Didn't see it posted anywhere, but I'm told it's a done deal....
Didn't see it posted anywhere, but I'm told it's a done deal. https://www.autoweek.com/racing/more-racing/a37303372/racers-rally-save-palm-beach-international-raceway/ Hopefully, not true. CW
I heard the same rumor in late June, but some quick online research didn't reveal anything definitive at the time- just similar unconfirmed stories. PBIR was the first track I ever drove when I did my first Skip Barber 3-day back in February, 1979, and I've pounded around there for countless laps, so I do feel a sentimental attachment to the place. I'll be sad to see it go if in fact this story is true . . .
Well, if it isn't Walmart it will be the encroaching residential areas moving closer and closer and all the Karens complaining about the noise. The handwriting has been on the walls for 20+ years. BHW
Not good news: Car lovers fear sale of Palm Beach International Raceway near Jupiter (palmbeachpost.com) Sorry just noticed this already has a thread. I can't delete it.
It’s inevitable, really. I’m surprised it’s survived this long. I had hundreds of track day laps there, made many good friends.
Imagine, both PBIR (NE: Moroso) and Road Atlanta were both built as replacements for Sebring. Can you imagine them trying to hold an event on the scale of the 12 Hours of Sebring at Moroso? It's never been anything more than a club track and could never be due the size restrictions with literal swamps on three sides of the property. Their main attraction and money maker has always been drag racing and in fact, the reconfiguration of the road course separating from the drag strip was at the behest of the NHRA which mandated that the drag strip have retaining walls on both sides in order for them to continue sanctioning events there. About the same time they did the road course reconfiguration and drag strip improvements, there was a buzz being created about PBIR turning the paddock into a Tomorrowland-esque series of new buildings which were going to include condo warehouses, F-1 type pits and garages, restaurants, entertainment complexes with theaters etc. The thought was if they increased the value of the property and the property tax increase that went along with it, it would be enough to keep the developers away. They also sent out notice that they were going to be open for business hosting major international points paying championship races on the road course. I was in a position to bring a proposal from Stephan Ratel's FIA GT series there. But, with the requirements that the FIA GT needed to have met in terms of pit and garage facilities, details such as how many electrical outlets were to be in each garage, not to mention the sanctioning fee (and) that notion was quickly tabled. Indeed, it's a pity that race tracks such as PBIR are being swallowed up by the Walmart culture. Another such track was Lakeland Speedway, a short oval that hosted Saturday night local races and some NASCAR teams tested there occasionally. The Lakeland track was likewise lost to developers who tilled the track under in order to build warehouses. That's progress. BHW
Today's local paper note: So it looks like it still has a few more laps left before retirement/conversion. Regards, Jerry
