Road Course Racing Attracts Even More NASCAR Regulars
This weekend is the debut of the Iowa Speedway as a new location for the Rolex Sports Car Series — both GT and DP classes. Five time IROC champion Mark Martin is the latest NASCAR driver looking for a new thrill by driving a Daytona Prototype on a road course (last week Jimmy Johnson drove a DPáin the Brumos 250 at Daytona).
Iowa Speedway is Rusty Wallace’s new short oval track. Despite the small facility (Hurley Haywood called the infield road course “…..little more than a go-kart track” (during the Speed telecast)and not being in a major TV market — the fact that Grand Am added it to the race schedule demonstrates the strong demand for new road course venues.
NASCAR’s Jimmy Johnson Lovin’ the Rolex DP Ride
Has anyone noticed how many of NASCAR’s “elite” drivers are figuring out how much fun they can have battling Grand Am’s best on a road course?
Just this past week the Brumos 250 at Daytona was run and guess who was one of the drivers of the Lowe’s Daytona Prototype car? None other than Jimmy Johnson! Johnson was quoted as saying that after the 2007 24 Hours of Daytona race, he promptly told everyone in the NASCAR paddock how much fun he had and he intends to drive a DP again in the 24 Hour race in 2008. Jimmy credits Tony Stewart and other road course drivers with creating the interest and Johnson says he wants to drive up toáfour DP races per year to coincide with his NASCAR schedule.
Road courses are finally getting their due!!! Look for more oval track regulars to take notice and grab seat time at road courses across the US, which means road course demand will increase.
Hmmm……winding hills and eleven months of sunshine — I think the Bergrennenring will be a great practice venue!
Motorsports and Track Clubs - The Concept is Growing In Popularity
As I sit here this fine Sunday watching Indy Car Racing on NETWORK television live fromáWatkins Glen, NY, I am also reading a very telling article in the Wall Street Journal. Also located in New York a new touring courseáis being built for the discrimating driver.
Called the “Drive and Race Club”,”the facility is being built at a time when well-heeled baby boomers have been buying expensive, high-performance automobiles capable of race-car speeds.”
Click here see the the full article –> A Not-So-Crash Course
This has been our underlying premise all along for the building of The Bergrennenring in the Texas Hill Country. We are bringing a Motorsports Resort to the area so that passions can be fulfilled and there is a destination component that will bring in others to enjoy the area.
Here are some highlights from the article –
- Located in Monticello, NY (Catskill Mts)
- 80 miles NW of NYC.
- Expected cost $50MM
- Scheduled to open in 2008
- Initiation fees of $100,000
- Annual dues of $7,500
- Cap of ~750 members (100 already signed up)
- 225 acres of rolling hills
The B-Ring will deliver an equivalent experience. Interestingly, we will do so charging less for initiation and dues because we can realize cost savings based on location - Central Texas is more conducive for land and construction costs. Also, by working with local government, we will realize tax benefits and infrastructure improvements that will translate into lower operating costs. Ultimately this will benefit the members.
We will be interested in any comments about this, either by registering here and posting directly or sending us an e-mail to info@bergrennenring.com.