1/25/2005 Alan Wilson-designed Motorsports Complex Being Planned For Central Minnesota From Roadracing World: From a press release issued by Pine Run Motorsports Park: New race track planned for Pine County Investment group introduces new club membership concept to the Upper Midwest FOREST LAKE, Minn. A motorsports facility with multiple race tracks is in the development stage in Pine County. The project, named Pine Run Motorsports Park, will offer a variety of racing, featuring a 3.9-mile road course, a quarter-mile championship dragstrip, a go-cart track, a clubhouse with lounge, locker room and observation deck, and a "vehicle dynamics area." Pine Run will also offer a number of spectator events involving sanctioned professional motorsports racing as well as other events such as snowmobile grass drags and snowcross races. For day-to-day use, Pine Run will feature club racing where sports car owners can buy an annual membership and then race their car on designated days. It¹s a concept that's growing rapidly in other parts of the country because owners of high-performance sports cars want a safe facility in which to drive their cars fast. The proposed track configuration is four tracks in one, with a tri- oval track (three turns and three straightaways) wrapped around two short road courses that can be connected to make one four-mile road course. A road course involves both right and left turns, unlike an oval track that features all left turns. The vehicle dynamics area will be used for driving instruction, and to test vehicles in varying road conditions. It's basically a large, open paved area used to train drivers in skid recovery, slalom, evasive and defensive driving, braking, etc. Pine Run is being developed by Forest Lake-based JD Investments on a 500-acre parcel about 10 miles west of Pine City, Minn., near the town of Henriette. JD Investments is currently working with Pokegama Township and Pine County to acquire approval for the project. "We've very excited to start working with local governments and neighbors to move our project forward," said Jed Copham, JD Investments CEO. "As a recreation destination, we believe Pine Run will be a fantastic asset for Pine County as it brings business to this area, creates jobs and generates significant taxes for the county. Those who use Pine Run are expected to come from the Twin Cities, Duluth and central Minnesota, Copham said. But the facility could host drivers and car clubs from throughout the country. And its spectator events could bring competitive and professional racers from around the globe. Editorial Note: Pine City, Minnesota is located approximately halfway between the Minneapolis/St. Paul area and Duluth, one hour from each, just off Interstate 35.
This will make it a great opportunity to open other racing styles [lack of better word] to people who strictly drag race or vice versa. I'll be there on their opening day, but I hope they don't ask racers/spectators to dig deep into their pockets to attend to events.
I heard not until 2006, and frankly being a born skeptic I won't believe it until the doors are open. It'd be a great thing for the local car communities though.
This news makes the move from San Diego to St. Paul completely worth it. I was worried there would be no where to go fast out here besides empty farm land out in Stearns Co.
<blockquote id="quote"><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica" id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by Zola I heard not until 2006, and frankly being a born skeptic I won't believe it until the doors are open. It'd be a great thing for the local car communities though. <hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote"></font id="quote"> My info says 2006 as best case scenario. I'm skeptical also. It's still in the 'development' stage meaning they probably don't have all their financing yet. As much as I would like to see it, I don't believe it will happen. IMHO, there is not enough population density to make the money needed to support it. But, I'm still crossing my fingers.
If its 06! then let it be! by that time i'll be good to go and wont have to just watch anymore... but if it's earlier! im still up for it! can't wait!
snap...all support from me too....yea this better happen..i didnt buy my car for no reason....hehe....
Does anyone have contact information? I would be nice to start a letter writing campaign to let them know exactly how many potential users/members are in the area. I would be there nearly every weekend.
I will do some searching. A friend is a member of the grand national club, and there is some people in that club with close ties to this complex. I know they said they were not to sure what was going to be built first, the 1/4 track or the road track. They want to open the open that will get the most use first. i will see if I can come up with some contact info. Russ
is there like a place where we can show our support? like a place where they ask for people opinion on the track to give them ideas if the track is wanted or not?
<blockquote id="quote"><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica" id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by LVT is there like a place where we can show our support? like a place where they ask for people opinion on the track to give them ideas if the track is wanted or not? <hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote"></font id="quote"> http://www.pinerunracing.com/
Thanks for the link, Matt. It sounds very promising. It's walking distance from Henriette, MN. Find it on mapquest to estimate driving time/distance.
i don't like the track that much, only the top and the bottom half is good....could turn the go cart into an auto-X....
I can see many possiblity with the track layout, I wonder which club will be the first to run it in the most difficult and challenging possible layout. I'm ready..........are you! C
I like the south layout, looks like Tsukuba Circuit. But I don't like the rest if it's using the long straight on the right side. I dont' really like long straights... atleast that's how I see it when I'm also looking at the length of the 1/4 mile strip right next to it. Seems the straight is a bit long....1/2 mile or so...I can already top out my car!!! .,..but I must run first hand before the final conclusion.
