Todd, Give Us The Scoop!

[Front Stretch]

Just finished reading an article in my local paper (The Stuart News) that says there is some big talk in the Fellsmere/Sebastian area about a motorsports complex in the works. They mentioned mud boggs, drag strip and a 5/8 mile nascar- certified asphalt track. There were positive comments about this but also people saying to not get your hopes up because the "seniors" will shoot it down. Your thoughts and comments?

[Dana Barlow]

Don't get your hopes up is right ,any time you see 5/8 or even 1/2 mile ,it's pie in the sky dreamer or some dummy that don't really race weekly shows. NASCAR sucks the life out of any new track they don't own with fees. There's no way tracks that size can do anything but bearly hang on if that,if they even get built,all cost to build and run is higher then a nice 1/4miler,1/2 and up just too fast ,so destroys racers and takes too many for a good show=lower car count by taking too long to fix racers from higher speed impack.
Ya can't beat a banked or not 1/4 or even fairly flat 1/3 for great shows on a weekly deal.
1/4 m Drags are a great combo,but not if oval is too big.
It still come back to local,local.
The last track,a nice size [1/3] near there is now a rockpit full of water,they used that land just for fill some were, some nut built it facing backword so fans sat facing the sun,how dose things that dum get by. I will say I had fun racing there some,but wife hated the place and fans hated packing in a muddbog packing lot,guess it was just doomed to start with.

[Rusty the 50/50 Guy]

They have a web site...one thing that caught my mind was that it says FASCAR sanctioned....I know I have been gone for a few months but am in touch enough to know this is more than likely not right.

They want to build big homes etc on the property there is a whole layout on the site.

Says they are looking for land HMMMMMM

[AB195]

Dana B--

Lost Raceway, at Vero Beach Speedway, I think that you are referrring to. I have been to that very spot, and cannot for the life of me figure out where it was, now just a big lake/pond/water filled gravel pit.
I have, however, located a VIP stand/announcers booth raised up about 14 feet with stairs, painted red, facing west. And I don't know for sure what and how this structure was in relation to the layout of the raceway.
Any clues? Where were the pits at, because I think I stumbled across that area too. Thanks for any input.

[Dana Barlow]

Lost Raceway, at Vero Beach Speedway, I think that you are referrring to. I have been to that very spot, and cannot for the life of me figure out where it was, now just a big lake/pond/water filled gravel pit.
I have, however, located a VIP stand/announcers booth raised up about 14 feet with stairs, painted red, facing west. And I don't know for sure what and how this structure was in relation to the layout of the raceway.
Any clues? Where were the pits at, because I think I stumbled across that area too. Thanks for any input.

The pits were on a higher spot west of track,grandstands east of track,the hole track was about a 1/2mile north of old cemtery and west of US1 across RR tracks,north of Vero,it's a water filled rockpit now for the most part.

[Jane]

Done some checking on this new track and last time I talked to Bill Posey, they did not have the land for the track or homes and were asking for donations to buy the land. They were looking somewhere in the southern end of Brevard but had not bought anything. Whether this will happen or not, who knows. My understanding was it would be a 1/2 mile dirt track with drag strip, mud bog and homes.

[Frasson118]

Jane touched on something that just might have some merit, and IF I had the money (big money), I would look at this idea.

She mentioned racetrack and homes in the same sentence... that is normally a really bad mix.

But how about this: Build a huge sub-division AROUND a racetrack, with the complete understanding that the racetrack will NOT be interfered with by the home-owners. I think I would have a serious interest in moving to that area BECAUSE it had a track, not despite that fact. Build an industrial park area that could house speed shops, race teams, tire distributors, etc... not to mention a few racing themed sports bars.

Set up the subdivision so that it's easily accessable by golf-carts or a shuttle system... walk out your front door, and be at the track within minutes without ever getting in your car. The track could also be used as a sort of community center... concerts, town meetings, and bring in a jumbotron for the Super Bowl, World Series games, Daytona and Talladega Nascar events, etc...

Sort of a retirement community for the die-hard race fan. Personally, I would make it a goal of mine in life to be able to live there, if not retire there at a later date. Throw in a Pulix and I wouldn't have many reasons to leave the place. I'm sure there are thousands across the country that would love to retire to a spot like this. Think of a Golfing community, and throw a racetrack in instead!

Alright.... who's moving to Speedviile FL with me?

[flvideo]

If they let me have a couple acres with trees and I can put my house in the middle I am on my way. Also must let me tape the activities at the race track. Bob...

[WideOpen]

Start your engines, sanctioned motorsports
may be coming to Fellsmere

FELLSMERE, FLORIDA — A new motorsports park could be coming to Fellsmere.

Plans are in the works for a mud-bog, ATV and tractor-pulling track at the old Mesa Park outdoor concert and motorsports facility.

