Mega Car Condo Project

I apologize for being skeptical.

Isaac, we can talk about it over a beer.

 

If it's not a real track that you can use regularly and really lap in at speed for a good chunk of time, then it's waste of money.

You should get something like Monticello for the money these things cost. Car condo is just another word for a nice garage. No one even knows how hard these will be to sell either. $200K tied up in a non-commercial, non-residential property? Pass.

 

I don't think you are the target audience for something like this.

There's plenty of folks who would be perfectly happy taking a few laps around the track and calling it a day. Maybe give rides to friends and whatnot. It's a auto enthusiats lifestyle community, not just a racer's private track. It's a place you can hang out with buddy's and bs. Its a destination for nice summer evenings. There's a lot of reasons to get a garage besides the test track.

 

Exactly. The main reason we are building the track is for commercial use. We have been in talks with the Big 3 and many suppliers who want to use the track for testing, vehicle launches, training, and customer engagement . It will be an amenity for the garage owners as they will get plenty of track time throughout the week.

 

this is clearly a lifestyle choice.....

i had a long phone conversation with bruce at the automotorplex@minn (arguably the founder of this concept) about doing this in atlanta a year ago or so....

 

Then, it really shocks me that Waterford Hills can't drum up more commercial business.

 

I remain extremely skeptical that the track portion of the facility will ever be able to operate as any kind of truly functional track. I understand that it's convenient for the city to say "no sound requirements right now" but there are homes within a few hundred feet of where cars are supposed to be going WOT. Speaking of local manufacturers, a C7 Z06 or a GT350 will blow away the kind of db levels acceptable at tracks that are significantly more remote.

You get 10 cars running concurrently that blow 105 db lap after lap less than half a mile from a golf course and a hospital, and I personally don't see it lasting.

 

I think there will be some sort of compromises obviously. Waterford does the same thing.
But a lot has to do with the success to the facility as a whole. If they bring revenue streams into the area then they probably will be able to influence negotiations better.
In fact, I'd hire as many locals to work there as possible. I'd do charity events there for LOCAL charities and whatnot. Maybe a toy run for the children at the hospital, i dunno. Basically anything you can do to not alienate the locals the better.

 

Waterford Hills could easily rent the track out more, there is plenty of demand.
BUT, in 1964 there was a Consent Decree that not only limited the sound levels, but also the hours of operation AND the number of days per year the track could be used for motorsports (noise making) purposes.
It is within those constraints the track and the surrounding neighborhoods have maintained a balance over the last 50 years.......

Brian

 

cause gm cant use the proving grounds for free.....

 

A balance "?"

We rented the track for a weekday club event and an adjacent neighbor came to the fence and threw nails on the track. I suggested that the police be called and the nail thrower be charged with attempted murder but the track officials just swept it under the carpet stating that they did not want to make waves with the neighbors.

 

maybe he didnt realize there was a track there when he bought the house

 

Nothing to apologize about. Nothing is a reality yet...

Beer sounds like a good idea, Chris.

That was almost as surprising as the nails hitting the track themselves.

 

That's what I was thinking.

 

You were there that day, weren't you?

 

Just saw the first phase of 80 units is sold out. Must be a few guys around the area who think it's a good idea. I know I am excited to see how it all works out. Congrats to Brad and Matt from taking this from an idea to reality.

 

Yeah, I was there...

 

interested to see how these do in the secondary market when it is all done...

 

News update:

Ground broken at M1 Concourse; first phase set to be completed by spring 2016

 

I would love to see this work, but I see issues like this in the not so distant future. I was just at Waterford for a private afternoon rental and an irate neighbor rolled up into the paddock yelling. He was upset because of a car that was on track that meets racing sound requirements. This stuff doesn't go away even with the best arrangements in place.

Corvette track issues.
Track noise complaints loud, clear | Our Opinion | bgdailynews.com

 

Saw this thread while I was looking for another thread. Funny to read ten years later.

 

i'd call it an exercise track......

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given the founder left and is doing projects in Tampa, Nashville and Columbus..... from a development perspective, yes.

everyone seems to enjoy it. it's a club to show off your stuff. that said it's not cheap.

i would classify the tracking activity as the type of touring sessions that goes on during a track day at a real track. i could be wrong but i know of no "real" racing that occurs. it's not built or equipped.

not sure the neighbors are the type that can complain

i'm suprised that it hasnt spurred more local development