Private track investment ...

AFAIK there are many attempted that get quashed by zoning rules and community groups that fight their construction. For most communities, it's probably somewhere between toxic waste dump and munitions storage as far as desirability. Yes, I know it brings revenue to the area, but people don't want the traffic and noise.

 

I think you'd still have a fight on your hands with the community groups and zoning.

 

around here in arizona, there was a place called arizona motorsports park, at the end of the runway near luke airforce base. Apparently they had a special use permit from the county which sounded like they just wanted to run cars 8-5 M-F for street type events, wwell they bookked a bunch of events with the local clubs, (SCCA, Pasa,NASA, ASRA) and ran all weekend until the sun goes down. and neighbors (about a mile away) begin to *****. long story short-place is shut down, seven mil or so sitting on old farm land in the middle of the desert off the end of an airforce base . but there have been other places that have more private land than AZ (we have about 30%) I think virginia and texas. Depends who your neighbors are and how much they like motor racing. Another deal is to get a long term lease on some indian reservation, like firebird raceway. still take about five Mil to build a track, but for some of you F-Enzo types guys probably no big deal with the cash.

 

I agree with Ryalex.

In Florida, a Ferrari friend of ours attempted to put together a very fine project in this "country club" mode in an area between Daytona Beach and Ocala.

The nearest home to the property he had picked out for this new facility was
8 miles away. None the less, the community got in an uproar over it, the
bureaucrats got involved and long story short our friend gave up after a long
and expensive legal fight.

Too bad it would have been great to have a facility like this in the hilly area of north-central Florida. It occured to me to check in with his website recently and unfortuntately it is no longer operating so it looks like a dead issue.

Unless youre in a desert area out west, hopes of doing anything like this are slim. I just heard over the weekend that a new track is being built in Southern California but not too much in the way of details.

BHW

 

I heard of a guy here in Rancho Santa Fe that has a big property with a big underground garage. He wanted to build a track, but it was against zoneing or the area rules, because neighbors don't want the noise. So his driveway now just so happens to be a mile long and goes in a circle.

 

Here's some information on a project that is being pursued in Pennsylvania:

http://www.alpinesignature.com/

You might find it interesting. A few of us have talked about checking it out if it ever gets off the ground.

 

Steve.

IT actually is off the ground. They have all the required permits and a number of signature members signed up. THey are awaiting financing, which is $25MM to do the project.

I for one hope it is a success.

I have membership info from them if anyone is interested, PM me. And no, I am not affiliated with them in any way.

DM

 

Jack Farr built it from scratch from the ground up

http://72.29.98.19/~motorsportranch_com/

They are even building houses next to the track now

http://www.digitalprint.com/villas/

In the second link, check out the site map where they show the construction of the second track. Its underway now and should be completed before the end of the year. There is also another MotorSports Ranch project being built in Houston; Jack is consulting on it and licensed the name but no ownership. They have purchased their end and I believe they have begun to build as well. If you are serious about the idea, I would talk to Jack and learn from him.

Current enrollment is about 450 members and growing. They even made a pilot tv show with the intent of selling a reality TV show:

http://www.motorsportranch.tv/

Ignore the wealthy and eccentric comment on the page about the pilot, that sjust for TV. Its not expensive to join and many members come out just to play with their daily driver.

 

we would combine our family winter vacations with fun times at the track...got to ship your ride there though or you can store a track 308 or like the US guys do -- keep cars in canada (tremblant track ) that are impossible to import into the US and track them.

 

For those not aware, a local private group is in the process of building a track approximately 1 hour west of Ottawa, Ontario. It is called Calabogie Motorsports Park, and has been designed primarily for Club events and driver education events. It has been under construction for a few years now and was supposed to have been paved this spring. I hadn't heard any news or seen any updates on their website this year so I decided to drive out this weekend to check it out. They have definitely made progress from last year (where the track resembled the pictures on the company's website) - approximately 1/3 of the guardrail system is installed, many tires for tirewalls have been gathered, and the gravel roadbed has been laid. I'm hoping they manage to get the paving done next spring and start holding events next summer. Check out the link and keep your fingers crossed!

http://www.calabogiemotorsports.com/

 

that track looks very interesting, and in a senic setting too

 

Doesn't Pierre Bardinon have his own track? You could just get chummy with him.

 

There was one planned for NC, but I think the locals got in an uproar over it.

Now, if Barber Motorsports opens up the land around the track for development, I'm in.

 

This place http://www.autobahncountryclub.net/index.html was just built outside of Chicago, check it out thanks Norm