There’s a saying in auto racing that states sometimes you have to slow down to go fast.
For Dan Elliott and the rest of the Gresham Motorsports Park renovation team, the hope is that the saying rings true.
“Things are going to slow down now because we’re into the details of the project,” Elliott, the General Manager of the all new Jefferson motorsports and community activity center, stated. “We’ve done quite a bit, but the changes we’ve done so far have shown us that a little work looks like a lot. We’ve moved a lot of dirt, which basically makes it look like we’ve done a lot. Now we’re getting into the hard part – getting our data sources, plumbing, electrical, air conditioning, buildings. We’re working hard on getting all the details in place. It’s kind of like building a house. You get the roof on and it seems like you’ve accomplished quite a lot. In reality, we’re not even halfway done. If we’re going to be finished on time, we have to keep rolling even though the details are going to slow things down a bit.”
Since the renovation of the old Peach State Speedway started in March, the famed race track has had a total overhaul. When completed, GMP will be a fresh facility featuring a new racing surface, fencing, lighting and retaining walls for the half-mile oval. Additional scheduled improvements will also include a new aluminum grandstand – now to be located on what used to be the back straight of the Peach State track - and a lowered infield pit area for better sight lines and fan viewing. Other improvements scheduled are a quarter-mile Legends track on infield of the half-mile oval, new restrooms and concession areas and trackside parking.
Many of the projects, like the track and infield excavations along with the main grandstand construction, are well under way. Meanwhile, the plumbing and electrical services have been roughed into the Infield Command Center area.
For more on this story, see Wednesday's edition of The Jackson Herald.
