Motorsports association starts race to build complex

The Sudbury District Motorsports Association says it's one step closer to building a racing complex in Sudbury.

After five years of planning, the committee has released its business plan — but there’s a catch. The association has just three years to prove the complex can be built at the Sudbury Airport, which donated a parcel of land to build the new facility.

"We hopefully will be able to prove in one year that we have everything in place," said the Motorsports Association’s Jim Savage.

With a price tag of more than $17 million, Savage said the project’s main obstacle will be to guarantee financial support.

If the money starts rolling in, the racing complex will be completed in phases, starting with the drag racing strip.

'It's a dream that comes true for me.' —Racing enthusiast Heinz Wuthrich

"The drag strip is the money maker," Savage said. "That's going to generate the cash flow that we're going to need to go on to phase two."

For racing enthusiast Heinz Wuthrich, the advent of a local raceway is welcome news.

"It's exciting. It's a dream that comes true for me," he said.

Soon Wuthrich and about 2,500 other local motorsport enthusiasts won't have to travel anymore to race.

Savage said he expects the raceway to generate $3 million each weekend it's used.

The new facility will also house an oval track, a mud bog, a kart track and a drive-in-theatre.

An employee will be hired to help get the project off the ground.