Alarm for NHMS' and Lime Rock's future drove the New England Region Sports Car Club of America NER SCCA to form a New Track Committee to find a "home" track. In 2006, a P&S secured a site in Palmer and the Palmer Motorsports Park (PMP) saga began.
With a P&S in hand, NER created a site plan. After professional review and public hearings, on December 17 2007 the Palmer Planning Board issued NER a special-use permit. A pro racer & developer took over and submitted a new site plan (shown here), car suites, hotel, and a Barkow Leibinger designed building (Image1, Image2, summary), which was approved on January 5, 2009.
After the 2008 recession, the project stalled. By 2011, with a $5K monthly nut and $250K spend, NER's board & Treasurer were poised to write it off. Then a useful idiot appeared. With funds, land, and an amended site plan in hand, ground was finally broken in late 2013 (Groundbreaking Memo) and on May 8 2015 Whiskey Hill Raceway opened: a 2.3 mile circuit with views into Connecticut, New Hampshire, Vermont and New York. Road & Track named PMP one of North America's top 10 race tracks to drive.
Like all sagas, PMP had its heroes. First, NER SCCA's Dick Patullo, Rob Laverty and Bruce Allen, who: chaired the committee, plotted a swooping 2+mile circuit, and Excel'd a rosy biz plan; SCCA and Palmer folks – Kathy Barnes, Bob Ring, Don Duffy, Mike Marciniec, Linda Leduc; Tim Pappas, for his eco-friendly plans; Glenn Conser & Bill Kephart for their Rocky Mountain High Plains support. Credit also goes to Don Anderson of Hampden Bank; Greg Read & Dan Moeller of J. Read Corp; HMS’ Joe Marko, TMS’ Will Turner & Kenny Payson for $.02 advice; Jonathan Fryer for moto-vita verve; and lastly, to short-order cook, scribe and hotshoe "Fast Fred."
History continues to be made by: Christopher Tier, Al Sandy, JC, Kaleigh, Kevin, Matt, Mark, Nick, Jack, Stan & staff who blow the marbles, wack the weeds, wave flags, pump gas, post pics, guard the gates & keep the lights on; and by the instructors, sponsors, club members and those who turn hot laps or just chill in the paddock.