Wanna Build a Race Track?

Am I the only one to ever dream the impossible dream of building a race track? I mean, not counting all the saints that have actually been there and done that. And why, pray tell, would anybody have such thoughts, now?

Well, honestly, I've had them since 1971 (40 years this past February, but who's counting?) when my dad took me to Daytona for speedweeks. For me, the most impressive part was not the big speedway, the 500, and all the hoopla those pre-Winston days of 1971 could muster............no, I was absolutely carried away with theNew Symrna Speedway. I came home and high school, and drew many-a master plan of the race track I would someday buildbased on my one-time Friday night visit to NSS.

I know I'm preaching to the choir, but a bunch of stuff has happened, to racing, heck, to the United States culture, in those same 40 years. We fans of Racers-Reunion know all to well, what's happened on the racing front, but one of the most alarming consequences of all this hoopla is the lost generation(s) of fans that has also occurred.

Big Bill took an idea, and made money, partly because he had the necessary skills, partly because of ideal timing and circumstances, but ALSO because he had an overwhelming amount of ENTHUSIASM for the entire thing. The profits were a consequence of energy and talent and effort that was being input to the subject. With the coming of RJR, for all that was accomplished, Big Bill's mantra of hard work, 'making sense' and enthusiasm was skewed. Profits became the battle cry, and now, we are at "3-G" NASCAR, where un-godly financial profit isthe mantra.

Wilkesboro, makes no money, Rockingham, makes no money, Nashville Fairgrounds makes no money, Darlington is too old to make the kind of money we're interested in plus it's tough to deposit tradition and history into a bank accont........short tracks makes no money, Saturday night racing makes no BIG money, and on and on in the boardrooms. Such thinking, while perhaps true,in the short term, has created the state of affairs we now find ourselves.Our grassroots have been purposely and strategically discarded. Our friends at Speedway Motorsports, Inc. and there "INX" division have addressed all of these philosophical issues with the creation of their vintage looking Legend car. But, darn it, there's that pesky $14K price tag.

So, what does all this have to do with a new or ideally a resurrected ghost track? IMO, we've gone so far down the money trail, we've got to start over again. Back to the day when racing was racing and Junior Johnson had to 'go to the house and get my shoes' before he coul'd enter his first race. Such is the philosophy of the Bell and Bell Vintage Modified Series. We race for the pure joy of it. There's NO MONEY, just as in fishing, deer hunting, etc. etc.

I'm convinced a separate venue, a track who's very mission is re-inventing the wheel is necessary. My race track of 2011 would not be a mirror of New Symrna Speedway. Nope, it would focus on the joy racing, on introducing the sport and the concept to a new generation of fan. It's design would encourage and facilitate participation. It would not make a million dollars a pop. The proper circumstances would have to align, enthusiasm would have to reign, but It could work. The fundamental love of the sport has not been lost, and can rise again. I've got to figure out how to make it 'rain-proof'...a dome 'cause as every short track fan knows, in the summer, it only rains late on Saturday afternoons....maybe I could just switch nights, and mother Nature would be out of sync. Ahhh the possibilities!!

updated by @bobby-williamson: 04/05/17 11:07:14PM

I agree 100% somebody has to start over. I also think the timing is right. And I ...like you bopper am a dreamer. Dangerous, huh?


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Founder/Creator - RacersReunion®

I always had that same dream, but never had the money. Did build a large Slot Car Track in the 60s and operated it at a profit.

Why, Bobby, I bet Bruton would lease you his plans for that combination domed track / NFL Stadium he pitched before the Panthers came to Charlotte. You brought back a memory I hadn't thought about in a long time, and that was going to New Smyrna at night during Speedweeks during their annual World Series of Asphalt Stock Car Racing. I also remember it getting pretty windy and chilly there at night in the infield in February and huddling around those 55-gallon drums burning driftwood or whatever.


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"Any Day is Good for Stock Car Racing"

Just keep on dreaming Bobby it gives you something to shoot at and makes life worth living if you have a dream.

