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Auto Club Speedway to be replaced by 1/2 mile short track

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1 old racer

Too blessed to be stressed and old track whore,
128
267
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20+ Years
fontana ca.
I will be a little surprised if they do anything residential due to the fact that the land that the raceway sets on is contaminate. The track sits on the old Kaiser Steel Mill. Back in the early 80's, some of us,(SCCA road whores), were asked to provide some tech advice on a "new race track" being developed by Roger Penske. This became Cal.Speedway. He got this land cheap due to the fact that the cost to clean it up for any other type of commercial or residential use. So I wonder what changed. I hope this does not become a future environmental issue. or maybe it should???
 

TymeSlayer

Tramps like us, Baby we were born to run...
3,787
2,740
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HPDE
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3-5 Years
Brighton, Colorado
IMHO, it's a bad idea but that's only because I'm an anomaly. I like bigger tracks and longer races. No use NASCAR catering to their long tyme fans as the marketing gurus target the younger generations. I think this change to Auto Club is a sign of things to come for other venues as well.
 

TMSBOSS

Spending my pension on car parts and track fees.
7,530
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HPDE
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10-20 Years
Illinois
I think this change to Auto Club is a sign of things to come for other venues as well.
Agree. Its not NASCAR changing as mush as the fan base changing and NASCAR keeping up with the fans. Change or die. If only Sears had thought of that years ago. Hmmm.
 
89
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20+ Years
MN
It's sad to watch what has become of the west coast ... I'll leave it there.

In the 80's I enjoyed watching because the cars actually took on the shape of the model that was represented. Today, they all look the same with a different decal package. Its like a modern day IROC race that I never had an interest in and still don't today. Super speedways and the wreck fest they have become are another topic all together.

I personally think it would be more entertaining to put roll cages in stock Mustangs, Camaro's and Camry's and let em go at it.
Hey, I can dream ...
 

TMSBOSS

Spending my pension on car parts and track fees.
7,530
5,247
Exp. Type
HPDE
Exp. Level
10-20 Years
Illinois
I personally think it would be more entertaining to put roll cages in stock Mustangs, Camaro's and Camry's and let em go at it.
Hey, I can dream ...
Agree 100%!!
If the 2022 Nascar next gen car is what they are promising, and the OEMs are demanding, they will be closer to showroom cars than any time since the early 70's. Ford, Toyota and Chevy are demanding their cars look like their cars. Suspension will be struts up front and an IRS in the rear. Motors will get smaller and likely OHC. Trans will be 6 speed and likely have a sequential shifter.

One thing for sure. Without change, NASCAR will not survive.
 

xr7

TMO Addict?
706
821
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Autocross
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10-20 Years
Minnesota
bummer. It seems for every venue that clubracing and HPDE organizations used fall, two members-only clubs pop up.
Same up here, developer is trying to build a road course country club that the average guy couldn't afford. Looks like a scam on top of it. $275,000 for smallest garage unit. $60,000-200,000 for a membership plus annual "fees". Got to wonder what these guys are thinking. I would build near by before I would ever plunk down that kind of change on a project that will likely go bankrupt.
 

TMSBOSS

Spending my pension on car parts and track fees.
7,530
5,247
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HPDE
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10-20 Years
Illinois
Autobahn Country Club outside of Joliet is private. They also rent to NASA and SCCA as well as other clubs. And yes, building and buying there is Not for the weak of heart or wallet. They are successful and will likely remain so for years. All depends upon the management.
 
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sfo
It's sad to watch what has become of the west coast ... I'll leave it there.

We are losing ACS and maybe if they mismanage Laguna enough that will go bye bye too. But Calclub who owns BRP is building a whole new track next to the current track. So we are going to get two tracks at BRP with multiple configurations on each. Now all we need are decent hotels and some decent food nearby. I'm really tired of willow ranch and Tita's
 

PaddyPrix

If breakin' parts is cool, consider me Miles Davis
725
1,081
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Under 3 Years
San Diego
So, how many of you got an Amber Alert for the house lockdown at noon? If you haven't checked, I guess some good might have come from it though, as it looks like the governor's stay of execution punted the ACS demolition for another year. -- https://www.autoclubspeedway.com/assistance/ -- (emphasis mine)
Unfortunately, due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, we will not be able to host fans at Auto Club Speedway in February 2021. The Auto Club 400 race weekend will be moved to the Daytona International Speedway Road Course.

