Race Track in Palmer MA.
08-25-2007 | 09:03 AM
#1
Race Track in Palmer MA. This would be great!
Ready, set...Amateur track planned
By Scott Van Voorhis
Boston Herald Business Reporter
Saturday, August 25, 2007
Amateur road racing is ready to make some noise in Western Massachusetts where an auto group is pushing plans for a 658-acre “motor sports park.”
The New England Region Sportscar Club of America has filed development plans for the huge racing venue in Palmer, which would include a 65-acre racing complex and a two-mile racecourse.
The complex, which will cost roughly $10 million to build, is the second major development being proposed for the town. A group of local developers has teamed up with Connecticut’s Mohegan Sun to propose a major resort casino a few miles away.
“It’s a hobby like golf,” said Richard Patullo, project director for the sports car club. “It could be the guy who is a dentist or an auto mechanic or an accountant. That’s what he does on the weekends.”
Still, unlike NASCAR races, which attract hundreds of thousands, the proposed amateur racing complex is not designed to accommodate crowds of casual spectators.
Instead, the racecourse, in a secluded woodland area 3,000 feet from the nearest home, is designed for use by amateur racers. It’s roughly the same concept as a golf course, which is also designed for the use of players.
The racecourse, slated to open in the spring of 2009, will be large enough to handle 200 amateur race cars during a single event.
While the drivers are not pros, some can hit speeds as high as 140 mph in souped-up cars.
The park operators make money renting it out - for as much as $10,000 a day.
Competing isn’t cheap either. Buying and outfitting a car with roll cages and other racing equipment can cost from a few thousand dollars to $100,000.
“The hardest part is slowing down for the 40 mile-an-hour curve at the end,” Patullo said.
http://business.bostonherald.com/bus...icleid=1019026
By Scott Van Voorhis
Boston Herald Business Reporter
Saturday, August 25, 2007
Amateur road racing is ready to make some noise in Western Massachusetts where an auto group is pushing plans for a 658-acre “motor sports park.”
The New England Region Sportscar Club of America has filed development plans for the huge racing venue in Palmer, which would include a 65-acre racing complex and a two-mile racecourse.
The complex, which will cost roughly $10 million to build, is the second major development being proposed for the town. A group of local developers has teamed up with Connecticut’s Mohegan Sun to propose a major resort casino a few miles away.
“It’s a hobby like golf,” said Richard Patullo, project director for the sports car club. “It could be the guy who is a dentist or an auto mechanic or an accountant. That’s what he does on the weekends.”
Still, unlike NASCAR races, which attract hundreds of thousands, the proposed amateur racing complex is not designed to accommodate crowds of casual spectators.
Instead, the racecourse, in a secluded woodland area 3,000 feet from the nearest home, is designed for use by amateur racers. It’s roughly the same concept as a golf course, which is also designed for the use of players.
The racecourse, slated to open in the spring of 2009, will be large enough to handle 200 amateur race cars during a single event.
While the drivers are not pros, some can hit speeds as high as 140 mph in souped-up cars.
The park operators make money renting it out - for as much as $10,000 a day.
Competing isn’t cheap either. Buying and outfitting a car with roll cages and other racing equipment can cost from a few thousand dollars to $100,000.
“The hardest part is slowing down for the 40 mile-an-hour curve at the end,” Patullo said.
http://business.bostonherald.com/bus...icleid=1019026
08-25-2007 | 09:40 AM
#2
This idea has been kicking around for a while. I think the last time someone proposed this they hit some sort of snag and it fell through. I was just in Palmer yesterday and was thinking it would be cool if this ever got done. As far as I know though there are no plans for a drag strip at this track. It doesn't say in this article, I'm assuming the site they have in mind is still the airport.
Last edited by Formula413; 08-26-2007 at 10:11 PM. Reason: spelling
08-27-2007 | 06:18 AM
#5
I was hearing that on Rock 102 this morning. The casino proposed there, the guy who wants it didnt disclose in 1981 he was convicted of rape and he lied about his military background. I think the track is going in.
08-27-2007 | 11:15 AM
#7
The roadcourse would add a dynamic to the facility that would insure a good weekly attendance.... but a drag strip would be great if they could get it in there too. Like I said, even an 1/8th mile track would be better then nothing.
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08-27-2007 | 11:32 AM
#9
exactly. I would much rather see a full 1/4 mile track, but at this point I'll take what I can get LOL.
I wish there was somewhere in CT a drag strip could be built. Hell I'm sure that there's a level area of land with ghetto houses we could bulldoze right in New Britain... we'd be doing the city few favors, #1 it would bring a great business to town that would pay some good tax $, #2 it would get rid of a bunch of the **** section 8 housing the city has, and #3 would bring a bunch of jobs to town other then adding more people to the police force LOL.
I wish there was somewhere in CT a drag strip could be built. Hell I'm sure that there's a level area of land with ghetto houses we could bulldoze right in New Britain... we'd be doing the city few favors, #1 it would bring a great business to town that would pay some good tax $, #2 it would get rid of a bunch of the **** section 8 housing the city has, and #3 would bring a bunch of jobs to town other then adding more people to the police force LOL.
08-27-2007 | 12:21 PM
#10
Originally Posted by badpewter-z
screw the road course we need a drag strip 
And screw the 1/8th mile idea. I lived right next to an 1/8th mile track in SC. No fun, arguably better than nothing, but not a lot of fun.
08-27-2007 | 03:32 PM
#12
I don't think they're trying to attract that kind of crowd. Getting a racetrack put in depends a lot on the neighboring community. The press that has come out of this seems to stress that this is going to be club racing, i.e. older guys who are civilized and have $ to spend in the surrounding area. I love going to the strip and all the people there, but if you've ever been to an autoX it is a very different crowd.
