First Coast Racing

[Doc]

I'd made an introduction in the introductions forum, but Viper also reccommended I introduce myself to the side of town we're planning for.

My name is Josh "Doc" Hasty, I'm the CEO for First Coast Racing, LLC. We are a corporation with the vision and plan of building a first class racing facility in Jacksonville. According to the city's master plan, and our research, the only place left in Duval county that will accomodate this facility is the extreme western end of Duval county -- which is where we intend to go.

We envision working with the community and the city, and becoming an integral member of the community, an asset rather than a pestilence, bringing a truly family oriented and affordable entertainment facility to the region. Our directors are spectators and fans as well as racers, and understand the importance of the spectators, fans, and supporters of any sporting event.

So, let me introduce you to First Coast Racing! Our website is www.firstcoastracing.com , please feel free to check it out, post in the forum, and ask questions, tell us of concerns, or ideas you may have for our facility.

[Jason]

Have you selected a site yet or are you still looking?


http://www.firstcoastracing.com/images/ProposedLayout_public_2005nov05.jpg

Also, what is the largs rectangular area to the top left of the oval track, parking?

[Jim]

Incredible concept, Doc. By the time you guys get this all said and done, my network will be profitable enough that I can roll my then able to afford Vette and lend some collaborative advertising between us.

We'll do a charity event. I run my 'then-able-to-afford' Vette with a goal of giving away 10k (arbitrary figure) for hitting 12 seconds in the 1/4 and 1k more for each 1/10 of a second lower.

[Jason]

Some lofty goals there Viper, I like the way you think.

[Doc]

There is that site plan, but more likley this site plan will be the one used. That site plan is based on a parcel of property owned by the City of Jacksonville, and they don't seem to want to do business with it, at least not in our design. They've got some grand illusion for it's usage, and unless we can talk them out of it (I doubt we can) they aren't going to give it up.

Here's the site plan we're working with for a different piece of property. It's the same basic idea, but a different layout/configuration adpating to the better usage of access roads, and a few other things the first site didn't allow. The first site literally had one way in and one way out. This one is far more versatile.

[Jason]

I think the second one will serve you better as well. Multiple entrances/exits are a big deal these days.

How do you plan to allow entrance/exit during a road race, a tunnel or a bridge?

[Doc]

bridges. The infield parking will be strictly for specators, and as such, we are hoping it will be minimum traffic. PLanning on two vehicle bridges and one pedestrian bridge. We'd thought about tunnelling, but I'm really concerned with stability of the track surface over the top of any tunnels, and I'm worried as well they'd take up more space than the bridge would.

I'm honestly hoping infield parking would only be needed for HUGE events. We will be running multiple events at once, but not multiple large events.

I actualyl like the second one better all around. It's got close to 4,000 feet of near-straight away (starting from just above pit road, and going down to where that strip makes a turn back north near the entrance roads). I feel like it would be a fast track, and quite enjoyable by all.

Also, the circle track and the dragstrip start are as far away from civilization as possible. The closest civilization is about 2 miles northeast of the property -- and there's some pretty large noise buffers between there and the tracks.

[McGuireV10]

Hi, I'm one of Doc's partners in this deal and I thought I'd throw a few comments into the mix.

As far as bridges and traffic goes, I figure Daytona manages with a two-lane tunnel, so we ought to be ok as I doubt we'll ever see the kinds of crowds they generate.

And if we do, we'll certainly be able to afford bigger bridges. :)

Doc hit upon one point that we are trying our hardest to address responsibly: noise. Our drag strip and oval track is located in the most isolated corner of the property bordering on several thousand acres of empty tree farm to the west and south. We are sited in a fairly industrialized area, surrounded by lots of rail and major traffic thoroughfares. A perfect solution is probably impossible in any area that isn't simply totally isolated, but we have done our best.

Yes, we're all racers, but we're also all homeowners...

[Jim]

Welcome, McGuire. Glad to have you join us as well.



