Sandia Motorsports Park in Albuquerque, NM?
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Sandia Motorsports Park in Albuquerque, NM?
http://www.sandiamotorsports.com/
has anybody been there? can you comment on the track and facility? a buddy of mine is eyeing it. apparently the track is on the market.
at a glance it looks so so from the aerial shot because it is only 1.6 mi long and the track layout doens't look like it has too much "flavor":
however closer view shows 36' width which is FIA spec and same as Thunderhill.
it also has:
two paved ovals
a .25 mile flat oval inside
a .45 mile banked oval
a 1.65 mile road course
a small dirt track for radio-controlled race cars
dirt motorcycle complex NEW
the layout looks like a perfect drift course too!! i think we are going to go check it out. do people even road race in Albuquerque?!?! :-) hmm... too bad it's pretty darn far from SF. just over 1000 miles.
and speaking of tracks. one of fellow instructor i just met is an architect he is out in the east somewhere, Kentucky or Wesconsin i forget. but anyway he's been looking at putting up a track (cuz nearest one for him is like 4 or 6 hours away). 350 acres, and build a nice road course include good basic facility. he projects it to be under $3mil. it doesn't sound bad at all.
has anybody been there? can you comment on the track and facility? a buddy of mine is eyeing it. apparently the track is on the market.
at a glance it looks so so from the aerial shot because it is only 1.6 mi long and the track layout doens't look like it has too much "flavor":
however closer view shows 36' width which is FIA spec and same as Thunderhill.
it also has:
two paved ovals
a .25 mile flat oval inside
a .45 mile banked oval
a 1.65 mile road course
a small dirt track for radio-controlled race cars
dirt motorcycle complex NEW
the layout looks like a perfect drift course too!! i think we are going to go check it out. do people even road race in Albuquerque?!?! :-) hmm... too bad it's pretty darn far from SF. just over 1000 miles.
and speaking of tracks. one of fellow instructor i just met is an architect he is out in the east somewhere, Kentucky or Wesconsin i forget. but anyway he's been looking at putting up a track (cuz nearest one for him is like 4 or 6 hours away). 350 acres, and build a nice road course include good basic facility. he projects it to be under $3mil. it doesn't sound bad at all.
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Re: Sandia Motorsports Park in Albuquerque, NM? (ghettoracer)
Considering that two racers just died because of a car leaving the track in one corner, and re-entering the track in another location, that one certainly doesn't look very appealing.... I can see 9 turns where an off would likely end up with the car re-entering the track somewhere else. Tire walls = good.
It's also a boring, flat, layout - but the danger aspect is more important.
Matt
It's also a boring, flat, layout - but the danger aspect is more important.
Matt
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Re: Sandia Motorsports Park in Albuquerque, NM? (speedracer33)
<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by speedracer33 »</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">It's also a boring, flat, layout - but the danger aspect is more important.</TD></TR></TABLE>
similar to what I was thinking.. not even any railing to separate the track where it runs so close together!? looks mighty scary to me..
similar to what I was thinking.. not even any railing to separate the track where it runs so close together!? looks mighty scary to me..
Re: Sandia Motorsports Park in Albuquerque, NM? (ghettoracer)
<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by ghettoracer »</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">
do people even road race in Albuquerque?!?! :-) hmm... too bad it's pretty darn far from SF. just over 1000 miles.
</TD></TR></TABLE>
Theres a small RR following in Alb. But don't expect to see many (if any Honda) guys out there. Drivetime problem you have with Sandia is that NM is so damn big that it takes a good 4 hours to get to the track from either the eastern or western border.
<~~~grew up less than an hour from Sandia.
do people even road race in Albuquerque?!?! :-) hmm... too bad it's pretty darn far from SF. just over 1000 miles.
</TD></TR></TABLE>
Theres a small RR following in Alb. But don't expect to see many (if any Honda) guys out there. Drivetime problem you have with Sandia is that NM is so damn big that it takes a good 4 hours to get to the track from either the eastern or western border.
<~~~grew up less than an hour from Sandia.
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From: glendale, wi, usa
Re: Sandia Motorsports Park in Albuquerque, NM? (ghettoracer)
I'll play devils advocate here. Why is the track for sale? No income at the track ?Too hard to rent it out? Too hot in summer? Too far from major metropolitan areas?
How about this, the city that it is near is expanding that way. An industrial park is close by and expanding. Can you say noise complaints in a few years.
Just some things to think about before laying out big $$$$
Bob
How about this, the city that it is near is expanding that way. An industrial park is close by and expanding. Can you say noise complaints in a few years.
Just some things to think about before laying out big $$$$
Bob
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Re: Sandia Motorsports Park in Albuquerque, NM? (1stgenboy)
thanks for your inputs. of course we will evaluate that. but i just wanted to see if there are any first hand experience on the facility.
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Re: Sandia Motorsports Park in Albuquerque, NM? (ghettoracer)
I'd like to thank BlueTeg for giving me Larry Pond's contact info. Larry gives his thoughts:
Frank, I read your comments and those of your friends. Let me say one thing
first, free access to the internet often opens the door to people making
incorrect statements, assumptions and incorrect beliefs. Several of the
comments on your site seem to fall into this category.
