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Mid Ohio

Discussion in 'General' started by KMC, Jul 10, 2018.

  1. cav115

    cav115 Well-Known Member

    They do have a displacement advantage....and not much better laptime. You`re right, would be a good race.
     
    maslov likes this.
  2. JBarx

    JBarx Status: None.

    I would love to have a sit-down with Green Savoree or (preferably) new owners and talk about a master plan for the property. I work in my firm's sport division and we can do this kind of thing in our sleep. Having dealt with MLB and NFL teams, NASCAR venues and things of that nature, this would be a breeze. Bring in a paving specialist and civil engineers (the best local talent) for the surface, let us handle spectator flow and shitter shacks and garages and concessions... it would be better than ever.

    Unfortunately we all know that no one is that motivated to "Make Mid-Ohio Great Again".
     
    slowohioboy344 and 5axis like this.
  3. dobr24

    dobr24 Well-Known Member

    Everyone can bitch and whine all they want about track surfaces but that doesn't get the work paid for. Would you all go if a trackday was $420.00 a day instead of $210? I seriously doubt it. And saying that "track owners" need to invest to get better series while technically correct is a little shortsighted. That money has to come from somewhere and the end users are going to be the ones who pay. Having said that I would love to ride Mid O after a repave but it is still a fine track except when it's wet.
     
    cpettit likes this.
  4. rd49

    rd49 Well-Known Member

    Funny how other tracks, VIR, Road Atlanta, Pitt have been able to repave and trackday prices have not remotely approached $420/day and are in the $210 range. Tis a mystery.
     
  5. rcarson15

    rcarson15 Well-Known Member

    Pitt even repaved twice, and prices havent gone up significantly.
     
  6. JBarx

    JBarx Status: None.

    Yes, it's not free. It's actually really expensive. My off-the-cuff numbers put a repave at $8-10 million with proper sub-base remediation and probably the same amount again just to replace/upgrade the basic amenities buildings. That's at an aggressive $195 a foot. It's real money.

    At the same time if you had an owner with means and motivation, that kind of capital isn't that hard to come by. I've seen it for 15 years. You put out a media campaign with renderings and a synopsis of the plan, get people excited and you raise money. As much as you can. Finance the rest - get the heavy hitters to commit to coming back and that helps you finance. 18-24 months later enjoy your new reputation.
     
  7. dobr24

    dobr24 Well-Known Member

    My guess is that motorcycles are small potatoes compared to the other events. I'm not making excuses and I have no idea the actual figures. I just can't imagine that owning a race track is a millionaire maker. More an exercise in nickels, dimes and dollars.
     
  8. rwdfun

    rwdfun

    Just wondering when they invented this magical paving technology that is as grippy as sandpaper wet or dry and allows for endless laps with no tire degradation. All while taking the abuses of Indy/NASCAR tires and horsepower to stay tip top shape for 10+ years. I bet if it existed it would be cheaper than anything currently available right?
     
  9. rcarson15

    rcarson15 Well-Known Member

    All of those tracks run MA.. I doubt motorcycles are small potatoes for them. I bet they get ample business from other series too like SCCA or Porsche Cup or Formula Drift or whatever else. But in terms of big, professional events, I would think MA is up there for their biggest money makers.
     
  10. dobr24

    dobr24 Well-Known Member

    MA maybe. Your average track day, I doubt it.
     
  11. JBarx

    JBarx Status: None.

    That's a given. I think we're all assuming the hypothetical scope is significant enough to attempt to draw MA back. Problem is - Mid-Ohio shit the bed by letting Pitt leapfrog them and become the Midwestern representative. The odds of putting both Pitt and Mid-O on the schedule are virtually zero - motivating Mid-Ohio even LESS to do anything significant enough to even warrant a look.
     
  12. maslov

    maslov Well-Known Member

    They run Sonoma and Laguna. Sonoma is pretty sketch with bumps all over the place... so I think it wouldn’t be too tight. Just wonder how many rounds they’re willing to do.


    Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
     
  13. ekraft84

    ekraft84 Registered User

    Pitt has the best pavement in the region. And Nelson is second. Tell me that five years ago and I'd have said you were writing a romantic fiction novel.

    And ya'll stop bickering at each other and measuring each other's junk. Looked like a great weekend all around. Enjoy that, together. Let MyLaps be the measuring bar for your junk. :D
     
  14. dobr24

    dobr24 Well-Known Member

    Did MotoAmerica leave or were they not renewed? The attendance around when they left Mid O was horrible, no way was anybody making money. You could have shot a gun and not hit anybody. Either way I agree that I don't think they will ever run two rounds in this area. Sadly we are entering the generations that would rather play a video game about riding a motorcycle than actually riding one. This is going to lead to fewer tracks and higher prices for the track that can survive.
     
    Kyle Brosius likes this.
  15. JBarx

    JBarx Status: None.

    I'm not sure what happened exactly - but the fact that it's unrideable in the rain has to play a role.

    It's just a bummer - Mid-Ohio is special to a lot of us and it's painful to watch it fall apart like this. I want more for the place, and I doubt I'll ever see it.
     
  16. rcarson15

    rcarson15 Well-Known Member

    Especially at the rate you say youre going to quit :Poke:
     
  17. JBarx

    JBarx Status: None.

    That's why I am changing bikes - so that all avenues are exhausted before I leave. But shit... if it ain't fun anymore, no amount of prodding is going to make me feel bad about walking away. Can't say I haven't fought the good fight. There's way too much money involved to be this unsatisfied. I'm just in a funk - it'll iron itself out one way or another. Can't always be cotton candy and unicorn dreams.
     
    Boman Forklift likes this.
  18. chrisOH

    chrisOH Well-Known Member

    I know when AMA stop coming to Mid OH numbers were down for many reason. Some of the things I saw was lack of extra activities for the fans. The vendor area became a Flea Market instead of seeing new gear that interested people, and being able to look at new machines and what not. I also remember that the riders were starting to voice their issues with the walls and safety (Key hole and both entrance and exit of Thunder Valley). Then you add in the issue with no racing when raining. Honestly I am surprised the track has held up as well as it has to so many heavy cars and Indy Cars over the last 12-14 years since the last repave. I don't think even with a repave MA would consider coming back till the walls are made safer. But sure was nice to finally race that place last weekend even if I did pull a Stupid in first race Sunday....
     
  19. cav115

    cav115 Well-Known Member

    mid o was fine in the PM.
     
  20. cav115

    cav115 Well-Known Member


    That is the real answer.
     

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