[Hunt_chevs]

A couple of friends of mine and myself are putting together a business proposal about starting a track down here where we live in San Jose. We have space located by the airport we're looking at because the land was purchased by the city so houses would not be built upon it due to the noise pollution. There are reasons upon reasons for doing this as you would suspect,... but some key ideas were for the lack of one around here; and to "Get street racing off the streets" because there is entirely way too much of that going on. With that being said i think we can legitimately launch one. I have two ideas in mind; either low or high budget, and depending on how much of this we can get funded will decide which way we take it.. either 1, backyard style; Have a low(er) entrance fee no tree (pinks style) with bbq type concessions and limited seating,... or 2, the more heavily backed version; get a Real track started down here like sears point with the whole nine yards: christmas tree, bleachers, timing equipment, booth review, actual concession stand, gas station, etc....
Long Story short; im looking for any helpful info, feedback, ideas that you guys might have, because im going to be turning to you all for petitions and signatures etc,. to help the launch....

as for now i plan to get some kind of ad on craigslist with a faxable petition of some sort for all of san jose and some (basically anyone whos willing to make the trip here for this), hitting up the malls for feedback/ signatures, and a friend of mine is in the tv industry so im working on some commercials and a website as well....

We are deathly serious about this so please roll in all the comments, info, feedback etc..... All will be much appreciated

- james

[texas_mustang]

how much are yall looking at for "low" budget

[Hunt_chevs]

haha, good question..... lower than the high,... enough to get the track paved and some safety precautions i suppose....... (the essential minimum)

[Ace417]

that sounds like a great idea. you just need some investors to get you off the ground. too bad im broke.

[93hatch]

im guessing the insurance a track would have to have would be insanely expensive

[Hunt_chevs]

a lot of this if not all of it can be funded via grants, maybe with a little help from some loans,.. just depends on how well we pitch the whole " Get racers off the streets" theme and how many sigs. we can get

[Hunt_chevs]

Originally Posted by 93hatch im guessing the insurance a track would have to have would be insanely expensive

i would imagine so yes,... but this would give jobs to some new emt's probably,.. since there would need to be one at the track at all times

[Hunt_chevs]

keep all the feedback coming,.. i might need to reference this forum to help my cause

[texas_mustang]

i think if you played really hard on the "keep racers of the street theme" youd be in good shape. Seeing as your in Cali, im sure street racing is a big deal. Maybe get some people involved who lost family to illegal street racing(innocent bystanders) to also help push for the track. Good PR never hurt.

[AnimalCrackers]

Definitely file for grants, either for businesses or just government related. Stating that in order to entice enough street racers to come, you'll need lower ticket sales, so loans are not a feasible business model. But this could cut down on race related accidents, give younger generations a great opportunity to pick up a highly addictive, legal hobby, etc.

[Arsenal]

Originally Posted by texas_mustang Maybe get some people involved who lost family to illegal street racing(innocent bystanders) to also help push for the track. Good PR never hurt.

great idea.

and as for how you would do it, I'd do a nice track with a tree and make sure you can have accurate times. Maybe a few bleachers but not a lot, and I like the idea of a BBQ type thing. I wouldn't put a gas station in, maybe if you get it started up and you start getting larger crowds then you could put one in.

[texas_mustang]

^ yea. start smaller, but a tree and timing equipment would be a must if i were in cali and looking to go to a strip. With out a tree/equipment, youve essentially built a really nice 1/4 stretch of road that your charging people to drive on

[AnimalCrackers]

Originally Posted by texas_mustang ^ yea. start smaller, but a tree and timing equipment would be a must if i were in cali and looking to go to a strip. With out a tree/equipment, youve essentially built a really nice 1/4 stretch of road that your charging people to drive on

+1

[Arsenal]

Originally Posted by texas_mustang With out a tree/equipment, youve essentially built a really nice 1/4 stretch of road that your charging people to drive on

[zinc02GT]

I say start with the pinks style, see how it works out and ue the money from that to upgrade to the tree and the whole 9 yards.

Play the field and see how your area takes to it before going all out on it.

[AnimalCrackers]

Originally Posted by zinc02GT I say start with the pinks style, see how it works out and ue the money from that to upgrade to the tree and the whole 9 yards. Play the field and see how your area takes to it before going all out on it.

I'd rather get that kind of information from doing business feelers, find out if the community is in support of it, who would show up, etc. Don't want to get bad reputation for having a shitty half-assed track your first week open.

[zinc02GT]

Originally Posted by AnimalCrackers I'd rather get that kind of information from doing business feelers, find out if the community is in support of it, who would show up, etc. Don't want to get bad reputation for having a shitty half-assed track your first week open.

True... Get the tree and the lasers. Get the proper gear, but start small with the stands. Upsize it after you generate a common crowd

[JBIGBOOTSY]

You'll need alot more than you think. Insurance, an ambulance, or pay an ambulance company to be on stand by, any noise restrictions. The hardest part is getting a go ahead from the city.

In my home town, there is a dragstrip that was formerly US 30 dragway, it closed in 85, and after many attempts, with many investors, plenty of careful planning, and meeting an ever-growing list of demands from the city, the idea of re opening it has been abandoned every time, and the thing already exists.

[thewayshemoves]

Originally Posted by Hunt_chevs i would imagine so yes,... but this would give jobs to some new emt's probably,.. since there would need to be one at the track at all times

Here at our track you jsut sign a waiver that states if you get hurt, it's your own fault and you can't sue the track. We don't have insurance payments, or issues. We just keep the track up to code, and that's not hard and only costs maintenance.

[JBIGBOOTSY]

Originally Posted by thewayshemoves Here at our track you jsut sign a waiver that states if you get hurt, it's your own fault and you can't sue the track. We don't have insurance payments, or issues. We just keep the track up to code, and that's not hard and only costs maintenance.

You have th have some kind of liability insurance to operate a business, the ammount varries state to state, but I believe all states are included. In IN, its 2,000,000.