Car road racer Frank Parise, a member of the five-man commission that oversees operation of the Pima County Fairgrounds in Tucson, Arizona, is heading a task force to determine the feasibility of adding a road course to the drag strip and oval track already operating at the fairgrounds. Parise, 49, retired three years ago after a successful career in real estate and now spends his time on volunteer work–like serving on the fairgrounds commission–and on racing a Dodge Viper in the Viper Challenge Series. Parise is seeking input from motorcycle racing organizations, riding schools and teams to determine the level of interest in a road course.

“We’re trying to demonstrate that the track is financially feasible to operate, with cash flow sufficient to retire the cost of building the track,” Parise said in a March 22 phone interview, while driving to Buttonwillow for a car race.

Parise and his task force are asking the following questions:

1. How many weekend days per year should we assume that your club, school or race organization would be willing to rent the track for its exclusive use?

2. How many weekends per year should we assume that your club, school or race organization would be willing to rent the track for its exclusive use?

3. What do you consider to be a reasonable daily rental rate for the exclusive use of a desirable road course facility?

4. What are the most important factors in making your decision to rent a road course for your events?

5. On average, how many vehicles typically participate in your events?

6. Our current concept is to build a road course having the following features. Please list other features which you feel would be important.
a. Maximum length of 2.5-3.0 miles with a minimum of 11-12 turns.
b. Emphasis on safe and adequate run-off areas.
c. Multiple track configurations available.
d. Combinations of technically complex and high-speed sections.
e. Moderate elevation changes.
f. Spacious asphalt paddock.
g. Covered and/or enclosed garage space based on demand.
h. Conveniently located within two miles of an Interstate 10 exit.

7. Is there a maximum top speed you desire to see on a road course? How long should the straight be?

8. How long and wide should our hot pit lane be?

9. How wide should the track surface be?

10. What can we do to assure ourselves that you will use our facility?

11. What can we do to differentiate ourselves and be successful?

12. Would you be interested in participating in the ownership or operation of the track? In what capacity?

13. Would you be interested in establishing/operating a full-time driving school as the anchor tenant of the track during the week? Please describe the desired operating arrangement.


Parise has requested responses by March 31, and can be contacted via phone at (520) 906-6844, via FAX at (520) 290-3459 or via e-mail at [email protected].