Mayolives Posted February 28, 2008 Share Posted February 28, 2008 February 27, 2008 Salisbury Post by Steve Huffman SPENCER — Richard F. Combs said that for anyone who has doubted that High Rock Raceway will come to fruition, he's got a little advice: Lay those concerns to rest. "We're there," Combs said Tuesday night. "The financing is in place. From here on, things are going to happen in a hurry." Combs, 60, of Atlanta, was named Tuesday as president and chief operating officer of the proposed Spencer raceway. He'll also invest a significant amount of money, he said, into the track that's to be built between U.S. 29 and Interstate 85 near the banks of the Yadkin River. Combs has an impressive resume. He's a director of First Charter Bank, which is headquartered in Charlotte, and in 1978 he founded Pureflow Ultraviolet Inc., an industrial ultraviolet technology application company. Combs sold the company in 2001 to a Canadian-based subsidiary of Danaher Corp. He's obtained national and professional racing licenses and qualified three times for the Sports Car Club of America's national championships. He was also a charter member and regular participant in the Shelby CanAm Pro Racing Series, an event founded by racing legend Carroll Shelby. "Rich brings so much racing experience that I don't have," said Dave Risdon, the racetrack's CEO and the driving force behind plans for its creation. "We couldn't be more pleased to welcome him to High Rock and have him become a key member of our team." The coupling almost didn't happen. Combs said that two years ago, he was in the process of planning a racetrack outside Atlanta that's similar to the one planned for Spencer. The track was to be called "Brookland's Circuit," based on the design of a British track by a similar name. Combs said the track was to be built along Interstate 20 west of Atlanta and said funding was in place. But Combs said much of that money was to come from European investors and at the last minute he pulled the plug on the project. "I just didn't feel comfortable with some of the funding sources," he said. "Being in the banking business, I know that it's very important to not just secure funding, but to know where that money is coming from." Combs said he shelved plans for his own track, then visited another Atlanta raceway one day. While there, he picked up a flyer advertising High Rock Raceway. The track is to be a nifty 2.15-mile road course, complete with 10 sharp curves, a similar number of dramatic elevation changes and a 2,400-foot straightaway. Combs said he was convinced of the track's success and immediately invested in one of the track-side condominiums that are planned for the raceway. He said that while visiting High Rock a few weeks ago, he and Risdon started talking. The two hit it off, Combs said. "Dave and I are on the same page," he said. "We see eye-to-eye on a lot of things." Combs said High Rock will succeed largely because of its location — a 45-minute drive from either the Charlotte or Greensboro airports. "You need a major airport within an hour's drive for one of these courses to be a success," Combs said. "The drivers who compete in these events fly in, spend a weekend or a day, then fly out. High Rock fits that criteria perfectly." He noted that the track's location in the heart of NASCAR country will also serve it well, though the drivers who compete on road courses are often vastly different from NASCAR's finest. "There's a tremendous market for this kind of racing," Combs said. "Lots of people across the Southeast want something like this so bad." He and Risdon say the track will cost about $30 million, money that they both insist is in place. Combs said major grading for the track will take place by June and asphalt will be poured in July or August. He said it's best to let asphalt cure for several months, so it may be next spring before High Rock hosts its first races. The adjoining condos, which will provide an overview of the entire track, should also be ready by then, Combs said. He said he'll be moving to Rowan County to be a full-time part of the venture. Combs said Spencer and the rest of Rowan County will benefit from the economic boost the track provides. "It's going to be a boom to the economy," Combs said. "It's going to generate a lot of tax revenue. There's going to be a lot of people, a lot of money." --------- If anyone has any questions feel free to email me at smb@racehighrock.com I am a NASA Spec Miata racer as well as the VP of Development for High Rock Raceway. Sam Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mark Posted February 28, 2008 Share Posted February 28, 2008 Alright! I've found my new hang out. Only about 45 minutes from my house. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jt1 Posted February 28, 2008 Share Posted February 28, 2008 There is a grading contractor working on site. Right now, they're cleaning out one of the aeration ponds left over from the cotton mill days. That is indeed progress, but not the same as actually grading on the track itself. I hope they get it going, I would like to run there. They've had a number of hurdles to overcome, but haven't given up. John Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