While we are disappointed that guests will not be able to attend a NASCAR race at Auto Club Speedway in February, we must keep our primary focus on safety for all race guests and industry personnel.

Additionally, in conjunction with the realignment of Auto Club Speedway’s 2021 race weekend, the efforts will continue with the proposed redevelopment project to transform the track into a high-banked short track. Timing for approval will occur at a later date based on the impacts from COVID. This will allow fans and the industry the opportunity to properly close the history books on the storied 2-mile, D-shaped oval for what could be the final race on its original surface in 2022.

That said, of our SoCal tracks, ACS has been the stingiest, I believe the last track to hold events (of Buttonwillow, Chuckwalla, Willow Springs), and so if they're willing to cancel their big 2021 NASCAR race, chances are, they might not give us many chances to race on the track so we don't infect each other with typhoid. But let's be honest, herpes or not, they're not going to get 400k people to watch a NASCAR race.
 
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sfo
Probably the govenor killing our economy again. Florida is saying FU to all this and it is business as usual there. D world is open. All race track open. Cali...well you know we are under lockdown because our govenor knows what is best for us. We are still racing at ACS. My next race is SCCA majors mid january. It could be our last. Hopefully there will be a road course at the new ACS.
 

PaddyPrix

If breakin' parts is cool, consider me Miles Davis
725
1,081
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Under 3 Years
San Diego
Probably the govenor killing our economy again. Florida is saying FU to all this and it is business as usual there. D world is open. All race track open. Cali...well you know we are under lockdown because our govenor knows what is best for us. We are still racing at ACS. My next race is SCCA majors mid january. It could be our last. Hopefully there will be a road course at the new ACS.
Perhaps, but for Florida, business as usual is pretty much tourism and amateur pornography, and while I'm a big fan of grandma gangbang 27, if you believe in trickle down economics, there's only so much that can trickle down there :D

As for the track, a 1/2 mile oval configuration doesn't leave much room for a Roval, although, boy howdy I'd love something like a Gymkhana setup where we race through th underpass tunnel in/out, but man, that could go really wrong. The 3/4mi gokart track outside doesn't leave much room for passing in the turns. I will go on record and say that I would LOVE to eat my words and will admit it, especially as it's about 90 miles away from me, and significantly less for most of my friends, but unfortunately, the realist in me just doesn't see it, and that's sad.
 
1,161
2,116
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5-10 Years
SoCal
“The Auto Club 400 race weekend will be moved to the Daytona International Speedway Road Course.”

Another road race for 2021. My vote is they make Fontana into a road course and pay proper homage back to Riverside International Raceway. The fans like road racing too, and the NexGen platform is well suited to road racing. What other true road course would have the grandstands like they have now with the oval?? Would be one of the very few circuits with great visibility for the on-site fans.
 
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Dave_W

Cones - not just for ice cream
984
1,277
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Autocross
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20+ Years
Connecticut
something like a Gymkhana setup where we race through th underpass tunnel in/out
Check out a map of Thompson road course in CT - it uses part of the oval and the rest of the course is outside.

Maybe if French Laundry had the food vendor concession, ACS would be open.
 

PaddyPrix

If breakin' parts is cool, consider me Miles Davis
725
1,081
Exp. Type
Time Attack
Exp. Level
Under 3 Years
San Diego
Check out a map of Thompson road course in CT - it uses part of the oval and the rest of the course is outside.

Maybe if French Laundry had the food vendor concession, ACS would be open.

Wild Horse Pass in Arizona also does something similar, they go down the drag strip.

Looks like 2021 is going to be a better year for ACS'ing, with NASA just adding two more ACS weekends, March 20-21 & June 12-13.
 

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