Relocation of Old Dominion Speedway to Spotsylvania

[09SubaTrupa]

Plans for an oval track, drag strip, and a 2 mile road course!

http://blogs.fredericksburg.com/busi...lvania-county/

"The owner of a stock-car and drag-racing facility near Manassas plans to relocate the complex to a 160-acre site just off Interstate 95 in Thornburg.
Steve Britt, principal owner of the Old Dominion Speedway, is under contract to purchase land just north of Mudd Tavern Road from a man who lives outside the Fredericksburg area. The sale is contingent on various government approvals, including a rezoning and special-use permit from Spotsylvania County.
The new facility will be called the Dominion Raceway and will be easily visible from I–95. The main entrance will be off Mudd Tavern Road near the northbound ramp onto 95.
Britt wants to create a racing-focused entertainment complex that could also be used year-round for festivals, karting, collector car auctions, drive-in movies and other special events. Though he hasn’t spoken with a local group pursuing a minor league baseball stadium, he thinks that could be part of it.
The proposed site is north of Mudd Tavern Road and east of Interstate 95.

Old Dominion has been in its current site in Manassas for more than 60 years, but is now hemmed in by residential development. That has led to frequent noise complaints from neighbors, which convinced Britt to search for new locations along 95 between Stafford County and Richmond.
He has spent much of the past two years looking at sites, including some in both Stafford and Spotsylvania counties. He said he ultimately selected the Thornburg property for a variety of reasons, foremost among them the interstate and a lack of dense residential development nearby.
The interstate provides easy access to many thousands of race fans and high visibility to passersby, and generates a lot of noise of its own. The site is also bordered by the Po River and a more than 400-acre wooded property that is under conservation easement.
The land is in an area targeted for commercial growth and already has nearby hotels. And it’s reasonably close to Lake Anna.
The centerpiece of the planned Dominion Raceway is an oval track that will be four-tenths of a mile and attract up-and-coming racers looking to advance to the NASCAR ranks.
An adjacent grandstand will seat 3,500 people. There will be a three-level building featuring office space for Dominion employees, a food and retail area, and suites that companies or individuals can lease.
Britt plans to sell naming rights to the complex and other corporate sponsorships. He wants to make the facility as interactive as possible for fans and plans to include a Jumbotron screen.
The complex will also have a drag-racing strip, and a two-mile road course that auto enthusiasts could use. There will be a large area for parking and festivals.
Near the entrance will be pad sites for commercial uses such as restaurants, gas stations and automotive dealerships.
Britt estimates it will cost $10 million to $12 million to buy the land, develop the site and build the racing complex. He will have partners in the development and is interested in talking to investors.
About 15 people would work at the Dominion Raceway full-time, and another 60 to 100 people would staff events. Britt isn’t asking for public incentives, but has requested that Spotsylvania officials expedite the approval process.
Last week he was in front of Spotsylvania’s Economic Development Authority in closed session to discuss the project. Britt’s attorney, Charlie Payne of the Hirschler Fleischer law firm, plans to file the rezoning application in a month.
A quick approval would allow Britt to open the facility in time for the 2014 racing season. He is under contract to sell the 40 acres where the Old Dominion Speedway is currently located to a home-builder this coming April and wants to start developing the Spotsylvania facility soon thereafter. The typical season runs March through October.
Britt says he won’t pursue another location for his raceway if the Thornburg site doesn’t secure the various government approvals. He’s looked up and down the 95 corridor and thinks he has found the perfect spot.
“It’s as good as it gets,” Britt said of the site. “This is where it needs to be.”

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[dylanjwhall]

Of course when I move out of stafford something like this is gonna be built

[CamaroFS34]

Sad that the track has been there for 60 years, and the residents of the past 5 are the ones making him move. Morons move next to a track and then have the gall to complain about the noise. <shaking head>

Sounds like it would be bigger and better in the new place though.

[Matt_H]

Originally Posted by dylanjwhall

Of course when I move out of stafford something like this is gonna be built

Same.

Sad to see ODS go though, I use to go all the time as a kid and into my teens.

[irish44j]

Interested now that I see the phrase "road course"

Also the grounds for parking and festivals = possible rallycross location?

[Patrick Olsen]

Sounds cool, but also sounds like there are a lot of hurdles to clear still. Looking at Google Maps it looks like the site is pretty well isolated, but I'm sure people will still come out of the woodwork to complain about how racing is bad for Mother Nature's poor animals and trees and causes angels to cry.

I remember starting a thread here about Dragon's Ridge, ohhhh, 9 years ago. That one didn't come to fruition. Liberty Bell Motorsports Park up in PA has been in development for over 10 years now (I started a thread about that one, too). Both of those threads mention Rausch Creek up in PA, which also never came to pass (it was originally going to have a road course in addition to the off-roading/trail riding).

Don't get me wrong - I'd love to see another road course in the area. I'm just not going to hold my breath quite yet.

[09SubaTrupa]

There's not too many "green" people around that area but like you, I won't be holding my breath.

[DUBL URX]

Signed the Support form on their facebook.

[09SubaTrupa]

Images of the proposed track and layout


http://news.fredericksburg.com/busin...inion-raceway/

Here are four images showing what the Dominion Raceway plans for its automotive racetrack and entertainment complex at the Thornburg exit off Interstate 95. The raceway, which has its fans and foes, first needs various approvals from VDOT and Spotsylvania County. Here is the latest article we have written about the matter for those seeking background information. Click the below renderings for larger images. All images were provided courtesy of Dunning Group Architects.
View from the raceway entrance of a three-level building that will include offices, a food and retail area, and suites.

The site plan at Dominion Raceway shows the grandstands, oval track, road course and drag strip.

Aerial view of the facility from the oval track.

View from the drag strip.

[dirtybird222]

Originally Posted by CamaroFS34

Sad that the track has been there for 60 years, and the residents of the past 5 are the ones making him move. Morons move next to a track and then have the gall to complain about the noise. <shaking head>

Sounds like it would be bigger and better in the new place though.

This. It happened in Orlando recently. Orlando Speed World has been around since I can remember. A bunch of residential neighborhoods have gone up recently in the past few years and these asshats move next to it and start to complain to the county. It was shut down temporarily for a few months but just re-opened.

This didn't stop asshats in Orange County from shutting down a 1/8 drag strip in Orlando that is in the heart of a manufacturing district....

The new proposed site and design looks awesome. The news that there is even a complex down the road is awesome news to me! Hopefully everything turns out for the best.