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New Local Track?!?!?!
Posted: Tue Jul 29, 2008 8:04 pm
by magilson
new local track?
http://www.ky3.com/news/local/26074099.html
[quote]MARSHFIELD, Mo. -- A vacant field north of Marshfield is a developer's dream and a city administrator’s hope for a booming future. Plans are in the works to turn Marshfield into a major sporting destination.
Jerry Douglas hopes to build a “top end motor course race trackâ€
Posted: Tue Jul 29, 2008 8:06 pm
by killerbracing
Yep you got scooped. Poll below.

Posted: Tue Jul 29, 2008 8:24 pm
by Unstable
"west side of I-44"?
I-44 runs east and west.
There have been plans laid out for an airport in that area too for atleast 20 years but nothing has ever came to be.
It would be nice especially since it would be basically off the back of my property but about 2 miles by roads however I won't flip any cartwheels till I see the equipment beginning work.
PS:

Posted: Tue Jul 29, 2008 9:47 pm
by AutoXChris
excited!

Posted: Wed Jul 30, 2008 10:47 am
by JimR
I see Chris Brannon, one of the bigger road racers from OMR, has his name attached to the development. Having a SCCA presence in this process would be excellent for the club, and not just the road racers.
Dan Guterman bought Tulsa Raceway Park, the drag strip just North of Tulsa. Dan is a NEOkla region Club Racer, and had designs on creating a road course within the property. He made improvements to the drag strip and the paddock in some spots, but the autocross and road racing mecca never materialized financially. I hope it comes together for the Marshfield site. It takes megabucks to build a modern road course facility. That 10-acre paddock area with garages is brushing eight figures alone.
Still, Dan let NEOkla run an event in the paddock a few months ago, and we let him make some fun runs in his Mercedes at the end. It's a good relationship to have. The paddock is a little small, but it was a good event. If the paddock is repaved and improved, I could see it being a permanent home of NEOkla events. It would be excellent for OMR Solo2 to have a similar situation in years to come with this road course.
I would like to hear how OMRSCCA could maintain a presence in the developement of this track. If it comes together. Fingers crossed.
Posted: Wed Jul 30, 2008 2:48 pm
by Unstable
Maybe I can get a job as caretaker since I am so close?
With the other names mentioned don't forget Jeff Moore's name on the track layout.
Posted: Wed Jul 30, 2008 6:31 pm
by RacinAlt
I recognized the same name Jim, the collector car buisness must still be strong. (for Chris Brannon) that is.
He was my co-driver for a few events until he realized that road racing was more of his cup of tea.
Posted: Wed Jul 30, 2008 9:36 pm
by killerbracing
Posted: Thu Jul 31, 2008 5:30 am
by Unstable
killerbracing wrote:Not to knock the SCCA, but if this thing goes down, it needs a weekly series with it's own track rules.
They want the ALMS SCCA NASA etc to run there, but they need the locals to keep the lights on. No one sanctioning body (except for the track itself) should be thinking about digging the claws in.

Keeping the lights "on" will probably be handled like the other Road Courses through renting out the track in between scheduled races and driving schools. Other than possibly having a Touring Club (hint

