I spent the day checking out the Autobahn Country Club in Joliet. In a word ... WOW. What a fantastic establishment. I was pretty much blown away. I loved both of the tracks. They really seemed to be just technical enough to add challenge and fun, but not too technical leaving you (well, with my inexperience anyway) frustrated. I felt like it was "just right". The whole set up is amazing with all of the services and car storage and instruction and food and car rentals ,and....on and on...all set up. Show up...drive. Met with one of the founders (Mark) and he couldn't have been nicer and more accommodating. Everyone I met there was super friendly and welcoming. While it's expensive to join - I get it - it's just like a golf CC...takes lots of $ to run these kinds of places. I am seriously considering joining even though I don't live in Chicago full time (but I am here more in the summer so that works out well.) HIGHLY recommend to anyone.
It's a wonderful place and you can build a trackside garage with living quarters, go all out. I been there a couple of times and really enjoyed myself. The killer for me is that it's like a 60 mile ride each way from the city. I wish there was something like this, may within 25-30 miles.
They made it any closer and it would be turned into houses in a few years. Plus NIMBYS. Look at Bridghampton and Riverside. I understand the speedway right near Autobahn will be torn down soon to put up warehouses.
That wouldn't surprise me a bit. It's like a supply chain international hub there or something. I've never seen so many trucks and warehouses etc. coming and going. There are maybe 5 or 6 of these racing country clubs in the country. Super lucky to have one so close to Chicago
It wasnt like that in 2004 just small homes and empty land. Bunch of guys bought land around the track, knowing that centerpoint was going to build a terminal. now its out of hand, Trucks galore. A member actually built that big gas station on 53 by Laraway.
It's the two rail yards down there driving all the industry. BNSF and Union Pacific. There is a massive amount of freight coming in and going out of the country from down there. That area will never have any residential housing, which is good for Autobahn.
The place to build your Garagemahal isn’t there, though. Unincorporated Goose Lake Township over the county line in Grundy is way more private (lots of acreage cheap), has low property taxes for IL, and it’s still relatively easy to find waterfront property on one of the stripmine lakes there. The other nice area is along the Kankakee River on either side of County Line Road. Lots of members in these two locations. One member built a 100+ car car barn just behind Gippers II on Pine Bluff Rd. Well-known collector. See him all the time on the Mecum & Barrett-Jackson broadcasts. Autobahn founders and staff somewhat salty about members discovering offsite residential opportunities and car storage; definitely lowers the spend in the clubhouse when these guys are BBQ’ing offsite after a 1-2 AM sessions and then heading back for 1-2 more after lunch, etc. Sent from my iPhone using FerrariChat.com mobile app
