Latest news with #racetrack
Daily Mail
a day ago
- Business
- Daily Mail
Beach City abandons 10,000 homes for F1-style race track development
Locals in a popular New Jersey beach city are enraged after it ditched plans to build 10,000 new homes for a 'dumb' and 'desperate' $3.4 billion F1-style racetrack. Atlantic City government officials have moved forward with the redevelopment of Bader Field, a shuttered airport about an hour outside of Philadelphia, after plans for the new racetrack were officially approved on July 16. The idea to take over the abandoned city-owned airport, which shut down in 2006, first started in 2022 when Bart Blatstein, the CEO of Tower Investments, Inc. and owner of Showboat Atlantic City, said his company and Atlantic City would collaborate to create a massive residential community. The proposed $3 billion development, dubbed 'Casa Mar,' was set to be built on 140 acres with 10,000 residential units, 20 acres of trails, amenities and parks and 400,000 square-feet of retail and office space - but that plan has since been wiped. Instead, a 2.5-mile racetrack, headed by real estate development company Deem Enterprises, will take its place. The massive raceway, said to be a 'game changer' by Atlantic City Mayor Marty Small Sr. (pictured), is expected to take six to nine years to complete. It will be surrounded by retail businesses and condominiums in the community that is home to beaches, a bustling boardwalk and casinos. 'We're more confident than ever that we have the funds, Small Sr., an Atlantic City native who has been in office since 2019, told NJ Advance Media. [DEEM] has been vetted, and just getting a $3.4-plus billion project on the ratable base is a complete game changer.' While the mayor, who was embroiled in a child abuse scandal involving his wife and daughter last year, and other government officials are thrilled about the new plan, Atlantic City locals are not happy with it. 'Atlantic City leadership is so desperate that they will support any development offer no matter how stupid it is,' a Facebook user wrote. Another said: 'What a joke! Want to really do something with the land? Dig canals and sell off lots and watch the ratepayers flood in!' 'Building that into a racetrack has to be the dumbest idea in the world,' someone else posted. Blatstein told the outlet three years ago that he saw room for growth in the beach city after realizing that other Garden State beach towns have booming populations compared to Atlantic City. 'So what really is needed here is a new plan, a new way of living, a new opportunity for people to come to Atlantic City,' Blatstein said. DEEM Enterprises, a Los Angeles and Atlantic City-based company, first announced the proposal in February of that year. The company has a tentative deal with the city to sell the vacant airfield for $100 million in exchange the real estate developer would donate $15 million for a community center. 'We don't have a recreation center of our town,' Small Sr. explained. 'We use the schools and different things like that.' Daily Mail contacted Mayor Small Sr. and DEEM Enterprises for comment.
Daily Mail
2 days ago
- Business
- Daily Mail
Beach city scraps 10,000 new homes and plans F1-style track instead that locals rage is 'dumb' and 'desperate'
Locals in a popular New Jersey beach city are enraged after it ditched plans to build 10,000 new homes for a 'dumb' and 'desperate' $3.4 billion F1-style racetrack. Atlantic City government officials have moved forward with the redevelopment of Bader Field, a shuttered airport about an hour outside of Philadelphia, after plans for the new racetrack were officially approved on July 16. The idea to take over the abandoned city-owned airport, which shut down in 2006, first started in 2022 when Bart Blatstein, the CEO of Tower Investments, Inc. and owner of Showboat Atlantic City, said his company and Atlantic City would collaborate to create a massive residential community. The proposed $3 billion development, dubbed 'Casa Mar,' was set to be built on 140 acres with 10,000 residential units, 20 acres of trails, amenities and parks and 400,000 square-feet of retail and office space - but that plan has since been wiped. Instead, a 2.5-mile racetrack, headed by real estate development company Deem Enterprises, will take its place. The massive raceway, said to be a 'game changer' by Atlantic City Mayor Marty Small Sr., is expected to take six to nine years to complete. It will be surrounded by retail businesses and condominiums in the community that is home to beaches, a bustling boardwalk and casinos. 'We're more confident than ever that we have the funds, Small Sr., an Atlantic City native who has been in office since 2019, told NJ Advance Media. '[DEEM] has been vetted, and just getting a $3.4-plus billion project on the ratable base is a complete game changer.' While the mayor, who was embroiled in a child abuse scandal involving his wife and daughter last year, and other government officials are thrilled about the new plan, Atlantic City locals are not happy with it. 'Atlantic City leadership is so desperate that they will support any development offer no matter how stupid it is,' a Facebook user wrote. Another said: 'What a joke! Want to really do something with the land? Dig canals and sell off lots and watch the ratepayers flood in!' 'Building that into a racetrack has to be the dumbest idea in the world,' someone else posted. A resident stressed that the heavily populated and touristy area is already filled with loud noises, so a racetrack would not be ideal. 'If people are bothered by the noise from beach concerts, the noise from the screaming F1 race cars would be unbearable!,' they said. While many are not happy with the development, others appear to be excited for the new track. 'Hell yes,' one simply wrote. Somebody else said: 'Do it!' Another said: 'Excellent' alongside several thumbs up and heart emojis. Meanwhile, a majority of people are not convinced the racetrack will ever be completed. 'They've been talking about it for years... highly doubt it'll ever happen,' wrote a user. 'This is all BS. Every few years this story comes out,' someone else shared. Another posted: 'I'm gonna go ahead and predict this will never happen.' Blatstein told the outlet three years ago that he saw room for growth in the beach city after realizing that other Garden State beach towns have booming populations compared to Atlantic City. 'So what really is needed here is a new plan, a new way of living, a new opportunity for people to come to Atlantic City,' Blatstein said. DEEM Enterprises, a Los Angeles and Atlantic City-based company, first announced the proposal in February of that year. The company has a tentative deal with the city to sell the vacant airfield for $100 million in exchange the real estate developer would donate $15 million for a community center. 'We don't have a recreation center of our town,' Small Sr. explained. 'We use the schools and different things like that.'
