From WZEP...
Talladega, Daytona, Indianapolis, Charlotte - all names synonymous with the world of racing and motorsports. DeFuniak Springs could soon be on that list if investors and the community pull together...according to DeFuniak Springs Mayor Bob Campbell.
Investors and racing enthusiasts have set their eyes on the city of Defuniak Springs with plans to bring a state of the art world class professional automotive motorsports entertainment complex to town.
Inquiries are being made, meetings and presentations are being scheduled as officials consider the benefits and possibilities of what a 50 to 70 million dollar complex could do for the regional economy.
"This is huge," said Mayor Campbell. This could totally be the positive change we have been looking for. Every resident and business owner could benefit from this."
While nothing is set in stone and things are still in the planning stages. Campbell says investors and planners have already spoken with land owners and will meet next week with state officials from the DOT, DEO and EPA to discuss any potential obstacles. From there, a workshop is planned with the City Council to hear presentations and get the pulse of the community.
One of the prime areas under consideration is a 1400 acre site on U.S. Hwy. 331 S southeast of the intersection of Interstate 10. The economic impact would be staggering. Shopping, retail, dinning and manufacturing would all benefit from the presence of professional racing teams, nationally sanctioned racing events and the hundreds of millions of dollars companies could bring to the area.
Mayor Campbell says investors are serious about preserving the historical significance of Defuniak Springs and are willing to bring to bear the resources needed for philanthropic ventures as well as creating thousands of employment opportunities and educational opportunities for area schools and automotive technology centers.
The project has caught the attention of regional airlines as well. The possibility of jet service and airport enhancements are also on the table.
The group would also bring a high-end luxury sports car dealership to south Walton as part of the package. Names like Bentley, Rolls Royce, Aston-Martin, Porsche and others would be readily available locally instead of having to drive 200 miles to one of those dealers.
Homeowners could breathe a sigh of relief as property values rise and the City Council would not have to rely on property taxes as the primary source of revenue to keep the city running. "If done right, this could benefit us all. If we want this, if we want to insure something good and that will last, citizens have to let their Councilmembers know. We have to roll out the welcome mat.," said Mayor Campbell.
"They (the investors) are serious and ready. The question is, are we?"
Replies
24
Beach Fanatic
Pie in the sky. It took Kentucky Speedway a decade to get a Sprint Cup race.
Beach Fanatic
Gentlemen and ladies start your engines..remind me to stay at the beach on race week...
I-20 from Birmingham to Talladega during race week and on race days is a horror...but the $$$$ impact for a few days is worth the crowds.....
I-20 from Birmingham to Talladega during race week and on race days is a horror...but the $$$$ impact for a few days is worth the crowds.....
Beach Comber
First, I think Nascar has certain qualifications to meet before racing at a track. Not sure, but if they can bring Nascar to the table, I am sure it will be discussed.
Second, oh please, please tell me this is ot a joke.
The business it would bring.... I would love to keep the beach just ro ourselves but let's face it. There is no going back. So lets open the doors wide, and usher in business year round, instead of just during the 'season'. Imagine hotels and the like booked out with Nascar fans, and families, not spring breakers. Imagine what this could do for all of us, if advertised and marketed right. It is the turn around the area needs to take us in a new direction.
Who knows whats next? Maybe we could get a themepark?
Finally, I could fulfill a lifelong dream of taking a car out on the track, and seeing how fast I can go...
Second, oh please, please tell me this is ot a joke.
The business it would bring.... I would love to keep the beach just ro ourselves but let's face it. There is no going back. So lets open the doors wide, and usher in business year round, instead of just during the 'season'. Imagine hotels and the like booked out with Nascar fans, and families, not spring breakers. Imagine what this could do for all of us, if advertised and marketed right. It is the turn around the area needs to take us in a new direction.
Who knows whats next? Maybe we could get a themepark?
Finally, I could fulfill a lifelong dream of taking a car out on the track, and seeing how fast I can go...