First of all, I am not aware of any deaths at this facility. I am also not
aware of any "crossing over" from one part of the track to another. That
would be improbable. However I do have calls into my friends Dawn and Terry
Freeze who run the track. I also have called several of our members in the
Albuquerque and so far no one knows of any deaths.
The second comment that is totally wrong is "the track is flat and
uninteresting." In fact the track has many elevation changes and is very
technical. It is built on a hill!
We have run all of our divisions there and our members like it very much.
Our Pro Race Divisions include Indy Cars, Stock Cars (Road Race), Sports
Cars. Our Club racing division runs there too with sports cars, open wheel
cars (FC, CFC, FF, FM, FA) and sports racers. We have also hosted our street
car and time trial division there. In 5 or more years of running there
annually we have only had one incident of major damage (a BMW Club racer
rolled his car and walked away from it.) We have never had a racer injured.
Now that said, I have been involved in activities at Sandia Motor Speedway
since it opened. I have taught schools there, both oval track and road
course. I have been a professional and club racer since the 1950's. I hold
FIA, NASCAR, and many other licenses and my last involvement professionally
was with Cadillac from 1997-2002 at age 60-65. Not many people my age get
hired to drive FIA level race cars here and in Europe at my age!
First let me say, the facility is fabulous! It is first class all the way.
Secondly, the owners are great people as well. If they did one thing wrong,
it was spending too much money to make it the best road race and small
circle track facility I have ever seen in the US. It rivals some of the
track facilities in Europe. The facility has been kept in new like condition
and constantly upgraded. Over the years, I have made several suggestions on
safety of the road course and they have consistently improved it.
I do not know what the essence is of your questions, but please ignore the
BS some people like to put on the internet and use facts for any decisions.
You can call me at my office if you have more questions. A trip out to see
it would be very beneficial.
---------------
Yes you may post it.
I would like to add one thing. There are some novice club racers
that do not like the track because it is so technical and therefore hard for
them to learn. The Albuq SCCA Region has shortened it for their events,
eliminating the corner at the northwest end coming onto the front straight
as they had trouble with some cars clipping the wall. Instead they follow
the north section of the oval around to the front straight pointing right at
the wall with less track space. Seems worse to me. The northwest corner is
wide and easily late apexed at speed.
Larry Pond
Professional AutoSports
Ph: 480-664-3872 Fx: 480-664-3873
Email
roautosports@***.net
http://www.proautosports.com
1900 W. Chandler Blvd, Ste. 15-380
Chandler, Az 85224
Frank, I read your comments and those of your friends. Let me say one thing
first, free access to the internet often opens the door to people making
incorrect statements, assumptions and incorrect beliefs. Several of the
comments on your site seem to fall into this category.
First of all, I am not aware of any deaths at this facility. I am also not
aware of any "crossing over" from one part of the track to another. That
would be improbable. However I do have calls into my friends Dawn and Terry
Freeze who run the track. I also have called several of our members in the
Albuquerque and so far no one knows of any deaths.
The second comment that is totally wrong is "the track is flat and
uninteresting." In fact the track has many elevation changes and is very
technical. It is built on a hill!
We have run all of our divisions there and our members like it very much.
Our Pro Race Divisions include Indy Cars, Stock Cars (Road Race), Sports
Cars. Our Club racing division runs there too with sports cars, open wheel
cars (FC, CFC, FF, FM, FA) and sports racers. We have also hosted our street
car and time trial division there. In 5 or more years of running there
annually we have only had one incident of major damage (a BMW Club racer
rolled his car and walked away from it.) We have never had a racer injured.
Now that said, I have been involved in activities at Sandia Motor Speedway
since it opened. I have taught schools there, both oval track and road
course. I have been a professional and club racer since the 1950's. I hold
FIA, NASCAR, and many other licenses and my last involvement professionally
was with Cadillac from 1997-2002 at age 60-65. Not many people my age get
hired to drive FIA level race cars here and in Europe at my age!
First let me say, the facility is fabulous! It is first class all the way.
Secondly, the owners are great people as well. If they did one thing wrong,
it was spending too much money to make it the best road race and small
circle track facility I have ever seen in the US. It rivals some of the
track facilities in Europe. The facility has been kept in new like condition
and constantly upgraded. Over the years, I have made several suggestions on
safety of the road course and they have consistently improved it.
I do not know what the essence is of your questions, but please ignore the
BS some people like to put on the internet and use facts for any decisions.
You can call me at my office if you have more questions. A trip out to see
it would be very beneficial.
---------------
Yes you may post it.
I would like to add one thing. There are some novice club racers
that do not like the track because it is so technical and therefore hard for
them to learn. The Albuq SCCA Region has shortened it for their events,
eliminating the corner at the northwest end coming onto the front straight
as they had trouble with some cars clipping the wall. Instead they follow
the north section of the oval around to the front straight pointing right at
the wall with less track space. Seems worse to me. The northwest corner is
wide and easily late apexed at speed.
