High Rock race track

Anyone else see this?



By Jessie Burchette

Salisbury Post

The owner of the former N.C. Finishing Co. has announced plans to build a 2-mile road racing course as part of a luxury development on the banks of the Yadkin River. It will be called High Rock International Raceway.

Property owner David Risdon, a Boston investment banker, and business partner Frank McGuire of Salisbury announced Tuesday they plan to seek a conditional use permit from Rowan County to construct the road course development.

According to a press release, preliminary plans for the proposed course call for sweeping elevation changes, two high-speed straightaways, a dramatic carousel, corkscrew and S turns.

The 45-foot wide track will wind through that portion of the 240-acre former mill site that sits between U.S. 29 and Interstate 85. The track will be designed to provide a venue for sports car and motorcycle club racing as well as nationally sanctioned professional road-race events.

The proposed road course will be the hub of an innovative motorsports community, including a 55,000-square-foot race team performance center, guest cottages that overlook the Yadkin River and a spacious RV campground.

The road course will be designed by Alan Wilson of Colorado-based Wilson Motorsports. That firms has designed more than 60 courses worldwide.

The development team will also include civil engineer Daryl Wagner from Salisbury Engineering & Planning and Leo Dunn from Salisbury-based Carrol Fisher Construction, which will serve as the project architect and contractor.

"This will be one of the most exciting road courses in the world. We are extremely fortunate to be working with Alan Wilson and to have acreage that offers exceptional topography on which to construct a world-class road racing course," Risdon said.

The road course site will feature acres of manicured lawns where guests can relax and picnic as they watch race events. There are several sites that will allow spectators to see the majority of the track. A 70-acre parcel adjacent to the course -- the plant site across U.S. 29 -- will provide parking for more than 10,000 visitors.

"We have existing dock facilities, and just a few hundred feet down river, the Yadkin River opens up onto beautiful High Rock Lake," Risdon said. The plan incudes converting a former school house into a family restaurant with an outdoor deck overlooking the river.

And the project includes plans to convert an existing 55,000-square-foot building into a home for race teams.

In addition, the track will offer memberships to High Rock Country Club.

Like a country club draws golfers, the proposed race course will offer country club amenities for sports car enthusiasts.

Club members will have the opportunity to garage their race cars, sports cars or motorcycles in their own private two-story race chalet. Each chalet will provide views of the track from its second-story living area and outdoor deck above the oversized garage.

Club members will be permitted to use the track during select weekdays and evenings to run hot laps. Additionally, club members and their families will have access to all track events and exclusive access to a 10,000-square-foot lodge designed to offer an exceptional view of the racing action.

Risdon said Tuesday the project will mirror a development in Jolliet, Ill., called the Autobahn. The sale of memberships is expected to provide a major chunk of funding for the project, which Risdon said will involve tens of millions of dollars.

County officials said Tuesday they have seen preliminary plans for the project.

County Manager Tim Russell said McGuire met with him Monday to detail the project, including a review of discussions with the N.C. Department of Transportation, Alcoa and Norfolk Southern Railroad regarding various phases of the project.

Russell said McGuire or Risdon did not ask for any incentives or other contribution from the county.

They will seek the conditional use permit for the race track.

County Planning Manager Ed Muire said the plan will likely go before the county Zoning Board of Adjustments first. To carry out the existing race course design, they will need approval of a minor variance on setbacks.

Muire said the project appears to comply with the county's race track standards.

The property is zoned industrial, which allows race tracks. A small part of the site falls in Spencer's extraterritorial zoning jurisdiction.

Spencer Mayor Jody Everhart said Tuesday that the project would be a good drawing card for the county.

"It will be good for restaurants, motels, shopping and tourism," said Everhart. "It really looks good."

Construction on the track project is expected to start this fall and be completed by summer of 2006. Risdon said that the first sanctioned races would most likely be in 2007.

Risdon and McGuire have hired Salisbury-based Joseph M. Gamewell Associates to ensure that the track fully conforms to the county's noise ordinance.

Much of the track will be along I-85. Buffers will be designed at key spots on the track.

"This is a nice big piece of property not adjacent to anyone. We won't bother anyone," Risdon said.

County and Spencer officials said there are few houses near the proposed road course.

Risdon acquired the property in October 2001 after Color-Tex closed and the company filed for bankruptcy.

Demolition of the main building, a 400,000 square foot structure has been under way for more than a year. It's expected to be completed in the next 9 to 12 months.

Since Risdon acquired the property, he has considered several ventures, including a residential-retail mix.

"We've looked at different alternatives trying to find something commercial that would generate economic activity. We think we have found it," he said.

For a year or more, Risdon has focused on the road course project. "We've done our homework, looked at the racing industry," he said.

"Sports car clubs look for exciting tracks. We believe we will have one of the most exciting courses in the country."

And he hopes to attract some NASCAR drivers to practice their road course skills.

"We'd love to have some of the NASCAR guys," he said Risdon. "If they're looking for a place to race during the week, High Rock International Raceway will welcome them."

Risdon cited the important role the mill played in the life of the community from 1910 to 2000.

"We plan on building a tribute on the site to the mill employees who gave so much of their working life to the mill. Our hope is to return this site to its rightful place as a hub of economic activity for Rowan County. We want this property to once again create jobs for local residents, generate revenues for local businesses and increase property values and tax revenues for Rowan County," he said. "We want to be a good neighbor and a positive force in the community."

Risdon, who was on the board of directors of Color-Tex when it closed, has pledged to repay $160,000 to some of the 350 workers who lost their jobs when the plant closed on Oct. 1, 2000.

That payout has been linked to the sale of nearly 40 acres of the property to the N.C. Department of Transportation for the realignment of Interstate 85 at the Yadkin River. Risdon said Tuesday that with changes in the state projects, he's not sure when the property will be sold.

 

No idea on the costs yet. If I am on another "international assignment" when I move back stateside, this looks attractive as I can fly out of Charlotte every other week...

 

Ah, too many Tom Clancy novels for Dr Who. I'm not a spook, I make too much money to be one.