Read about that. Something just dont sound right about that deal. High profile track, million$ facility and their just going to shut it down and park cars on it? If it was a local mom and pop track running on a old airport runway I could see it. A place on this scale is another story.
A number of years ago there was a proposal to put a NASCAR track there, but it got shot down. On the other side of the airport a lot of high $ houses were built. There was a lot of complaints about noise from them. Story had it that they were in a different town/county so couldn't do anything. Building around the track has continued so there may have been additional pressure as a result of it.
Definitely more to it, no way you just wake up and say it's done, if you knew you were having trouble with the track supporting itself you would have tried to save it or at the very least let everyone know and had a "farewell season" so to speak.
It's almost always all dollars and sense. Follow the dollars, it'll make sense. I'm betting there's a monetary reason behind it, whether it be massively increased insurance costs, big dollar McMansion farms getting built, or whatever. Definitely a bummer though, losing too many drag strips these days. I would say "Support your local track!", but that'd be hypocritical since I haven't been to mine in a few years. Used to be there almost every week, but then a bunch of trashy idiots started a turf war there and turned it into their "hood". The track got it under control by banning alcohol and having sheriffs patrol the heck out of it, but the damage was done and a lot of people never returned. Hate to say it, but the clock is ticking on that place as well I'm betting.
Depending on Who the Auction House is, the Money may be good enough & less Liability issues to the Land owners & the fact that NHRA is making demands of the Track owners to suite Their Wants & not the Needs of the Track owner. Royal Purple / AKA Houston Raceway Park, has been leased out to Copart, after the Hurricane & won't be available for Major events until the end of March or early April. They are holding "Track Rental sessions" but Copart is paying More than the income from the Events put on by NHRA (which has been in decline over the past few Years) so Why Not. Texas World Speedway, closed & from what I have heard, is being paid More for the Rental, than the Asking price of the property. (Unfortunately, the Stock Car Oval & the road courses have been destroyed. ) You have to remember that NHRA, no Longer cares about the Small Time Racer (Sportsman Classes) They are basing attendance of Spectators (where they get their $$) on the Pro Classes & Unless You are Schumacher, Force, or similar. (Gee, what "Camaro" is going to win Pro Stock) It's Sad to lose the Track & the History, but people have to look at All aspects of it. JR
Well if the problem is the neighbors not liking the noise, all I can say is what do expect when you build near a strip. It was there first, just cause you built a house near by doesn't mean the world should lick your feet. Do some homework b4 buying and building and have some common sense, do what most other ppl, rent out your yard for parking, stand on the roof and watch for free.
Facility is not closing. Only no more drag racing. They still have 3 motocross tracks, jet ski, full road course, pro go kart track, drifting, airport,and other events. The track from the quarter mile mark and down plus the a joining parking lots will be rented to copart. This will make them way more money plus no noise fines or insurance. During hurricane Sandy copart parked cars there and paid over 100 per car per month. They parked over 5000 cars. That' a lot of money for doing nothing and no town complaints. Plus I heard the town hit the track will an environmental tax. This had been years in the making and cannot believe it happened. To all you people that don't live in the northeast this is the norm. Rich liberal snowflakes that ruin everything even if they came 50 years after.
Part of the Problem, is that the "Newbies" buying near the tracks, seem to be better at getting Lawyers & people together to Kill the tracks & when the Local Businesses don't step up, they get hammered as well. There is also the fact that when the property/Lot, values start to go up, the track owners see a chance to get their money back & get a profit. There are Very Few tracks that can hold their own, & there are battles that come to be that can cause a Lot of hassles & eventually wear down the property owners. Summit Raceway Park/ Norwalk, was a Good example last year with the fight over lighting with the Airport there. (Thankfully, the Bader Family won that round) There were battles over Nelson Ledges 40-50 years ago, & it almost became a Trailer Park. If it wasn't for a few Die Hards & some additional backing from British Leyland & Gulf Oil, as well as "Slave Labor" (I remember a Friday Night /Saturday AM where we were pounding Cold patch by the Head & Driving lamps of my car, just to get the Sanctioning Body to OK the Driver's School that weekend) it would have been Gone. I think Jim Truman (I hope I got his name right) did some Creative planning, & is why Mid Ohio is doing as well as it was/is. Small Tracks, can't stand up against the $$ that get tossed, Or the Frivolous Law Suites that get put against them for Noise and other things, & don't have the Money nor Time to fight.
Nelson Ledges was a cool track. Very old school even in the 80's and 90's. Did a few 24 hour races there and numerous SCCA Nationals. Good memories. Yes the late Jim Trueman owned Mid Ohio.
Don't worry the neighbors will complain about Copart too.... It's like one step away from a salvage yard.
Insurance Auto Auction (IAA), a competitor of Copart bought or leased the property for the salvage auction. They have more salvage cars than they have facilities to handle them. They will pay more than any other industry for the property and the licensing. The track owners could never make the kind of money that IAA will pay. My family owned eight salvage auctions throughout New England and New York. They are all IAA yards now. Too bad I left the family business years before!
The way I heard it was the realtors would bring the people around on a weekday when nothing was going on to see the house. The dragstrip was behind a hill with lots of trees. After they move in their first Sunday all heck breaks loose. Related threads: http://www.v8buick.com/index.php?threads/englishtown-closing.329245/ http://www.v8buick.com/index.php?threads/raceway-park-etown-no-more-drag-racing.329241/
Read somewhere that it will be turned into an action site for flood cars. But that's all I heard. Jake Csordas makes good points.
Move to the south, we have 4 tracks 1/2 to 2 hours from my home near Myrtle Beach. 1/8th mile, 1/4 mile, lots of grudge tracks, street racing, drag racing is here "BIG TIME" in the deep south. There is even a track that is being all redone in Orangeburg SC. The grand opening in February will feature the Chief and the Street Outlaws. http://www.dragzine.com/news/orangeburg-drag-strip-set-to-reopen-as-south-carolina-motorplex/ Even have plans to get this BAD BOY down the track, can't wait to see what it will do. https://www.google.com/maps/uv?hl=en&pb=!1s0x88f8d7632c84a3a3:0x3cfa736d2de4521b!2m22!2m2!1i80!2i80!3m1!2i20!16m16!1b1!2m2!1m1!1e1!2m2!1m1!1e3!2m2!1m1!1e5!2m2!1m1!1e4!2m2!1m1!1e6!3m1!7e115!4shttps://lh5.googleusercontent.com/p/AF1QipOxH9DWHZowifAb3k_7giN9YC9xSIvtWh8FyOVi=w284-h160-k-no!5sorangeburg dragstrip - Google Search&imagekey=!1e10!2sAF1QipOn3TSdsVr7XTNAymH3k724gOv9nvvOexFPdIsN&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwju_Ii_h-TYAhVLRK0KHYdSB80QoioIggEwCg Always some type of motor sports going on down here and it's a bargain with low taxes to live down here. Even pulled the motor out of GrandNasty for a rebuild in anticipation of the 2018 season. The Chevy and Ford boys don't believe in Buicks.......WATCH OUT SOUTH CAROLINA ! ! !
