Copyright © 1998

Porsche Club of America Out For A Spin October, 1998 Bruce Corwin Bruce968@PorscheNet.com

Over the last decade, our country has experienced a rapid growth in motor sports. On a national scale for example, we have seen a record level of NASCAR attendance. On the other end of the scale, participation in our region’s autocross program has doubled.
 
Throughout the nation, racetracks are sprouting up like rust spots on a British sports car. Here in the Northeast however, track time is increasingly scarce. With local real estate prices soaring and developers buying up tracts of land for housing developments and office parks, no new tracks have been built in the area for quite some time. With our driver education events regularly sold out, finding good dates to book events is becoming a challenge.
 
It is almost impossible to get a weekend date at New Hampshire International Speedway, which is heavily booked for more profitable events such as NASCAR. Lime Rock is a bit far from our region and also tends to have dates booked up early, not to mention that the track is closed on Sundays due to an agreement with the adjacent church. And alas, the glorious sounds of racecars are now just a ghostly echo along the old Bridgehampton circuit, which is transforming from racecourse to golf course. The only other road course in all of New England and New York is Watkins Glen, which is a long drive from Boston.
 
However, I am excited to announce that there are efforts being made to remedy this situation. For a few years now, there have been rumors about possible tracks being developed in such places as Griffiss Air Force Base in Rome, NY and Stewart AFB in Newburgh, NY. But now, the New England Region of the SCCA seems to be making some progress in creating a road course for Massachusetts!
 
I contacted the SCCA New Track Committee and learned that after three years of reviewing numerous sites, including Fort Devens, they have located an excellent site at an airport in Palmer with a portion of the site being maintained as an active airport.
 
The track would be a non-spectator track designed primarily for club events and would be available for other clubs to rent (including the Porsche Club) with many weekend dates expected to be open. The track would be designed for multiple use with plenty of clean runoff space.
 
The current plan is for a track that can be configured as either a 1.2-mile short course or a 1.6-mile long course with a large paddock area, tech building, registration building, control tower and restrooms. The SCCA is currently contacting adjacent landowners.
 
Unknown is how they are going to pay for it, but various methods are being reviewed. Management at NHIS has recently hinted at interest in being involved with the project, but would want to make sure that $25 million of financing is in place, stating that the country is rife with incomplete, under-funded tracks. NHIS management says investors should plan on no return until year 3, then only small returns until year 5.
 
The SCCA needs advisors and manpower to help them with soil analysis, zoning, paving, engineering, financing, legal and other aspects of track building. Any PCA members with interest and expertise are encouraged to contact the SCCA New Track Committee directly, or contact me for more information. This is a project that could benefit all the car clubs in the region. I wish them success.