It’s the first step to a potential three-track Treasure Coast Motorsports Park and custom home development.

Treasure Coast Motorsports Park managing partner Ike Heckler has been working with Fellsmere City Manager Jason Nunemaker on the project and will make a presentation to the City Council at 7 p.m. Thursday.

The goal is to have an Oct. 10 grand opening for the “Mud Bog Mania” series.

“It definitely has some potential,” Nunemaker said of the project. “... We’ll seek council’s thoughts and, if they agree, give (Heckler) a trial period to see how it works. Then once we see how that goes, we may work with him to see if we could entertain a much more involved motorsports park.”

He said the possibility it will bring some activity to Mesa Park and clean the area up is exciting.

“The idea of the bigger motorsports park seems like a great economic development opportunity,” Nunemaker said.

The concept for the Treasure Coast Motorsports Park includes the Mud Bog Mania track, the Sebastian Dragway and Fellsmere Speedway, as well as exclusive Winner’s Circle custom homes to be sold to professional race teams and fans, according to an e-mail from Heckler and the park’s Web site. Heckler did not return phone messages seeking comment.

The Mud Bog Mania track would be a four-lane, mud-bog/ATV track with a tractor-pull lane, featuring 36 yearly events.

Plans for the Sebastian Dragway include an all-concrete, NHRA-certified quarter-mile dragstrip that will run 139 yearly events, and the Fellsmere Speedway would be a NASCAR-certified 5/8 mile asphalt oval track that would feature 108 yearly events.

Nunemaker said the concern is how the community will respond to the noise a motorsports park — or even just the one Mud Bog Mania series — could create. That’s one reason the current focus is to start with the one track.

Once city officials see how well the series is received, decisions on the park will be made.

Nunemaker said he thinks the council will be “cautiously optimistic” about the original concept.

“There is a desire to get Mesa Park pulled back together to generate some activity in the community, but at the same time, there were issues in the past regarding noise and things like that, so we have to make sure we employ the proper litigation strategies,” Nunemaker said.

Nunemaker has been talking with Heckler for the past couple of weeks, after plans to have the park in Palm Bay stalled because of location issues.

Mesa Park offered an ideal location, Nunemaker said, because the infrastructure already is in place and the facility is not far off I-95, accessible from County Road 512 in Sebastian and Babcock Street in Palm Bay.

“In this economy there is so little going on, you don’t see opportunities come around like this all the time,” Nunemaker said. “We do have a young population, and we do have interest in motorsports. A lot of people have to go out of the area for this type of entertainment and, from what I understand, this will be affordable entertainment.”

PROPOSED TREASURE COAST MOTORSPORTS PARK

A three-track motorsports park is in the works, but plans initially call to start with a mud-bog track and build from there. Here are some of the details:

Mud-Bog Mania: A four-lane mud-bog/ATV track with a tractor-pull lane that will run approximately 24 yearly mud-bog events and 12 tractor-pull events.

Sebastian Dragway: An NHRA-certified all concrete quarter-mile dragstrip that will run approximately 139 yearly events.

Fellsmere Speedway: A NASCAR-certified 5/8-mile asphalt oval track that will run approximately 108 yearly events.

Winner’s Circle Club: Exclusive custom homes with RV garages to be sold to professional race teams and fans.

Notable: The topic will be discussed at the Fellsmere City Council 7 p.m. Thursday. The grand opening, if the project is approved, is being planned for Oct. 10. The goal is to make this the first renewable energies motorsports park in the country, as planners are exploring the use and promotion of alternative fuels.

[AJ14]

Frass , as soon as one is built , i'll be there . Actually i guess the condos at these various Bruton Smith tracks would qualify . Some people do live in them year around and at Lowes you are right in the middle of race shops and such . Only problem is you need to be a millionaire to afford one , and they don't come on the market very often .
I recall a racing complex , i think it was in the Fellsmere area , it was west of I 95 just a couple of miles . I think it was a dragstrip/ mud / maybe even a circle track , its been a while . I wonder if that place is still going , or if thats the location this new track is going yo use ?

[Rusty the 50/50 Guy]

That place closed because the area deemed it a nusiance due to the noise....now that the housing market sucks now it looks like it is not such a bad idea!

I never got to go to a race at Fellsmere but from the road it was a really nice looking facility! But you know how those neighbors are. I just think it is a shame that someone years ago tried to do it, spent all of their money...an NO I do not know them... and then after opening they got shut down, then, when everything goes to heck in a handbasket the same parcel is looked at for another facility..it would be a GREAT deal for the new ones, I just feel bad for the ones that lost out.

[Todd McCreary]

That place closed because the area deemed it a nusiance due to the noise.

actually, because the guy running the place was a shyster.



