Emphasis placed on 'New' at old Grovetown track

Like a worn out race car, the New Gordon Park Speedway in Grovetown needed more than a few tweaks to get it running right again.

Track promoter Lenny Hobbs is hoping that an overhaul will restore the track, which opened in 1948 and was called the Hayloft, to its original purpose: A place for racers to have fun and for families to watch a good race.

"We're trying to get everything where people who used to come will come back," he said.

"This track's had a pretty rocky past."

Hobbs and new owner, Eddie Dinkins, are hoping to change that.

They started by making some much needed physical changes, such as renovating the buildings in the pit area and widening the turns all the way around.

The latter will allow cars to race two or three wide, which creates more exciting racing than the almost single-file laps that had to be run before.

"That's what this track's needed for years," Hobbs said.

They've also put new clay on the track, which allows cars to move around easier, and put up new barrier walls to lessen the noise for the adjoining neighborhoods.

Hobbs said they are taking one extra step in easing the noise for the courtesy of the neighbors: They will require mufflers on the race cars, though they don't have to.

Plans are in the works to renovate the spectator stands, concessions and bathrooms, and hopefully one day adding tailgating sections in Turns 1 and 4.

Other changes to the track won't be obvious at first glance. The track will have a new staff, and everything will run in a timelier manner, Hobbs said.

"It's going to be a whole lot different," he said.

With an 11:30 p.m. curfew and heat racing beginning at 7:30 p.m., efficiency will be essential to finishing on time.

Hobbs said that he's raced for 15 years, and this is his first year as track promoter.

Past owners and officials might have tried to make their living off running the track, which caused some negative feelings among the drivers and drove some of them to race at neighboring tracks.

Hobbs, who owns his own business outside of the track, said he isn't going to be one of them.

"I'm not looking to put groceries on my table from this track," he said. "I just love racing."

Something new for Gordon Park is a working partnership with Modoc Speedway in Modoc, S.C. Modoc will run its races Friday night, and Gordon Park will operate on Saturday nights. Drivers will be able to race both nights if they choose to. An open house will be held Saturday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Racers are encouraged to test the new track, and rule books and plans for 2006 will be given out. Admission is free. The first race of the season will be held March 18.

More information can be found on the track's Web site, www.gordonparkspeedway.net.

Hobbs said he hopes to soon see 80 cars a night tearing around the track.

"We want a chance to show (people) what we are doing," he said.