What would you think....

[Rusty the 50/50 Guy]

About this kind of racing facility?????
As most of you know I am now in the frozen tundra of Louisiana LOL Monroe LA to be exact, babysitting a race track that was foreclosed on! The facility is only 3 years old, new from the ground up! The location of this track is right on Interstate 20 directly between Jackson MS and Shreveport LA.

What I would like to see is this....
A motorsports themed RV Park
Dedicated Flea Market
Mini Storage
Game Room with Florida style mini golf and rental go karts
Lounge/sport bar...have the building already!
Shops in the pits that could be rented to leave your race cars at and work on them
Asphalt racing...well concrete surface
Dirt track racing
Mud bogs
Go kart racing

It is a very large 3/8 mile concrete track...build a 1/4 mile flat dirt track on the apron...like the bando track at OSW. Run the racing go karts on Friday night, Asphalt on Saturday night, and dirt on Sunday...a day when no other track up here runs. It could be THE thing...what do you think...where are the pitfalls? I know of some and have worked through them! Give me your ideas! Hey I could raise goats on it.....ooooops I already do LOL
Look it up at monroemotorspeedway.com

[Winger]

I think that's the right idea. I believe tracks have to be multi-purpose facilities in this time and era. You are offering something that will cater to several different groups. It's possible that fans could be attracted from one group to another. Hold some concerts, etc. Sure beats sitting idle.

BTW, not sure how your facility is set up but a dirt track might not work inside. You have to consider drainage and have a large enough surface to race on.

[Rusty the 50/50 Guy]

EXACTLY!!!! There is a LOT more to this project, this was just a very mild overview. You have to have somthing for everyone! This could all be done for less than they spent building this facility in the first place! Now you would have several buisness open 7 days a week instead trying to make...$30,000 a month payments...that was the payment...with 4 shows a month!

With the exposure this place has to I-20 I think it would be INCREDIBLE!

[Bigbuck]

EXACTLY!!!! There is a LOT more to this project, this was just a very mild overview. You have to have somthing for everyone! This could all be done for less than they spent building this facility in the first place! Now you would have several buisness open 7 days a week instead trying to make...$30,000 a month payments...that was the payment...with 4 shows a month!

With the exposure this place has to I-20 I think it would be INCREDIBLE!

Hey! How about filling it with water and hold Bass fishing tournaments? Joke! It all sounds good, I often wonder how tracks can sit idle what, 60% of the time or more and make any kind of profit.

[Dana Barlow]

iS there any local schools,driving program and or safety cores,other local in put and help,fair ect.

[SeminoleWind]

I often wondered why more tracks did not put storage facilities on the property. You could integrate light commercial buildings along with it. Anything that would provide a daily revenue stream.
Having a huge facility, like a race track, with say, 20,30 or 40 days of business per year, never made much financial sense to me.
I like dirt racing but I also think having a unique product to market (asphalt racing or in I think in your case, concrete). In your region, it allows you to set the track apart from the dozens of dirt tracks.
I do know there is a track in minnesota that runs half season of asphalt, covers it with dirt for the late summer and fall. Weekly asphalt shows with some big September, October dirt shows could be popular.

[Boneman]

a track that runs half season of asphalt, covers it with dirt for the late summer and fall

Now that is a cool idea! Most racers are too uptight to enjoy that, but I would run there with no hesitation.

[SeminoleWind]

Its too bad truck and tractor pulling is not real popular anymore. Palm Beach Speedway/Hollywood Dragstrip were always able to attract decent crowds.

Flea Markets are definitely a local thing. With ebay and craigslist, I see fewer in more urban areas. Local track here (Lanier) has tried a few times.

Concerts could be good, although I think race tracks have poor seating and acoustics to really have an experience. I also would not want to do the promotion, only the event rental. 100% down, non-refundable!

Rodeos?

If I had enough real estate, an 1/8 mile drag strip on Friday nights.

Gun range? Indoor or outdoor. I would assume noise wouldn't be an issue. Daily revenue as well.

Recycling center. Fans could cash in their cans and buy a race ticket!

[flvideo]

Now this is what I think a forum like this should be instead of complaining and gripeing. Rusty Tractor and truck pulls may work up there. My wife was born and raised in West Monroe and a lot of her family would be interested in those kind of events. She has sisters in Arkkansas and Texas that have kids that do muddin and the sort. That may be a part of it. I am like Seminole, how can a business operate sucessfully 40 days out of the year. That would probably be a Florida track. I don't think you could operate that many weeks up there. Maybe snow mobile races. That payment would be a hard nut to crack. Maybe the back would be willing to go into business with you. Good discussion.. Bob...

[Rusty the 50/50 Guy]

Yes, with the high costs of property and building it has come time to make these things more multifunctional! Love the ideas coming in!

Seminole...How is Lanier doing??????

Bob do you still have family in W Monroe??

Love the recycling thing

Rusty

[SeminoleWind]

Rusty,
Lanier has been very hard hit by the economy. I would guesstimate that 3/4 of drivers, fans, car owners, sponsors are/were involved in the new home building industry (myself included). New home construction in the metro Atlanta area in now almost non-existant.
Therefore, car and fan counts have dropped. The owner, loves short track racing and has kept the track functioning. if he is making money, I don't think it would be much. A few races per year do have huge fan turnout but I would assume the typical show now has 400-500 paying customers.
Car counts have also been cut in half. Although, car counts were dropping slightly even before the economy took a dump. Asphalt powers-to-be did not recognize the extreme costs it takes the average racer to participate.
That being said, I like racing there. The racers and staff are always helpful and friendly. The facility is 1st rate and the smaller fields of race cars gives you a better chance of loading up in one piece.

[flvideo]

Yes we do Rusty. I was up there for a family reunion and I had planned to try and see you but I got up there and got busy with family and forgot. I probably went right by the track on I20. We stayed at my wifes sister in Eros. The reunion was in Monroe.

[Rusty the 50/50 Guy]

Bob...you went right past here!! LOL We are 2 miles east of the Pecanland Mall directly on I-20. I announce at a track just south of Eros in Chatham on Saturday nights!

Seminole...I know Donnie, it is a shame that that track is not doing better, last time I spoke to him he was not very enthusiastic about the economy in that area! It is a shame, such a nice facility! Hope it POPS back!

This track here in Monroe is just well....INCREDIBLE...or it could be anyway! Trying to find someone to pick it up...as you know tracks are not at a premium this day and age. For what the original owners had in this place it could be fully set up with all of the above mentioned niceities LOL They claimed to have 7 mill in what is here...my project including the purchase of the property would fall well under 5 and have about 11 different things making it money.

I already have the OK to have the Legends dealership here and also the Pro Challenge Dealership. Not one of these things is going to make it work, but when you add it all together it can and I think WILL! If anyone wins the lotto call me LOL

[flvideo]

We didn't go to the Pecanland Mall this time but we have many times. Where is the track in Eros? As much as I've been there I didn't know it was there.

I just ask my wife about the track in Eros and she said yes she knew it was there. I ask why she didn't tell me and she said I never ask. LOL! 33 years and I haven't thought her any thing.

[Rusty the 50/50 Guy]

Go thru Eros to Chatham at the red light turn left and go about 5 miles...it will be right there on the left. Very good little track...dirt...one of the drivers from here got the lease for it after this place went into foreclosure. He is charging $5 to get in and allowing you to bring in a cooler for an extra fee. The track used to get about 200 in the stands when it was open before now it gets around 1000 every week!