want a drag strip?

[rattle can man]

The city of Topeka has extended bidding on the Former Heartland motorsport Park. According to the media the high bid is currently $500. That is correct: $500; not $500K.

[The Junkman]

Any word on conditions?  Not that I have a spare $500 lying around or anything....

[bobss396]

I could raise $500 by consolidating the spare change on my kitchen counters and bedroom dresser top....

[Mike 1017]

I have all 3 of these books very KOOL read. Available on Amazon.

Mike

 

 

[rattle can man]

All I can say is they extended bidding by 1 week. I believe the last NHRA nationals there was roughly 2 years ago. It is up for sale because of a tax dispute with the last owner. They have held NHRA and SCCA events at the facility along with music events, Friday night run-whatca-brung and regional drag racing, local dirt track events and motorcycle racing too.

[iamsuperdan]

If that was local, I'd be in to that for sure. Taxes on a facility of this size would be quite large, so being able to pull in large events would be important. 

Still, keep the drag strip busy every weekend, try and get one event a month or the road course, plus renting the road course to various car clubs and driving schools...

Could be fun.

 

[espo]

1 hour ago, iamsuperdan said:

If that was local, I'd be in to that for sure. Taxes on a facility of this size would be quite large, so being able to pull in large events would be important. 

Still, keep the drag strip busy every weekend, try and get one event a month or the road course, plus renting the road course to various car clubs and driving schools...

Could be fun.

 

Great idea, although they all have been done in the past and it would seem that the owners still haven't been able to make the facility a viable investment. This is a shame since there is a lot of potential and investment in the existing infrastructure. 

[iamsuperdan]

2 hours ago, espo said:

Great idea, although they all have been done in the past and it would seem that the owners still haven't been able to make the facility a viable investment. This is a shame since there is a lot of potential and investment in the existing infrastructure. 

Or just shut it down to the public, remove most of the grandstands and the large skidpad, build a nice big house, rent the open space to farmers, and enjoy your private race track. That's probably the better option, less paperwork, fewer rules, more driving as fast as I want.

[espo]

38 minutes ago, iamsuperdan said:

Or just shut it down to the public, remove most of the grandstands and the large skidpad, build a nice big house, rent the open space to farmers, and enjoy your private race track. That's probably the better option, less paperwork, fewer rules, more driving as fast as I want.

You might want to also check the tax laws in Kansas before you invest in anything of this nature. I do like your idea though. 

[Bainford]

37 minutes ago, iamsuperdan said:

Or just shut it down to the public, remove most of the grandstands and the large skidpad, build a nice big house, rent the open space to farmers, and enjoy your private race track. That's probably the better option, less paperwork, fewer rules, more driving as fast as I want.

That was pretty much my thoughts. However, aside from keeping up the maintenance on the Lotus, I wouldn't get much else done. I see me spending a lot of money on tires, too.

[rattle can man]

There was something every weekend (at least local or regional series) until the dispute over valuation for taxes went into high gear. Now there is nothing. The city lost out on national draws like the NHRA, SCCA, and Country Stampede (almost four days of nationally known, big name country stars with on-site camping).  I won't go into the politics.

[Ace-Garageguy]

I'd like to have it, but I don't have anywhere to put it, especially after I just spent all my money on the Brooklyn Bridge.

[Mike 1017]

15 hours ago, Ace-Garageguy said:

I'd like to have it, but I don't have anywhere to put it, especially after I just spent all my money on the Brooklyn Bridge.

Will you let us street race on the bridge? $ 100.00 would be a good entrance fee.

[Ace-Garageguy]

6 minutes ago, Mike 1017 said:

Will you let us street race on the bridge? $ 100.00 would be a good entrance fee.

Unfortunately, all the contractors I've talked to so far want more to move it than I paid for it, so there may be some delay...

[Mike 1017]

Just now, Ace-Garageguy said:

Unfortunately, all the contractors I've talked to so far want more to move it than I paid for it, so there may be some delay...

?

[Mark]

Besides the sale price, back taxes probably come into play.  Even maximum use of the facility probably won't generate enough dough to cover taxes, insurance, and maintenance on it, especially with the new (higher) taxes.

[Ace-Garageguy]

4 hours ago, Mark said:

Besides the sale price, back taxes probably come into play.  Even maximum use of the facility probably won't generate enough dough to cover taxes, insurance, and maintenance on it, especially with the new (higher) taxes.

And that, boys and girls, is one of the ways motorsports facilities become strip malls and car lots and fast-food joints and ticky-tacky housing developments.

 

Edited July 20, 2024 by Ace-Garageguy

[Muncie]

Unfortunately, it's more likely to be consumed by the warehouse/industrial neighborhood next door...  Would be nice if it remained a motorsport facility, 

[Ace-Garageguy]

1 hour ago, Muncie said:

Unfortunately, it's more likely to be consumed by the warehouse/industrial neighborhood next door.

I don't know about where you are, but the vast majority of industrial / office parks near me are going belly-up, businesses that were going strong for years just gone, and most properties for lease.

'Bout the only endeavors that seem to be healthy and even expanding are government and medical facilities.

I drive around every month or so to get an on-the-ground idea of the reality of the current economy, and frankly, it's scary.

[rattle can man]

Maybe a good sign: bidding ended 2 hours early with an offer of $3.5 M for just the track property

[Jim N]

The property was pulled and is no longer up for sale.  The back taxes would have been paid for by the current owner.  The biggest problem with the track is that the owner got into a fight with the county from the start over the property tax valuation and the taxes.  He never paid the property taxes on the property from when he took control in 2016 (I believe).  He then got into a fight with NHRA, and the contract was not renewed.  That was the death knell for the facility.  It's sad because that is one of the premier drag strips NHRA ran on.  

Some people are builders and others are destroyers.  The owner of this facility falls into the latter category.

[rattle can man]

the potential buyer says no interest in a racing facility.  Looks like it will go the way of our blues club.