Is the town willing to help the buyer of the race track?

[Electric Eye]

With the property at 57 Gunville Rd up for sale and much of the 55 year old facility in desperate need of repair due to neglect by the current leasee and the property owner. Is the town willing to work on tax breaks and other incentives for a new owner?

[WNYresident]

Wouldn't you agree this is an entertainment business? If so why should they be ignored compared to any other entertainment business that receives grants or tax breaks?

[gorja]

It has industrial zoning, so why not industrial tax credits?

[shortstuff]

This is not going to be a popular post, NO THE RACETRACK SHOULD NOT REAP BENIFITS AT THE TAXPAYERS EXPENSE! Like the airport, it supports hobbyist and where the race track is concerned, the conflicts do not just exist within the track. Neighboring towns have issues with the noise that comes out of that track. Just like the airport, it effects others outside it's domain.

[gorja]

I don't agree, shortie. The airport hobbyists are few. The racetrack drivers may be hobbyists but the spectators aren't necessarily hobbyists. The neighbors live near a thruway which has all night tractor trailer traffic noise. Yet, they'll complain about a few hours of noise from the race track. If the racetrack does conclude its noise by 11:00pm, I see no problem.

While the airport was pretty m uch a dead airport when the surrounding area was continually being developed, the race track has always been busy, IMHO.

[gorja]

Here's an article from last month regarding the race track-
http://speed51.com/north-carolina-co...-for-us-open/#

NC Company to Revive Lancaster Speedway for US Open

August 20, 2014
During a time when race fans so often hear about facilities closing their doors, good news comes out of Buffalo, New York on Wednesday afternoon as Lancaster Speedway (Elegant Builders Raceway Park) will be reopening their doors on September 19-21 for the tracks annual US Open event featuring the Race of Champions Asphalt Modifieds.
Bill Catania, who owns and operates Short Track Management, a company based out of Winston-Salem, North Carolina, has come to an agreement with current facility owner Gordon Reger on a three-day lease and has hopes that a successful event will eventually lead to his company’s purchase of the facility.
“The business model for Short Track Management is to purchase and renovate tracks that have really great opportunities,” Catania told Speed51.com powered by JEGS. “We see Lancaster as being one of those tracks. I’m looking at acquiring it, but before I acquire it I thought I’d promote this event and see how it goes.”
Earlier this month, track promoter Ralph Galluzzi announced that the facility would be shutting down its stock car racing program after 55 years of competition. The announcement was made just prior to the running of the Tommy Druar and Tony Jankowiak Memorial event for the RoC Modifieds.
In correlation with the announcement made by Galluzzi the facility was put up for sale and news quickly spread throughout the nearby racing community. When Catania, who is originally from Westfield, New York, heard about the tracks closure and the possibility of the US Open not taking place, he stepped up to the plate to make sure it happened.
Catania will be working closely with RoC driver Andy Jankowiak and Joe Skotnicki to make the event a success.
“We believe very strongly in the heritage of Western New York racing,” said Catania. “Lancaster is nearly 60 years old and it is part of the fiber of Western New York. For that race not to happen would be a real shame.”
For many years, Lancaster Speedway was host to huge car counts and some of the best short track racing in the state of New York. Catania witnessed that himself as he raced Late Models at the track during the 2003 US Open when there were nearly 300 cars in the pit area.
Located right off of I-90 in Buffalo, New York, Catania sees a lot of potential with the facility and hopes to fulfill that potential after making necessary renovations.
“That race track was notorious for huge car counts much through the 2000’s,” Catania said. “There have been some shifts in the economy, naturally, but there have also been some changes at the race track. They’ve not done real well the past few years. We believe with the infusion of capital, we can bring the potential of this facility to life.
“The location is unbelievable. 40,000 cars a day go by this racetrack. We believe that if the racetrack is renovated and given its location to people, it’s kind of all the criteria we’re looking at for a good investment.”
Short Track Management recently purchased and renovated Stateline Speedway, a dirt track located in Busti, New York. The track has seen an enormous amount of success in its first six months of operation. Catania said that nearly 7,000 fans and 150 cars came out to the track’s opening night and he see’s the same kind of potential with Lancaster Speedway.
“Much like Stateline Speedway, there is a tremendous history and passion that goes back a long ways both on the fan and driver front,” said Catania. “I’d like to see 150 cars. We have eight classes that are going to run, seven for sure. We’re still deciding on Late Models. If we can just get it to 150 cars and get 3,000 fans come out, I believe that will be a victory.”
In addition to the highlight event, a 125-lap Race of Champions Asphalt Modified feature, Legends Cars, TQ Midgets, Big 10 Super Stocks, Street Stocks, Front Wheel Drive Challengers, Late Models, Vintage Modifieds, and Sportsman Modifieds will all be in action throughout three-day US Open event.
The RoC Asphalt Modified event will also carry the name of the Tommy Druar and Tony Jankowiak Memorial, which adds an additional meaning to the event for Western New York race fans.
Catania told Speed51.com that tentative plans include practice for all divisions and a pit party with a band on Friday night, qualifying heat races and 3-4 features on Saturday, and the rest of the features on Sunday.
More information on this event and the future of Lancaster Speedway is expected be announced in the near future. This information can be found by following the event on Twitter at @LancasterUSOpen or on Facebook atwww.facebook.com/theusopen. A new website for the event is expected to be launched in the upcoming days and can be found at www.lancasterusopen.com. Fans can also call the track at 1-336-793-8465 for more information.
-By Brandon Paul, Speed51.com Northeast Editor – Twitter: @Brandon_Paul51

[Electric Eye]

The track has been there since 1959 built next to the DUMP and built long BEFORE there were any homes in the area and if you did your research before you built or bought your home you would have known this!