Beach Comber
It is not going to be a NASCAR track. It will be a road racing facility.
If the author of the article would like to discuss the differences or would like help in writing future articles about the facility, please contact me.
If the author of the article would like to discuss the differences or would like help in writing future articles about the facility, please contact me.
Beach FanaticAuthor
It is not going to be a NASCAR track. It will be a road racing facility.Who are you?
If the author of the article would like to discuss the differences or would like help in writing future articles about the facility, please contact me.
Beach Comber
I was in the racing business in Louisiana. I'm not affiliated with the new venture here.
SoWal Guide
We don't do infrastructure in Walton County. Not sure how this could fit our area.
Beach Comber
We don't do infrastructure in Walton County. Not sure how this could fit our area.What do you mean?
SoWal Guide
What do you mean?let's just say we don't have much in the way of long range planning for growth, industry, roads or whatever might be needed. Not sure what the City of Defuniak Springs can do to make way.
Edited
Beach Comber
let's just say we don't have much in the way of long range planning for growth, industry, roads or whatever might be needed. Not sure what the City of Defuniak Springs can do to make way.You are talking about municipal spending, not private development. If the people trying to develop this project want to do it, it won't require public funds.
Beach Comber
This is a positive thing. The infrastructure that we need, at least immediately, is already in place. The intersection of I-10 and 331, coupled with plenty of available land, is a perfect placement for this sort of facility. The infrastructure is already there. Sure, we would need a new hotel or two for major races, but the majority of people coming in would have their own accommodations. This would do nothing but bring money into the county. It also adds another entertainment venue for the county, which makes more money in sales taxes.
SoWal Guide
You are talking about municipal spending, not private development. If the people trying to develop this project want to do it, it won't require public funds.A ton of development could result as well as overall growth. And this could be a very good thing for North Walton County. Very interesting.
Beach Fanatic
You are talking about municipal spending, not private development. If the people trying to develop this project want to do it, it won't require public funds.
If we go back to the a fore mentioned Kentucky Speedway, when they finally got a race, it was proven that state infrastructure was not up to par. The state then spent 3.7 million to upgrade a road that is used one day a year.
I still think there is a ton of pie in the sky in this. Why build a facility in Northwest Florida when facilities to road race aren't that far away?
Beach Fanatic
If we go back to the a fore mentioned Kentucky Speedway, when they finally got a race, it was proven that state infrastructure was not up to par. The state then spent 3.7 million to upgrade a road that is used one day a year.Agree - also would prefer real industry, and green!
I still think there is a ton of pie in the sky in this. Why build a facility in Northwest Florida when facilities to road race aren't that far away?
Beach Fanatic
High-tech industrial park!
In the Bay Area, California, we have The Silicon Valley.
In Portland, Oregon, we have The Silicon Forest.
Just imagine... In Defuniak Springs, we could have The Silicon Swamp!
In the Bay Area, California, we have The Silicon Valley.
In Portland, Oregon, we have The Silicon Forest.
Just imagine... In Defuniak Springs, we could have The Silicon Swamp!
Moderator
The one thing I feel pretty certain about is that NASCAR tracks are not built on the Field of Dreams "build it, and they will come" business model. Any true NASCAR facility would have to be in the 60,000 to 70,000 seat range for any Sprint Cup hopes, but keep in mind that NASCAR means more than Sprint cup. Xfinity and the truck series run some of their races on much smaller tracks.
I can't see a full on Sprint cup facility. Heck, neither Atlanta nor Talladega are coming close to selling out these days, and neither Bruton Smith nor ISC group are going to allow a dilution of their pool.
A road course would be cool.
I don't see it happening, but it's fun to talk about.
I can't see a full on Sprint cup facility. Heck, neither Atlanta nor Talladega are coming close to selling out these days, and neither Bruton Smith nor ISC group are going to allow a dilution of their pool.
