We're on the verge of losing another track

[rocketman]

Unless Champion Raceway can raise $100,000 for capital improvements it may never open again. What does it cost to resurface a track?

Read the details here: Cap Racing Home Page

 

[my friends call me Zappy]

bummer.... it' doesn't sound good

 

[****er]

The price of Diesel nowadays isn't helping that figure any, it's sad but predictable as counties all over are laying off and cutting back everywhere, I guess you could look at it in 100 dollar increments ?

100 x 1000 people ?

 

[Nunz]

That sucks Rich, but, as Mark suggested, maybe put together a little private placement, 1,000 people @ $100, 100 people @ $1000, or some other combination depending on the demographics in the area. Are there 100, 200, 300 racers that run there? That's the go-to lead list, then go to businesses, etc. A bit of a project, but, well worth it the effort to save the track. And I know $100K feels like a million when you don't have it, but the good news is, it's "only" $100K, NOT a mil. I hope it can happen.

 

[clwill]

When I pulled away from Champion this fall after running the divisional (in 102deg heat) I wondered if that would be the last time. I have a love/hate relationship with that track. The layout is nice, love not having to brake with the massive sweep uphill, the winding return road through the trees is fun, there is a lot of pit space, and it's out in the boonies so no neighbor worries. But it's been old and tired for years, the track has major cracks/gaps, the burnout boxes are a mess, a lot more of the pit area needs to be paved, the frigging goatheads (a spiky little plant) give me at least one flat every year, and the wildlife (deer and snakes) always make it interesting. And to top it off, it may be four hours away for Rich, but it's 8 hours for me.

My concern is that to really be viable, it needs a lot of work. Not just the track needs to be paved, a bunch of the pit area needs to be as well. I'd gladly chip in $100 or even $1000 if I was really assured that there was a real plan to get to some of these issues. With the county owning the facility, I'm worried it'll be just stop-gap after stop-gap. I'd hate to see it go, but I'm not sure, in an age where no one, especially counties, have any money, there's much of a viable alternative.

 

[rocketman]

I like the idea you guys have and it might be the only way. I'll talk to Jim and will let you know what he thinks

 

[clwill]

Been thinking about this some more.

How about if Jim got people to chip in, and made tiers: like "supporter", "hero", and "champion", and made them equivalent to a $100, $250, and $1000 contribution respectively. You'd get a sticker for your car, or maybe a t-shirt, or something that said "I'm a Champion Champion" Maybe even go so far as give a one-day pass (free racing) for one of those levels -- maybe $100 gets you a T&T day, $1000 gets a race day.

Heck you could even get people and/or companies to pitch in and name things. The "Capital Auto Group Pits" for $10,000, the "John Smith Burnout Box" for $5000, the "Fred Flintstone Staging Lanes" for $2500, that kind of thing. Maybe sell bricks for some walkway somewhere on the property, sell a brick for $100, and let people put whatever they want on it (kids' names, their name, race team name, etc.) that would be there forever.

I've done a lot of fund raising in my time. Just led and completed an $11m campaign for our kid's school. Raising $100k is not hard, just get a couple of folks to chip in big ($5k?) at the beginning to convince people it's for real, and you could get there.

Chris

 

[rocketman]

I talked to Jim Taylor, and he is working on a solution as we speak and is optimistic that the track will forge ahead and be operational with some big changes next year. He still might take us up on your suggestion but he said to give him some time to work on his plan first. So he has something in the works.

The $300,000 will include resurfacing the track and paving the pits. Apparently there was a meeting last night in Medford with 70 supporters showing up and Jim is in constant contact with Jackson County. Jim is fighting to keep it open so things may not be as bleak as we thought.

 

[Nunz]

Rich that is great to hear. Never been there, but by the sounds of it, even with upgrades, it will never be a "supertrack" but just a really cool place to race, which is important. We need as many of those as we can get (and keep!).

 

[none]

Get a local paving company to do it for advertisng and PR !
It worked fo us in the 70's at our airport track !