The track can run 7 days a week weather permitting if they wanted to and has in the past. It Brings in hundreds of competitors and help plus fans in the stands. It employs many from April to early October and several year around.

The grandstands had approx. 3000 spectators there this past Saturday and approx. 70 campers for the weekend. The local hotels, restaurants and stores all benefit from the track. It is a tourist draw!

The Race track is a business just like a ice rink, stadium, convenience store, restaurant, pizzeria, Bar, movie theater etc....This track sells fuel, food, beverages, clothing and excitement! But the purse payouts (which attract the racers), insurance cost, labor cost, utilities, and property taxes have cut off the ability for the current lease holder to keep up with maintenance of the aging facility which desperately needs to be repaved at the cost of about $1,000,000, It could also stand new catch fencing, lighting (the wooden light poles are from 1959), new grandstands (they're originals from 1959), bathrooms, Electronic Leader board for stock cars, a timing system for the drags as the one they use is a dos based one using a 486 processor and locks up often.

The track has NEVER been given any tax breaks or financial help from the town that I am aware of.

NOW is the time to start thinking about it and contact the perspective buyer Bill Catania at Short Track Management (336) 793-8465 ext.2 . Give him some incentives like you do for other businesses in the town. JMO

[4248]

Do we know for sure the new owners actually are committed to keeping it open for racing ?

[Electric Eye]

There is no new owner yet ...it is still owned by Gordon Reger aka: Lancaster Properties LLC. The current promoters lease is up at the end of this year and it will NOT be renewed as per Mr. Reger.

There is a potential buyer Bill Catania aka: Short track management...Mr. Catania wants to keep it a motorsports facility...The asking price is $2.3 million.....which is high in my opinion based on the condition of the facility.

[4248]

We do remember there was talk of a thruway exit being put there ! They said they would need that area for a tandem truck facility - like a holding area.

Just saying/askin ?

Its was discussed in the Towns Master Plan discussions - along with Pavement Road being some sort of North South connecter.

[Electric Eye]

We do remember there was talk of a thruway exit being put there ! They said they would need that area for a tandem truck facility - like a holding area.

Just saying/askin ?

Its was discussed in the Towns Master Plan discussions - along with Pavement Road being some sort of North South connecter.

We do remember there was talk of a thruway exit being put there ! They said they would need that area for a tandem truck facility - like a holding area.

Just saying/askin ?

Its was discussed in the Towns Master Plan discussions - along with Pavement Road being some sort of North South connecter.

This has been a rumor for 20+ years and it hasn't happen.... just like moving the Williamsville tolls to Newstead, The Thruway authority even did a very costly study for that one.

Gordon Reger may have been speculating on that one when he bought the property.

Just because the town thinks they may want an exit there doesn't mean the Thruway authority is willing to foot the bill to make it happen.

[4248]

Just askin !

[shortstuff]

The track has been there since 1959 built next to the DUMP and built long BEFORE there were any homes in the area and if you did your research before you built or bought your home you would have known this!

The track can run 7 days a week weather permitting if they wanted to and has in the past. It Brings in hundreds of competitors and help plus fans in the stands. It employs many from April to early October and several year around.

The grandstands had approx. 3000 spectators there this past Saturday and approx. 70 campers for the weekend. The local hotels, restaurants and stores all benefit from the track. It is a tourist draw!

The Race track is a business just like a ice rink, stadium, convenience store, restaurant, pizzeria, Bar, movie theater etc....This track sells fuel, food, beverages, clothing and excitement! But the purse payouts (which attract the racers), insurance cost, labor cost, utilities, and property taxes have cut off the ability for the current lease holder to keep up with maintenance of the aging facility which desperately needs to be repaved at the cost of about $1,000,000, It could also stand new catch fencing, lighting (the wooden light poles are from 1959), new grandstands (they're originals from 1959), bathrooms, Electronic Leader board for stock cars, a timing system for the drags as the one they use is a dos based one using a 486 processor and locks up often.

The track has NEVER been given any tax breaks or financial help from the town that I am aware of.

NOW is the time to start thinking about it and contact the perspective buyer Bill Catania at Short Track Management (336) 793-8465 ext.2 . Give him some incentives like you do for other businesses in the town. JMO

Even with what you described regarding the activities at this track, it still does not qualify under the IDA by-laws for any tax incentive.

[gorja]

Are you sure?

I. Eligible/Qualified Projects and Applicants

D. Arts, Entertainment and Recreation - Examples include: performing arts,
theater companies, sports arenas, museums, historical sites, amusement and theme parks,
casinos, golf courses, skiing facilities, all open to the general public.

[Electric Eye]

Are you sure?

I. Eligible/Qualified Projects and Applicants

D. Arts, Entertainment and Recreation - Examples include: performing arts,
theater companies, sports arenas, museums, historical sites, amusement and theme parks,
casinos, golf courses, skiing facilities, all open to the general public.

Racing is a SPORT....the arena is the RACE TRACK....they also ran the Dirty Girl Mud run obstacle course there the past 2 years....yes people running...running is a sport also!

Look up the definition of arena and the facility at 57 Gunville rd does fall under the dictionary definition of arena...and Auto racing is a sport!