A road course would be cool.
I don't see it happening, but it's fun to talk about.
Skunky
I'm all in! Nothing worse than driving 200 miles to go Bentley shopping
Beach Fanatic
A recent article in the NWFL Daily is touting the possibility of a race track development in or around DeFuniak Springs.
It also mentions a "tie in" business in South Walton.
Two things here:
1) DFS & DOT need to first address the traffic hazard / nightmare of coming on to the off ramp from I 10 East and then TRYING to turn onto SB 331... It is a huge safety hazard and if its hard to do this time of year, just wait for Spring Break 2016. Here's someones chance to do something proactive and not reactive (ie, Hwy 98 and 83 Detour).
2) The mention of "tie-in" business to SoWal is nothing more than code speak for "get our hands on all that TDC Money collected by South Walton Bed Taxes". They will stop at nothing from trying to raid the coffers of the Beach $$$. Especially now since their on-going scheme to defraud the taxpayers has been outed.
It also mentions a "tie in" business in South Walton.
Two things here:
1) DFS & DOT need to first address the traffic hazard / nightmare of coming on to the off ramp from I 10 East and then TRYING to turn onto SB 331... It is a huge safety hazard and if its hard to do this time of year, just wait for Spring Break 2016. Here's someones chance to do something proactive and not reactive (ie, Hwy 98 and 83 Detour).
2) The mention of "tie-in" business to SoWal is nothing more than code speak for "get our hands on all that TDC Money collected by South Walton Bed Taxes". They will stop at nothing from trying to raid the coffers of the Beach $$$. Especially now since their on-going scheme to defraud the taxpayers has been outed.
Beach Comber
So..... I backed off a bit after some of the thing's I've heard. I still believe that it's going to be a semi-private road-racing track. It will not be a NASCAR Super-Speedway, like Kentucky or Talledaga.
Yes, the problem with Kentucky was it was a 2 mile NASCAR track which means even with full spectator capacity, you are only looking at 70K. That doesn't require any additional investment from the county for roads. We are already doing that.
Yes, the problem with Kentucky was it was a 2 mile NASCAR track which means even with full spectator capacity, you are only looking at 70K. That doesn't require any additional investment from the county for roads. We are already doing that.
Beach Comber
So..... I backed off a bit after some of the thing's I've heard. I still believe that it's going to be a semi-private road-racing track. It will not be a NASCAR Super-Speedway, like Kentucky or Talledaga.This post is not what I was trying to say. Kentucky can support somewhere around 200K. They only do it for 2 weekends per year, but they do it. This new track will field 100 people for 45 weeks out of the year. It's a totally different model.
Yes, the problem with Kentucky was it was a 2 mile NASCAR track which means even with full spectator capacity, you are only looking at 70K. That doesn't require any additional investment from the county for roads. We are already doing that.
Beach Crab
So..... I backed off a bit after some of the thing's I've heard. I still believe that it's going to be a semi-private road-racing track. It will not be a NASCAR Super-Speedway, like Kentucky or Talledaga.Whatever happened to the road track for the areas?
Yes, the problem with Kentucky was it was a 2 mile NASCAR track which means even with full spectator capacity, you are only looking at 70K. That doesn't require any additional investment from the county for roads. We are already doing that.
Beach Fanatic
Whatever happened to the road track for the areas?Money shifted to SOWAL Beach Vendor Mafia.. to clutter the Most Beautiful UMBRELLA BEACHES
Beach Fanatic
Money shifted to SOWAL Beach Vendor Mafia.. to clutter the Most Beautiful UMBRELLA BEACHESThis makes no sense. We are collecting fees from beach vendors like it or not. I suggest a day off on the beach looking at the gulf and not vendors.
SWGB
This makes no sense. We are collecting fees from beach vendors like it or not. I suggest a day off on the beach looking at the gulf and not vendors.
Someone's got their panties in a bunch about owning a moving boundary.
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