It wasn't exactly what Larry Miller had envisioned three years earlier, which was a $7 million club track he planned to build, somewhere, on land he hadn't as yet purchased.
Within his eclectic collection of businesses, this one, an auto/motorcycle racetrack, he recalled, he would build for fun.
"But we really never had a died-in-the-wool budget. That's what we said in the beginning. We said we'd take the track wherever the market took us," said Miller as he reflected back on his early planning.
The market, in fact, has taken Miller and team on a ride that is now 4.5 miles of paper-smooth asphalt with more turns than a nest of snakes, more buildings than a small town, more potential than oil stock, a fan base that, as yet, isn't aware of its new role, and a price tag that is now somewhere around $80 million.
"And we're a fair ways from being finished," he said, suggesting, as plans are now that the park is nearing completion and leaving open his option of expanding Miller Motorsports Park if and when the market dictates.
The park is located roughly 26 miles from downtown Salt Lake City, just east of Grantsville. It is situated on 511 acres of land that once held little more than sagebrush, a few rabbits and lizards, and lots of dust that blew about on windy days.
Now, there is a 4.5-mile-long asphalt track, 23 buildings of various sizes and purposes, a Go-Kart track that is said to be the fastest in the country, paved parking, a $5 million club house featuring exclusive seating and luxury amenities, soon-to-be-finished covered grandstands, an auto museum and green landscaping.
As for the track itself, those who've tested it are saying it is one of the finest road-racing courses in the country and possibly the world. Those who are scheduled to test the track are patiently waiting in line.
"Right now, 95 percent of the available dates for the next year are committed, which is amazing," said Alan Wilson, track designer and track CEO. "If you'd asked me a year ago just how many days we'd have booked by now, I would have said 100, maybe. We're at about 320 days at the moment. That's pretty exciting."
Miller's expectations were somewhat lower.
"If you go back to when this was just an idea on paper," said Miller, "it shocks me to see the interest this track is drawing. I felt if we had 10 to 15 percent of the days committed the first year that would be remarkable. Once we got out on the Web site and the word got out, momentum started to build. When we started construction, people realized we were serious."
Official groundbreaking ceremonies were held on a cold, windy day back on April 26, 2005. At that point, Miller announced additions and design changes had jumped cost to around $40 million.
"But, what we learned was that there was such a huge void in the quality of tracks in this area, and I'm not talking just here in Utah or just out West, but in the entire country. One thing led to another and now what we have is a track that has caught the imagination of the racing community, both for auto sports and motorcycles," explained Miller.
"What pleases me most is that once these riders and drivers have been on the track, we've gotten rave reviews. They go on and on about just how good this track is, and these comments are coming from people who've driven other track and are qualified to compare different tracks."
At first, Miller wanted to improve a small track he shared in Colorado, but zoning regulations squelched those plans. He then looked at building a track in Salt Lake County, but environmental issues stopped planning. He next went looking for land in Tooele County, got zoning and environmental OKs and turned planning over to Wilson. "I told a group of close friends when this all started out that I was just going to build a track and then go out and drive until we're silly ... That was three years ago," Miller said during the groundbreaking.
"I have to say that more than anything else, this racetrack is just for fun."
Miller has, in fact, driven the track and "fun" was not one of the words he used to describe his run.
"I haven't been out in one of the really fast cars. I've driven one of the school Mustangs, but it was enough to give me a good feeling for the track. I haven't taken one of the Cobras out. When you have that much power, the track has to be warmer. The Mustang did well, but the Cobra wouldn't have done well.
"It's a monster," he said of his lap. "When you go the whole 4.5 miles you've really got to concentrate. Each part of the track is different. Each part has its own personality. You've got to set up early. There's no place where you can relax. You've got to stay focused the whole time."
All this is as Wilson intended: one track, four personalities, no forgiveness, always challenging, never without some surprises and requiring absolute concentration.
"The objective was to design two separate tracks with two separate identities, but in reality there are four separate layouts, each having different characteristics," he explained.
The East track (2.24 miles) is tighter, more suited for European riders and drivers. It's busy and very intense. After 10 minutes on the track, competitors will be hyper because everything happens so quickly.
The West track (2.2 miles) is very technical, with lots of little tricks that drivers and riders will have to be ready for. They've got to know what they're doing to go really fast on this track. Lots of people will be able to go out at 98 percent, but very few will be able to pull out 100 percent, and fewer still will be able to go at 100 percent consistently. They'll think they've got it right, but then may make a minor mistake and they'll see their lap times get longer and longer. A mistake in one corner carries over from section to section. It was deliberately designed that way, said Wilson.
