| Author | Message | ||
     P47b |
http://www.thunderroadkansas.com/ Please help and fill out the survey. I am in full support of a new track here in Wichita Ks.. If you’re from another part of the states please fill it out. They are trying to get some AMA and others to look at having sanctioned events here. There hasn't been a new track built in the US in over 15 years. | ||
| Stirz007 |
A new track would be great, but, Umm, a couple of notables were opened within the last 10 years - Miller Motorsports Park was opened in 2006. Barber Motorsports Park was opened in 2003. Arguably some of the better tracks in the U.S. | ||
| P47b |
Wow, Ok, I was wrong about that. | ||
| Stirz007 |
Jug - You are right, though! Five years since a new track was opened is entirely too long - I hope they pull it off. I'd go for circuit B with the long front straight. | ||
| P47b |
I would say that a long straight would be great for drag racing, but after I found out what happened at Heartland Park I would have to say no. The last turn into the straight was a nightmare for motorcycles. It was like driving on sticky ice. If you ever look at the track that is why the drag area is separate from the road track. | ||
| Moxnix |
A separate 2 mile straight for a drag strip and Land Speed Racing venue would be fine with me | ||
| Firemanjim |
Ditto what Mox said! | ||
| P47b |
There is a used up WWII airstrip between Wichita & Hutchinson at Yoder. Wonder if they are looking at that? I'm trying to do a web search on who registered the web site. His name popped up. But no further info.  | ||
| Tom_b |
That is the old naval air station just outside of Yoder. i has been closed for over 40 years. My dad was stationed there during the shutdown.. I think only 2 of the runways are still there, but in pretty bad shape. I also think Kansas Law enforcement has a training ctr. there as well as a few other institutions | ||
| Thunder_road |
My name is Walt and I am working in part with Thunder Road Kansas to help move this project forward. Right now, exposure is our number one goal. I have to prove to my investors that the calling is not only here in this region, but so loud that it cant be ignored. I know the Wichita area needs a track but I have to able to prove that on paper. That's what the survey is all about. This is a very real possibility! I just wanted to thank you for the help and to encourage all to spread the word! This needs to happen! | ||
| Hybridmomentspass |
check my thread on Americus, another track that is planning to open roadrace course and dragstrip (seperate tracks, same facility) its a good thing that motorsports in the US is growing | ||
| P47b |
I am glad that there are new tracks that are being opened. I hate to say it and I didn't like what happened to Heartland Park when they proposed it to the city of Wichita. From what I remember too, many people were stating not in my back yard. It is too loud. Hybridmomentspass do you have anything on these tracks for public opinion? Walt your biggest battle will be with the tracks that are established here in Wichita. If I remember right it was the owner for 81 Speedway that said that Heartland Park would shut him down. At that time there was no plans for a dirt track or oval track of any sort. This is go from my memory. If I can find any news articles for that period, I will save them. | ||
| Court |
After all the work a group of us did putting together HEARTLAND PARK TOPEKA years ago this will be fun to watch . . that could be a great area for a track. As tempting as old airfields are (and Kansas has tons of them including the fabled >2 mile runway at Schilling Smoky Hill Army Airfield where Boeing did all the test flights when the 747 was in development) they tend to add lots of costs. Schmidtlein Excavating did most the dirt work at HPT and my neighbor Dave Herrman did a ton of it there as well. One of the reasons the site was selected was that it was close to Forbes (there was speculation that folks may someday fly into the races) and it was pretty much virgin land which minimized demolition costs. I'll be excited to see how this goes and cheering them on all the way! | ||
| Tom_b |
I thought he meant Americus,Kansas. Why the heck would anybody build a track there. Then i scrolled up and read his post. Ooops | ||
| Thunder_road |
I know what you mean about 81 Speedway. I have been heavily assessing the opposition in the area. Right now our main focus is generating interest and putting the facts on paper. We are prepared for opposition, however I think the pro's will outweigh the con's in the long run. If interested, keep an eye on our website. We will update as progress is made. Thanks for the feedback guys! Walt at Thunder Road www.thunderroadkansas.com | ||
| Tom_b |
the Hall family (81 speedway owners) has been a major PIA in the Wichita area regarding any type of motorsports competition that they can't get their hands into. | ||
| Tom_b |
The old Greyhound park would make a great choice. Plenty of land between it and the coliseum grounds. Plenty of parking, nice facilities. Plenty of good freeway access. The county would probably love to have someone do something there. Just would need to layout a couple of tracks | ||
| Redponcho |
now we all need to find some track bikes! | ||
| Bearracing |
Someone just needs to step up with some cash and fix up Heartland Park Topeka. Then help promote it and advertise races alittle better. Alot of AMA guys like and dislike the track for various reasons. I know some dont like it cause it needs repaved, from the bumps cause by car racing. Needs some more stands in other parts of the track to be alittle more fan friendly.. maybe even a jumbo tron or two in certain areas. It would be nice though to get a AMA midwest race back out in the heartland area.. Other than having to drive to Utah. | ||
| P47b |
I hate to say it B.J. but people in the mid-west are Lazy. Me included. I have found out thru this that Topeka is losing support here in Wichita. Comments are, Too far to drive and it cost too much for hotels for race week ends. The last four people I talked to all complained about how much it cost them for a track day. I still had fun for free and would do it again in a heart beat. We have a guy here in Wichita that has tried to control all aspects of any motorsports. If it wasn't his idea he has tried to screw it up for everyone else. I think the public is about to speak out on this if they can get a forum. With that note if if this does happen we will lose a dirt track because he's screwing his racers. Most drivers go to other tracks around here to make a little money for there hobby. All that your talking about for Heartland Park I agree with. In the state it's in it would take less money to just build a new track. I don't want to lose it either. | ||
| Court |
It's really a shame to see what has happened to Heartland Park Topeka. There were many of us who fought long and hard . . . and did many late night City Council meetings and made many deals to get it built. The last time I was there it was in worse shape than the old dirt track out on Highway 40. In fact . . it's been a shame to see what's happened to Topeka in general. With Santa Fe pretty much packing it in, Goodyear essentially gone (it used to be the largest plant and a Topeka High grad - Tom Barrett - was the youngest Chairman in the history of Goodyear) and, at least to me, the ultimate insult was the Menninger Foundation packing up and moving to Texas. Every time I visit, about 4 times a year, I get off I-70 at 10th and drive down 10th street so I can look at downtown, Topeka High, the library and so forth. The last time I shot a photo at 10:00am in the morning as I passed Kansas Avenue . . . not a car or a person in sight . . it looked like a scene from "The Last Picture Show". I also get concerned reading the Capital-Journal online . . scary to see Topeka crime much worse than anything we've ever seen here in NYC. In my day there were bad parts of East Topeka and you kinda had to know where to go and not go in Oakland but it was generally safe (other than when I got shot 3 times at 16th and Plass) and in Lawrence it was pretty much just staying clear of the Mumford and Dowdel families. It's exciting to see what they are trying in downtown Topeka now . . and I hope it takes and things turn around. | ||
| Tom_b |
What P47 stated above is very true for locals around here concerning Heartland Park. Including myself. By the time you pay for hotel, food, fuel it is easily a 250 weekend. At least it was when i attended the Heartland Nationals a few years ago. Not including admission to the event you are attending. If there was a local track I for one would attend as much as possible |
