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Daly to ensure course has 'wow' factor
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GALLATIN COUNTY - The idea of transforming 515 acres of
undeveloped Gallatin County land into an exclusive motorsports
country club is attracting some well-known names in the auto racing
industry.
Bluegrass Motorsports Club & Road Course president Brad
Poppell announced in a letter sent to current and prospective
members Monday that former Formula One driver Derek Daly and current
Iowa Speedway chief operating officer Andy Vertrees will be involved
as the project moves forward.
"These guys are really what we need to take this to the next
level," Poppell said. "Andy is the most sought-after operator of
racetracks in the United States. Derek is going to make this a
signature course and bring a driver's perspective to it."
The $16 million development, which gained zoning approval from
Gallatin County officials last month and is expected to open next
year, is entering the final engineering stages.
The centerpiece of the members-only club will be a 3.38-mile road
course designed by renowned motorsports architect Paxton Waters with
considerable input from Daly. The course will have the capability of
being divided into two separate circuits - one for members and the
other available to rent - and configured several ways to keep things
interesting for drivers.
"What (Waters) is interested in me assisting him with is what we
both call the 'wow factor,'" said Daly, who made six starts in the
Indianapolis 500 and 49 starts from 1978 to 1982 in Formula One.
"The wow factor, or the signature corners, so whenever somebody
drives on this racetrack, they come off knowing they've been
challenged and knowing that they've gone through an area that
energizes them, excites them and satisfies them when they do it
properly."
Daly's professional driving career spanned 17 years and, from the
streets of Monaco to the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, took him to
and around some of the world's finest racing circuits. The
54-year-old, who twice won the prestigious 12 Hours of Sebring,
believes the road course at the Bluegrass Motorsports Club will rate
among the best.
"I think it's a great project, and it has the potential to change
the motorsports club industry," Daly said.
"The location of the racetrack, the topography has given the
design team the opportunity to create something that I know has not
been created in the motorsports club business in the past," Daly
said.
The entrance to the land upon which Bluegrass Motorsports Club
will be built is less than two miles north of the Interstate 71-U.S.
127 interchange - four miles from Kentucky Speedway and nine miles
from Belterra Casino Resort and Spa.
Vertrees is no stranger to the area. He led the construction
efforts at Kentucky Speedway and served as its director of
operations until leaving to help build Iowa Speedway.
"I built Louisville Speedway, and I helped on the Kentucky
Speedway," Vertrees said. "To get to do a third track in Kentucky is
something a lot of people don't get to do."
Among other responsibilities, Vertrees will oversee the bidding
phase and construction process as the Bluegrass Motorsports Club's
director of operations.
"It's Brad's dream and ambition." he said. "It's his track. I'm
just the guy that can help build it, help save money and make sure
it meets all the standards. That's what I do best."
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