283 replies to this topic

[Neo]

I was flipping through this month's Wired Magazine and noticed an article on the new wind tunnel in Concord.  The article is up on their website here:  http://www.wired.com.../15-10/pl_motor

Some interesting tidbits on the facility but to note that Wired pegs this the "ultimate wind tunnel" which is excellent to have in our region for obvious reasons.

[AuLukey]

Wow, I read Wired almost cover to cover when it comes in and I must've skipped right over this one.  Great find Neo!   Too bad there isn't any mention of Concord, NASCAR Country, the Speedway, or Charlotte.

Also, at $4000/hr in a $40 million facility, that will take quite awhile to pay off assuming it doesn't run the full eight-hour workday.  Oh well, an investment is an investment.

Edited by aussie luke, 01 October 2007 - 03:42 PM.

[Raintree21]

That's weird that their only mention of location is "...facility in North Carolina."

[Raintree21]

aussie luke, on Sep 1 2007, 12:15 AM, said:

Tack on another potential attraction to the Speedway area.  According to the Observer, Bruton Smith is looking to build a $60M drag strip for top-end events in drag racing circuits which draw in large crowds and many race teams.  It would be built next to the DirtTrack.

Concord City Council members voted unanimously Monday to stop construction at the LMS drag strip being built. There are concerns about too much noise and council members say that Bruton Smith and company have not been giving answers to their questions.

[monsoon]

The Concord City Council has put the smack down on B. Smith (owner of the Charlotte Motor Speedway) by denying him the zoning to build a big drag strip near the race track.   Smith, true to form, has said he may sue the city over the incident and wishes he had never been annexed by Concord.   It's an amazing turnaround since the worked hard to have the gerrymandered annexation take place in the first place to shut out Harrisburg from annexing the track.  This was done because Harrisburg is/was a dry town and Smith did not want to lose out on alcohol sales at the track.

[AuLukey]

While I understand Concord's reasoning behind this, they just screwed themselves.  Smith was planning to build a whole racing complex around there eventually.  I can't see him doing any more developing here if he becomes angry at Concord.  Way to screw up a good thing Concord!

[Neo]

aussie luke, on Oct 2 2007, 02:11 PM, said:

While I understand Concord's reasoning behind this, they just screwed themselves.  Smith was planning to build a whole racing complex around there eventually.  I can't see him doing any more developing here if he becomes angry at Concord.  Way to screw up a good thing Concord!

I'm not sure we should be applauding Smith.  Yes, he has contributed a great deal to Concord and the Charlotte region as a whole, but is it to the point where we should allow him to do anything he wants?  Cutting down the trees a few years ago got him reprimanded and now he goes ahead with grading without a permit for a drag strip.  Smith is too big for his britches IMO and needs to abide by the same laws as everyone else.  I don't see why a drag strip can't be a part of the facilities around the dirt track and the regular race track, but I'm all for doing it the right way with involvement from the surrounding community.

What Smith has done is make himself look bad through all of this.  He is not above anyone else in this region and for anyone to think so is irresponsible.

[dbull75]

I think more than anything, Smith is just playing hard ball. Losing the Lowe's track would have a real adverse effect on Concord. I'm sure Concord will come to some sort of compromise. They would be stupid not to, IMO.

BTW - where in Charlotte would he build a track?

[Neo]

dbull75, on Oct 2 2007, 02:57 PM, said:

BTW - where in Charlotte would he build a track?

I can't imagine spending $350 million just to build another complex just because the City of Concord didn't give him what he wanted right when he wanted it the way he wanted it.  It comes across as whining and I see it no other way.  I'm certain a compromise can be had that would allow for the drag strip in the end.  Smith needs to cool down and go about this a different way.  Perhaps involve the community in the initial design of the track and hold public meetings with the community as to the design and direct impact to surrounding residential areas.

In the blink of an eye Smith is willing to give up what he and Concord have worked so hard together to create over decades?  Something just doesn't seem right about this.  I'm certain that nowhere in Charlotte would he be allowed to build a drag strip for the same reasons Concord is asking questions about.  This area isn't a rural area as there are thousands of homes within close proximity to his proposed track so I can certainly see where residents are coming from on this.