ABC News
3 days ago
- Automotive
- ABC News
Calls for more racing to address Mount Panorama speeding problem
As one of the most revered racetracks in the world, Mount Panorama-Wahluu is no stranger to speeds in excess of 300 kilometres per hour. But when the country's best drivers are not tackling the track made famous by the Bathurst 1000, it is a public road where increasing numbers of drivers are being caught speeding. According to NSW Police, since the beginning of the year there have been 111 speeding offences on the mountain, 11 of which involved drivers more than 45kph over the 60kph speed limit. Almost 100 of those incidents occurred on Conrod Straight, with a provisional driver caught doing 128kph earlier this month. In May, a learner driver was detected allegedly travelling at 149kph at the same location. "Despite its racing heritage, the rules apply just like they do anywhere else," Acting Inspector Jason Marks said. "Drivers are ignoring these warnings and treating Mount Panorama like a racetrack, putting themselves and others at risk. "It is deeply troubling and concerning." The Bathurst Light Car Club hosts track day events on Mount Panorama-Wahluu, with a section of the circuit closed to allow drivers to test their skills in their own vehicles. President Neville Lin believes the events could provide a solution to the speeding problem. "If we could have more of the one-day events, you would get all the street racers off the street, they would be in a controlled environment," he said. Acting Inspector Marks has backed the plan. "If you want to go fast, get behind the wheel and do those extreme speed limits, sign yourself up to the light car club," he said. "There are a lot of safety measures that go in place for things like that." Five motor racing events involving a full closure of the circuit can be held on Mount Panorama-Wahluu each year. The Bathurst Light Car Club holds a further five events annually with a partial track closure but is hoping to increase that number. However, club vice-president Scott Sims said it "costs an extraordinary amount" to host an event at the mountain compared to other circuits such as Eastern Creek in Sydney. "You can go down there and run for about four hours at Eastern Creek for about $280," he said. "You can do as many laps as you want. "We can't compete, and we're losing a lot of guys." But Mr Sims said nothing could compare to the thrill of racing around one of the greatest circuits in the world. "You are on the edge the whole time. "The circuit is unique because you go up and down hills, there are blind corners. "It is the best feeling you will ever get." Deputy Mayor Ben Fry said Bathurst Regional Council was exploring all options to try and commercialise the racetrack. "We spend $4 million to make $4 million on this asset every year," he said. Last year Cr Fry visited the Nurburgring motorsport complex in Germany and other racetracks in Europe to investigate ways the council could generate more income from the circuit. "Are there opportunities for drive days, manufacturer partnerships, advertising, films?" he said. "This is the most famous motorsport track in the Southern Hemisphere and should be used as much as possible."
Yahoo
21-07-2025
- Automotive
- Yahoo
Buenos Aires to host MotoGP races again after nearly 30 years and hopes to bring F1 back as well
BUENOS AIRES, Argentina (AP) — After nearly three decades, MotoGP will return to Argentina's capital of Buenos Aires and a renovated racetrack in 2027, with local authorities hoping it will help bring Formula 1 back as well. The top motorcycling circuit has been staging its races in Argentina at the Termas de Río Hondo racetrack since 2014, in the province of Santiago del Estero. MotoGP last raced in Buenos Aires in 1999. 'Buenos Aires used to be the capital of motorsports and motorcycling in the region, and today it begins to regain that status,' Mayor Jorge Macri said Monday while making the announcement at the Óscar and Juan Gálvez racetrack. 'But we're going for more: this is the first step toward applying again to host Formula 1,' he added. To host the MotoGP event, the capital committed to a complete renovation of the municipal racetrack in October. Racing legends like Juan Manuel Fangio and Michael Schumacher competed there in the past. The German driver won the last F1 race there, in 1998. The work on the circuit will include the track, pits, paddock, bumpers and safety zones, according to the Buenos Aires City Hall. Organizers estimate that MotoGP will have a direct economic impact on the city of approximately $150 million. It will also generate jobs in sectors such as hospitality, gastronomy, transportation, and services. 'Bringing MotoGP to the city means the arrival of an elite competition, with the most important international teams and riders, which will be enjoyed by approximately 150,000 people at the track and millions of viewers via television and streaming in more than 200 countries,' Macri said. ___ AP sports: The Associated Press
Washington Post
21-07-2025
- Automotive
- Washington Post
Buenos Aires to host MotoGP races again after nearly 30 years and hopes to bring F1 back as well
BUENOS AIRES, Argentina — After nearly three decades, MotoGP will return to Argentina's capital of Buenos Aires and a renovated racetrack in 2027, with local authorities hoping it will help bring Formula 1 back as well. The top motorcycling circuit has been staging its races in Argentina at the Termas de Río Hondo racetrack since 2014, in the province of Santiago del Estero.
