For every car enthusiast who yearns to hear those words, the dream is coming true in a private way on Elbert County's eastern plains. The Motor Sport Country Club will soon boast an upscale, members-only amateur track. Elbert County commissioners recently approved a proposal from Evergreen resident Claus Wagner.
The proposal includes a private motor sports club with up to four race tracks designed by world-renowned architect Herman Tilke. Tilke designs Formula One race tracks and his company designed several high-profile circuits including the Sepang International in Malaysia and the Bucharest Ring in Romania.
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"The Nurburgring is closest in topography to what we found in Elbert County," Wagner said. "We're very excited about getting started."
The Motor Sport Country Club will cater to private owners whose membership comes with the privilege of unlimited access to the clubhouse, a full service restaurant, lodging and wide open track - with no posted speed limit. The club will serve as an outlet for those who want to get the most out of their $200,000 or more expensive high-performance toys.
"I was trying to find the space for people that have fast cars and would really like to enjoy them in the way they were built for," Wagner said. "These vehicles are all about performance, how fast they can go. They build great cars, but we can't really enjoy them. At Motor Sport Country Club, they can enjoy them."
Wagner, who does not race but owns a 2002 Porsche GT2, found the space on more than 2,500 acres four miles northeast of Agate. Less than an hour from Denver and still remote enough to impact few neighbors, the property had space to design 7.9 miles of track, making it the longest Formula One design in the country, Wagner said.
"The layout and terrain in Agate are very exciting," he said. "It has a lot of elevation changes. Tracks are typically in a flat area and having it that hilly is really a challenge."
Members must reserve their track time in advance and can reserve time for private parties, club events or amateur races. The facility is not designed for professional racing, nor will it be built to sustain a huge number of spectators, Wagner said. The club will enforce a run group policy, keeping novices on the track with other novices and experts with other experts, he said.
"What we're trying to do is keep things safe," Wagner said. "A novice will not come out and drive with any expert on the track at the same time. We'll keep the speed difference to a minimum."
The site is a few miles from the Agate exit on Interstate 70 and accessible from County Roads 175 and 166. As part of the county's approval requirements, Wagner must improve the roads to bring them to county standards and pick up the cost of extra fire equipment for the Agate Fire Department.
The facility will employ up to 20 people, said Tom Maroney of Apache Development Partners, which represented Wagner at public hearings. No neighbors objected to the proposal.
"This is going to be a first-class facility," Maroney said. "It will have a very positive economic impact on the area."
The Motor Sport Country Club will offer fuel storage and dispensation on site, a driving school, a spectator area, car storage and full service facilities. Its Web site states it is "built to provide high-speed activities for the adrenaline junkie while simultaneously offering luxurious amenities for the ultimate relaxation."
Although the club was originally scheduled to open next spring, Wagner does not anticipate breaking ground before that time. Whenever the opening date arrives, he promises the upscale facility will exceed all expectations.
"It's like a golf club, but instead of playing golf, you come and have fun with your car," he said. "It's a country club for motor sport enthusiasts. I'm really excited."
For more information about the Motor Sport Country Club, visit www.motorsportcountryclub.com.
Contact Rhonda Moore at 303-646-2710
or rmoore@ccnewspapers.com.