[monsoon]

dbull75, on Oct 2 2007, 01:57 PM, said:

......
BTW - where in Charlotte would he build a track?

Nowhere.   Certainly not in Mecklenburg.   A few years ago ever expanding development caused closure of the Shuffletown Dragstrip.  This was a well know staple of this type of racing for years but once people started living near the thing, they found they didn't like the noise and eventually the owner was forced to close it.  

It's my guess that Smith needs the Charlotte area than the Charlotte area needs Smith.

[Ryepow]

Maybe by the airport like in Daytona? No need to worry about noise when you have jets going in and out all day and night. I don't see this threat playing out though. I think the story is kind of funny. It must be nice to be able to spend $350 million on a new location because you didn't get what you wanted. I bet the Nascar execs building the hall of fame spit up their coffee all over their computer screens when they read that comment.

[Raintree21]

The airport has paid millions of dollars to homeowners to either buy them out if they're on flight paths or to insulate their houses against the noise.


Bruton Smith has made it official that his lawyers are looking at how to get "un-annexed" from Concord. How close is he to Charlotte? Could he apply to be annexed here?


Here's a link to the Shuffletown Drag Strip. It shut down in 1992.

[AuLukey]

I doubt Charlotte will be annexing anything outside of Mecklenburg for a long, long time.  If bruton placed this about two miles further south on n tryon, then maybe.

I understand that he can't go pushing around the city like he's trying to do.  He is going about it the wrong way, of course we all know that.  It just amazes me that with the airport, the speedway, the dirt track, and a rock quarry (two miles away) all there, why would people complain about the noise from this when large events are only four or five times a year tops?  Could bruton not also build some sort of sound wall between the strip and the large neighborhoods just north of this area?

[Neo]

Raintree21, on Oct 3 2007, 12:07 AM, said:

The airport has paid millions of dollars to homeowners to either buy them out if they're on flight paths or to insulate their houses against the noise.

I agree, however the noise from a drag strip is apparently much louder than any of the other noises currently in this area.  This is obviously what you get for purchasing a cheap cookie cutter house next to a major interstate, 4th busiest airport in the state, major race track, dirt track, several industrial businesses, etc.  Obviously adding a drag strip to the mix doesn't seem like it adds a great deal to the noise factor that is already there.

The problem I personally have with this is that he started grading without a permit and when the city decided to take action against it he crosses his arms and begins to whine that he's going to pack his bags and move everything somewhere else where he feels loved.  He's done nothing but prove that he's a grown baby and I've lost any respect for him as I'm sure many others have.

Raintree21, on Oct 3 2007, 12:07 AM, said:

How close is he to Charlotte? Could he apply to be annexed here?

The track is located in Cabarrus County so no, he can't be annexed by Charlotte.  He also can't just move it down 29 to be in Mecklenburg County as there are a great deal of residential developments all around this location with a large mixed use development planned very close to to the new CVS at 29 and 485.

[Miesian Corners]

aussie luke, on Oct 3 2007, 01:06 AM, said:

I doubt Charlotte will be annexing anything outside of Mecklenburg for a long, long time.  If bruton placed this about two miles further south on n tryon, then maybe.

I understand that he can't go pushing around the city like he's trying to do.  He is going about it the wrong way, of course we all know that.  It just amazes me that with the airport, the speedway, the dirt track, and a rock quarry (two miles away) all there, why would people complain about the noise from this when large events are only four or five times a year tops?  Could bruton not also build some sort of sound wall between the strip and the large neighborhoods just north of this area?

He doesn't give a damn about residents.  He's nothing more than a rich arrogant pr*ck who wants his way--or else.  Remember when he promised to save a large stand of trees in Mecklenburg, then quickly mowed them all down?  Now he begins construction of a drag strip with no permits or zoning.  Smith seems to think he is above the law when everyone else has to abide by it.   He deserves no respect or sympathy.

[monsoon]

It would be hard for me to image that Smith would walk away from a $350M facility  (number quoted on TV)  only to rebuild it a few miles away.   He's got the roads, public airport, facilities and surrounding development there needed to support a hugh racetrack that would no doubt be difficult to reproduce elsewhere.