I emailed one of the guys spearheading this a little while back, and it does look like this is going to happen. Absolutley no drag strip, no bikes either. It'll be rented out for various driver trainings, and since the SCCA is taking part in this initiative one would assume there'll be some AutoX happening.
I emailed one of the guys spearheading this a little while back, and it does look like this is going to happen. Absolutley no drag strip, no bikes either. It'll be rented out for various driver trainings, and since the SCCA is taking part in this initiative one would assume there'll be some AutoX happening.
08-27-2007 | 03:55 PM
#13
So in other words, it's going to be a yuppie festival for a bunch of old men that have nothing better to do that are all goign to me coming from out of town/out of the area and leaving as soon as possible due to the fact that there's nothign else around that area to attract them....rather then a racetrack that can draw on the local racers that are already in the area that would surly make it a profitable venture for the investors.....
Real good business decision there LOL.
I love racing of all types, and any race track is better tehn none, but to have that type of attitude about drag racing and bikes for that matter surly makes a potentially solid inventment a somewhat risky investment IMO.
Real good business decision there LOL.
I love racing of all types, and any race track is better tehn none, but to have that type of attitude about drag racing and bikes for that matter surly makes a potentially solid inventment a somewhat risky investment IMO.
08-27-2007 | 08:08 PM
#14
Somehow I think the demographic in the area would lend itself more to drag racing than club racing. Palmer isn't a really a hotbed of snobby road racing types. Plus if it is the Airport where they want to do this, well gee, there wouldn't happen to be a long straight stretch of pavement already in place at an airport, would there? 
08-27-2007 | 10:19 PM
#15
I spent many days at Connecticut Dragway back in the 70's as a kid - it was a real trip to see all that American Muscle drag racing. I'll have to post some pics someday - tons of pics of Road Runners, 'Cudas, Camaros, Mustangs, etc. in the pits and dragging when they were new or almost new. If I got bored taking pics or hanging around, I'd go read my comics as my dad did his racing thing (he had a '70 Hemi Challenger that he bought new).
It would be nice to see something like this again in CT or Southern Mass!
It would be nice to see something like this again in CT or Southern Mass!
08-27-2007 | 11:41 PM
#16
Originally Posted by 99Andrew
I spent many days at Connecticut Dragway back in the 70's as a kid - it was a real trip to see all that American Muscle drag racing. I'll have to post some pics someday - tons of pics of Road Runners, 'Cudas, Camaros, Mustangs, etc. in the pits and dragging when they were new or almost new. If I got bored taking pics or hanging around, I'd go read my comics as my dad did his racing thing (he had a '70 Hemi Challenger that he bought new).
It would be nice to see something like this again in CT or Southern Mass!
It would be nice to see something like this again in CT or Southern Mass!
08-28-2007 | 08:32 AM
#17
I also spent many enjoyable weekends at the old Connecticut Dragway in East Haddam/Colchester back in the '70's. Many of the best names in NHRA drag racing came there frequently. The airport at Orange, Ma. just off rt. 2 also had a NHRA sanctioned 1/4 mile track....it still would be a perfect setting for one today....limited housing in a huge flat area w/good highway access and plenty of parking, many long flat runways, which 1 could be easily turned into a beautiful race track. 
WJ
WJ
08-28-2007 | 09:35 AM
#18
Originally Posted by WJ SOM SS
I also spent many enjoyable weekends at the old Connecticut Dragway in East Haddam/Colchester back in the '70's. Many of the best names in NHRA drag racing came there frequently. The airport at Orange, Ma. just off rt. 2 also had a NHRA sanctioned 1/4 mile track....it still would be a perfect setting for one today....limited housing in a huge flat area w/good highway access and plenty of parking, many long flat runways, which 1 could be easily turned into a beautiful race track. WJ
WJ
08-28-2007 | 09:59 AM
#19
Originally Posted by 99Andrew
My father grew up in Athol/Orange area and he mentioned that they used to drag at the airport on the weekends - this was probably after WWII until the early 60's I guess. My sister lives in Orange and I think the economy could pretty much use all the help it can. I would enjoy that drive up 91 to Route 2. You go over the King Phillips bridge - my grandfather helped build that bridge during the depression from 1930-1932.
Last edited by WJ SOM SS; 08-28-2007 at 10:06 AM.
08-28-2007 | 10:34 AM
#20
Originally Posted by WJ SOM SS
Yes, the New England Timing Assoc. ran a NHRA-sanctioned, one Sunday a month race there from the early 50's thru the early 70's. They had a Pinks-style flagman system until the early 60's, then a portable light/timing system that they hauled to the 1/4 mi track at Sanford, Me. and then down to a strip on the military base in Charlestown, R. I. You could race 3 Sundays out of 4 from April to October by travelling to the 3 tracks....they never scheduled against one another....all run by New England Timing. They still have a nostalgia meet at Charlestown every summer, I believe. I'd love to see some of your Dad's pics from Ct. Dragway. Nostalgia drag racing is becoming very hot throughout the country and Canada. With the popularity of the Pinks tv show, drag racing is getting a big shot in the arm..... and yes Andrew, the town of Orange should welcome a drag strip promoter w/open arms, due to the lean economy in that area---it was very big up there years ago, and could be big up there again.nod: WJ
As far as the pics go, I do have a shoebox with pics from the CT Dragway. My dad is deceased, but there may be some pics from Orange, MA too - I'd have to dig through my mom's boxes someday.