It seems to me that it would be plausible to build a site such as you've
talked about here, but for the financial reasons you've stated here, start
with an asphalt site. No, it won't be as grippy as a concrete site would
be, but it would be good enough, especially if the intent of the site is to
provide spectator entertainment. What's more fun for a spectator watching
motorsports than seeing someone coming around a turn hanging the rear end of
the car out, and saving it just in time for the next turn? Once enough
revenue is generated, a concrete cap can be put over the asphalt if so
desired. That keeps the startup costs down, and means that if the idea
doesn't take off, the initial investors haven't lost as much. Besides, a
well-paved concrete slab usually takes an asphalt layer underneath. Just a
few thoughts...
>From: dg50@daimlerchrysler.com
>Reply-To: dg50@daimlerchrysler.com
>To: autox@autox.team.net
>Subject: Re: ProSolo, Spectators, TV, et al.
>Date: Mon, 26 Jun 2000 15:41:58 -0400
>
>"Arthur Emerson" <vreihen@hotmail.com> wrote:
>
> > The road to success, IMHO, begins with the construction
> > of a dedicated ProSolo facility near a major metropolitan
> > area.
>
>I'm way ahead of you here - I made a post about a year ago that had an
>ASCII drawing of such a facility.
>
>After doing some research, and talking to some people who actually know
>something about real estate and construction, the big fly in the ointment
>is the cost of paving the site, especially if you want concrete. It takes a
>loooong time to make the cost of that back, so long that it's hard to make
>a business case to something like an investment bank. Unless you have the
>money up front (Hi Scotty!) it's hard to justify it.
>
>A better case can be made if the site is co-located with an existing
>motorsports facility. If you're building a NASCAR oval, then it'd be
>relatively trivial to either design a portion of the main parking lot to
>accomodate autocross, or to pave the entire infield. Of course, if the
>infield is paved, then you get to pay the operating costs for a NASCAR
>facility for a weekend....
>
>You're far better off if you can locate a big chunk of already-existing
>pavement, and then adapt it into a permenent facility. *cough* Peru *cough*
>
>That being said, if I had a couple of mil to burn, I'd love to try building
>a permenent facility as an experiment. What a shame that I seem to be
>lacking at the moment. :(
>
>DG
>
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