Larry Pond
Professional AutoSports
Ph: 480-664-3872 Fx: 480-664-3873
roautosports@***.nethttp://www.proautosports.com
1900 W. Chandler Blvd, Ste. 15-380
Chandler, Az 85224
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Re: Sandia Motorsports Park in Albuquerque, NM? (ghettoracer)
Here's my $.02 as for a local.
Take this in mind that I'm a 2 year SCCA Solo 2 member with very little experience. I've only run 3 locations. The sites we ran here last year was at the UNM pit parking lot and Sandia. Pit was very small, 25-35 second runs. This year we used the San Felipes casino Hollywood dirt track pits area. Maybe around 45 seconds max there. Sandia Park is a dream compared to the other 2. Runs are more around the 2-3 minute mark. The track has embankments and is large enough that i don't see cars off and back on again blowing a corner. But the fastest I've ever run is 65mph and spun several times in the corners. Did 5 events there last year and 2 this year. Rumor is the cost to rent the track is why we don't use it more often. Somewhere around $700 a day and with as little participation as there is in the area the entry fee's are high. Far enough from town that noise is not a problem. To me Sandia is a VERY nice track but ABQ does not have the motor sport Cly and tell needed for how well the facility was built.
Take this in mind that I'm a 2 year SCCA Solo 2 member with very little experience. I've only run 3 locations. The sites we ran here last year was at the UNM pit parking lot and Sandia. Pit was very small, 25-35 second runs. This year we used the San Felipes casino Hollywood dirt track pits area. Maybe around 45 seconds max there. Sandia Park is a dream compared to the other 2. Runs are more around the 2-3 minute mark. The track has embankments and is large enough that i don't see cars off and back on again blowing a corner. But the fastest I've ever run is 65mph and spun several times in the corners. Did 5 events there last year and 2 this year. Rumor is the cost to rent the track is why we don't use it more often. Somewhere around $700 a day and with as little participation as there is in the area the entry fee's are high. Far enough from town that noise is not a problem. To me Sandia is a VERY nice track but ABQ does not have the motor sport Cly and tell needed for how well the facility was built.
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Re: Sandia Motorsports Park in Albuquerque, NM? (toadolson)
apparently the track is losing money, thus it is on the market. since you are a local, what is the motorsports scene like there? does it have a chance of success? what is population of Albuquerque? what kind of cars mostly? thanks for your inputs. since it has two oval banks i'm guess some kinda of midget or stock car days are on schedule.
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Re: Sandia Motorsports Park in Albuquerque, NM? (ghettoracer)
I too have ONLY AutoX experience on this track, but find the facility to be first rate (Grandstands look almost new)! As far as the track being flat and boring, that is not the case. There are elevation changes and the run-off is not as bad as it looks. Tire barriers are in place.
The track is only about 30 to 50 minutes from almost anywhere in Albuquerque via I-40. Turn off from I-40 to the track is not very well marked though. One drawback may be that the new Metropolitan Detention Center is located RIGHT next to the track (Screw em if THEY can't take the noise!). Albuquerque is growing again and the only direction for it to grow is west (and that’s not too far) because Alb. is surrounded by Indian Reservations.
The track is actually used quite allot: http://sandiamotorsports.com/schedule.htm
The track can get very HOT in the summer, but no Hotter than Willow Springs or Button Willow or (insert your S. Cali track name here)...
IMHO the track would do better under new owners. The current owners are very good folks, but are not in a position to really get this track the promotion it needs. This E-bay thing could be just what we needed!
Just thought of this also; the track could benefit from a Drag Strip. The one we have now is adequate at best. This would also help to bring in the Import Scene (I know, I know, but it generates money!)
The track is only about 30 to 50 minutes from almost anywhere in Albuquerque via I-40. Turn off from I-40 to the track is not very well marked though. One drawback may be that the new Metropolitan Detention Center is located RIGHT next to the track (Screw em if THEY can't take the noise!). Albuquerque is growing again and the only direction for it to grow is west (and that’s not too far) because Alb. is surrounded by Indian Reservations.
The track is actually used quite allot: http://sandiamotorsports.com/schedule.htm
The track can get very HOT in the summer, but no Hotter than Willow Springs or Button Willow or (insert your S. Cali track name here)...
IMHO the track would do better under new owners. The current owners are very good folks, but are not in a position to really get this track the promotion it needs. This E-bay thing could be just what we needed!
Just thought of this also; the track could benefit from a Drag Strip. The one we have now is adequate at best. This would also help to bring in the Import Scene (I know, I know, but it generates money!)
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Re: Sandia Motorsports Park in Albuquerque, NM? (ghettoracer)
i can't believe people would judge a track having only seen the beginning stages of it from 1000ft.? up. i have participated in several lapping events at this track and i absolutely love it. i did hear that it was up for sale or might be in the near future. i just really hope it survives. the rr trend in albuquerque is very small, but the ones that do rr are very avid racers, some are very well known as well (John Hammel with HAMFAB motorsports, some of you californians that race porsches might recognize this name). the autocrosses are also very fun and quite challenging at this track. i'm glad to see people taking some sort of interest in our big small town's only road racing facility.
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