[Shotimes] Cent ILL racetrack derailed

[Donald Mallinson]

Once again, the forward thinking and progressive Peoria, 
Illinois County board had voted down a business project that 
could bring commerce and tourism to the area.

Many of you may remember that a race park (1/4 mile drag 
strip, small paved oval and paved road course) like IRP at 
Indianapolis, was proposed for just West of Peoria, IL on 
Interstate 74.

A group of about a half-dozen farmers that lived within a 
few miles and a slightly bigger group of other farmers not 
directly effected by the project, protested and managed to 
get the project killed.

It was funny that one of the operators of Route 66 Raceway 
in Joliet testified against the project on behalf of the 
farmers.  That is like getting a K-Mart executive to testify 
against a new Wal-Mart in the area!  Amazing.

I understand where the ones living close were coming from, 
the developer offered to pay 120% of the fair market value 
for their houses (they could continue to farm any land) but 
they rejected this, and that is understandable.

Still, quite often development negatively effects those that 
live close by, but the "greater good" rules the day sometimes.

In this instance, it will be hard, even in the wide open 
area of Central IL to find 300 acres of ground without 
anyone within a mile or more!

The project may just move across the river to Tazewell 
county (where I live) where the county board is more 
business friendly.

Many of you on the list signed petitions for this project, I 
thank you and still hope that within a couple years there 
will be a facility nearby where track days, drags and more 
can happen and locals won't have to drive 100+ miles to attend!

Don Mallinson