Palmer Motorsports Park

[Tt3Sheppard]

Maybe this will help.

http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2013...st-tax-breaks/

-- A provision allowing motorsport race tracks to more quickly write off improvement costs, valued at $78 million. McCain described it as "tax incentives for NASCAR track builders."

[MannyO]

Here's the latest article about the progress being made:

Seven years after it was first unveiled, the Palmer Motorsports Park is back on track, and the project manager hopes it will be up and running by 2015.

The park, which features 658 acres on the Palmer-Ware line off West Ware Road in the Whiskey Hill area of Thorndike, a former logging property, would be rented to businesses and clubs for driver education, motor vehicle testing and demonstration, and competition.

The approximately $20 million project was delayed due to funding issues involving the previous developer, according to manager Fred E. Ferguson, of Bolton. Ferguson became aware of the project back in 2007, but didn't become directly involved until two years ago.

The project is still far from the finish line, but Ferguson said it's farther along than it has ever been.

Approval has been granted by the Planning Board and Conservation Commission, and erosion control work is under way at the heavily wooded, rocky site.

Last month, Palmer Motorsports purchased the property from Birnie Avenue Realty Trust for $1.05 million, according to a filing with the Hampden Registry of Deeds.

"We're permitted to do work on the part of the track that was never changed from the original 2007 permit. We're doing site prep work," Ferguson said in a recent interview.

The two-mile track will feature twists and turns over two miles. Nearly 500 acres are in Palmer, with the remainder in Ware. The basic design has remained the same since it was first brought before town officials - the only exception is the entrance, which now will be from 58 West Ware Road.

Last year, Palmer Motorsports purchased the home and 17 acres at 58 West Ware Road for $275,000 to use as the new racetrack entrance - a move that will allow for easier access to the site, he said. Ferguson said the home will remain, and will be used as an office for the facility. Originally, access was proposed up a steep hill, but that would have been very expensive to turn into a driveway due to ledge there, Ferguson said.

Palmer Motorsports is an affiliate of the New England Sports Car Club of America. Ferguson himself got into racing when he purchased a BMW and wanted to learn how to drive it better. He joined a BMW car club. These clubs exist for luxury car owners and hold events at racetracks such as the one Palmer Motorsports is building for its membership. There, they can drive the cars faster than is legally allowed on regular roads.

Ferguson has reached out to various car clubs about the plans for Palmer, and is asking them to become equity partners in the project.

"I think it will be great if I can do this. It will be a great facility local to the people of New England," Ferguson said.

Ferguson said the events will not draw spectators - it's not like NASCAR. Instead, it's designed for "the grassroots motorsports community." He said they will likely have to solicit private memberships.

He sees the project as a way to bring in a lot of revenue to the community without draining local town resources. He described those interested in this type of racing as "fairly affluent."

"We're talking hundreds, not thousands, of people. It will be a constant source of income, and we're hoping regardless of what happens with the casino that this economic activity will benefit the town of Palmer without being any drain on local town resources," Ferguson said, alluding to Mohegan Sun's proposal for a casino off Route 32.

The project includes a conservation restriction on 100 acres for the town, which will preserve a hiking trail. Ferguson said the majority of the site will remain wooded, as only about 70 acres will be cleared. One of the hurdles the project had to overcome had to do with the discovery of a host plant that the orange sallow moth, a species of special concern in Massachusetts, uses for breeding. Though Ferguson said the moth has never been seen on the property, he has had to work with Natural Heritage on the issue.

Conservation Commission Chairman Robert J. Ring said this issue was part of the reason the project was held up.

"We approved their application pending approval by Natural Heritage," Ring said. "Overall I think it is a very good use of the land for the town. A very large piece of their property is in a conservation restriction for us . . . It beats another development up on the hill."

Ferguson said the topography of the site and surrounding hills creates an ideal acoustic buffer. The area is mostly undeveloped. Ferguson said those involved with the project had been looking for a site that would appeal to members in Massachusetts when they found the acreage available in Palmer. The closest tracks are Lime Rock Park in Connecticut and New Hampshire International Speedway, he said.

"There are a whole bunch of guys who are into vintage cars . . . They'll come out and race against other vintage cars," Ferguson said.

Other cars that may race include Mustangs, Corvettes and Miatas, as well as go-carts. The facility would operate 32 weeks a year from April to November, weather permitting. According to project information, during winter months, it's possible the track could be used for law enforcement training. Operating hours will be 8 a.m. to 7 p.m.

Said Town Planner Linda G. Leduc, "I'm looking forward to it moving ahead. It's been in the making for many years."

and some photos I've collected floating around the web:

[Deslock]

A bunch of updates on this:

Recent News Stories:
http://www.masslive.com/news/index.s...3_mile_20.html
http://www.wwlp.com/news/local/hampd...-breaks-ground

Virtual Lap:
[ame]http://youtu.be/6dD5eRhX748[/ame]


Construction Photos:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/2482176...7636584666216/

Another forum thread with lots of links/photos/info:
http://www.comscc.org/forums/viewtopic.php?f=9&t=3577

And lastly, a Google map of what I think is the track's approximate location and orientation:
https://mapsengine.google.com/map/ed...M.kKn0ePE4ZRZk

[Mobius357]

Valley motorsports park is finally under construction in Tamworth NH too, slated for completion next summer.

[MannyO]

Bump for awesomeness. Next year is gonna be fun for sure!

[Deslock]

There are a bunch of cool renderings at http://www.palmermotorsportspark.com/TrackMaps.htm:

[Tt3Sheppard]

Reminds me of something straight out of Gran Turismo. Looks scary/fun

[shaunsweeney]

This looks like it is going to be a beautiful track just scenery wise let alone the racing!

[AG3NT_5CARFAC3]

Can't wait to go to this track

[MannyO]

Kinda sad to see a grass paddock area. I was hoping to see a huge lot built so they could host AutoX events on non-racing days, but we can't have everything, right? haha

[shaunsweeney]

Don't be greedy how :p

[GremlinDX]

I'm betting the grass paddock has to do with runoff issues. You even see NJMP? So much paved area, but they have the giant retaining ponds for run off.

[PollosHermanos]

This is the first I'm seeing this - looks awesome. Glad to hear that it's getting moving again. Once it opens I imagine getting time here will be next to impossible but if anyone can it's 86One, amrite?

[Tt3Sheppard]

A lot of clubs will run at these tracks, with Thompson Speedway there should be a lot more options now.