EMERGENCY HELP NEEDED!

In the past I have posted information on a proposed "country Club" road course to be built south of Kansas City.

As you know, I am NOT affiliated with the track or its owners.

Of course the track has recieved significant positive support from the car communities, but we have a group who is against it.

I do not mind someone opposing the track for valid reasons, but I do dislike the un-informed and people who try to use scare tactics.

We have a group called www.nospeedway.com that is intitled to thier opinion, just aren't entitled to thier own truths...

PLEASE read this website, you form your own opinion, and comment either way. I realize you may not be in this area, or even in the midwest, but this track will impact alot of car people and is vigoursly supported by the Kansas City Chapter of FCA and the Heartland Viper Club, as well as every other car club I have been in contact with.

PLEASE send a email to the county commisioner who's link in the www.nospeedway.com web site.

The following was my email to the county:

Dear Miami County Commisioner:

I have read the information on WWW.NOSPEEDWAY.COM. I wish they had done the correct homework before they posted information that is not factual and is slanted.

The "Country Club" concept is not new, several tracks around the country are set up that way, while I do not know if Scott Hamby has ever been to any of these other "country club" tracks, I have been to tracks that are "private" and they can co-exist with the surrounding neighbors without any more disruption than a baseball park, like Lewis-Young or a traditional golf country club.

Most of the cars that are on the track are street cars, street legal, and are no more noisy than any other automobile. Most tracks implement sound resritictions so it is unlikely neighbors will ever know when cars are on the track.

Keep in mind, 69 hiway is right by the track, 1,000's of cars travel that hiway everyday, there will be less cars on the track than actually pass the track on 69 hiway every 10 minutes!

There is no exhaust smell or odor from the small number of cars that will operate, while there maybe 200 cars that show up for a race weekend, usually no more that 15 to 25 cars are running at the same time. There are are more cars picking up kids from the elementry school everyday than will be on the track!

Properly restricted, this can be a HUGE benefit to the county, these tracks do not draw just from Miami, Johnson and Jackson Counties but from a multi-state area.

The by-product of this track will be motels and restaurants that are needed in the Louisburg/Paola area. If you visit other communities that have embraced these type of facilities, you will find that everyone benefitted.

We need more business in Miami County, this can be done properly, and without harming the peaceful nature of Louisburg.

Like Mr. Hamby, I live in Miami County, unlike Mr. Hamby I have done my homework.

I would oppose this track if it was a circle track or a drag strip for the same reason Mr. Hamby would oppose it. I respect Mr. Hamby thoughts, but he has clearly not done the homework to support his statements, if he had been to ANY other facility, he would not be able to make the claims he is making.

In closing, I would restrict its use to a road course, I would impose noise restrictions and limit the number of large events they can hold.

Chris Parr

 

Louisburg Herald

Motor sports club revving to go in county

By Doug Carder

Staff Writer


Investors would like to develop a 260-acre site near the southwest corner of 335th Street and U.S. 69 Highway into a high-performance motor sports club.

The Club at Middle Creek would be created for the sports car and racing enthusiast, according to a news release. The motor sports club would be similar to a golf country club in that members join and have the right to use the facilities in exchange for their initiation fee and annual dues.

The Club at Middle Creek and Watkins & Co. Inc., the project's developer, have invited property owners, Miami County commissioners and planners, area business owners and other interested parties to view the development, ask questions and get more information at two public meetings.

Both meetings will take place at Rutlader's Outpost, 335th Street and Metcalf Road. The first meeting will be from noon to 2 p.m. this Saturday. The second meeting will take place from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. April 26. Food and beverages will be provided at both meetings.

The club will be open to members during daylight hours in spring, summer and fall. During winter, the track will usually be closed. Anticipated hours of operation are 8 a.m. to dusk. The track will not have lights and there will be no driving at night, according to the news release.

The club will feature a road course with winding turns -- not an oval track or drag strip.

The majority of the cars on the course will be street cars with mufflers. The club is also planning to use natural sound barriers like small earth berms, trees, shrubs and other vegetation to reduce noise from the course.

Representatives at Watkins & Co. could not be reached for comment.

 

A letter from Autosport Gallery

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Dear County Commissioner(s):

Dear Sirs. I am a business owner, at the very southern edge of Johnson County (206th & METCALF), I run a high end SPORTSCAR repair facility, and have been in this same business, for thirty-five years.
The clientele, that this development, seeks to attract, are some of the most family oriented, community active, generous, and caring individuals.
I deal with them on a daily basis, and have nothing but good things, to report.
Most of the people, that this will attract, as members, are captains of industry, local business owners (Kansas City metro area) and generally well heeled, individuals.
The people I know, are very active with their Children's academics, and their extra curricular activities, such as ball games, fund raisers, etc.
They are also involved with local charities, and outreach programs.
I have never, in the five years, that I have had my business, in Kansas, had as much as a bad check, or declined credit card, from one of these individuals.
They regularly spend thousands of dollars, on upkeep, on their vehicles, and do so willingly.
A road racing track, of this type, can be a benefit, to not only Louisburg, but all the surrounding communities as well.
Not only from a tax base standpoint, but for employment of young people, and older people, as well, as parking attendants, and concession stand operators, at events.
There will be a need, for permanent staff, for groundskeeping, etc., which will bring money, into the local economy.
The vehicles, that would use this track, are generally, street legal, with all pollution control, and sound deadening devices, intact, and functioning.
I grew up in Monterey California, and spent a lot of my formative years, attending racing events, at LAGUNA SECA RACEWAY, in MONTEREY COUNTY.
Laguna Seca raceway, has been Run by Sports Car Racing Association of Monterey Peninsula ( S.C.R.A.M.P.), this non profit organization, has returned millions of dollars, back into the community, for needy programs, over the years.
I would Strongly Consider, Moving my business, out of Johnson County, to Miami County, to be closer to the epicenter of what this track could bring to Miami County.

Chris Hill, Managing Partner,
AUTOSPORT GALLERY
PO box 370
7000 w. 206th St.
STILWELL Ks. 66085
913-402-1710

 

I agree with you Tom, the numbers are not like anything I have ever seen at ANY club event. The Porsche club is usually the largest and like you said they do not top 200. I do not know how organized they are, he has emailed me a few times. I am at a disadvantage, he knows who I am, but I do not know him.

He says he is a car guy, he a 944, but it is dead right now. He has been pleasent enough, I just do not think his expectations are real.

You need to email comissioner Wise and the project commisioer who's names are on www.nospeedway.com.

You need to get the Porsche guys involved with this if you can, thanks Tom.