Laguna Seca East?
LAGUNA SECA EAST?
WHAT’S THIS, ANOTHER "world-class” road-racing facility? Seems every time we turn around, someone’s paving “the perfect combination of curves and straightaways” and planning to host an AMA Superbike race and, just maybe, the next U.S. Grand Prix.
The latest effort, however, appears to be for real. Rausch Creek Motorsports Park, located in central Pennsylvania about 45 miles north of Harrisburg with “convenient access to Baltimore,
Philadelphia, New York and Washington D.C.,” opened in May, 2000, as an off-road riding area.
At present, the 700-acre facility boasts six motocross tracks, two 7-mile hare-scrambles loops and a freestyle jump area.
With public-re lations people promising a full season of AHRMA, PACE/CCS and WERA roadracing competition in 2001, noted South African track-designer Alan Wilson put together a 14turn, 2.31-mile circuit that is 40 feet wide throughout with 250 feet of elevation changes.
The track was scheduled to open this past May, but construction delays have pushed on-track
competition back until at least the end of June. “As with any project of this size, you would expect delays,” explained Andrew Stutzman, Rausch Creek’s general manager. “We want to be assured
that the surface is still flawless in 10 years, as well as for this first season.” Future plans also call for a “South Course” to complement the existing “North Course,” plus a clay oval and karting track.
In related news, dairy big-wig George Barber’s $33 million, 2.5-mile, FIAspec racetrack located outside Birmingham, Alabama, is also nearing completion. “Alabama has a great oval speedway at Talladega,” he says. “We hope to complement that by building a great roadracing course.”
Matthew Miles