) to run weekly events, I kind of doubt there is enough support to run any kind of weekly races especially since most road races are held during the day when people around here are working or off to the lake and such. I wouldn't mind having a once a month schedule.
While we are excited about this type of racing, remember the locals are used to nighttime, no rain, roundy rounds and this course will be a big shock to their systems.
Posted: Thu Jul 31, 2008 7:53 am
by JimR
Right.
Road courses can operate without the need to fill stands every Friday night. Along with NASA, SCCA, and other regular sanctioned auto racing, a track like this would fill its calendar with road racer test & tunes, schools, motorcycle racing and lap days, race karts, private trackdays, marque club events (PCA, SVT, Viper club, Miatas, etc), and anyone else willing to pay money to use the facilities. Land some banner events like Speed Challenge, ALMS, Grand-Am, or AMA, and you're making bank above and beyond a circle track without weekly door-banging.
Hallett circuit outside of Tulsa has COMMA, which is a racing organization specific to the track. It sanctions monthly road racing, as well as the "High Speed Touring" track lapping sessions. I guarantee people up in OMR country are aware of the series and the financial driver that it is for Hallett. COMMA is a home to classes similar to SCCA Club Racing, as well as Legends, tube-framed V8 stock cars, etc.
Posted: Thu Jul 31, 2008 7:56 am
by zoomzoom
My guess is there will be some sort of 'Country Club' type of membership program, with set available track times for members. This is a business model other road courses have implemented, since it adds a nice annual revenue base. There are a lot of people within a three to four hour drive who would pony up the dollars for a membership.
Throw in possible revenues from the SCCA, NASA, a driving school (Bondurant Midwest?), motorcycle events, and HPDE's, and suddenly, you have a workable revenue base to support the venture.
As stated in the KY3 article, this area does have tremendous appeal from a tourism standpoint, which should only help matters. "Honey, I'll go to the track while you and the kids stay at Big Cedar".
Posted: Thu Jul 31, 2008 7:24 pm
by killerbracing
The only downside is that the ALMS, F1 races, etc that you see on speed, the TRACK pays for the series to be there.
Want to know why there isn't a F1 GP in the states? The FIA wants $20mil up front before the course is laid out.
I'm sure there's enough wine and chesse a-holes to pipe money into this thing, but the local racers have been waiting for this for 20 years! (Yes the 'necks that race on Friday and Saturday nights!)
A weekly or bi-weekly series under the lights would draw a crowd. It would also be easier to get a SPEED deal. Local personalities draw fans!
You have to market a new venue like NASCRAP does. Series, drivers, done.
It would also attract NEW drivers to the sport. If you struck it rich on google stock, drove a cavalier and now can afford a Lambo doesn't make you a race car driver!
As with any 'neck track around here, Rules would be simple:
Cage, aluminum seat, 5 point harness, class by engine displacement and GO! Safety first!
No matter what the hype on tourism is, this state is a shithole. Why on earth would I travel from California to sweat standing still? The neon lights of Branson? No. The Lake of the Ozarks? (never make it to the track, too many naked women).
Hate me all you want. That is the truth.
Posted: Thu Jul 31, 2008 9:25 pm
by Unstable
Damn sounds like someone lives in Buffalo.
If they design a shorter course into the track then maybe a weekly event might be feasible but due to the attention span of most people anymore I doubt they will wait for 1.5-2 minutes to see the leaders make a lap. I've seen dirt track fans get bored watching races with 15 sec. lap times.
This is for Jeff, Chris and the other people involved - I would like to make the suggestion someone contact Hot Rod Magazineâ„¢ and make a motion for them to hold the Street Machine & Street Rod Nationals at the track. The 10 acre paddock is more than enuff room for the show plus there is a road course that is minus those pesky Springfield PD in case the owners want to drive thier cars. It is a short drive thru Marshfield (via Marshall Rd. at 104 overpass) to "A" highway and down Hwy. 60 to OIR.
I am really trying to be reserved about this track idea but still I find myself wanting to help it work out if I can.

Posted: Sat Aug 02, 2008 9:15 am
by scoTT
its Car Craft magazine that puts on the street machine nationals at the fair grounds.....

Posted: Sat Aug 02, 2008 8:58 pm
by killerbracing
Unstable wrote:Damn sounds like someone lives in Buffalo.
Yep, I do, and I want this to go through! There's still too many things up in the air.
The Country Club aspect looks sexy in Motor Trend, but adds millions of dollars to the build of the facility.
All of the Saturday night local racers that I've talked to are looking forward to the new track.
The worst racing I've ever witnessed was when we went to Springfield Raceway. It wasn't the racing, it was the fans in the stands fist fighting! And that track doesn't allow beer on the site! Never knew there where so many Hoosiers in Greene County!
