In the late 1990s, 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 create a "flagship track". Years later, 500+ acres were secured with a P&S agreement. Thus began the Palmer Motorsports Park (PMP) saga.
With P&S in hand, NER produced a site plan and on December 17 2007, after professional review and public hearings, the Palmer Planning Board issued NER a special-use permit. A pro racer & developer took over and proposed a new circuit (shown here), a hotel, garage suites and a Barkow Leibinger building (Image1, Image2, summary), which was
approved on January 5, 2009.
After the 2008 recession, the project stalled. With a $5K monthly nut & $250K in sunk costs, NER's board & Treasurer were poised to write it off when a useful idiot appeared. In late 2013, with funds, land and all 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 magazine named PMP one of North America's top 10 race tracks to drive.
As with all sagas, PMP has 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 literally goes to Don Anderson of Hampden Bank; Greg Read & Dan Moeller for JRead Corp labor; HMS’ Joe Marko & TMS’ Will Turner & Ken Payson for their $.02 advice; and lastly, to short-order cook, scribe and local 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 the pics & keep the lights on; and by our instructors, sponsors, club members and everyone who races on track or occupies space in the paddock.