Mid Continent: road course planned in SW Missouri

[JimR]

How about a new road course close to home?

If it comes to being, Mid-Continent Motorsports Park will be a 2.1-mile track 20 minutes Northeast of Springfield, MO. If you're counting, about 2.5 hours from NWA, or 3 hours from Tulsa.

http://www.ky3.com/news/local/26074099.html

I was told through the grapevine that the primary stakeholders (design, operations, construction, etc.) are almost all past and present Ozark Region club racers. There are a lot of wide eyes and dreams of everything from SCCA and PCA to ALMS and Speed Challenge planned, and the tiny host town of Marshfield is beside itself. The OMRSCCA board meeting next Tuesday should be interesting.

Of course, as we found with Dan Guterman's designs on building a road course at Tulsa Raceway Park, sometimes visions outpace financing. Can't fault anyone for trying, though. The article gives the impression that the money is there and that the property - earmarked decades ago for an airport that never materialized - is ready to close within a month. Even if it became nothing fancier than Hallett in the good old days, I'm eager to see it happen.

[MtyMseHarmer]

Maybe they should chat with us and put a solo pad in there as well and bam the Future Solo Nationals site as well.

[Evil Ponyboy - Unicorn]

That is excellent news and I'm crossing my fingers that the plans materialize.  But I'm also hoping that the gentle aroma of fecal matter stew doesn't make attendance a "memorable" experience (track is north of a sewage treatment plant).

Wasn't the abortion of Tulsa Raceway Park's road course the result of easement and right-of-way issues though?  Or was it financing?  Er, I dunno.

[JimR]

Grubby, I told you wrong. Turns out this will be an Alan Wilson design.

Also, our local man Ed posted this from the Marshfield newspaper:

The project is projected to cost $8.7 million to begin operations, with another $2.3 million to lengthen the track. There are also plans to add $4.3 million worth of track amenities, including garages and clubhouses, once the track has existed for three or four years.

It sounds like it will be pretty spartan to begin with. The 10-acre asphalt pad, garages, and multiple track configurations would be several years off from the sound of it, along with the I-44 interchange and surrounding amenities. Honestly, not ready for AMA, ALMS, Grand Am, etc.

If they can build it, it sounds like Hallett from a few years ago: pee behind a tree, and bring boards to jack up the car. Better than nothing, I guess.

[JimR]

I went to the OMR board meeting last night and got the buzz straight from Jeff Moore, who is part of the development group.

They are building investor interest and have stakeholders. They have some financial commitments already and are looking for more. The track's neighbors haven't resisted the idea, and the town of Marshfield seems eager. If the money gets right, the track can happen.

The site itself looks promsing. It fronts nearly a mile of I-44, and is partially forrested with a fair amount of elevation changes. Hallett-esq at first glance. Jeff set forth a track plan that has minimal impact on the land, but has generous runoff areas and a mix of course elements (fast, slow, technical, etc.). Amenities would be few for the first few years, but they want it to be modern in the sense of accomodating contemporary speeds and safety. Racecars, production cars, and tire/braking/engine technology have advanced far beyond the tracks build in the era of Vees, Sprites, and MG's. Alan Wilson would iron out the final design, hopefully retaining what I saw was a pretty neat layout.

Solo would probably not have a place to play for several years. Jeff was very warm to the idea of a pad like Topeka has for paddock and Solo, but out of financial necessity it would have to be down the order of priorities. The more shining examples of recent road course startups have taken a few years to run in the black. The first phase is getting the 2.2mi or so configuration paved and the minimum of infrastructure in place.

High optimism might have them breaking ground by the end of the year. Low optimism says the last few million might never materialize. My impression is that their initial goals are sound and the location is good, no real turn-offs for potential investors. Worth remaining excited about.

[Chezka]

I am also  a racer, i enjoy exploring new roads. Absolutely if i take my vacation in Missouri i try to go together with my family and friends.

_________________
Bead Roller

[rotaryracer]

Closer than Eagles Canyon in Decatur,TX. It would be worth the trip if it's paved. Not sure how race car on slicks would handle off road rally conditions. Keep us posted.