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If you lived here you'd be drag racing... or rock crawling... or road racing!

By
Real Estate Agent with Century 21 Results Realty GA RE Lic # 282060

Tony on the rocksI just answered a question on another board about marketing a drag racing track that is for sale.  I just couldn't help but hit a flight of fancy over it.  I started to think of some of the unique, but also fairly popular concepts that I have run across over the years.  

There are several road racing communities around the country.  The basic concept is to take a private track, with nice views, and instead of trying to make money holding races all of the time, turn it into a private club with residences sprinkled throughout.  Throw in a paddock, a nice clubhouse and a few other amenities, and <poof> it's a country club for race folks.  There are plenty of amatuer racers that have a lot of money to play with... it isn't a cheap hobby.  For those that are really into their own racers, factoring in track rentals and transportation costs just for test and tune days, and having access to a track in the neighborhood starts to look great.

 Photo courtesy of http://flickr.com/photos/22831849@N00/

Now, people that like to turn the wheel aren't the only ones that would enjoy having a local facility to play.  There are at least as many folks that enjoy powering something down the track against the clock.  One would need to look into the requirements for private events, but there might be some restrictions that would limit the track to 1/8 mile sprints rather than the traditional 1/4 mile bursts.  However, a 1/4 mile track could be set up with lights and timing equipment to run both distances.  Just think, Saturday morning and one could pull the dragster out of the garage at home, not even load it up on a trailer, but drive it over to the line... and make a few runs.  

The final option would be the most original one.  A residential rock crawling club...  Rock crawling is one of the fastest growing motor sports in the country. Private off-road parks are popping up all over the country.  Unlike drag racing and road course racing, rock crawling happens at VERY slow speeds.  Photo courtesy of http://flickr.com/photos/22831849@N00/While one could argue that there is plenty of carnage in rock crawling, or even its faster cousin rock racing, injuries are pretty rare and pretty mild.  So, it might be the safest of the three to host in a private facility without safety crews and emergency transportation.  Also, because of the nature of the desirable terrain, it could be hosted in a smaller space, or scaled to larger spaces.  It could be done with rolling topography or a fairly flat area with arranged obstacles. 

Depending on the desires of each of the communities, events or public days could be hosted to offset some of the costs of the facilities.  While the amenities would likely be more expensive than all but the most luxurious traditional clubs (golf, tennis and swimming), the extra income flow, as well as the rarity of the facilities/communities would create good value for the home owner's association.  

It sure does make for an interesting group of concepts... and looking at the possible demographics, I think that the right developer could create some VERY popular and unique communities.  Free press and publicity would be a breeze, too... 

Drop in to my new (as in still under development) website.  Take a look.  Give me a call.   

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1~Judi Barrett
Integrity Real Estate Services 116 SE AVE N, Idabel, OK 74745 - Idabel, OK
BS Ed, Integrity Real Estate Services -IDABEL OK
Very interesting.  Have never encountered or thought of such. Thanks for posting.
Oct 09, 2007 09:24 PM
Mike Jones
SUNSTREET MORTGAGE, LLC (BK-0907366, NMLS 145171) - Tucson, AZ
Mike Jones NMLS 223495

Rock crawling is big here in Tucson, Lane.  That Mustang is so cool!

Mike in Tucson

Oct 09, 2007 10:17 PM
Allison Stewart
St.Cloud Homes - Saint Cloud, FL
St. Cloud Fl Realtor, Osceola County Real Estate 407-616-9904

What a fantastic concept. That would go over great here in Florida with so many vintage car collectors.  This could be an amazing alternative to fly-in communities

( You forgot autocrossing!) 

Oct 09, 2007 10:47 PM
Lane Bailey
Century 21 Results Realty - Suwanee, GA
Realtor & Car Guy

Maggie - I know that there are a few scattered around the country.  I'd have to go looking to find where they are.  I'm pretty sure there is a road racing community in Colorado, and I'm sure there are a couple in California.  I don't know of any drag tack communities or rock crawling communities, but both of those have a huge following. 

Judi - See above.  

Mike - I loved the Shelby Mustang I had... I'd love another.  Rock crawling is HUGE out there.  