OlderThanMe Posted February 28, 2008 Share Posted February 28, 2008 Sweet! Hopefully it will be somewhere that us mere mortals can get track time... as opposed to Road Atlanta which is like 45 minutes from me. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TrumpetRhapsody Posted February 28, 2008 Share Posted February 28, 2008 I know I'd definitely like to make trips over on some weekends. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mark Posted February 28, 2008 Share Posted February 28, 2008 Sweet!Hopefully it will be somewhere that us mere mortals can get track time... as opposed to Road Atlanta which is like 45 minutes from me. Chin Motorsports is at Road Atlanta on June 2. They are a great group of guys to run with and you will get tons of track time. A very good value for a track day. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DrSideways Posted February 28, 2008 Share Posted February 28, 2008 Sweet!Hopefully it will be somewhere that us mere mortals can get track time... as opposed to Road Atlanta which is like 45 minutes from me. Take a look at http://trackschedule.com/. This site has the listings for most track events you can get to. The links are there so you can check out and compare prices. Keep in mind that you will have an instructor for the good ones. Getting on track without an instructor would not be the hot tip. You can also check out the Triangle Z Club events listed on the schedule site. They are very reasonable in price and have some great instruction..... both in car with radio and classroom between driving sessions. I think they will have a May event at CMP. Alan Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Darrel Posted February 28, 2008 Share Posted February 28, 2008 Hopefully it won't be only a "country club" style track and they let amateur racing on the weekends. http://www.highplainsraceway.com in Colorado is very close to breaking ground and it is a club owned facility(think Thunderhill). 12 clubs came together on making this happen. $2.2 mil has been raised so far. The goal is $3 mil for a bare bones facility. http://forums.hybridz.org/showthread.php?t=123106 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mikelly Posted February 28, 2008 Share Posted February 28, 2008 There are a lot of places you can track at for cheap... Even amatures like us... My schedule is filling up fast, but it looks like I'll have about 25 days on the books by the end of this season, if all goes as planned. GREAT news about highrock... Just gotta map it and figure out how far it is from me... Mike Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DrSideways Posted February 28, 2008 Share Posted February 28, 2008 Hopefully it won't be only a "country club" style track and they let amateur racing on the weekends. http://www.highplainsraceway.com in Colorado is very close to breaking ground and it is a club owned facility(think Thunderhill). 12 clubs came together on making this happen. $2.2 mil has been raised so far. The goal is $3 mil for a bare bones facility. http://forums.hybridz.org/showthread.php?t=123106 It cost $2 million for asphalt at VIR in 1999. I can only imagine what the bill would be with $101.00 and oil barrel. Getting out on the cheap on a facility like this can be a tough deal. Good luck to them..... Most all of the "country club" tracks rent out to clubs. That is the real revenue stream. Contrary to a golf club with tons of members the tracks will be available to "comon folks". Alan Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Darrel Posted February 29, 2008 Share Posted February 29, 2008 It cost $2 million for asphalt at VIR in 1999. I can only imagine what the bill would be with $101.00 and oil barrel. Getting out on the cheap on a facility like this can be a tough deal. Good luck to them..... Most all of the "country club" tracks rent out to clubs. That is the real revenue stream. Contrary to a golf club with tons of members the tracks will be available to "comon folks". Alan Ground breaking won't begin till after we get firmer quotes in hand and the money to complete at the very least a "usable" facility. Cut back on paddock space, temp buildings, and porta-potties are a few things that we can live with until such time the track begins to see the numbers to be able to get the nicer ammenities. There will be a lot of sweat equity above what has already been given. We'll get new tires for tire walls for free, we just need to assemble them on site. Concrete barriers are free from the defunct grand prix series in denver, we just need to pay for transportation to the site($$$). There is nothing wrong with country club style tracks, except the rates that some of them will command. Supply and demand is good for investors. HPR will be owned by the member clubs and the preferred rates for those member clubs will reflect that. Hopefully in the next couple of months, we in colorado will know what those rates will amount to after the constructions quotes are in hand. And yes, good luck to the High Rock Raceway. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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