On top of that, there simply isn't anywhere left in Mecklenburg county were he would be allowed to build such a thing.   As noted above there would be huge protests about such an environmentally unfriendly place with noise and traffic being huge concerns.   No politician in Meck. is going to approve it as it's not like it is an industry moving here from the north.   On the suggestion about locating it near the airport, I would completely agree there is no place for it there as there are some very complicated situations concerning airport noise and the surrounding neighborhoods and businesses.  They simply would not tolerate the suggestion that a race track be put there too.  

My guess is nobody is going to take Smith that seriously on this matter and under NC law he has no way to "un-annex" himself.   It's disappointing that he cares so little for the community that has supported him over the decades.

[geekUSA1981]

So far, the focus has been on the people of Concord.  Let's not forget about all the corporate people at Lowe's, Coca-Cola, Bank of America, Food Lion, and NASCAR that would be affected if he built a new track.  You've got the NHOF being built--which I'm sure NASCAR and the city would like to keep in close proximity to a track.  Coke and BOA have two huge races, plus there's the All-Star Challange.  Food Lion's speed street is built around the All-Star and Coca-Cola 600, not to mention the auto shows they hold at the track.  I doubt many people at these companies would be happy with having to move their events to a brand new location.  While they could still easily hold their events at a new track, they may be concerned about attendence (for events held at the track, as well as in the city) depending upon how far away a new track would be built.  Also, by continuing to sponsor events at Smith's new track, they could be perceived as supporting his actions, which would most likely put them on many people's $h!t list.

Plus, just because you build a track, doesn't mean NASCAR is going to hold a race there.  From what I understand, they select where the races will be held.  So, while Smith wouldn't need NASCAR's approval to build a new race track, he would have to get them to agree to hold races at it.  And I doubt NASCAR wants to get into a PR nightmare like explaining why acres and acres of trees were cleared to build a new track in close proximity to a functional existing one, all because some guy didn't get to build a drag strip at the old one.

[moonshield]

monsoon, on Oct 3 2007, 12:50 PM, said:

It would be hard for me to image that Smith would walk away from a $350M facility  (number quoted on TV)  only to rebuild it a few miles away.   He's got the roads, public airport, facilities and surrounding development there needed to support a hugh racetrack that would no doubt be difficult to reproduce elsewhere.

On top of that, there simply isn't anywhere left in Mecklenburg county were he would be allowed to build such a thing.   As noted above there would be huge protests about such an environmentally unfriendly place with noise and traffic being huge concerns.   No politician in Meck. is going to approve it as it's not like it is an industry moving here from the north.   On the suggestion about locating it near the airport, I would completely agree there is no place for it there as there are some very complicated situations concerning airport noise and the surrounding neighborhoods and businesses.  They simply would not tolerate the suggestion that a race track be put there too.  

My guess is nobody is going to take Smith that seriously on this matter and under NC law he has no way to "un-annex" himself.   It's disappointing that he cares so little for the community that has supported him over the decades.

What about Gaston Cty?

They seem like they would be persuadeable and it's close to a real airport.

Edited by moonshield, 03 October 2007 - 12:03 PM.

[Ryepow]

Take a look at Google Earth. I was looking in around the airport as I mentioned before. Now I am not saying this can be done, but it has pretty interesting possiblities. Below is a screenshot overlooking the CLT airport area. I have added in the future runway currently under construction. From the same elevation I superposed LMS and what I can tell is parking lots around it to the west of 485. I made that section a little darker so you can see it better.

Advantages I see are:
1. right next to 485 and not far from I-485/I-77 interchange- easy access.
2. sound buffer on the west due to river.
3. next to airport.- I added a orange box west of the new runway for crew team aircraft parking.
4. next to airport- less noise hassle next to noisy airport.
5. next to the airport- will be a big push for onsite airport hotel- great for stranded passengers if race isn't here.
6. big incentive to make light rail from LMS/Airport to uptown.

[monsoon]

^I am of the opinion they would have a huge hurdle against that location because this appears to be right in the Catawba River Watershed.  There are some fairly recent rules that dictate how much ground can be covered by development that would prevent something such as the speed way from being built.  

Plus thare are neighborhoods there were people would complain just as loudly as they did in Cabarrus.

moonshield, on Oct 3 2007, 01:00 PM, said:

What about Gaston Cty?.....

Exactly where is this?  Do you mean Gastonia?