Fort Erie Motor Speedway? Wow

[tradinpaintwith24]

Big announcement Tuesday with all the politicos! They say its happening, 1 mile track and 2.5 mile road course to be started next year ready for 2010. Wow....go figure.
65,000 seats expandable to 100,000. And just 4 miles off the US border!

http://www.buffalonews.com/cityregion/story/463858.html

If they build it they will come......didn't Humpy Wheeler say that?

[Fundytrail]

WOW!!!!:D

Now if we could only get the NASCAR Canadian Tire Series to run the same car as the Nation Wide Series, as I would expect to see a Nationwide race at this new facility.

[tradinpaintwith24]

Was listening to Raceline and rumour has it that NASCAR will give Ft Erie a Nationwide or Truck date in 2010 provided the track is completed in time for teams to test there. That is why the investors went ahead with it. Although none of it is verified fact it does make sense. I know that I wouldn't be dropping that kind of cash investment without some prospect of a return on my money. No way the Cdn Tire series is going to draw 65,000.

I can see the IRL going in there too on the road course. These multi use facilities are better for fans IMHO. I used to go to Toronto Indy but got to dislike it beacuse it you just can't see everything.

Maybe just a wait and see....notice how they plugged that it is easily expandable to 100,000+ seats. I know all the naysayers say that it would never get a cup date but you never know. NASCAR is a business that is always trying to expand its market share and knows of the huge fan base here in Canada and you have to admit this track is in a primo location. Plenty of nearby hotel rooms, casinos and attractions on both sides of the border and excellent highway access. Huge population within a 4 hour drive as well. Not as if they were sticking it in the middle of Nowhere Saskatchewan!

[Nascar#3]

NASCAR says no to Canada track..for now: The promise of a new $172 million, state-of-the-art race track isn’t enough to lure NASCAR to Fort Erie, Ontario, Canada., a spokesman for the auto-racing organization said Friday. The group of investors planning a racing complex that would seat 65,000 spectators hopes to bring top-level auto racing to Southern Ontario, but NASCAR won’t be part of the project. “Our schedule is extremely full, especially in our top three national series,” NASCAR spokesman Ramsey Poston told The News, referring to the Sprint Cup, Nationwide and Craftsman Truck series. “There’s really not much, if any, room to add any dates at this time.” But local officials say there never was a commitment from NASCAR to bring a race to Fort Erie and the project is an economic engine that doesn’t hinge on NASCAR’s participation. In fact, one economic-development official involved in the project said NASCAR still could change its mind and bring a race here once they see the success of the finished track. “In the end, NASCAR may be approached, or be approachable,” said James A. Thibert, president of the Fort Erie Economic Development and Tourism Corp. Officials revealed plans for the project at a Tuesday news conference in Fort Erie, where a Kuwaiti financial company was identified as the lead investor. However, news of the race track began leaking out over the past week or so, and media reports referred to it as a “NASCAR-ready” or “NASCAR-level” track. The facility, as envisioned by local officials and Bayt Al Mal Investment Bank of Kuwait, would hold a one-mile oval track and a 2 1/2-mile, road-course track. It could be expanded to seat 100,000 people, and officials say the complex could host retail shops, a hotel, research-and-development space and other business operations. Local officials point to the construction and permanent jobs the track would create, and they suggest it will boost tourism. Harry Schlange, chief administrative officer for Fort Erie, noted that officials never called it a “NASCAR track.” But investors and local officials said the track would be built to the specifications needed to host an auto race at the level of NASCAR, Indy Racing League or another series. They noted NASCAR had said publicly that it wants to locate a race in Canada, and they pointed out Fort Erie’s proximity to Toronto and to major markets in the United States. However, Poston said this part of North America already is well-covered by NASCAR races in Montreal, Watkins Glen and Loudon, N. H. Officials said it’s no surprise NASCAR is saying no right now. A lot of communities want to bring NASCAR to their tracks, and the organization can’t make premature promises, Thibert added. NASCAR faced an antitrust suit over a race track project in Kentucky. Still, Thibert said investors and local officials have been in negotiations with other racing leagues. He said he couldn’t identify them yet. “We have all sorts of plans, and all sorts of things in place,” Thibert said.(Buffalo News)(10-18-2008)

[Shirley]

They could add more dates to the truck series. They only run 25 races, and Nationwide runs 35 with Cup running 36. And that's not counting there Special Races.

[Mr BigBlock]

This track will never happen just like the big plans at Cayuga, someones smoking crack:confused:

[ToyotaFan]

I have a passport...ready to go!

Yeah Canada!!!!

[Mr BigBlock]

I have a passport...ready to go!

Yeah Canada!!!!LOL you dont need a paasport to come to Canada but you might need one to go home lol thanks to bush

[Hydroman]

This would be great news but at the risk of being a "doubting Thomas" I think someone is having some fun with us.

Do a search on the buffalo news of today and you will not see any mention of this.

Too bad, only a three hour drive for me --unless you try it in the winter when highway 21 is closed due to BLOWING SNOW about 50% of the time!!

Hydroman

[minabruuke]

I would love this, I need to make it to Canada someday in the near future!

[ToyotaFan]

You don't need it yet, but it is coming! Yes, thanks to Bush! Maybe Obama will recend it...doubt it.

[Hydroman]

You may want to schedule your trip in the summer time (lol)

it is still -15 here today

but with the 500 on TV today, we will forget about the snow for a day or two!!

How about a young Canadian driver fourth in his first start in the truck series!!

Hydroman

[minabruuke]

I think I can brave the cold for a trip somewhere new, I love to travel.

Fitzpatrick did do terrific Friday...he is going to make it big!

[tradinpaintwith24]

This would be great news but at the risk of being a "doubting Thomas" I think someone is having some fun with us.

Do a search on the buffalo news of today and you will not see any mention of this.

Too bad, only a three hour drive for me --unless you try it in the winter when highway 21 is closed due to BLOWING SNOW about 50% of the time!!

Hydroman

If you Google Ft Erie Speedway, the links come up to the news articles. But there has been no mention of it since the initial talks in October last year. Maybe the Kuwaitis decided to build a track in the desert.....LOL

[Hydroman]

Hey tradinpaint, I see Kitchener in your profile--I spent thiry years there just moved up to Saugeen Shores (Pt. Elgin) on retirement in 2000.

Are you planning to go to any races this year?

Hydroman

[tradinpaintwith24]

Hey tradinpaint, I see Kitchener in your profile--I spent thiry years there just moved up to Saugeen Shores (Pt. Elgin) on retirement in 2000.

Are you planning to go to any races this year?

Hydroman

Ah yes, usually go to several each year. Heading to Vegas next week in fact, also have New Hampshire June and Michigan August on the schedule. Maybe do one more in the fall will have to wait and see!