The GECCO
Thu Aug 7th, 2008, 08:03 PM
Well, guys and gals, this is the one we have all been waiting for...
August 7, 2008 – HPR What's Happening!
It's been a very, very busy and productive period. There is much to report, but the good news is that construction of High Plains Raceway is now underway!
We'll summarize the events of the past six weeks:
*To investigate cost reduction possibilities, CAMA issued Requests For Proposals to selected contractors for firm bids. The RFP's included a laundry list of alternates, including options to reduce the track width, track length, grading aspects, etc. This was necessary to offset the dramatic price increases for asphalt oil and diesel fuel over the past months.
*The proposal process generated two distinct options: a $3.2 million project for a 2.0 mile track or a $3.6 million project for the full length, 2.55 mile design. After a great deal of consideration, the CAMA reps voted unanimously to go for the full length option. The consensus is that building the "best” circuit will catalyze future improvements and amenities, and that having configuration options will cater to a wide spectrum of uses and revenue opportunities.
*To fund the $3.6 million project required increasing the debt ceiling from $1.6 million to $2.0 million. This change to the release conditions was approved, and the additional funds have been committed. Available funding now exceeds the expected cost to complete the project (based on firm bids), thus satisfying the construction release conditions.
*Construction contracts have been signed. The project has begun!!
All the exciting features of the road course remain intact. In the configuration under contract, we will have a full 2.55 mile, 36 ft. wide road course, a paddock with 40 ft. wide paved asphalt lanes and crushed recycled asphalt in the interior islands where the tow vehicles park. As we have known all along, it has the potential to be one of the most interesting and challenging circuits in the country! At the present level of funding, there is very little in the way of "creature comfort” amenities, but CAMA is keenly aware that everyone wants amenities, not just a bare track and paddock. The question is how to get there? It is clear that the Capital Campaign will have to continue. A continued Capital Campaign has the potential to attract additional funds to provide very adequate amenities. Future donations (personal and corporate) plus some possibly "self-funding” amenities (e.g., garages, RV hookups, and a fuel station) are, we believe, quite achievable over the next year.
On this note, there are still a lot of potential users of HPR who have yet to contribute. Perhaps some have taken a "show me first” attitude, wanting to be sure there will be a facility before donating. CAMA is planning a ground breaking ceremony in the next week or so, and we hope those potential donors will finally be convinced to join their peers who have already contributed.
Yes, HPR will be a reality!! Yes, we need more dollars to make High Plains Raceway the great facility we all want.
Your CAMA Board,
Glenn Conser
Bob Darcey
Walt Fricke
Bill Kephart
Kyle Popejoy
Dirt moving equipment will be on site early next week. I have been put in charge of organizing ground breaking ceremonies, more on that soon.
August 7, 2008 – HPR What's Happening!
It's been a very, very busy and productive period. There is much to report, but the good news is that construction of High Plains Raceway is now underway!
We'll summarize the events of the past six weeks:
*To investigate cost reduction possibilities, CAMA issued Requests For Proposals to selected contractors for firm bids. The RFP's included a laundry list of alternates, including options to reduce the track width, track length, grading aspects, etc. This was necessary to offset the dramatic price increases for asphalt oil and diesel fuel over the past months.
*The proposal process generated two distinct options: a $3.2 million project for a 2.0 mile track or a $3.6 million project for the full length, 2.55 mile design. After a great deal of consideration, the CAMA reps voted unanimously to go for the full length option. The consensus is that building the "best” circuit will catalyze future improvements and amenities, and that having configuration options will cater to a wide spectrum of uses and revenue opportunities.
*To fund the $3.6 million project required increasing the debt ceiling from $1.6 million to $2.0 million. This change to the release conditions was approved, and the additional funds have been committed. Available funding now exceeds the expected cost to complete the project (based on firm bids), thus satisfying the construction release conditions.
*Construction contracts have been signed. The project has begun!!
All the exciting features of the road course remain intact. In the configuration under contract, we will have a full 2.55 mile, 36 ft. wide road course, a paddock with 40 ft. wide paved asphalt lanes and crushed recycled asphalt in the interior islands where the tow vehicles park. As we have known all along, it has the potential to be one of the most interesting and challenging circuits in the country! At the present level of funding, there is very little in the way of "creature comfort” amenities, but CAMA is keenly aware that everyone wants amenities, not just a bare track and paddock. The question is how to get there? It is clear that the Capital Campaign will have to continue. A continued Capital Campaign has the potential to attract additional funds to provide very adequate amenities. Future donations (personal and corporate) plus some possibly "self-funding” amenities (e.g., garages, RV hookups, and a fuel station) are, we believe, quite achievable over the next year.
On this note, there are still a lot of potential users of HPR who have yet to contribute. Perhaps some have taken a "show me first” attitude, wanting to be sure there will be a facility before donating. CAMA is planning a ground breaking ceremony in the next week or so, and we hope those potential donors will finally be convinced to join their peers who have already contributed.
Yes, HPR will be a reality!! Yes, we need more dollars to make High Plains Raceway the great facility we all want.
Your CAMA Board,
Glenn Conser
Bob Darcey
Walt Fricke
Bill Kephart
Kyle Popejoy
Dirt moving equipment will be on site early next week. I have been put in charge of organizing ground breaking ceremonies, more on that soon.