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Looking into the future the Pelican feeding its young from a self-induced wound in its own breast (as depicted, mysteriously, on the state flag of Louisiana) is accepted as an appropriate symbol of both self-sacrifice and rebirth. Through his selfless efforts, man is raised from the slavery of ignorance to the condition of freedom conferred by wisdom. Given the current state of affairs in Louisiana, one hopes that the understanding of the Pelican as a symbol shall point the way towards a new consciousness of ourselves as a whole, and lead us to face our futures with strength, grace, wisdom and faith, to learn from our mistakes and carry our successes and zest for living to future generations.

Race Track Proposed Near New Orleans Wildlife Refuge

Source: Times Picayune
Monday, November 13, 2006
By Bruce Eggler

City Government Arm Gives Preliminary OK

In 12 to 15 months, if all goes right, the roar of professional drag racers could be heard in eastern New Orleans or some other part of the metropolitan area.

The Industrial Development Board, an arm of city government, gave preliminary approval last week to two local developers' plans to create a quarter-mile-long drag racing course capable of holding top-level national events. The $36 million project would be financed primarily with tax-exempt bonds that would be paid off with revenue from the operation. Eugene Green, one of the developers, said the drag racing track could generate $6 million a year in direct revenue and, if it is built in eastern New Orleans, help "jump-start" that area's economy post-Katrina.

But Green admitted the project still faces "serious challenges" in securing financing. And as different developers who, starting in 1997, spent several years trying without success to build a motor sports speedway in eastern New Orleans can testify, dreams and plans don't necessarily translate into reality.
Would be at national level
If built, the course would be the only one in Louisiana or Mississippi able to host nationally sanctioned drag races, which lead developer Gilbert Smith said can attract 1,000 racing teams. The nearest track, in Donaldsonville, can handle only lower-level events, he said. Smith said he hopes the track would attract at least one national race and one major regional race a year, but he said it would be open five days a week all year and would be kept busy with local races, car shows, swap meets and other events. He said it would create 25 full-time jobs and many more on major race days.

Green said the track could get local amateur drag racers off Hayne Boulevard, Chef Menteur Highway and other eastern New Orleans streets they have used for years.

Green, longtime president of the New Orleans Regional Business Park, a public facility in eastern New Orleans, emphasized that he is involved in the drag strip project as a private citizen and owner of Nationwide Real Estate Corp. Smith, managing partner of U.S. Raceway Group LLC, said he is looking at a 444-acre site in eastern New Orleans as his first choice, in part because it is not in a developed area and noise from the track would not disturb any nearby homeowners or businesses, meaning potential opposition to the project could be minimized.

Eventually, he said, he might want to add an adjacent water course for drag boat racing.

Smith refused to identify the site or who owns it, and added that he could end up choosing a site on the West Bank or in St. Tammany Parish instead.

But Green said he and Smith hope to wrap up a deal for the eastern New Orleans site within 60 days.
Preparation and cost
The eastern New Orleans site presents one major obstacle. Because it is marshy, it would need a lot of fill and preparation to create the solid, perfectly flat surface needed for cars that would be traveling at hundreds of miles an hour.

In fact, Smith said, the project's $36 million budget includes about $13 million to clear and fill the site. Building the drag strip, a grandstand, luxury suites, a tower, lights and other facilities is figured to cost $11 million, with the final $12 million covering the price of the land and other expenses, he said.

Besides income from ticket sales and concessions, Smith said, he hopes to bring in money from corporate sponsors and the sale of naming rights.

Two organizations, the National Hot Rod Association and International Hot Rod Association, oversee major drag racing events in North America. Although the local developers have talked to at least one of those groups, Green said they won't commit to staging events in New Orleans until the track is finished and they can inspect it.

Smith said there are large numbers of people in the New Orleans area interested in drag racing, and Kyle Stoever, a member of the Industrial Development Board, said he has been to drag races that attracted thousands.
Skepticism and defense
Other members of the board expressed initial skepticism. Raley Alford asked whether it makes financial sense to build a course in an area where the nature of the soil would add millions to the cost, and Glenda Jones-Harris questioned giving public support to such a project at a time when many thousands of New Orleanians still can't return to their homes because of infrastructure problems.

"We don't want to use any money that could help people return to the city," Green replied.

He said the track would be "a private-sector development" that could increase city and state tax revenue by putting vacant land "to a higher and better use," but Jones-Harris said government would be asked to spend more than $1 million to build roads to the site.

Board Chairman Jimmie Thorns Jr. said the board should support any project that would mean economic development for the city. At his urging, the board voted 7-0 to give the drag strip project preliminary approval, which lets the developers ask the State Bond Commission to authorize the issuance of bonds to cover as much as $33 million of the projected $36 million cost.

If the commission gives its OK, the developers then would have to go back to the Industrial Development Board for final approval. In the meantime, Thorns said, they must prepare a formal cost-benefit analysis justifying the project. But for now, he said, "You have our blessings."

. . . . . . . Bruce Eggler can be reached at beggler@timespicayune.com or (504) 826-3320.

Further Reading:
  1. November 20, 2006 - Track Owner Has Questions About Proposed Race Track In New Orleans East
  2. November 13, 2006 - To Louisiana State Bond Commission; RE: Proposed Drag Race Track In New Orleans East
  3. November 13, 2006 - Drag Race Track Proposed In East - City Government Arm Gives Preliminary OK
  4. February 13, 2001 - Largest Urban Wildlife Refuge In U.S. Threatened By Motorsports Speedway
  5. April 27, 2000 - To New Orleans Business and Industrial District (NOBID), RE: Race Track in New Orleans East
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