Miller Motorsports Park ceasing operations

[dbk]

What a bummer. Really hoping that someone is in the wings to step in here. I know the park cost a phenomenal amount to operate, but it's a really great motorsport facility.

http://www.deseretnews.com/article/...orsports-Park-to-cease-operations.html?pg=all

 

[BtwoG]

Noooooooooo

what a bummer. Really hoping that someone is in the wings to step in here. I know the park cost a phenomenal amount to operate, but it's a really great motorsport facility.

http://www.deseretnews.com/article/...orsports-park-to-cease-operations.html?pg=all

 

[RALPHIE]

That's a shame - any idea where Ford will move their High-Performance Racing School?

http://www.fordracingschool.com/

 

[dbk]

That's a shame - any idea where Ford will move their Performance Racing School?

Maybe nowhere. Still much to be decided with what happens to it, and I'll be shocked if a $125+ million facility in that area is allowed to become a parking lot.

 

[RALPHIE]

I'm sure it provides some good tax revenue to that area of Utah - may the area commissioners will come up with a solution.

 

[Cobrar]

That's an awful loss, what a great facility. I'd have to look back at their calendar for the last couple of years, but it sure seemed as though it was getting significant use, beyond that of the Ford Racing School.

Would be interesting to see an operating statement for the facility. Although hamstrung by location (7 month operating window) ~ to normalize operational revenue and expense ~ without the cost from the land lease and any other ancillary (non-core racing) activities.

 

[twobjshelbys]

Wow, that's a shock. I wonder what will happen to the collection that is housed there.

 

[AJB]

yes sad.... I am glad to be able to say we had our Ford GT on that track for several days during Rally X . ((I Already forgot what number rally that was.))..
but
---the Hotel and
---the reception we received from the 'locals', the special theatre event with the Bonnevile racer, the support from the track folks
-- even the Tire Store that sent out a truck and a mechanic to change my trailer tires after 'shredding' one of them outside of Cheyenne , Wyo. on the way from Detroit.... He did some work for Terry and even tires for StormKat' trailer if I recall.... He would not even accept a TIP !!!!!

Fond Memories... Hope someone picks up the track... but these ventures are very capital intensive to operate...

ajb (andy)

 

[GTJack]

It is a shame. There is a part of me that wonders if this is a tactic to reduce the land lease cost if they are losing money. Not sure that would result in getting into the black though. Their remoteness impacts their revenue stream.

 

[stuntman]

Its a great track. As a Ford GT or Ford fan, you have to get out there and take a school/lapping day before they close up! LHM was obviously a huge ford fan, owner of GTs, and Roger Miller campaigned a Boss 302R in the Continental Tire Series. In his memory, his #158 car won the season finale at Road Atlanta last year.

 

[ChipBeck]

Gentlemen,

The land lease must be pretty expensive to walk away from such expensive facilities.

Chip

 

[Cobrar]

Apparently it's a 99 year ground lease that commenced in 2003/4.

"For the past nine years, the Miller group of companies paid the county 5 percent of their revenue for the lease of the land. In 2014, that came out to roughly $267,000. In 2013, it was about $337,000."

Normally, assets/improvements on the property revert to the land owner (Tooele County) if a lease is vacated (in this case by the Miller Group) unless the Agreement contains a specific clause that the land (once the lease is vacated) must be returned to its' original state, prior to the lease execution.

 

[RALPHIE]

...unless the Agreement contains a specific clause that the land (once the lease is vacated) must be returned to its' original state, prior to the lease execution.

That would be a terrible loss, considering the beautiful improvements that Larry Miller built!

 

[STORMCAT]

Sad News..... :frown

 

[Ed Sims]

This is in this week's Cycle News online.

Ed

 

[KennethClay]

I understand that the track was losing about $2mm per year, and that the family got tired of underwriting the loss. The track was really a passion investment by Larry, and apparently the broader group doesn't share his passion.

Regarding the car collection, when I was out at Miller last week they told me that it's going out to Colorado (Boulder, I think?), where he has a bunch of other cars.

 

[Cobrar]

If true, they will need to expand the facility in Boulder.

 

[twobjshelbys]

Regarding the car collection, when I was out at Miller last week they told me that it's going out to Colorado (Boulder, I think?), where he has a bunch of other cars.

The Shelby American Collection is between Boulder and Longmont. The two collections traded vehicles often. It was typical that one of the Miller GT40s or the Daytona Coupe would rotate through the SAC and SAC cars would go to Miller's. This helped to keep the two displays fresh - you could go every few months and see something new. I hope the cars are moved there - it would be complementary. But the Boulder site is Shelby-centric. Didn't he have other vehicles? I never made it there. I might have to try to do it this summer before they close.

 

[debtdrives]

Sad! Maybe Penske, Ford or some other giant will buy it?

 

[KennethClay]

But the Boulder site is Shelby-centric. Didn't he have other vehicles? I never made it there.

Miller is very Shelby-centric as well. Almost entirely Ford GTs, 427 and 289 Cobras, and several GT350 Mustangs.