Category: Motorsports
Posted by Doug Guthrie (The Detroit News) on Wed, Aug 19, 2009 at 12:23 PMMichigan International Speedway renovation begins
The haulers are gone and down comes the roof.
Michigan International Speedway officials wasted no time following last weekend's NASCAR races to begin improvements for next season at the race track 50 miles west of detroit. And, in recognition of the region's economic troubles -- everyone noticed the empty seats last weekend -- prices on all seats will be cut for the two NASCAR weekends next season.
There's also talk that this is only the beginning of work that eventually could include a "fan walk" style infield redesign. You will like this if it is anything like what MIS owner International Speedway Corp did to Daytona -- with a landscaped garden midway behind the center of the pits with shops, entertainment and broadcast stages and windows to look right into the Cup series garages.
MIS spokesman Dennis Worden sent notice and photos this morning that the initial demolition underway, starting with part of the row of two-story offices and suites behind the pits. The terrace suites have been the backdrop for the pits for nearly 30 years. I've watched a lot of racing from the roof. My son Geoff shot this rooftop video with awesome sound of a restart during the June race.
"Alro Steel's suite on the south side of structure toward the racetrack's Turn 1 was the first to go, thanks to a CAT backhoe operated by Blue Star, the demolition contractor our of Warren, Mich," Worden wrote. "Steel, glass, concrete and other materials from the 30-year-old building crumbled under the force of the enormous machine. The materials from the old building will be recycled."
Although crews tore through most of the building Tuesday, the official demolition is set for Aug. 26 when driver Jeff Burton will plow a CAT excavator through several suites left standing on the north end. The speedway has invited a few fans to the event as part of its Fan Appreciation Program. The fans were selected from a random drawing held at the track over the weekend.
MIS President Roger Curtis said, "It's very exciting to see a building fall, but to know that this is the beginning of eventually redesigning our entire infield and being able to touch so many different aspects of our sport ... fans, drivers, crews, media and corporate partners ... makes this project truly special. We are also directly contributing to the local economy by using Michigan-based businesses."
Here's the MIS plan so far: A $17 million, solar-powered, glass and steel, two-story structure for corporate clients and a newsroom for the media. This also gives the track vendor/caterer Americrown a new kitchen.
This requires relocation this fall of the Sunoco gas station that you might have trouble seeing right behind the old buildings and in front of the race car garages. It also means extending the narrow pedestrian tunnel under the start finish line. Right now it pops up in the grass at the bottom of the tri-oval and has to be shut down during racing. The new version will extend behind pit row.
Yikes! It's already claustrophobically long and narrow and dank, but making it available throughout the race cuts a lot of steps off trips to the turn one tunnel. That is currently is the only way in and out of the infield if you don't happen to have access to a helicopter.
The plan is to finish this first phase just three weeks before the June 11-13 NASCAR weekend in 2010.
There are some complications. Although the racing season is over, the track still is committed to several events including driving schools and the Michigan State High School Athletic Association cross country meet in November.
I'm told the "fan walk" improvements are coming soon, just not during this busy off-season.
