GM's Proving Grounds
04-20-09, 06:40 AM
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GM's Proving Grounds
Hi all,
I was riding by the GM proving grounds last Saturday and had a random thought pop in my head. "Wow, this could make a great race course for a circuit race". There are some pretty steep short hills, as well as some fairly tight corners. I was thinking that is GM filed and could not recover from bankruptcy, this could become a possibility. Also I am guessing that it it not in use much on the weekends. I am sure that lots of people in Michigan have had thoughts similiar to this. I just thought I would share one crazy, random idea that crept into my head while on a bike ride.
I was riding by the GM proving grounds last Saturday and had a random thought pop in my head. "Wow, this could make a great race course for a circuit race". There are some pretty steep short hills, as well as some fairly tight corners. I was thinking that is GM filed and could not recover from bankruptcy, this could become a possibility. Also I am guessing that it it not in use much on the weekends. I am sure that lots of people in Michigan have had thoughts similiar to this. I just thought I would share one crazy, random idea that crept into my head while on a bike ride.
04-20-09, 07:10 AM
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Living by the Ford Proving grounds I have had the same thought as you, but with liability issues being what they are, I doubt if this will happen.
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04-20-09, 07:13 AM
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This past weekend we hosted a race on this course: https://maps.google.com/maps/ms?sourc...b27bc2e986db29
If you look to the north, you can see the Fairfax County police vehicular training center.
We'd like to host a circuit race there.
If you look to the north, you can see the Fairfax County police vehicular training center.
We'd like to host a circuit race there.
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04-20-09, 07:35 AM
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Hincapie Spring Training series has a race at the BMW driving course in Greenville.
04-20-09, 09:30 AM
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I've considered the same thing, but I doubt they would ever agree to it. That course is amazing. To save costs on transporting cars back and forth to the 'ring, they replicated some of the most challenging/demanding corners from the 'ring and other tracks like leguna seca's killer sloping right turn. The race would be intense to say the least
04-20-09, 10:22 AM
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You can't believe how many miles of roads are back there. There are all sorts of climbs and surfaces, including a fair bit of 'Belgian block'. It would be a great place for a race, but a dollar to a doughnut it doesn't ever happen.
04-20-09, 01:56 PM
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During the evenings in the summers, I used to see cyclist riding on the road racing course at the Oakland County Sportsman's Club in Waterford Hills, Michigan. Im not sure if people still do it but you can give them a call and see what they say.
https://www.ocsc-mi.org/
https://www.waterfordhills.com/cms/news.php
https://www.waterfordhills.com/info/facilitymap07.pdf
https://www.ocsc-mi.org/
https://www.waterfordhills.com/cms/news.php
https://www.waterfordhills.com/info/facilitymap07.pdf
04-20-09, 03:53 PM
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During the evenings in the summers, I used to see cyclist riding on the road racing course at the Oakland County Sportsman's Club in Waterford Hills, Michigan. Im not sure if people still do it but you can give them a call and see what they say.
https://www.ocsc-mi.org/
https://www.waterfordhills.com/cms/news.php
https://www.waterfordhills.com/info/facilitymap07.pdf
https://www.ocsc-mi.org/
https://www.waterfordhills.com/cms/news.php
https://www.waterfordhills.com/info/facilitymap07.pdf
04-20-09, 08:20 PM
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Gm, eh? I think you'd run into problems with leaked oil on the track. 
04-20-09, 08:28 PM
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I've been on the track at the GM proving grounds and it would be a cool place for a bike race. One BIG problem is that they would have to hide all of the prototype Corvettes.
04-20-09, 09:37 PM
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We once had a race at the Chrysler Proving Grounds in Chelsea in 1984. Steep hills. Cool place.
There was a 24-hour marathon there, too.
More recently, we had races on the Chrysler Test Track adjacent to their HQ in Auburn Hills. Our Tuesday Night Worlds ride goes around the HQ and past the track.
We race on Thursdays at Waterford Sports Club. 1.42 miles with a small hill. There's a lap of it on YouTube.
We were working on getting an event at the Ford track in Romeo. It's on hold. Our winter dirt road rides go around the perimeter.
The GM Grounds in Milford are a tough nut to crack. One of the top riders in MI worked there, and he had no luck getting us in.
There was a 24-hour marathon there, too.
More recently, we had races on the Chrysler Test Track adjacent to their HQ in Auburn Hills. Our Tuesday Night Worlds ride goes around the HQ and past the track.
We race on Thursdays at Waterford Sports Club. 1.42 miles with a small hill. There's a lap of it on YouTube.
We were working on getting an event at the Ford track in Romeo. It's on hold. Our winter dirt road rides go around the perimeter.
The GM Grounds in Milford are a tough nut to crack. One of the top riders in MI worked there, and he had no luck getting us in.
08-10-12, 11:02 PM
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Last edited by lopek77; 08-10-12 at 11:06 PM.
08-11-12, 10:03 AM
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