Hill Country Raceway to offer more than just racin

[rebelracewriter]

For Immediate Release Contact Bill Martin

Feb. 5, 2004 (319) 472-2201, x225

 

New Hill Country track offers more than racing

MOUNTAIN HOME, Texas (Feb. 5) – Hill Country Raceway will offer more than

Saturday night racing when it opens this spring.

The Mountain Home track, owned by Yankee Payne and promoted by Willie

Herman, also features a 10-room bed and breakfast, restaurant and lounge in the

three-story main building behind the front straight grandstand.

All will be open seven days a week, as will the 1/4-mile clay track for test

‘n tune sessions. The restaurant, lounge and a concession stand are on ground

level. Bed and breakfast rooms, each with its own viewing window and air

conditioning are on the second floor, while announcers and scorekeepers will

work from the top story.

“I’m building this for the real racers. With the bed and breakfast,

restaurant and lounge open during the week, I can make this work. I’ve had calls

from all over Texas and from Louisiana, New Mexico and Colorado from people who

want to come and race here,” said Payne, also a driver and the owner of Payne’s

Paving and Excavating in Ingram.

“I told them I was going to run this race track the way it should be run and

they’re lovin’ it,” he added. “It takes a real racer to run a race track.”

A native of New York state, Payne has done much of the work at the central

Texas track himself. The facility has been three years in the making and

features racer-friendly amenities such as showers and a garage for post-race

tech in the pit area.

Regular drawings for tires and parts, and cash awards for drivers making the

longest tow to the track are in the works as well. Payne also plans to begin

manufacturing and selling Yankee-built chassis, rollcages and motors for use by

local drivers.

I.M.C.A Sunoco Modifieds headline weekly programs that begin April 17 and

run through Sept. 25. Hill Country Raceway will be part of the Dirt Works South

Central Region.

“What I like about I.M.C.A. is that it makes everybody equal. Everybody’s

car is the same and there’s the claim rule to keep guys from putting in big

engines. Modifieds don’t need big engines to make them go fast,” Payne said.

“Another thing I like is that all the drivers belong to one association and know

what’s going on.”

Looking to sanction Late Model, Sprint Car and Stock Car divisions in the

future, Payne also plans to add another six rooms to the B&B; all 16 rooms can

double as VIP suites. His facility is completely accessible to the handicapped.

A Kerrville television station will be filming at the track on Feb. 21 and

Payne is scheduled to be on a TV talk show the next week. A drivers’ meeting

follows the 12:30 p.m. barbecue at the track Sunday, Feb. 29.

Support classes include the sportsman, street stocks, late models and rookie

cars.

 

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