If you’ve driven by the Cayuga County Fairgrounds in Weedsport lately, it probably doesn’t look like much has been going on. But if you take a short drive around the facility, you can see that a total facelift is underway.
Unlike a lot of renovations and upgrades, this one is more than a few coats of paint, some spackle and a new name. It is going to be a whole new facility that will be unrecognizable to most fans when the new Weedsport Speedway opens its gates in just over a month on July 13.
Baldwinsville’s Jimmy Phelps, a racer himself, is overseeing the process and is happy with the way things are going so far. The first phase is complete as race teams are calling the fairgrounds space home. And with its central location right next to the New York State Thruway, there is a lot to like for teams stationed there.
“The race shops have been working out great for the guys at H.B.R., Peter Britten and Rich Scagliotta,” Phelps said. “It’s working well. I knew we’ve got a few guys that have been working over there on the weekends and utilizing the facility so it’s been good.”
Now a full renovation is taking place in the area surrounding the 1/3 mile clay oval.
“Things are really progressing,” Phelps said. “There’s a lot going on. The excavation process is well underway for the foundation for the new bleachers. The planning, all the ordering of bleachers and press boxes is in and scheduled to be put in place for our July 13 sportsman class opener. At this point we’re full go.”
The tower, that was in place for generations is now gone and it was a simple case of cost to fix vs. cost to replace.
“It needed a lot, a lot of work,” Phelps said. “The tower was kind of tied into the old clubhouse. The clubhouse needed to come down. It had a lot of structural damage from rain and roof leaks over time had gotten that to the point where it really wasn’t safe to be in. Over time that had become part of the structural integrity of the tower. To take that down was going to weaken the tower. The tower needed a ton of work … It was just one of those deals where it was going to be cost effective to knock it down and start over.”
Also the pit area has been moved so the race cars can exit and enter the track in Turn 4 instead of Turn 1 as they have since the track’s inception. And that is coming along nicely.
“The pit area is pretty much done,” Phelps said. “The fencing is in progress. Hopefully by middle of the week that will be completely done … We’ve got a little bit of electrical to do to get some lighting in there and get that buttoned up.”
Although the way the haulers enter and exit the pit area is not carved in stone at this time.
“Once we get the fencing done,” Phelps said. “We’re going to play with some stuff as far as seeing what our best bet is for flowing haulers in and out. That could change two or three times. That could change after the first race. We’ve just got to play with it and see what works best for everybody.”
Even though a lot is changing, Phelps knows he is dealing with a race track that is close to a lot of people’s hearts so he is paying it the attention he knows it deserves.
“It’s a part of history but hopefully this new arrangement will become part of history some day too.”
Original article by Doug Elkins featured on Syracuse.com June 5, 2014.