In the late 1990s, the New England Region Sports Car Club of America (NER SCCA) formed a "New Track Committee" and LLC (NER Investments) to find or build a "flagship track". Some years later, a site on Whiskey Hill in Palmer was secured for what would become Palmer Motorsports Park (PMP).
Plans were then submitted. After professional review and public hearings, on December 17 2007 the Palmer Planning Board issued NER Investments a special-use permit. A pro racer & developer took over and submitted an amended plan for a new circuit (shown here), a hotel, garage suites and a Barkow Leibinger building (summary), which the planning board approved in February 2009.
But the 2008 recession caused the project to stall while bills accrued. In late 2011, as the NER board was poised to write off the project, a useful idiot appeared. With the needed funds, land and permits, ground was finally broken in late 2013 by J. Read Corp (News Release) and in May 2015, Whiskey Hill Raceway opened: a 2.3 mile circuit with 500+ feet of elevation and vistas into New Hampshire, Vermont, New York and Connecticut. Road & Track magazine named Whiskey Hill Raceway one of the top 10 race tracks to drive in North America.
No history is complete without naming names. First and foremost, NER SCCA's Dick Patullo, Bruce Allen and Rob Laverty, who: chaired the committee, Excel'd a biz plan, and designed a 2+ mile balanced-site circuit; SCCA and town folks – Kathy Barnes, Bob Ring & Don Duffy, Mike Marciniec & Linda Leduc; Tim Pappas, for his eco-prescient plans; Glenn Conser & Bill Kephart for their Rocky Mountain High Plains support. Credit goes to Don Anderson & Hampden Bank for loans; to Greg Read & Dan Moeller for site work; to HMS’ Joe Marko & TMS’ Will Turner for sage advice; and lastly, to your land court jester & short-order cook & scribe "Fast Fred."
History continues to be made by: Christopher Tier, Al Sandy, JC, Kaleigh, Kevin, Matt, Mark, Nick, Stan & staff who scrub floors, wack weeds, wave flags, pump gas, guard the gates, post the pics & keep the lights on; and by our sponsors and members and everyone who races on track or hangs in the paddock.