Fast track: Larry Miller's park called one of the finest courses in the country
Within his eclectic collection of businesses, this one, an auto/motorcycle racetrack, he recalled, he would build for fun.
"But we really never had a died-in-the-wool budget. That's what we said in the beginning. We said we'd take the track wherever the market took us," said Miller as he reflected back on his early planning.
The market, in fact, has taken Miller and team on a ride that is now 4.5 miles of paper-smooth asphalt with more turns than a nest of snakes, more buildings than a small town, more potential than oil stock, a fan base that, as yet, isn't aware of its new role, and a price tag that is now somewhere around $80 million.
"And we're a fair ways from being finished," he said, suggesting, as plans are now that the park is nearing completion and leaving open his option of expanding Miller Motorsports Park if and when the market dictates.
The park is located roughly 26 miles from downtown Salt Lake City, just east of Grantsville. It is situated on 511 acres of land that once held little more than sagebrush, a few rabbits and lizards, and lots of dust that blew about on windy days.
As for the track itself, those who've tested it are saying it is one of the finest road-racing courses in the country and possibly the world. Those who are scheduled to test the track are patiently waiting in line.
"Right now, 95 percent of the available dates for the next year are committed, which is amazing," said Alan Wilson, track designer and track CEO. "If you'd asked me a year ago just how many days we'd have booked by now, I would have said 100, maybe. We're at about 320 days at the moment. That's pretty exciting."
Miller's expectations were somewhat lower.
"If you go back to when this was just an idea on paper," said Miller, "it shocks me to see the interest this track is drawing. I felt if we had 10 to 15 percent of the days committed the first year that would be remarkable. Once we got out on the Web site and the word got out, momentum started to build. When we started construction, people realized we were serious."
Official groundbreaking ceremonies were held on a cold, windy day back on April 26, 2005. At that point, Miller announced additions and design changes had jumped cost to around $40 million.
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