In the late 1990s, with uncertainty about NHIS and Lime Rock (and Thompson's road course sprouting weeds) the New England Region Sports Car Club of America (NER SCCA) board of directors formed a New Track Committee to secure a "flagship track". Some years later, land was found for what would ultimately become Palmer Motorsports Park (PMP).
Site plans were then created and, after professional review and public hearings, the Palmer Planning Board issued a special-use permit December 17, 2007. A pro racer & developer took over and submitted plans for a new circuit (shown here), a hotel, garage suites and a Barkow Leibinger building (Image1, 2, summary), which the planning board approved on January 5, 2009.
Following the 2008 recession, the project stalled while carrying costs accrued. In 2011, as the NER board was poised to write off the project, a useful idiot appeared. Two years later, with the funding, land, and permits in hand, ground was finally broken by J. Read Corp(News Release) and in May 2015, Whiskey Hill Raceway opened: a 2.3 mile circuit with 500+ feet of elevation and vistas into New Hampshire, Vermont, New York and Connecticut. Road & Track magazine named Whiskey Hill Raceway one of the top 10 race tracks to drive in North America.
PMP history also has its heroes. Foremost, NER SCCA's Dick Patullo, Bruce Allen, Rob Laverty, who: chaired the committee, Excel'd a biz plan on steroids, designed a swooping 2+ mile circuit; SCCA and town folks – Kathy Barnes, Bob Ring, Don Duffy, Mike Marciniec & Linda Leduc; Tim Pappas, for his eco-prescient plans; Glenn Conser & Bill Kephart for their Rocky Mountain High Plains support. Credit (literally) goes to Don Anderson of Hampden Bank; to Greg Read & Dan Moeller of JRead Corp for site work; to HMS’ Joe Marko & TMS’ Will Turner for their $.02; and lastly, to short-order cook, cashier, & busboy, "Fast Fred."
History continues to be made by: Christopher Tier, Al Sandy, JC, Kaleigh, Kevin, Matt, Mark, Nick, Stan & staff who scrub floors, wack weeds, wave flags, pump gas, guard the gates, post pics & keep the lights on; and by our sponsors and club members and everyone who races on track or just hangs out in the paddock.