Track in the rendering below is expected to open in October, with a “front track” that will be built with 15-to-20 turns.
From the Bedford Post
Go-kart racing is coming back to Middle Tennessee.
By Mark McGee
Jeffrey Gaccione is getting ready to open the Music City Kartplex at the site of the old track on Highway 231. The project is the result of three years of planning.A motorsports enthusiast, Gaccione was introduced to the go-kart racing by his son. At nine, Owen showed an interested in racing. Now 12 he is a champion driver.
The original track is under renovation and is scheduled to be opened sometime in October. Plans are also underway to build another track in the front of the property.
Gaccione first was exposed to the local track when his son would come to Shelbyville to practice. The previous owner charged by the hour for use of the track. Gaccione tried for quite some time to buy the property. Finally in July he closed on the deal.
“We had gone to Charlotte,” Gaccione said. “We had gone to Atlanta Motorsports. We found this organization called Tennessee Karting Association which was holding races about 10 times per year.
“I came out and saw this place. I had seen the places where we had been. I saw the energy. Kids weren’t on their mobile devices. Everyone was having fun. Everybody knew everybody.”
Gaccione had spent the last 10 years in the music promotions and was ready for a change. He also has a background in finance.
“My understanding is motorsports is big in Tennessee,” Gaccione said. “It has a long history here. I thought why is there not something like those other places within a five-hour drive from here for go-karting. That just got my wheels turning.
“I spent three years going to kart races, meeting track owners and people at the highest level of karting. I have spent every day over the past three years designing it, putting a business model together and connecting with all of the key players in the industry all the way down to every operational detail.”
The Kartplex will serve two types of racers – those who want to rent a go-kart and speed around the track at up to 50 miles per hour and those who are serious competitors.
“Every track owner I talked to said you should build two tracks _ one for competitive racing and one for rentals,” Gaccione said. “This is perfect with 35 acres. It allows me to do both. We also have all of the buildings and those are being renovated.
“We just saw this vision every time we came out here for three years. What excited me was I studied software data on eight of the most popular tracks like this. I call it entertainment karting and then you have truly competitive track facilities.”
The back track is half a mile in length and will be used for entertainment racing. A new front track, .9 miles, will be for competitive racing.
“We are going to build the front track to international specs,” Gaccione said. “It is going to have 15-to-20 turns.
“We are going to make it look like an Indy car track. The asphalt is going to be super gritty and super-fast. We plan to have it ready in a year to a year-and-a-half.”
While national races can attract thousands of fans, the casual racer who wants to rent a car is willing to travel to race.
“We expect 75,000 to 100,000 visitors a year just for the rental karts,” Gaccione said. “These karts go around 50 miles per hour. It is fun and exciting. People will travel to do it. There is nothing else like it.
“There will be series for people who own their own karts and series for people who rent karts. We will have racers from five years old to 75 years old. “It is a big deal. Every weekend these tracks are sold out. “
Gaccione will have 33 go karts for rental - 30 adult size for riders 12 and up, two side-by-side karts for parents and kids and one big kart for a larger person.
He plans to draw on his music contacts to make the facility a place for racing and entertainment.
“I want people to come race and watch the races,” Gaccione said. “I want them to stick around and enjoy music and enjoy the beauty around here. “
When it is completed Gaccione expects to have invested 6-to-7 million in the project. He is partnering with FirstBank and has been pleased with his acceptance in the community, especially the assistance of Shane Hooper, CEO of the Shelbyville-Bedford County Partnership.
“The community has been great,” Gaccione said. “Shane has been wonderful. We are trying to do as much as I can do with the local community. I had tried to get this project going in Lebanon, Spring Hill and Mt. Juliet. There were issues.”
He decided Shelbyville was the perfect place.
“I just wanted to be in Shelbyville,” Gaccione said. “There are so many great and dynamic things happening here. What is amazing is it is so centrally located.
“People will travel 75 to 100 miles to rent karts. It is a big deal. Every weekend these tracks are sold out.”
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