New Track in NC

[MHElise]

A couple other Elise owners & I had a get together and were approached by one of the business partners for the track who mentioned it to us.

I was wondering if anyone else had heard anything about this new track in Salisbury, NC - When it might open, if it will be open to car clubs, etc.


Picture of the track layout.




Website if anyone is interested...

http://www.racehighrock.com/

[armando]

I guess the name is hybrid of Rockingham (the "Rock") and Highpoint.

Looks cool, but $275K seems steep for a 1BR vacation condo.

[VO5]

I heard it is going to open next August. The SE division of NASA was showing it in a little add in the back of Grassroots Motorsports as one of their events in 2008 , but when I went to their site I didn't see it. It's supposed to be a nice 'un.

[JeffYoung]

Here's what I know (I'm in Raleigh).

1. It's a motorsports "country club" of the VIR model. Designed to serve the high dollar crowd out of Charlotte, that right now has to drive to VIR.

2. VIR apparently secretly opposed its permitting!

3. Had environmental issues that held it up for quite a while; resolved now and grading is under way.

4. Designed by Elliot Forbes Robinson.

5. It's name actually comes from High Rock Lake, which is close by.

6. Supposed to open next summer I think.

We'll see.

[xeeeejme]

Hopefully, it will be open to the public/clubs some days as well...

[Eye Candy]

Chin Motorsports already has an event scheduled there in August. This track came up a few weeks ago on LT when discussing the (more expensive) new motorsports complex near Savannah that Phil Hill is developing.

[BRTHTAKR]

$30K for a corporate membership, gives 60 track days per year for four people. Closest track to here. Hmmmm...

[alil'britdifferent]

Have any of you had experience with the track in Kershaw, SC?
Their website site says $2000 for 10 track days per year (thro' Palmetto Club). Was thinking of driving down to take a look in the next couple of weeks.

[benjh1028]

Originally Posted by alil'britdifferent

Have any of you had experience with the track in Kershaw, SC?
Their website site says $2000 for 10 track days per year (thro' Palmetto Club). Was thinking of driving down to take a look in the next couple of weeks.

Be prepared to go through a set of tires and brakes in a day. That track was so brutal on my Porsche I only raced there twice. It really seems to be set up for bikes.

Ben

[BILMAR]

I see where Richard Branson (Virgin Airlines,Virgin Records,Multi,Muti Millionaire) just signed on as a partner / investor in this venture,so it probabally will happen with his clout. Hope they don't price it completly out of reach.

[JeffYoung]

Carolina Motorsports Park in Kershaw is an interesting place. I've probably run there more times than any place except VIR. 2-3 times a year racing with SCCA, and 2 club days in my Esprit with Porsche or BMW club.

A couple of things about it:

1. You are 1 hour from Charlotte drive time, and 1000 miles from reality. NOTHING there. Camden is closest town of any size, and its small and southern to the core. Not sure how that impacts you from a joining perspective but be aware.

2. I like the track, but others don't. Turns 1 to 8 are pretty high speed with some elevation change. Turn 10 is the kink -- a flot out right hander at about 110 mph or so. Fun and scary. The back half of the track (11 to 14 on the map) is the slow "autocross" section that is hard on brakes, hard on gears, and a lot of people don't be likin' much. Higher hp, heavier cars do go through brakes there (not enough time to cool them between applications) but with some work on brake management,I've figured out how to make the brakes on my race car live. Used to be I would have to go down iwht new stuff (pads, rotors, calipers) and then replace EVERYTHING after a weekend there.

3. They are changing the configuration some, but there is an open debate on whether it will be better or worse on brakes. Go here http://www.roadrace-autox.com/bbs/fo...sts=35&start=1 and here http://itforum.improvedtouring.com/f...0&#entry133334 for discussion

4. Check when the track days are. If I recall correctly they are NOT weekends.

5. The facilities are crude at best. Below Summit Point, and no where near Road Atlanta. VIR is a different world. THe paddock is that grass/sand mix I grew up with in Sumter SC, with fire ants to boot. Power is sparse and unreliable -- there is a breakre that routinely trips. Food is bad. Nothing close.

I'd think long and hard before committing to the place. It's interesting - its a fun track to race on because speeds are slow, and you are door to door oftent, but for "track days" not sure it delivers what you want.

[VO5]

Lil' Brit,
I love CMP! The Palmetto thing does have some weekdays available, but it's also one weekend per month when Turn One Track Events (the track owners) have an event. That's the sand in my avatar.

[alil'britdifferent]

Thanks for your input/impressions guys.

It's so close to where I live, so I'm definately going to check it out when the construction is finished. I'm iching to drive see what my car will do in anger!

[VO5]

CMP is a good place to pull some Gs in the Elise. It's 90 miles for me, but closer for you I imagine. When the days get long enough, you get six sessions a day with Turn One.

[alil'britdifferent]

Originally Posted by VO5

CMP is a good place to pull some Gs in the Elise. It's 90 miles for me, but closer for you I imagine. When the days get long enough, you get six sessions a day with Turn One.

I just looked on their website and that seems like a good option. For under $300 I can try it for a day without committing to the full year.
Give me a shout when you are going down there, would be good to have two black Elise's on the track together!

[VO5]

Originally Posted by alil'britdifferent

I just looked on their website and that seems like a good option. For under $300 I can try it for a day without committing to the full year.
Give me a shout when you are going down there, would be good to have two black Elise's on the track together!

Will do Lil' Brit. I'm trying to decide if I want to go the first weekend in February or wait until March.

[BRTHTAKR]

Originally Posted by VO5

Will do Lil' Brit. I'm trying to decide if I want to go the first weekend in February or wait until March.

I'm looking to do the NASA event there either April 5-6 or May 3-4.

[VO5]

Hey BRTHTAKR! You should do the one with the new turns if you're just going to do one. You already know what the old 12-14 is like.

[BRTHTAKR]

Originally Posted by VO5

Hey BRTHTAKR! You should do the one with the new turns if you're just going to do one. You already know what the old 12-14 is like.

I would do the one in March with PCA, but I'll be at VIR with NASA a week before. Looks like we'll finally............this is PM stuff.............

[MI2QUK4U]

Yeah this was talked about in like 01 and the track since then has been on hold till i think last year. Also i think some of the Nascar Teams have invested into this track as well cause they would use it for there ROAD RACE cars. actually lookin at it they made it bigger then before.