Conference oass::racers

199.0. "New Tracks Project List" by AIMTEC::BURDEN_D (A bear in his natural habitat) Fri Dec 09 1994 12:12

Article 1406 of rec.autos.sport.info:
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From: [email protected] (George Allegrezza)
Subject: MISC: New Track Projects List
Message-ID: <[email protected]>
Followup-To: rec.autos.sport.misc
Sender: [email protected] (A H Henry)
Reply-To: [email protected] (George Allegrezza)
Organization: Digital Equipment Corporation 
Date: Fri, 9 Dec 1994 01:31:39 GMT
Approved: [email protected]
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NEW TRACK PROJECTS LIST

   The New Track Projects List is a compilation of major race track
   development projects announced or underway. I've tried to be as
   accurate and comprehensive as possible. My major sources for the
   information in the list were the key US racing publications: National
   Speed Sport News, Racer, On Track, and Autoweek.

   If you find errors, or have more detailed information on any of the
   projects, or know of projects I've missed, please contact me [George
   Allegrezza, [email protected].] In addition, I'd
   appreciate it if you'd be kind enough to forward any information on
   projects as they meet (or don't meet) significant milestones, such as
   environmental impact statement approvals, construction starts, and the
   like. Not all of these events will be covered in the racing press,
   especially if a project is delayed or cancelled.

   I'm especially interested in any graphic material that illustrates the
   projects' scope and design, such as artists' renderings and track
   layouts. Often, the projects' draft environmental reports (DEIRs) will
   contain this information. I'm hoping to include such material in a
   future version of the list (provided it doesn't croak Andrew's
   server). If you are able to provide hard copy material, I can make
   arrangements to have it scanned in. Please contact me for a fax number
   or US mail address.

   This list ended up being totally US-centric. I would like to expand
   the scope of the list to include all of the major racing countries,
   but I don't have access to much information about track projects
   outside the US. If you do, and you'd like to have the project included
   in the NTPL, please send the information to me at
   [email protected].

   As with most types of development projects, all plans are tentative
   until ground-breaking occurs and construction starts, and developers
   are notoriously optimistic by nature. A healthy dose of skepticism is
   probably advisable, even for the the most accomplished of race track
   developers. For example, it seems likely that only one or two of the
   seven major projects planned for Southern California will come to
   fruition.

   Note that, of all the projects on the NTPL, only Homestead is actually
   under construction.

   Thanks to Dave Reininger for details on Maryland Motorsports Park.

Buttonwillow

   Location:		Near Bakersfield, California, USA
   Nearest Large City:	Los Angeles
   Circuit type:	2+ mile road circuit
   Seating Capacity:	unknown
   Developers:		Cal Club (SCCA Southern California chapter)
   Site:		Undeveloped
   Projected Completion:unknown
   Committed Race Dates:none
   NIMBY Factor:	Medium
   Current Status:      Cal Club needs $1 million in financing to begin
			work on this road circuit, which is oriented
			towards club activities but could hold a pro race.

California Speedway

   Location:		Fontana, California, USA
   Nearest Large City:	Los Angeles
   Circuit type	Phase 1:2-mile "D" oval; Phase 2: drag strip, 975,000
       		sq. ft. R&D center
   Seating Capacity:	93,500
   Developers:		Penske Speedways, Kaiser Resources
   Site:		Former industrial area, 547 acres
   Projected Completion:Phase 1: September 1996; Phase 2: undefined
   Committed Race Dates:CART (September 1996); NASCAR (committed but not
		        specified)
   NIMBY Factor:	Medium
   Current Status:	Draft environmental impact report being prepared for
			San Bernadino County Board of Supervisors.  Kaiser
			has purchased 20%of Penske Speedways.  Large scale
			environmental cleanup of 570-acre site, at a
			projected cost of $10 million, is a prerequisite.
			Local Congressman Henry Waxman, an ardent
			anti-smoking crusader, is opposed to the project,
			which may cause problems even for a developer as
			powerful as Penske.

Golden State International Motorsports Park

   Location:		Hanford, Kings County, California, USA
   Nearest Large City:	San Francisco
   Circuit type	Phase 1: drag strip; phase 2, 1.5 mile tri-oval
   Seating Capacity:	unknown
   Developers:		Mellin International, Ltd. (Hong Kong)
   Site:		1 sq. mi., undeveloped
   Projected Completion:1995
   Committed Race Dates:none
   NIMBY Factor:	Medium
   Current Status:	Mellin and it's US representative, Roger Boschman,
			have secured Kings County approval for construction
			of a $20 million complex in the San Joaquin Valley.
			Construction is scheduled to begin in January 1995.
			Bill Huth of Willow Springs International is
			advising the Mellin interests on this project.

