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Conference oass::racers

Title:Racers and Racing
Notice:As long as it's not NASCAR or F1 or Drags...
Moderator:RHETT::BURDEN_D
Created:Tue Aug 08 1995
Last Modified:Thu Jun 05 1997
Last Successful Update:Fri Jun 06 1997
Number of topics:391
Total number of notes:4486

304.0. "drag strip in Gardner? maybe!!!" by STRATA::FELDMAN (patriots in 92) Mon Aug 24 1992 17:39



	I read today in the telegram and gazette that there is a proposal
to built a drag strip in the Gardner, Ashburnham area. The motor sports 
park would be built off of 140 and raymond st. I for one would like to see 
it happen, does anyone have anymore info or thoughts on the subject?

		doug  
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304.1CTHQ::WHITNEYTue Aug 25 1992 03:3212
    
    	I was talking to my brother this weekend, who lives in Gardner, and
    he said that it's being considered.  It's the same outfit who tried to 
    put one in at the Orange Airport.  My brother-in-law, who drags too,
    was saying how nice it would be to have a drag strip across town.  He
    was saying that this strip would get a National race because for some
    reason Epping can't host one.  I couldn't believe him when I heard
    this.  It would bring alot of money to Gardner and it would bring in a
    good show close to home.  
    
    	Just my $0.02 worth,
    Scott
304.2Drag Strip in Gardner!!!WMOIS::OJAMon Oct 19 1992 10:2912
    	I think it would be great to have a Drag Strip in Gardner, but
    there are quite a few people in Gardner that don't want it.  A lot of
    people do not know all the facts and so they would vote no on it. 
    There has been a survey printed this past week in the Gardner News for
    people to fill out and send to the paper.  Maybe they will get a feel
    for what the people think of the track.  The man that now owns the land
    went to a drag track and said that he was surprised that he saw the
    track before he heard the noise from the cars.  So many people think
    that it going to be so noisy for the enviroment,  but I do not believe
    that it would be as bad as they think.
    
    	Sally
304.3Why waste the money/effort trying...they don't want us!WFOV11::KOEHLERPersonal_NameMon Oct 19 1992 14:577
    Unfortunatly, there seems to be "nowhere" to build a race track of any
    type. It's either the environment people, bird lovers,tree huggers, of
    somesuch. Not that those things arn't important....But enough is
    enough. Why can't motorsports have a place....especially close to home.
    
    
    TMW...Jim
304.4CHANGE!!!!WMOIS::OJATue Oct 20 1992 09:435
    I totally agree with you.  It seems that the majority of people only
    can see negative things with change and not any positives.  
    
    Sally
    
304.5What *are* the positives, anyway?SANTEE::AUGENSTEINWed Oct 21 1992 14:3336
I'd really love to see a new facility, in Gardner, Orange, or wherever,
but I can't imagine any strong sentiments in the local area *for* such
an endeavor.

Why?

It would seem to me that the local folks would like to preserve the "country"
atmosphere, and would be reluctant to screw this up unless there were some
significant advantages. One would have to put up with considerable noise and
significant traffic disruption, not to mention the clear possibility of
boy-racer histrionics both before and after any given event.

The only possible positive would be a significant swelling of the town coffers,
either due to usurious tax rates on the improved property, or revenue sharing
(as was proposed) from the event proceeds. The numbers would have to be very
significant.

Forget local business support, with the possible exception of the gas station
and towing guys. The track would have their own food shop (unless they're crazy),
and the only significant additional business would be in the event of a national
meet, which means additional revenue for only a few days out of the year. The
national meet chances are nebulous, at best.

I see where the promoters tried a bit of a scam recently, by way of having
race (?) cars rev their engines at strategic points around the area. Obviously,
this was intended to snow the locals into believing that noise wasn't a big
issue, but you know and I know that a race car going through the gears generates
a *bunch* more noise than revving in neutral.

I think that the locals know just what they're doing here, and it's pretty clear
to them that the obvious disadvantages far outweigh the *potential* advantages.
I personally have been trying to put together a case of some sort as to why
it would be *good* to have a dragstrip in your (my) area, but I'm completely
and totally stumped.

Bruce
304.6DRAGSTRIP!!!!!WMOIS::OJATue Oct 27 1992 17:139
    From what I read in the Worcester Telegram this morning they are
    thinking of putting the Dragstrip in Winchendon, Mass. instead of
    Gardner.  The town officals in Winchendon seem to be in favor of it
    according to the paper.  I only live in Fitzwilliam N.H. which is about
    1 1/2 miles from Winchendon.  At least I wouldn't have to travel that
    far!
    
    Sally