 

[jackass]

Some states offer grants to sports facilitys that have a good steady stream of tax money coming in... and some electric companys have offered to help some places as well.. upgrade funds to keep the electric bill coming in....

 

[Larry]

Been thinking about this some more.

How about if Jim got people to chip in, and made tiers: like "supporter", "hero", and "champion", and made them equivalent to a $100, $250, and $1000 contribution respectively. You'd get a sticker for your car, or maybe a t-shirt, or something that said "I'm a Champion Champion" Maybe even go so far as give a one-day pass (free racing) for one of those levels -- maybe $100 gets you a T&T day, $1000 gets a race day.

Heck you could even get people and/or companies to pitch in and name things. The "Capital Auto Group Pits" for $10,000, the "John Smith Burnout Box" for $5000, the "Fred Flintstone Staging Lanes" for $2500, that kind of thing. Maybe sell bricks for some walkway somewhere on the property, sell a brick for $100, and let people put whatever they want on it (kids' names, their name, race team name, etc.) that would be there forever.

I've done a lot of fund raising in my time. Just led and completed an $11m campaign for our kid's school. Raising $100k is not hard, just get a couple of folks to chip in big ($5k?) at the beginning to convince people it's for real, and you could get there.

Chris

Signage a brick wall with donors names . Sell patches for drivers suits !
Over a period of time money can be raised !
Raffles are good . Get sponsors to donate things like Helmets, Jackets , Raffle season sportsman tickets .

 

[Ma Green]

Funny, I was at the meeting Jim held. He said he was tired of trying to deal with the County (all problems self caused), he was done, wants the racers to run the track and buy all his equipment for $80,000 (not worth half that) and then he walked out the door. Not one person in the room was sorry to see him go. The reason he wanted $100,000 is the County offered to loan him $200,000 for the next ten years, if he could come up with the $100,000. He's trying to sell the scoreboards, with he can't, as they are a permanent fixture. If no one agrees to buy his equipment, he's going to take it with him. The track is a mess, Jim hasn't done anything to it in the last 2 years.

That was Wednesday, Friday he told Jonathan Adams he wasn't going anywhere and was just testing the waters. The man is a liar...he can't keep his stories staight. As far as the local racers are concerned, he can take his equipment and leave and allow us to help the County find someone who has the experience, desire, and money to run the track correctly.

The lease for our drag strip is real simple. You sign the lease for X amount each year with X amount to be done in improvements. The rest of the expenses are your responsibility, period. Doesn't seem too big a deal to me. So if you know some one who wants to run a track and has the experience and funding, send them our way.

 

[clwill]

Pat, glad to hear another say what I've thought/suspected, but been afraid to bring up. He has burned more than a couple of bridges in his wake, and even a blind person could see how little has been done there. Too bad.

If I was only 1/2 the distance I am (exactly 500mi door-door), I'd do this in a heartbeat. $100k would be a bargain, and the place has a great layout. With any kind of investment, you could turn it into a heck of a nice place to race. Just need the right person at the controls.

If you know anyone seriously kicking this around, keep me in the loop. I'd love to help if I could.

Chris

 

[daveo]

Yellowstone Raceway in Montana is for sale still.

 

[clwill]

Yellowstone Raceway in Montana is for sale still.

It's being auctioned on 12/8.

 

[rocketman]

Well I guess we'll see what happens. My main concern is that the track stays open.

 

[Ma Green]

Believe me, Rich, keeping the track open is our goal too. It's got the potential to be a great facility with the right people in place. Jim has been such a pain in the a$$ to the County, they will be happy to see him go, and I think we have enough knowledge around here to help the County get the word out to all the right places for a replacement. I'll keep you all posted as things go along.

 

[rocketman]

Pat, I haven't underestimated your credentials for a long time and I'll never again. If anyone knows the goings on of a dragstrip you do. But Jim was good to our association and we want to keep racing there. Please keep us informed!

 

[Toejam]

It's hard enough to keep a track open, but when you have idiots running them It's another problem all together!