Interesting Article for the SE

Jon Manhood · **Posted:** Fri May 07, 2010 9:17 am

Anyone heard anything?

http://www.thesoutherndriver.com/thesou ... v1_223.htm

Marty Howard · **Posted:** Fri May 07, 2010 9:45 am

The page doesn't say anything.

Jon Manhood · **Posted:** Fri May 07, 2010 9:48 am

Bottom right is a "next" button to scroll through pages. Sometimes has a small picture instead of next..

Marty Howard · **Posted:** Fri May 07, 2010 9:54 am

Jon Manhood wrote:

Bottom right is a "next" button to scroll through pages. Sometimes has a small picture instead of next..

Yes, an unlabeled little picture of grass is not quite intuitive.

Jon Manhood · **Posted:** Fri May 07, 2010 9:57 am

First time I looked the page said next...On re-looking it had the picture instead... :cry:

Kevin Harvey · **Posted:** Sat May 08, 2010 12:44 am

After the debacle at Highrock and the extended delays at Bluegrass, I am not holding my breath on AMP. Much less hope for this place.

It would be cool to have another track close by though.

steve remchak · **Posted:** Sat May 08, 2010 10:53 pm

it would be really cool if the management at Roebling could get their shit together. :roll:

so Kevin, got a ride for Chump at RRR yet?

Chuck Branscomb · **Posted:** Sun May 09, 2010 8:55 am

The Highrock project was doomed from the start as it seemed to based on a financial dream by the developer as opposed to a personal dream -- in other words he was looking to turn a buck as opposed to building his life's dream. Plus it came with huge costs related to the retirement fund "guarantees" to the former mill workers. Basically an insane so-called business plan imo. This venture is a different situation for sure.

I've known Matt Mullins for 8 years or so from my experiences with him at the Performance Center. I haven't seen him in a couple of years and had no idea he was up to something like this. I can say he is very passionate and an outstanding instructor. He taught this old dog how to turn 3 and 9 hand position into a one hand with crossover method for handling extreme oversteer very quickly and much more accurately than shuffle steering. I know, unrelated to his track plans, but that's what I think of when I think of Matt -- cool guy.

They have some bold plans for sure, but I'm not sure at this point in the economic cycle over the next few years if the "market" they think should be there will actually materialize. We're past the peak of the modern horsepower wars, CAFE2016 is on the way, etc, etc. The majority opinion in track owner circles is that "when the economy comes back" things like HPDE attendance will return "to normal", etc.

If we end up with the muddle-through economy for the next X years, an aggressive business plan will be pummeled to death pretty quickly. Considering we need to generate at least 200,000 jobs per month just to keep the unemployment rate from rising further (due to new entrants in the workforce), well actually more than that for a while due to underemployed and those that stopped looking also reentering, something near a miracle needs to occur over the next few years. With higher taxes everywhere on the horizon, especially as many investment related taxes slated to rise at the end of 2010, etc, extreme growth needed to "return to normal" as people put it, seems profoundly unlikely.

Anyway, I'd be interested to talk with Matt and see whether the backers of this venture have a multi-dimensional view of the future and how their business plan will respond to each possible outcome. It sure sounds awesome, and if they can reach deep enough pockets, I don't doubt they can make the initial phase happen (i.e. self-financing pockets, as chances of commercial loans for something like this are likely near zero). I'm guessing they need to grab some "green-related" theme to this whole plan in some way too.

Thanks for the link.

Chuck

Kevin Harvey · **Posted:** Sun May 09, 2010 1:06 pm

steve remchak wrote:

so Kevin, got a ride for Chump at RRR yet?

My buddy tells me that if CMD decides to go to RRR at all with the SnotRod or Enterprise, it will be a last minute decision. As August gets near, I will touch base with them to find out. On a side note, I think they sold the motor out of the Enterprise...

... but picked up a certain pink car with two blown motors from a certain famous driver.

Do you have a seat for sale? I am interested, but will go hold out to see if CMD will attend. I do have several friends that would be interested if you are looking to recruit. A $50 hook-up fee will be required by all parties involved.... gotta get a new set of tires somehow!!!

-Kevin

steve remchak · **Posted:** Sun May 09, 2010 3:14 pm

nah, i might be looking for a ride also. just wondered what the bunch you drive for was up to.

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