Allison - I have not forgotten autocrossing at all.  I used to run a Shelby Charger Turbo in G Stock in the Atlanta Region SCCA.  I also ran a 1st generation VW GTI in Minnesota (there were a lot of small clubs with different class structures).  The contrast to fly in communities is definitely one I thought of.  In fact, there is no reason that a community couldn't offer both, although the rock crawling and the runway might be tougher to do. 

Oct 10, 2007 12:42 AM
Dan Forbes
Bradenton, FL

The Rock Crawling looks like a lot of fun.  I'd like to attend it someday.

Thank you for taking the time to read my post , Trying to Succeed? Give Up Everything You Know. , and for making a comment.

Oct 10, 2007 02:06 AM
Virginia Halter
RE/MAX Signature Properties - Harrisburg, NC
ABR, CDPE, CRS, GREEN, SFR, SRES

Lane - If Bruton Smith could, maybe it would be easier for him to pick that one up and bring it to Concord, NC instead of going through the building process he is going through now.  I wonder if he could have gotten out of needing permits if he had just had the drag strip shipped in, unfolded, put down. 

I have never heard of so many different auto sports as I have in this post with all of the comments!  I had no idea!!  

I agree that the rock crawling looks fun.

 

Oct 10, 2007 03:14 AM
Diane Testa
Mullica Hill, NJ

I HAVE TO COMMENT ON THIS ONE!!! My children race Junior Dragsters and the racers and families that we race with are amongst the best people in the world that I have ever met. The parents all spend their weekends with their kids from the time they are 8 years old until they are 18 they can race their cars. They are REAL cars and go between 45 and 80 MPH. These kids are all VERY well rounded and all of them cheer for each other to win. It is an incredible display of sportsmanship. ANYWAY, We (the parents and kids) have often said how great it would be if we all lived in the same place. We would never have to worry that our kids were being bullied, or would have peer pressures that exist in other parts of the world. So I say go for it! I know of about 50 families that I could get to live in a racing community!

Oct 10, 2007 03:25 AM
Scot Thrapp
Coastal Palmetto Realty - Conway, SC
Great blog and concept!  I believe it would work to a niche market and if you could work out liability issues
Oct 10, 2007 03:48 AM
Lane Bailey
Century 21 Results Realty - Suwanee, GA
Realtor & Car Guy

Dan - Rock crawling is a ball.  I have few more pics sprinkled through my blog.  The greatest thing about it that it is accessible to just about anyone. 

Virginia - I've heard of the issues that Bruton Smith has been having.  I wonder if the city of Concord really wants to tick him off.  I think I could say with confidence that he has put that city on the map. 

Diane - I have been around recreational trail riding and also autocrossing.  The people are really great people.  I have no doubt that the drag community is the same.  If I can get him interested, my son will take up one form of motor sport or another as a child, as I think it teaches a lot of positive qualities... especially when one races against their friends.  There is no better way to learn sportsmanship than through direct competition with friends.  One of my best friends that I raced against always shared the belief that we wanted to beat the other on our best day, not because we exploited a weak moment.  Each, at one time or another, offered our car to the other to compete in when one of the cars had an issue.  

Scot - There can be liability issues, but oddly, most of the issues in motorsports are not tough to deal with.  Within the racing community lawsuits are rare.  Most that have happened are from spectators.  However, there are safety issues that would need to be addressed, and I would need to see how those have been addressed in existing communities. 

Oct 10, 2007 04:06 AM
Diane Testa
Mullica Hill, NJ

Lane,

The greatest thing that happens is when one of the cars breaks down, EVERYONE is up there fixing it so that it can get back on the track. No one wants to win because their friend broke down!! Most people will never EVER understand the warmth and camaraderie that these kids experience. It is like nothing else we have ever done!

Oct 10, 2007 05:50 AM
Anonymous
Drew Riley
Hot Springs is home to Superlift's Off-Road Vechicle park, and after several visits I'm hooked!  Motorsports of any kind is a rapidly growing segment of the market...plus its plain cool!
Oct 10, 2007 06:42 AM
#12
Lane Bailey
Century 21 Results Realty - Suwanee, GA
Realtor & Car Guy

Diane - I'm right there with you.  Back to that winning over your best competition, not just winning because the others had an issue.  Pro racers might say that all of the wins are the same, but for the rest of us, the best wins are hard fought, as are the best losses. 