Transwest Park

   Location:		Long Beach, California, USA
   Nearest Large City:	Los Angeles, DC
   Circuit type:Phase 1:1.2 mile tri-oval; Phase 2: industrial park,
       		automotive R&D center, hotel
   Seating Capacity:	unknown
   Developers:		Chris Pook, Long Beach Grand Prix Association
   Site:		Defunct oil field
   Projected Completion:Phase 1: 1997; Phase 2: 2001
   Committed Race Dates	none
   NIMBY Factor:	Medium
   Current Status:	Long Beach GP promoter Pook proposes this racing and
			industrial complex atop a busted-out oil field on
			the Long Beach-Signal Hill border. Pook believes a
			permanent circuit will be required to maintain
			racing in Long Beach as development escalates. The
			site will require a significant environmental
			cleanup effort. Pook is a leader of the anti-IndyCar 
			faction among promoters and is expected to either
			run the LBGP under IRL sanction or secure a
			separate IRL date if that series goes forward.

Autoplex

   Location:		Palm Springs, California, USA
   Nearest Large City:	Los Angeles
   Circuit type:	1.5-mile oval
   Seating Capacity:	80,000
   Developers:		David Christian
   Site:		Undeveloped
   Projected Completion:unknown
   Committed Race Dates:none
   NIMBY Factor:	Medium
   Current Status:	This $25 million project was recently announced in
	       		National Speed Sport News. Few details are available.

Riverside Grand Prix

   Location:		Riverside, California, USA
   Nearest Large City:	Los Angeles
   Circuit type:	2.5 mile road circuit
   Seating Capacity:	unknown
   Developers:		Sam Bowlby, Howard Omdahl, Don Dyer
   Site:		240-acre undeveloped site near March Air Force Base
   Projected Completion:late 1995
   Committed Race Dates:none
   NIMBY Factor:	Medium-High
   Current Status:	The principals have filed a proposal with the
			Riverside County Board of Supervisors for approval
			of this project, which is near the site of the
			now-defunct Riverside International Raceway.
			Substantial opposition has been encountered from
			USAF retirees living near March AFB.

Southdown

   Location:		Victorville, California, USA
   Nearest Large City:	Los Angeles
   Circuit type:	1.5-mile oval, short oval, road course, R&D center,
       		entertainment complex
   Seating Capacity:	235,000 (final phase)
   Developers:		Southdown, Inc., Agajanian Bros.
   Site:		900-acre former concrete plant
   Projected Completion:late 1995
   Committed Race Dates:none
   NIMBY Factor:	Medium
   Current Status:	Concrete producer Southdown, supplier of concrete 
			to NASCAR tracks such as Bristol, has backed the
			Agajanians in their bid to build an oval in
			Southern California before Roger Penske.  Ground-
			breaking is supposed to occur in January of 1995.
			The Agajanians' close links with USAC should help
			them secure an IRL date if Chris Pook doesn't
			switch the LBGP to F1 or IRL.

Homestead Motorsports Complex

   Location:		Homestead, Florida, USA
   Nearest Large City:	Miami
   Circuit type:	1.5 mile oval; 2.25 mile drag strip
   Seating Capacity:	50,000
   Developer:		Ralph Sanchez
   Site:		Undeveloped
   Projected Completion:November 1995
   Committed Race Dates:Miami 300 Busch Grand National, November 5, 1995;
		        CART (March 1996)
   NIMBY Factor:	Low
   Current Status:	Construction underway; earthworks and infield tunnels
	       		in process.

Quad Cities International Raceway

   Location:		Davenport, Iowa, USA
   Nearest Large City:	Chicago
   Circuit type:	2-mile oval
   Seating Capacity:	unknown
   Developers:		TBD
   Site:		Undeveloped
   Projected Completion:unknown
   Committed Race Dates:none
   NIMBY Factor:	Low
   Current Status:	This on-again off-again proposal seems to have 
			found a new lease on life in the last few weeks,
			with a new site plan and proposal being presented
			by the developers. The original proposal was for a
			two-mile facility with integral hotel facilities.

Maryland Motorsports Park

   Location:		Havre de Grace, Maryland, USA
   Nearest Large City:	Baltimore
   Circuit type:	2.55-mile road circuit, 1.5 and 1.05 mile club 
			circuits, amphitheater
   Seating Capacity:	unknown
   Developers:		Dick Rothman
   Site:		former estate, 550 acres (Blenheim Manor)
   Projected Completion:none
   Committed Race Dates:none
   NIMBY Factor:	Medium
   Current Status:	This road circuit has been proposed as a fallback 
			site for the US GP should the Brandy Station
			project be cancelled.  Land annexation by Town of
			Havre de Grace is imminent.

