|
"The Lincoln Speedway will be a
community-friendly family business," said Gary Baugh of Mason City.
He and his partner, Norm Horn of Greenview, have formed the company
B&H Racing Enterprise. Baugh and Horn have done their homework in
planning the creation of a one-quarter-mile racetrack for cars at
the Logan County Fairgrounds.
Baugh shared some generalized details
of their plan with the Lincoln City Council Monday night. The
quarter-mile track with a 6-foot bank -- that's 4 feet higher than
the bank that is already there -- would be located inside the
existing half-mile track.
Numerous safety features will be added,
particularly around the pit area, such as concrete safety barriers.
All the added features, such as the barriers, netting, fencing and
special lighting -- on collapsible poles that are placed on concrete
pads, will be movable. There will actually be fewer interfering
obstructions on the infield when construction is complete. The plans
were made with safety as a No. 1 priority.
However, Baugh says they also have kept
the Lincoln balloon fest, which also uses the fairgrounds for
balloon launches and glows, as a priority. He believes the changes
in the track area will not hinder the fest nor the Logan County Fair
but will be an added interest and will serve to increase the crowd
it already draws.
The focus is to offer affordable,
family-atmosphere entertainment. No alcohol will be sold or
permitted. "We feel racing, alcohol and kids don't mix," Baugh said.
The Speedway will feature 150 to 200
cars in five classes, 30 cars per class. A healthy purse will be
offered to draw drivers.
The men have already made a
presentation to the fairgrounds association, and the concept met
with approval, according to Baugh. They will be meeting with other
pertinent groups, like the balloon fest organizers.
The Logan County Fairgrounds
Association, which is an independent association separate from the
governing entity of Logan County, has offered D&H a 10-year
lease with five-year renewal.
The business plan comes at an opportune
time, when Lincoln is trying to find a means of increasing local
revenues. The prospect offers an increase in weekend traffic that
will benefit local motel, service, fuel, food and other businesses.
[to top of second column in
this article] |
Financials
1. Hire 25-30 people, five months of
the year.
2. Hire city police for security, $300
for 30 nights for a total of $9,000; also paid rescue and paramedic
support.
3. An estimated 500 pit people
and 1,500 spectators on average will be coming to town spending
outside dollars on hotels, food, fuel, and other goods and services
each week.
While it is difficult to measure, the
venture could bring the community an additional $5 million to $7
million in revenues during the duration of the contract.
The business addresses the noise factor
by pointing out that races will take place only on Saturday or
Sunday from 5:30 to 10 p.m., with one possible exception of a
midweek race during the Logan County Fair.
The business owners would like to be
ready to go by May 1. It takes a lot of time to purchase materials,
so it is important to get approvals now. What they need from the
city of Lincoln is a special use permit.
However, the fairgrounds is zoned C-2,
and racing is not an activity included in the C-2 designation. The
grounds would either need to petition rezoning to I-2, or the C-2
ordinance will need rewriting to include racing. At the
recommendation of the city's attorney, Bill Bates, the city is
planning to amend the ordinance. It will go before the Lincoln
Planning Commission and have a public hearing before coming back to
the city for final approval. The turnaround is anticipated to take
90-120 days.
Logan County Regional Planning Director
Phil Mahler spoke to the council following the presentation. Mahler
supports bringing the business to town at the fairgrounds. It would
bring jobs and increase outside income from the drivers and
spectators who would come to town.
Following
the meeting Mahler said that NASCAR is making money. Lincoln should
look at entertainment income. Everybody always says location,
location, location is most important. We have the advantage of two
interstates that make us quick and easy to access. Entertainment,
transport businesses, a regional airport are all opportunities that
we should be looking into with our great central location and
highway access, Mahler says.
[Jan
Youngquist] |