I recall a racing complex , i think it was in the Fellsmere area , it was west of I 95 just a couple of miles . I think it was a dragstrip/ mud / maybe even a circle track ,

that's Mesa Park.

there was talk of plans for a circle track, but as far as i know they never had anything but the mud bog course.

Mesa Park showed up in one of those MTV reality shows ( Road Rules? ) years ago and was one of their contests.




Alright.... who's moving to Speedviile FL with me?

there have already been a couple of tracks like this built up north. most of them are built on the "air park" model as road course tracks. property owners have pretty much unrestricted access to the race track to hot lap their sports cars or Miata Spec cars or what have you.

first one i heard about is SW of Chicago.




My understanding was it would be a 1/2 mile dirt track with drag strip, mud bog and homes.

this was the plan this group was talking about back in April when OSW opened up. that facility was supposed to be off of Micco road. if you google "Space Coast Speedway", you can still access the page for their proposed 1/2mi dirt track ( which was the original concept ) but that web site is in the process of being converted to "Treasure Coast Motorsports Park". i suppose they'll eventually have plans for the 5/8s paved posted up.
http://www.palmbay-motorsportspark.c..._oval_plan.htm

things are still all up in the air on this, they haven't even really figured out what they want to call it yet. they refer to it as "Fellsmere Speedway" in several places but all of the pages and logos are titled "Treasure Coast".

"and then we will be building and opening Fellsmere Speedway nearby"

notice that "nearby"? this actually makes much more sense than the newspaper article which says that the circle track is going to be built on the Mesa Park property. the Mesa Park property was auctioned off in parcels ( this means it was split up ) a couple of years ago. the business offices next to 512 were occupied by renters the last i looked. i have no idea how they're supposed to fit a big 5/8 oval AND a 1/4 mile drag strip in there now that the property is smaller. plus parking for these extra venues.

there is also no point in talking to the Palm Bay planners if all of this is happening in Fellsmere. Fellsmere is Indian River County, Palm Bay is ~15mi north in Brevard County.

i suspect that the oval and strip are still happening up off of Micco but that they just saw an opportunity to roll Mesa into the ongoing deal.




it's a water filled rockpit now for the most part.

actually, it's a scrap concrete, waste dirt and water filled pit now for the most part. there are pipe dreams for this property too.

i'll say more elsewhere.




any time you see 5/8 or even 1/2 mile ,it's pie in the sky dreamer or some dummy that don't really race weekly shows.

i can't disagree much here. what i wouldn't give for a high bank 1/4.....

question:
do you have to run a taller or shorter rear gear for a larger track vs a smaller track?

question:
if nothing else is changed, a taller gear does what to your rate of accelleration?

end of straight speed is much higher on a big track. but the rate of change in speed coming of the corner is much higher on a short track. short tracks are for guys who can drive and set up a car. long tracks are for guys who can buy a big motor. and it's more boring to watch for any given size of field. would you rather watch 20 cars on a 5/8s or on a 1/4?

this principle even applies to NASCAR. year in and year out, what is always supposed to be the best show on the Cup schedule? Bristol.




was that it says FASCAR sanctioned

good God, no. just, no.

we don't need The Don extending his magic touch down here.

[ronabneysr]

frasson 118 put my name down i want 6000 square feet

three story with top floor mans room and off to side need six car garage
were i can keep my toys hid from the wife and i want my lot on front straightaway don't need a golf course

make track just like golden gate also put figure eight track in middle
when you get started call me for deposit . that was great idea

also lets race three nights week

[Old Sunshine Fan]

I Want 12,000 Sqare Foot Shack

Right next to my buddy Ron's place - but I'll put the bar-b-q over close to the property line so we can PARTY PARTY PARTY....
Also, I want to put an airconditioned (by OCALA76) tower to watch the races from. Must have elevator as I can't do stairs very well these days (even with the nurse going ahead of me like cheese for a mouse).
Also need about 25 RV spaces with complete hook ups for "Visitors" like all the many members of STFU, International.

Where do I send the check for my shack.

OSF: VP/STFU, International

[ocalasp76]

Right next to my buddy Ron's place - but I'll put the bar-b-q over close to the property line so we can PARTY PARTY PARTY....
Also, I want to put an airconditioned (by OCALA76) tower to watch the races from. Must have elevator as I can't do stairs very well these days (even with the nurse going ahead of me like cheese for a mouse).
Also need about 25 RV spaces with complete hook ups for "Visitors" like all the many members of STFU, International.

Where do I send the check for my shack.

OSF: VP/STFU, International

Send me a copy of the plans for the tower so I can do an energy calc. and manual J&D for the right size A/C unit.
I will then add 40% to the heat load just to cool your 'big butt'. If your nurse is coming I will have to up the heat load calc.
If some other certain people are coming, we will need heavy doors and double locks.

-JIM-