It's good that you are prioritizing the potential sound issues. As we recently discovered the citizens of the west side can be very sensitive to intense noises (see Cecil debacle). Ensuring them that you have their rights to peace in mind will go a long way to gaining west side support.





I prefer design number 2 and possibly the biggest factor for that decision is the various entrance/exit routes. If it takes an hour to enter or leave from a single location, the crowds will remember the irritating drive in/out instead of the racing itself. Always remember that people will remember and gossip frustration and poor service more so than positive service. The more you can do to ensure minimal customer frustrations, the more willing they will be to return and the less likely they'll tell their friends what a horrible drive home they had.

Of course the lengthier straight aways are a big plus to me as well.


I'm not a big fan of Asian style racing and their affinity for vehicle customization but I do recognize their potential customer base is large and growing. Will you offer any events or services that will cater to them?

[Doc]

Originally posted by Viper@Nov 23 2005, 09:29 PM
I'm not a big fan of Asian style racing and their affinity for vehicle customization but I do recognize their potential customer base is large and growing. Will you offer any events or services that will cater to them?
None of us are into the import scene, apart from the fact all of us own motorcycles made in Japan. As far as cars go, we're all generally American or German in orientation, and tend to stay that way. However, in doing this, I've come to find a bit of respect for some of the import automobiles, their capability, and their relatively cheap price. The Subaru WRX STI, and the Mitsubishi Eclipse GS-X/GS-T are quite impressive in their capability and price, if you can ever pick them out of the crowd of others just to name two. We do intend on having events for this crowd, as they are perhaps the largest concern for street racing, and a very influential customer base in our marketing and structuring of the facility. There are many different racing styles they get into, including road racing, drag racing, autocrossing, and "drifting". We intend on offering them an outlet for all of these needs, and giving them a place to hang out at as well. They will be a substantial part of our monthly income, regardless of our personal preference of vehicle.

[Jim]

With all the above in mind I forsee no reason why the project shouldn't thrive like fish in water.

You're offering several highly demanded services in a limited supply market (well, zero supply really).

[Jason]

How do you think any loyalties to Jax Raceways will play into your decisions. I would think a venture like this (assuming it will be sucessful) would put them out of buisness. Do you have users/tenants lined up yet?

[McGuireV10]

Actually Jax Raceways closed it's doors several weeks ago. Had nothing to do with us, of course. I think a housing developer bought the property.

It is our feeling that race tracks are in such high demand and short supply that we don't need to position ourselves as competition for anyone. Granted there are certain necessary business considerations which make that unavoidable in some contexts, but overall we're hoping to work closely with tracks everywhere in the region to run series events, join up with existing series events, and so on. Had Jax Raceways remained open for business, that would have been our plan with them, too.

We have had lots and lots of feedback from many sources about intent to use our facilities once they are complete. We can reasonably expect to see activity at the track on a nightly basis, year-around. We haven't formally signed anybody up yet because it's simply way too early in the process to ask anyone to commit to anything, but it looks like filling dates isn't going to be any problem at all.

The demand is tremendous for all three tracks.

[Jim]

Whoa, I had no idea they closed. It wasn't exactly plastered all over Jax.com either. Well, as you said their is plenty of demand to begin with but that simply adds to the demand for FCR. Those racers and staff will want a new home and an incredibly updated facilty like FCR will have them slick behind the tires in anticipation.

[Jason]

I had no idea either. I was never really impressed with the facilities at Jax Raceways.

Your proposal looks to be something to put Jacksonville on the racing map. What other facilities, if any, do you plan to offer (i.e. gift shop, full garages, restaraunts, etc.)?

[Jim]

If I recall, Jax Raceways straight track was only 1/8 mile which you never hear of as something people use to guage performance. "Hey, I just did 10 in the 1/8 @ 75 mph" See, that just doesn't excite people like the 1/4.

I remember they had Jungle Jim and Gravedigger race each other one year for a Halloween special and their burnouts alone at up the track.

[Timkin]

MMMMMMMMMMMMMM burnouts !!!!! :D

[Jason]

What's the latest Doc?