North Carolina town eyes IndyCar race
We are also happy to say that we have done our homework. Aside from the usual sponsor requirements, we have learned a couple of very important things as they relate to the success or failure of an event such as this. One, having the actual circuit (track) located on commercially lined streets of a very large and popular city does not always make for a successful event. Two, having a world class track in the middle of a city with very few (almost no) commercial conflicts of large metropolitan area is a gift i.e. High Point.
After spending a week immersed in High Point, internationally recognized racing consultant, Chris Kneifel determined that we have an outstanding location for an event unlike any other in North Carolina. In fact Chris stated that, "What High Point offers is as good as any temporary street circuit in North America, including Long Beach, CA." He went on to say, "There are so many positive points in favor of High Point, including vacant streets, sweeping elevation changes and bending turns. It's location, in the heart of the Triad (Greensboro, High Point, and Winston-Salem) strategically positioned between the Triangle (Raleigh) and metro Charlotte, combined with its motor sports connections and heritage, make High Point a nearly perfect location. I go to many cities larger than High Point that just don't have what you offer here."
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| No tumbleweeds blowing here |
Fact of the matter is we have a circuit & site which can accommodate the highest levels of North American Racing and we will pursue series which fit the “High Point Model" and look forward to speaking with many… TBD… as for which series, the circuit & site could accommodate Indy Cars but that is not necessarily the goal… I would also like to say that the response from the community has been "over the top."
Note: As you can see from the attached photo, there are no tumbleweeds blowing around here.
Kind Regards, Mike Foster, Chairman Furniture City Motorsports
08/15/08 As the furniture industry declines, plants close and jobs move overseas, many people in High Point are searching for a way to bring tourist money to the city and revitalize downtown.
The latest idea: race Indy cars downtown.
Furniture City Motorsports floated that idea at a news conference Thursday at Emerywood Country Club.
The group, a nonprofit that is working to make High Point a racing city, unveiled its plans to bring a road race to the streets downtown as early as 2010.
Rich Brenner, retired TV sportscaster and Furniture City Motorsports board member, said the group realizes it's a lofty goal for just 18 months – but dreaming big is the first step.
Brenner reminded the crowd of a few dozen High Point residents, media and politicians that no one believed this state could have an NFL team when Carolina Panthers owner Jerry Richardson announced his dream in 1987. A few years later, it was a reality.
"There's a lot of work to be done, but if you have a vision and you have a goal, you can seize that moment," Brenner said.
"Good things are economically set to happen here," Brenner said. "We've got new interstates, the airport hub and industry looking to come here."
Brenner said an annual race could capitalize on all those things and bring in much needed tourist money.
How much? Furniture City Motorsports' Mike Foster said the group's research points to between $11 million and $50 million in direct benefit to the area, with as much as $150 million possible in indirect benefits.
"The sky's the limit," Foster said.
Championship driver and racetrack consultant Chris Kneifel was on hand to unveil a proposed track through Main Street, Centennial Street and English Road.
Kneifel said he could see a High Point race becoming similar to California's Long Beach Grand Prix, one of the longest-running open-wheel races in North America. That could mean as many as five racing series in the city with 20 to 40 cars competing in each category. News-Record
[Editor's Note: Let’s see, the IRL won’t come back to Cleveland (or Road America and even Surfers), a hot bed of open wheel racing enthusiasm, where Bobby Rahal and Michael Andretti are regarded as gods, where they packed the stands and had six figure attendance over the weekend, one of the highest rated TV races on the circuit, a race which the drivers absolutely loved…and some promoter thinks High Point, NC, in the heart of Bubba land, where those who have even heard of him think it’s “Bobby Ray Hall," has a better chance. Granted, the streets of High Point have tumbleweeds blowing down them between furniture markets, so that’s about the only thing going for this idea. It definitely wouldn’t inconvenience any of the residents.]