79 replies to this topic

[B(Kuch)Kucera45]

I was just out there today and took a few laps around the track.They cut all the trees down in the carousel all the trees and said it was to try and dry out that area. They moved all the trailers to the front of the property and was told they are building a flat track and a motorcross track in the back area.

Not trying to start a he said she said but I was told that it wasn't the tracks fault about the car contract (SCCA) it was about track rental prices and the lack of car counts from last year. I just hope they can work it out so we can go racing.

My biggest problem with the owners of the track is that they are just taking the money and not reinvesting it back into the facility. They are only doing what they need to do to keep it open. It's just a shame because this track could be a great facility if someone would put a couple mil into the place. Trust me they would get there money back so it wouldn't be a bad investment.

There was 3 craftsman trucks out there and ran a 1:10 on a warm up lap and then we're running consistent 1:07 and that is flying !

[AJ Roderick]

Not trying to start a he said she said but I was told that it wasn't the tracks fault about the car contract (SCCA) it was about track rental prices and the lack of car counts from last year. I just hope they can work it out so we can go racing.
 

 

Funny you heard that since 3 regions couldn't contact Todd to even get a contract.

 

Overall, how was the track conditions?

[B(Kuch)Kucera45]

I was told that they all talked and seen the contract but no one would sign it. Just what I was told and there is a couple of events scheduled for this year with scca but I'm not sure what sanction it's with.

As for the track conditions it's about the same as last year. It held up ok after the winter we had but the bathrooms didn't do so well !

[Caveman-kwebb99]

so... can we hope that the winter storms knocked the mid ohio bathrooms down also???

[Tom Sager]

My biggest problem with the owners of the track is that they are just taking the money and not reinvesting it back into the facility. They are only doing what they need to do to keep it open. It's just a shame because this track could be a great facility if someone would put a couple mil into the place. Trust me they would get there money back so it wouldn't be a bad investment.

 

But there's the problem...  How much revenue can you get from a track like this?  What's a weekend rental, maybe $15K?  The season has about 25 weekends and maybe you get some in-week revenue as well.  Total revenue for the year might be around $500K if my numbers are in the ballpark.  From that you have to pay expenses to run the place and still get some return on the initial investment plus the investment in improvements.  I think if we had all the real numbers in front of us, we'd conclude that making a reasonable profit while improving the facility would be tough.  

[B(Kuch)Kucera45]

I agree Tom but you could charge 25-30k a weekend if it was fixed up and still be way under what Mid-O charges. Now if you where charging 25-30.a weekend plus gate fees and concession you would be closer to a mil a year. Now if half of that goes to running the place that leaves you a half a mil profit. I don't know about you but I would be fine with that !

Ps. I know it will never be a Mid-O but it can be close.

[Caveman-kwebb99]

Track could be way more fun then mid ohio

[Caveman-kwebb99]

Track needs to be built into a country club track close enough to Cleveland and Pitt to support that sort of thing

[Michael Novak]

Nelson ledges is a $5000 -$6000 max a day track when it is redone to a reasonable level. $15k buys mid o which is on a whole different level and area.

[SaulSpeedwell]

The Good:

-About 20 mph average faster than Mid Ohio. 

-A better "race" track than Mid Ohio's 1-2 passing zones and "parking lot" infield backmarker-punting section.

-Much safer than the concrete and Armco bowling alleys that are Watkins Glen, Road Atlanta, and Road America.  95% of our SM "crashes" are low speed, whereby those ugly Nelson tirewalls let you off scott-free.   

-Much cheaper track rental, and thus a much lower "break even" for the hosting Regions.

 

The Bad:

-Ugly, unimpressive, and very basic  "facilities", and very little in the way of surrounding lodging, restaurants, etc.

 

Bottom Line:

If you are a person who prioritizes status symbols and clean and shiny things (in which case you should consider PCA or BMWSCCA?) and pretty peppermint-striped curbing, you won't like Nelson Ledges.  If you like a "turn and burn" track with true 4th gear "corners" and turning 90+ MPH laps in a car that can barely do 110MPH flatout, you'll love it. 

[SaulSpeedwell]

Nelson ledges is a $5000 -$6000 max a day track when it is redone to a reasonable level. $15k buys mid o which is on a whole different level and area.

 

Has Mid O really come down to $15K?  When I was on a local Comp Board less than two handfuls of years ago, the numbers for Mid O were more like $30K under the old owners.

[SaulSpeedwell]

Unless some group can come up with the money no township/town/ or whatever you crazy Ohio people live in can afford to fix the tire problem alone..   1-2 million plus I am sure would break a town the size of Nelson..   If the state were to setup in maybe...

 

We just need to run all the cars a little higher.......

 

Pretty funny coming from a guy who lives in a State that is still 50% dirt roads!  At least your beer-purchasing rules are less insane than the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.  I WILL, however, gladly trade our highway patrol for yours! 

[FTodaro]

Has Mid O really come down to $15K?  When I was on a local Comp Board less than two handfuls of years ago, the numbers for Mid O were more like $30K under the old owners.

Depending on the time of year and depending on the number of flagmen needed the range on a per day fri-Sun average is 12 to 15 per day.

[Michael Novak]

Pretty funny coming from a guy who lives in a State that is still 50% dirt roads!  At least your beer-purchasing rules are less insane than the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.  I WILL, however, gladly trade our highway patrol for yours! 

I could not disagree..........our state police rule! Plus there is a movement for 80 mph speed limit that looks like it might pass. Roads-dirt or paved are all the same-they make Nelson's look smooth.


I will miss all the trees.

[LarryKing]

I like NE Ohio and there are many more local ameniities than those who camp in their motorhomes at the track might imagine. This is Firelands and Western Reserve territory and was settled by New Englanders shortly after the American Revolution - subsequently the area has a New England look and feel.

 

I stay in Streetsboro - 30 minute drive from track - plenty of lodging choices and several decent restaurant - even a good sushi bar. The Hiram Inn is really nice and ten minutes from the track (B&Bs aren't really my thing but there are several very nice ones nearby). Garrettsville has a couple decent restaurants - I like Sean's pub. I'm told the bar on the corner of 305 and 422 makes a good burger (and is OK with over-serving). If fine dining is your thing there's plenty nearby - the Aurora area is nice. Also, many Ohio wineries are nearby - seems like a perfect match with 'Miata racing'.

 

I'm sure there are nice areas in Warren too, I just haven't seen them.

[B(Kuch)Kucera45]

You forgot Blazing Bills on 422 and that's 15 min away. You also forgot if you like shooting there are 3 shooting ranges 10 min from the track! Right around the corner is a high power rifle range and the guy even has a tank and yes he does shoot it !

[Tom Sager]

You forgot Blazing Bills on 422 and that's 15 min away. You also forgot if you like shooting there are 3 shooting ranges 10 min from the track! Right around the corner is a high power rifle range and the guy even has a tank and yes he does shoot it !

You've almost got yourself talked into writing a check for the place and starting a new life as a race track owner/manager!  

[B(Kuch)Kucera45]

You've almost got yourself talked into writing a check for the place and starting a new life as a race track owner/manager!

Lol if I did my wife would make me live in one of those trailers out there !

[Caveman-kwebb99]

Kutch please open a nelson ledges country club where you race around and shoot at each other at the same time. We can spec body armor.  

[LarryKing]

I'll race the tank.

 

Who wants to bump draft?