Put the East and West tracks together for the full 4.5 miles, with the 3,500-foot straight, and the track requires a whole new set of driving skills. It's fast, challenging and is getting very favorable comments from pro drivers.
Bypass the turns in the center and take just the outer loop and the track becomes very fast, not as technical, but flows well.
Vickie Kinder-Fritz, clubhouse manager and former G.T. endurance and Formula Ford driver, said incoming drivers will find the Miller track deceptive.
"It's going to take most drivers, I would say, between 10 and 20 laps to get comfortable, which is very unusual for an experienced driver. Normally, they'd be able to just look at a track and go fast. Not here," she said.
"Alan moved a lot of dirt around to get a lot of off-camber turns. So you end up driving one way, think you've got things figured out, and the track flips you in the other direction. There are a lot of unique elevation changes and a lot of blind, downhill corners. As for the spectators, this is the most fan-friendly track I've seen in the world. Race fans are going to have to become educated. Most race fans follow NASCAR, where cars race on an oval and make only left turns. We turn right as well as left."
Wilson explained that he spent as much time designing spectator sites as he did the track.
"Everyone is talking about the track, but I'm probably more proud of the way the entire facility works. I'm as happy with the interaction the spectators will have with what's happening on the track as I am with the track itself, and I'm pretty happy with the track," he said.
Miller admitted that it's going to take time and money to educate race fans to the type of races that will be held at the park.
"A friend asked me if there were enough auto-racing fans here in Utah for this type of track. I told him there were a lot of fans out here, they just don't know it yet," he said.
"But I am pleased with the interest people are showing in the track. I never would have expected this much interest this soon. I'll bet on most weekends we're taking upwards of 200 people on unscheduled tours. They make the trip out here just to see the track, and I told my staff I don't want to disappoint them."
The way the track has been designed, spectators will, from one of the covered grandstand areas located around the track, called "viewing oasis," will be able to see almost the entire track — start to finish and all turns in between.
"They'll be able to see between 90 and 95 percent of the whole track from any of the viewing sites, which when you consider the track covers 500 acres and is 4.5 miles long, and to be able to see almost the entire race, it is really incredible," explained Wilson.
"I've been to more than 200 tracks around the world and I've never seen a track with the viewing opportunities this track has. Also, I designed the viewing oasis so they sit right on top of what I call action sequences, either really tricky corners or areas where there will be lots of overtaking, areas where there is likely to be some excitement."
Wilson started his design work on Miller's track on Jan. 7, 2005. He said it took roughly seven months of intense design work, "and I'm still finessing the plans. I made some changes today."
Wilson started his design career racing cars and motorcycles in Europe, until, he joked, his wife Desiree beat him. She is the only female driver to win a Formula 1 race. Later, he became director of four of England's largest tracks. He then came to the United States in 1983 and helped build temporary street tracks. He has, to date, designed 26 tracks. The Miller Motorsports Park, he said, is by far his best work and the one of which he is most proud.
Miller will open the park to the public for a "sneak peek" on June 10. The first major event will be the Honda Summit of Speed AMA Superbike Championships from June 16-18. In the meantime, there will be smaller events, driving and riding school opportunities and the chance to drive on the Go-Kart track.
To reach the track, take the Tooele exit (No. 99) off I-80, head south on state road 36 to state road 138 (approximately 3.2 miles), then head west to Sheep Lane and turn south.
The park, with its 500-acre track and 23 buildings, is impossible to miss.
 | Deseret Morning News graphic Anatomy of a race carRequires Adobe Acrobat. |
Deseret Morning News graphic Miller Motorsports ParkRequires Adobe Acrobat. | |
Races at Miller Motorsports Park
Miller Park Race Days
Miller Park events
April 29-30; May 12-13; June 24-25; July 21-22; Aug. 12-13; Sept. 8-9; Oct. 7-8
Masters of the Mountain
motorcycle events
May 26-28; July 28-30; Aug. 18-20; Sept. 15-17; Oct. 20-22
Major event
The Honda Summit of Speed
June 16-18
AMA Superbike Championships
Summer Shootout
June 23-25
$35,000 Kart race
Major event
Utah Grand Prix
July 13-15
American LeMans Series & Speed World Challenge
Major event
Heroes of Speed
Aug. 3-5
Historic Sportscar Racing Event
Major event
The Discount Tire Sunchaser
Aug. 31-Sept. 2
Grand Am Series 9-hour endurance race
Vintage Motorcycle Racing
Sept. 15-17
AHRMA event
E-mail: grass@desnews.com