Drew - I like their security Jeep (although, since it is all over the show truck scene, I don't think it is getting a lot of patrol time).  I haven't been to SORV yet, but I would love to get my rig together and take it to play. 

Everyone - Thank you so much for commenting and reading.  The ratings are also wonderful to get.  In all honesty, I am shocked that this post got a feature.  I was writing this because I needed to get the ideas out and because I felt it was appropriate content for my blog.  I never expected a single comment, much less a feature.  

This reminds me that the decision I have agonized over, to concentrate on property for auto enthusiasts, is the right one.  Reaction has been mixed, but seeing that there is this level of support gives me a little better chance of sleeping at night.   I know that there are a lot of us "car people" out there.  I know that we buy property.  I don't think there is any reason why we shouldn't be able to have a motorsport and auto hobby friendly neighborhood in the same way builders have built around golf courses and equestrian facilities. 

Thank you again.  As always, I will endeavor to answer EVERY comment.   

Oct 10, 2007 07:28 AM
Joshua Talayka
Chase Internatinonal - Reno, NV
thanks for the great post.
Oct 10, 2007 07:29 AM
Thomas Weiss
Thomas R. Weiss - West Palm Beach, FL

Lane,

That looks like alot of fun!!! I would just eat it up :0)

Tom Weiss

Oct 10, 2007 07:49 AM
Drew Riley
Spa Realty, Inc Team Riley - Hot Springs, AR
The more I've thought about it, the better of an idea it sounds like.  People like combining multiples of their favorite things into ONE, so why shouldn't this work????
Oct 10, 2007 08:57 AM
Sue Melhorn
The Bean Group - Dover, NH
Licensed in NH, ME and FL!

Lane,

What a GREAT idea.  We are avid motorsports fans ourselves.  Love all sorts of racing local and big time.  We actually just recently looked to build a Morton building that we could live in and use for storage.  2400 sq. ft. for the hosue, 3,800 sq. ft. for the garage.  Can you believe we couldn't get financing??  If we had this sort of idea in our area, I know we would in be interested.  Your concept would be the best of both worlds.  You live where you play. 

I also tryed to blog about Nascar inparticular to get into a niche racing market but I never got anyone to post.  Maybe I should try again!! 

 

Oct 10, 2007 09:01 AM
Diane Rice
Rice Prprty Mgmnt & Rlty, LLC, South Holland, IL - Lansing, IL
SFR, SRES, CNC
Now i'm really impressed!  This should be a good balancer for Real Estate.... take it out on the rocks eh??
Oct 10, 2007 12:01 PM
Kaye Thomas
Real Estate West - Manhattan Beach, CA
e-PRO, Manhattan Beach CA
Lane- Website looks like fun.. but no place to comment...
Oct 10, 2007 01:27 PM
Patrick Brady
The Danberry Co., Realtors - Sylvania, OH
That sounds like a fun place to live.  The easy part would be to drive it over to the track.  The hard part might be getting it home after you have broken something on the track.
Oct 10, 2007 03:55 PM
Lane Bailey
Century 21 Results Realty - Suwanee, GA
Realtor & Car Guy

Joshua - Thanks for stopping by.

Cheryl - Rocks are fun, too.  

Thomas - I don't know about eating it... but it is a lot of fun.

Drew - Live and play in the same place.  I think it's a great idea.  

Sue - Where are you?  There might be something nearby.  I post things about NASCAR occasionally.  One thing to keep in mind is that NASCAR fans are more "sponsor loyal" than fans of any other sport.  If you make it in, you are in...  Sponsor a car!  It's only a couple million, right?

Diane - When I used to race sports cars, my (now ex-)wife used to gripe if I hadn't raced for a while.  I wasn't as easy to get along with.  

Kaye - I have been looking for a good solution to that.  Thank you for visiting.  

Patrick - Better than having to get it home when the track is 12 hours away.  Whip out the cell phone... "Honey, can you come over... and bring the truck... and a strap... Call Pat, too."

Oct 11, 2007 07:37 AM