Of course your dream is reality in states like Florida and Georgia with NVRA http://www.nvraracing.org/ and states like Ohio, Indiana, Michigan, with VARC http://www.vintageamericanracecars.com/ and states like New Jersey, New York, Conneticuit, New Hampshire with the GSVSCC http://www.gsvscc.org/ For some reason the vintage racing scene is alive and well and there's plenty of tracks to choose from with enough cars to have static displays, old-timers autograph events, and plenty of racing.

My Dad was a dreamer and would get us kids all excited with his dreams of a better life....never happened and, I was always a little disappointed and later gave up believing which, I then adopted the motto to never dream rather, form a plan and set a goal and GO FOR IT or, leave it on the pillow, all or nothing. Oh, I know, some of you are questioning my lack of taste for dreams but, dreams to me are better left from 2am-6am, in your sleep.

Now what I would call Bobby's "Dream" is not a dream, it's a goal, what's missing is a plan however, for a plan of that magnitude to work would take more than one person, it would take a joint effort with like-minded people with the same "goal" to form a plan and go for it. Case in point: The Cape Fear Classic Auto Racing Show was not a dream, it was an idea that Bobby and I thought about, formed a rough sketch of a plan and went for it hence the Bell & Bell Vintage Modified Racing Series. No dreaming there....reality.

So, if what you want to do is run a race track I would suggest getting some like-minded people together lay out your plan, goal, and vision of what the end result will look like. But in your own words Bobby, like in fishing, deer hunting, etc. etc. there's no money to be made, only pure-T fun and enjoyment and what I like to call ...doing something that makes you feel good before I die.

We've been racing for what, 3 years now, and look how far it's come. I was once told by a wise-man "Surround yourself with good people and there's nothing you can't accomplish." We can't do it all by ourselves but, we can when we combine resources. ie. Columbia Speedway, Orange County Speedway, RACERSREUNIOIN!!!!

Thanks, Jim!

I

It seems a good healthy discussion gets knocked off the page before it gets started, would like to see this one hang around awhile.

Jim, we have previously discussed this idea, in detail, but at the time, the reality of on-track vintage racing was very nebulous, at least in our area. We are definitely beyond the nebulous idea-stage now. Coastal Carolina vintage racing continues to grow daily (literally). The sport is approaching a popularity level that can best be promoted and developed by its own free-standing race track, and not part of an existing program. Also.as you have pointed-out, what I'm describing is already reality is some parts of the country. Here's a few fundamental questions:

Does special multi-day 'vintage only' shows charge admission and/or entry fees to entrants?

Are the victors rewarded with trophies, cash, or both? IMO, admission and insurance fees are essential, and as such, are part of the fixed overall track operational expenses.

Presently, vintage racing is familiar with the 'free entry' format. Would participants be willing to pay an admission fee for the greater experience of a vintage-oriented facility?

My vision of a vintage-oriented facility would allow multi-day meets, Friday-Saturday etc. with on-site camping encouraged. Also, by having aWould allow for separate class racing: 6-cylinders, flatheads, open comp cars would have their separate races. A 'race' would consist of several component events over the weekend with the cumulative performance determining the overall standings in each division. Obviously, multiple races would allow more on-track time for enthusiasts, and (hopefully) a greater overall experience.

Bobby, I do remember all we discussed, the possibilities of running a track for the sole purpose of vintage events and even then, four years ago or so, I could visualize it and had that gut instinct that it would be a success beyond our expectations; All day events, car shows, concession stand, camping, picnic area, and who knows what else could grow from it. Every time I pass Tarheel Speedway kart track I think of what could have been. As recent as this past Saturday night I was going to Tarheel to watch the kart races (they were closed) and wished I would have followed through and purchased the place. I've talked to the owner in past and he expressed how they will sell it someday, at a profit no doubt.

You and I also discussed the possibility of getting enough investors to purchase a ghost track or kart track, that would be something I would consider today, and like you mention, in order to pay the light bill there would have to be an admission price. With the growing enthusiasm of vintage racing there stands a good chance that some day that door may open, maybe sooner than later.

Pete Corey would be a good source for how they operate in NY.