In late 1998, with fear about NHMS' and Lime Rock's future (and Thompson's "roval" sprouting weeds), the New England Region Sports Car Club of America NER SCCA formed a New Track Committee to find a "flagship track". Around 2006, a P&S secured 500+ acres in Palmer and the Palmer Motorsports Park (PMP) saga began.
With a P&S in hand, NER produced a site plan and after professional review and public hearings, the Palmer Planning Board issued NER a special-use permit on December 17 2007. A pro racer & developer took over and proposed a new circuit (shown here), car suites, hotel, and a Barkow Leibinger building (Image1, Image2, summary), which was
approved on January 5, 2009.
After the 2008 Recession, the project stalled out. With a $5K monthly nut and $250K total spend, NER's board & Treasurer were poised to write it off. Then a useful idiot appeared. In late 2013, with funds, land, and permits in hand, ground was finally broken by J. Read Corp (Groundbreaking Memo) and in May 2015 Whiskey Hill Raceway opened: a 2.3 mile circuit with views into New Hampshire, Connecticut, 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 2+mile swooping 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 for JRead Corp labor; HMS’ Joe Marko, TMS’ Will Turner, Ken Payson for $.02 advice and J Fryer for $MM advice; and lastly, to short-order cook, scribe and hot shoe "Fast Fred."
History continues to be made by: Christopher Tier, Al Sandy, JC, Kaleigh, Kevin, Matt, Mark, Nick, Jack, Stan & staff who scrub floors, wack weeds, wave flags, pump gas, guard the gates, post pics & keep the lights on; and by our instructors, sponsors, club members and everyone turning hot laps on track or chilling in the paddock.