys who wanted to do it. Pretty soon it would be found out, then you have big problems. You would have to have,big time, security year round 24hrs. night and day. That would be the big expense. I don't think you would leave your Ferrari out there without full time security would you? Just being the devils advocate here. BRGDS MAGOO |
Kenny Herman (Kennyh)
| | Posted on Thursday, August 16, 2001 - 11:29 pm: | |
I have been thinking to my self lately that it might be more cost effective to buy a plot of land in the boon-docks and cement a track around it. I am not talking about a full 1.53 mile 8 turn track, but maybe a track 1.5 mile track with a half mile straight away. A place where you can test your cars and maybe even build a garage. I am guessing if you find a plot of land that isn't developed say 45 minutes from the city in an area like Brewster or even farther up north it couldn't be that expensive. If you bought the land with a 10 friends (or guys from this board), it would be cheaper then paying track fees. You could build a simple hangar-type garage with enough room for 20 cars and keep your cars in their year round (for people that live in the city, you can save money from parking) and also, you can go on the track anytime you have the urge to burn rubber.
This plan probably doesn't make any sense, but it is an interesting idea. Being a 16 year old kid, I don't know the prices for such a plot of land. Also, how much would it cost to cement a large area like that?
Eventually, I am planning on getting a property like that, so even though it might seem useless to reply, could you please tell me the prices of such an endevour.
Have a good one,
Kenny |
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