That long straight should be between half a mile to a mile. Reason being is that drag strips are a quarter of a mile but need extra length so the racers can have room to slow down or prepare for a crash in the sand pit.
I don't think any of us should bit** about the course just the idea of having a track with in driving distance is awesome! Ya it might not be our idea track but any place that is going to let me drive fast and not get a speeding ticket is cool with me. So who ever the investors are I back them 100%. So I know it might not happen but I think that we should let everyone know about this that owns a car that they autocross or drag race be it the guy that just got a STI to the old timers in there 57 Chevy's That way we can show the investors how much backing there is in northern minnesota. Thanks Radwrx
<blockquote id="quote"><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica" id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"> i don't like the track that much, only the top and the bottom half is good<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote"></font id="quote"> <blockquote id="quote"><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica" id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">But I don't like the rest if it's using the long straight on the right side.<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote"></font id="quote"> Are you guys kidding?! Forget about going to Brainerd, then, the dragstrip is a small portion of the straightaway. You guys kill me, just because you're afraid of the speed doesn't mean it is a bad design. A little break in a lap is a good thisng after 20min of hot lapping!
Here is the latest on Pine Run. YOU can make a difference by writing to Pine County. Mark Utecht Dear Supporters and Friends of Pine Run Motorsports Park, We’re e-mailing you today to inform you of our progress and further update you on our quest to bring you "Minnesota's Next Generation Race Facility." Our team has worked diligently on several professional studies for information required by a Minnesota mandated Environmental Assessment Worksheet (EAW). This worksheet addresses potential environmental issues associated with our selected site and project. The EAW has been completed and submitted to the Responsible Government Unit (RGU), being Pine County. From this point forward, the approval process for our project requires a public comment period August 1 - August 31. During this period, anyone having an interest in Pine Run can write a letter to Pine County supporting the project and also include comments. We are now encouraging each of you, your motorsports friends, racing organizations, car clubs, future customers of Pine Run and those who see the local economic benefit of our project to take the time and write a letter to the Pine County Commissioners in support of our project. As a convenience in this e-mail, we have provided you with a support form to fill in your name, address and contact information that can be mailed to Pine County. This form may be answered by Pine County and further reviewed by the Pine County Commissioners. On September 20, the Pine County Commissioners will vote as a group to allow us to move forward with our project based on the findings of our Environmental Worksheet and input from the public, including you, our motorsports friends and supporters. This is a very important time in our process. We have heard from hundreds of you in the drag racing, roadracing, go karting, autocrossing and business communities. Motorsports enthusiasts from Pine and Kanabec counties and all over Minnesota have made their wishes known to build Pine Run. We know that you share the same visions and ask that you take a few moments of your time to send your comments to the Pine County Commissioners. Included in our approval process is a required public meeting scheduled and held by Pine County on August 23rd at 7:00 p.m. The location is the Pine City Middle School Commons, 1400 Main St., Pine City, MN. This is an important opportunity for you to make your support known. We encourage you to attend this meeting. At the meeting, Pine County will hear comments from individuals who wish to speak on our Environmental Assessment Worksheet (EAW), addressing items such as traffic, noise, vehicle emmissions, storm water management etc., those items contained in our EAW and specific to the track site we've selected. Please mark your calendars. If at all possible, we ask that you and your motorsports friends attend this meeting to show support for our project and provide your input with some of these issues. For those of you that can attend, you may want to get there early due to limited space. Pine Run's Environmental Assessment Worksheet (EAW) that indicates the work we've been doing leading up to all of this can be viewed online at www.pinecounty.org. This is a very lengthy document but worth taking the time to review. We appreciate your support and look forward to one day meeting you, if we haven't already. Please take the time to write the Pine County Commissioners with the support form below and if at all possible attend the August 23rd public meeting in Pine City. With your help, we'll see this through and make Pine Run Motorsports Park the reality we all envision. On behalf of everyone at Pine Run, again we appreciate your support! Scott Quick ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Pine County Commissioners 1610 Hwy 23 N. Sandstone, MN 55072 Dear Pine County Commissioners, I the undersigned support and endorse the construction and operation of the proposed Pine Run Motorsports Park in Pokegama Township, Pine County, MN. Date___________________________________________________ Name__________________________________________________ Address________________________________________________ Town / City / Zip_________________________________________ Comments:
What are the odds that we could get a decent sized group to attend the Aug. 23rd meeting? Anyone game?
there's a meeting being held aug. 23? damn! i start school the 22nd...don't know if i can make that...btw what time does it start? im game if its at a time where im wont be in school.
