Should I be excited about Atlanta Motorsports Park?

It's right up the road. Layout looks awesome. I think I should be excited. But their website gives the feeling of "Oh, and we'll keep those filthy non-millionare local peasants out so you and muffy can take a leisurely cruise in the Ferrari without having to worry about those emasculating feelings of being passed by a honda civic."

I've seen lots of little updates in the magazine. Any thoughts from "those in the know?"

http://www.atlantamotorsportspark.net/index.shtml

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xTs9w2aZQD0&feature=player_embedded#!

Hope they fair better than "bluegrass motorsports park". That would have been such a close road course to me. Yet I dont think its going to open.

They have to do that first to reel in the suckers with the fat wallets so they can get started. Investment capital for construction... but like all the others (see Monticello thread) they will cave to the cashflow needs of the facility and start with cheaper memberships, then a few track days during the week to high end clubs like Ferrari, then PCA & BMW, then NASA will race there... then anybody with 30k for a day will be welcome.

I'm not excited. Looks like just another "Country Club" track.

They have to do that first to reel in the suckers with the fat wallets so they can get started.

That was, and still is, my hope. See also: The "ultra mega uber expensive golf country club" up the street that has lost funding, is facing lawsuits, and will hopefully end up being a public course :)

the track is only about 10 minutes from my door step, though i feel ill never get to turn one lap there since im not a multi-millionaire. I feel, the only tracks i will only get some track time on are Road Atlanta and Little Talledega....

See I think they have the point of the place nailed, those with the means and the desire get to race as much as they want essentially, which is awesome. The thing is, most of us 'normal' folks have the desire, maybe even the time, but not the $$$. I don't think they'll cater to us 'normies' simply because that would defeat the purpose of exclusivity and availability as every spare second would be filled with people who could only pay for 30 minutes of track time once every 2 weeks...

I know if I had the cash I'd buy a founding family membership, I'm even eying a tungsten membership down the road or a carting membership, and have you seen the carting membership rate? My hope is the rates don't change post construction, they're actually in the realm of feasible...

I'm happy to see plans for a real sprint kart track - that's sorely missing from the Atlanta area. There are tons of driving enthusiasts here, but racing/track days are expensive enough already - I don't know if we have enough $$ to keep a country club running.

Well I dont think they have a section of the course called "Drift Oval" or whatever just for the multi-millionares.

Some drunk guy once told my Dad that there was going to be a dragstrip crossing 690 in Syracuse. I did not get excited. This seems more plausible, though.

It depends. Are you the peasant or the one married to Muffy?

Really though I wouldn't worry too much at this stage, and I wouldn't knock the country club atmosphere. Look at VIR. One of the coolest tracks around, and they do have their fancy stuff, but they let anyone out there and there's no stigma.

tuna55 wrote: Some drunk guy once told my Dad that there was going to be a dragstrip crossing 690 in Syracuse. I did not get excited. This seems more plausible, though.

Some drunk guy once told me that a guy driving a taxi that looked exactly like my Wrangler was supposed to take him to Alaska. I had a short "conversation" with him but told him firmly, no, I was not taking him to Alaska. I was kind enough to point out the direction for him and he started walking.

Hope springs eternal in the human heart. Let's just hope this thing comes to fruition.

And hope that it's not just a pig in a poke..

JeepinMatt wrote: It depends. Are you the peasant or the one married to Muffy? Really though I wouldn't worry too much at this stage, and I wouldn't knock the country club atmosphere. Look at VIR. One of the coolest tracks around, and they do have their fancy stuff, but they let anyone out there and there's no stigma.

I'm the peasant. Being the peasant means I can't wait for the day when their membership drops and they're forced to run LeMons events and rent the high-end Condos out for $50 a night.

Giant Purple Snorklewacker wrote: They have to do that first to reel in the suckers with the fat wallets so they can get started. Investment capital for construction... but like all the others (see Monticello thread) they will cave to the cashflow needs of the facility and start with cheaper memberships, then a few track days during the week to high end clubs like Ferrari, then PCA & BMW, then NASA will race there... then anybody with 30k for a day will be welcome.

nasa was already planning an event this fall. something tells me it wont happen this year since they just broke ground, but hopefully next year will still happen.

I toured the site on Sunday and the work is proceeding quite well. See pics on their Facebook Page. To answer your question about being excited...if you got the money, then yes, you should be b]excited. The karting membership is especially reasonable, IMO and considering the limited option available for tracktime of anykind, I am excited. According to the founder, the tracks will be open by the end of 2010 with completion of many supporting features in the next year. I am into karting now and actually run ProCup Karting League which is a very competitve indoor racing series. If you race, or want to race in the Metro Atlanta area, check us out.

Monticello is apparently closing to non-country club memberships after this year. Lime Rock has been trying to go that direction as well.

I foresee lots of wrecked exotics available for cheap once this opens.

poopshovel wrote: It's right up the road. Layout looks awesome. I think I should be excited. But their website gives the feeling of "Oh, and we'll keep those filthy non-millionare local peasants out so you and muffy can take a leisurely cruise in the Ferrari without having to worry about those emasculating feelings of being passed by a honda civic." I've seen lots of little updates in the magazine. Any thoughts from "those in the know?" http://www.atlantamotorsportspark.net/index.shtml http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xTs9w2aZQD0&feature=player_embedded#!

I wouldn't worry. They'll be open to track groups in no time.

Sounds JUST like Autobahn Country Club up here in Chicagoland.

Yeah, you'll love it. We have 2 in our area and I get plenty of track time at both. As a plus you get to see Muffy and her Ferrari.

tuna55 wrote: Some drunk guy once told my Dad that there was going to be a dragstrip crossing 690 in Syracuse. I did not get excited. This seems more plausible, though.

From what i remember, 690 IS a dragstrip. Some of the people on that road are batE36 M3 crazy insane.