Mississippi National Raceway

   Location:		Vicksburg, Mississippi, USA
   Nearest Large City:	New Orleans
   Circuit type:	1.5 mile tri-oval; hotel and casino complex
   Seating Capacity:	unknown
   Developers:		Ed Belisile, American Racing League
   Site:		Undeveloped
   Projected Completion:1997
   Committed Race Dates:1997 (American Racing League (1997)
   NIMBY Factor:	Medium
   Current Status:	Financing is being sought for this track, the first 
			in a series of sixteen identical 1.5-mile tri-ovals
			to be built in North America as venues for the
			American Racing League (ARL).  ARL plans to stage
			32 races, two at each track, using Winston Cup-like
			5-liter pushrod stock cars. Some sites, like
			Mississippi National, will also have additional
			entertainment facilities such as casinos or
			amusement parks.

Las Vegas

   Location:		Las Vegas, Nevada, USA
   Circuit type:	Oval
   Developers:		Richie Klein
   Current Status:	Ongoing proposal for a new oval in the Las Vegas area;
	       		not affiliated with the Burton Smith project.

Atlantic City

   Location:		Atlantic City, New Jersey, USA
   Nearest Large City:	Philadelphia
   Circuit type:	Road circuit, length undetermined
   Seating Capacity:	Tom Demarest
   Developers:		TBD
   Site:		Undeveloped
   Projected Completion:unknown
   Committed Race Dates:none
   NIMBY Factor:	Low
   Current Status:	Plans for this venue were recently announced in
			National Speed Sport News. Demarest, an Atlantic
			City attorney, is assembling the 455-acre site from
			multiple parcels. No details are presently available.

Mitchell Field Raceway

   Location:		Uniondale, New York, USA
   Nearest Large City:	New York
   Circuit type:	2.5-mile quasi-permanent road circuit near/around 
			Nassau Coliseum
   Seating Capacity:	unknown
   Developers:	
   Site:		Developed suburban area
   Projected Completion:unknown
   Committed Race Dates:none
   NIMBY Factor:	Medium/High
   Current Status:	This venue plans to use the parking lots, access
			roads, and other infrastructure of the Nassau
			Coliseum. CART has expressed interest in bringing
			Indy cars back to metro New York, but the promoter
			claims the asking price is too high.  Promoter is
			exploring an IRL date.

Mountain Top International Speedway

   Location:		Nashville, Tennessee, USA
   Nearest Large City:	Nashville
   Circuit type:	2-mile rhomboid oval
   Seating Capacity:	unknown
   Developers:		TBD
   Site:		Undeveloped
   Projected Completion:unknown
   Committed Race Dates:none
   NIMBY Factor:	Low
   Current Status:	This track has been proposed as a NASCAR-oriented
       			Facility in Tennessee, one of the few Southeastern 
			states without a Winston Cup event.

Brandy Station

   Location:		Brandy Station, Virginia, USA
   Nearest Large City:	Washington
   Circuit type:	2.5-mile road circuit
   Seating Capacity:	unknown
   Developers:		Benton Ventures
   Site:		425-acre Civil War battlefield
   Projected Completion:unknown
   Committed Race Dates	none
   NIMBY Factor:	High
   Current Status:	Benton Ventures has proposed building a F1-class 
			road circuit on the site of a minor Civil War
			skirmish. Heavy opposition has been encountered
			from Civil War enthusiasts. A bankruptcy judge has
			recently approved the sale of the property to the
			track developer for $5 million. Opponents have
			vowed to fight the proposal in court.

Burton Smith proposal

   Location:		Dallas, St. Louis, or Las Vegas, USA
   Circuit type:	1.5-mile oval
   Seating Capacity:	unknown
   Developers:		Burton Smith, Humpy Wheeler
   Current Status:	Smith, owner of Charlotte and Atlanta raceways, 
			is scouting Western sites for his next project.
			Smith's ties to NASCAR should help him secure a
			Winston Cup date. None of the cities Smith is
			evaluating currently have large ovals suitable 
			for NASCAR or CART.

--
George Allegrezza              |
Digital Equipment Corporation  |   "Because I'm your father and I said
Littleton  MA  USA             |    so, that's why."
[email protected] |                    -- me

    Thanks Dave.
    
    I'm generating a new revision this week to cover the new projects
    in St. Louis and Dallas, plus correct the spelling of Bruton Smith's
    name.  I'll post it here too.
    
    I really wish Andrew Henry didn't want it in TeX. ;-)
    
    George

The Brandy Station track mentioned in .1 and 26 .3,.5 & .6 is dead.  The 
land was forclosed on and sold in bankruptcy court to a group than palns to 
give/sell the land to a Civil War group.

Jilly