Any update on the *new* track at Oakridge,TN?

Welcome!

 

Heck of a first post!

Best of luck to you! I really think the geographic location, as you've pointed out on your website, has a lot going for it. Nice central location.

 

You guys were driving the stats up on the website. Figured I owed you an explanation.

 

Nah, too far east................that part of the state sucks!!

 

No way, man. All you got in Memphis is Mud Island and Beale Street.

East TN is where it's at. Knoxville has the location, the mountains, the tourists... and just to tick off all the people down here in 'bama, East TN has the UT VOLS!!! Guess you can tell I was born and raised in East/Middle TN. :up:

 

The area was supposably cleaned up.....

 

Dont forget Deals Gap is about 1hr ride from OR

 

Absolutely right!

 

Yeah I know, I'm just jealous. Everything east of Jackson is gorgeous. Memphis is the asshole of Tennessee.

 

Good to meet you Eric. I currently work (in the Oak Ridge area) and know all too well about the cleanup delays. It is good to hear your explanation of the situation. There IS alot of interest here from the motorcycling community. Of course no one really believes it is realistic for a couple of reasons. First it's too good to be true. It could be the one of the greatest things that has happend to this area in a while, especially the motorcycling community. The other being that everyone around here has a good idea what it's like dealing with the gov't (DOE) and excpect an insurmountable pile of red tape. Just a suggestion, but if you are still moving forward with this it would help interest with the occasional news spot or announcement, even if it basically says there is no change.

For those who don't know, there is already a section of the site that has been turned over to public interests and there are a few commercial companies currently operating on the site. One way or another the site is being released by DOE as it gets "cleaned up" a portion at a time. I believe this could be the best chance there is for a track to come to East TN.

 

Nuclear Weapons development doesn't make as much noise . . . unless something goes wrong

 

The Dept. of Energy and Community Reuse Organization of East Tennessee are pretty much on board with the idea. It would have stopped a long time ago if they weren't. It doesn't hurt that there are more than a few Porsches, BMWs and Corvettes in the DOE HQ parking lot. They recognize the positives that this will bring to the area. DOE has been providing support.

The future of Oak Ridge's economy is going to rely on developing new automotive technologies. We motorcycle guys will just enjoy the fruits of it.

The Honda Hoot has an excellent opportunity to expand by including an AMA Superbike event. This was met with positive dialogue from the AMA. Deals Gap thrown in the mix doesn't hurt either.

Bridgestone's corporate office for the Americas is in Nashville, along with Nissan.

Now that the clean up schedule has been better defined, the tempo for a track will pick up as well. I need for you guys to talk this up in your circles. It sure won't hurt. If you haven't gathered already, my name isn't Barber or Miller and I don't have vast funds. This is a grass roots effort. There is a helluva story to tell and powerful resources to use that will make an incredible racing experience for fans that come.

More than once I have received inquiries from some very notable motorsports icons, because the word is getting around. Talk it up!

 

Eric, check your PM box

 

Easy there. Don't spread info that is incorrect. That will certainly end projects and has stopped quite a few projects from coming into the area. This is part of the problem, just living in Oak Ridge doesn't give people correct knowledge. I blame it on DoE for being so damn evasive over the years and they are paying the price now.

I have personally conducted many of the surveys of the buildings and the grounds. There are mounds of data. Plowing the soil is not a huge issue. Isolating the few contaminated buildings that are still there isn't that difficult. Most of the heavily contaminated buildings are down or in the process of being taken down. Many of the other buildings are currently occupied by businesses not related to nuclear work or weapons at all.

Eric, I believe you and I traded emails back in the early days of this. If there is any way I can help let me know. I have first hand knowledge of the conditions. I was one of the guy toting the survey instruments around at ETTP during the early reindustrialization days. Our new corporate headquarters is at the Horizon Center just up the road.

 

Eric, additional PMs sent.

 

John, you survey? Come layout me a spot for a garage

Yeah I probably just flew off the handle about the contamination. I worked around the corner on Bear Creek at ATG which was next to Duratek....

I would like to see this happen....OR needs something exciting in the town..

Well, since the mall was a flop lol....Revenue of this nature would be good. Not to mention tourist, spectaters, etc....

I need to move back and open a Sports bar!

 

No not that kind of surveying. Radiological surveys... toting the detectors around.

Ouch, Bear Creek ATG... not a good example. I had friends that were Rad guys there.

It would be amazing to see top Japanese technology racing on one of the key sites in the making of the atomic bomb. Would really show how far everyone has come over the last 60+ years.

I have thought for years that the DoE facilities(military bases too) would make a great place for race track if we could just get rid of all the government people.

 

Also on the cooperate HQ stuff, dont forget Toyota's north american operations is in KY, bout 3 hours due north of there. The camery plant is in Georgetown, just outside of Lexington and the HQ is about 50 miles north, in the KY suburbs of Cincy.

 

Honda has a parts plant near Maryville also.