Play Live Radio
Next Up:
0:00
0:00
0:00 0:00
Available On Air Stations

Developer Plans Handling Track For Fast Cars On Jacksonville's Northside

Jacksonville Daily Record
Philip "Tiger" May shows the plan for the driving course he intends to build on land he purchased at Interstate Center Drive, Broward Road and Zoo Parkway, west of Interstate 95.

A 16-acre site in North Jacksonville could become the region's first automotive handling course by next year. 

WJCT News partner the Jacksonville Daily Record reports DPC JAX LLC, led by Philip "Tiger" May, bought the North Jacksonville property at Interstate Center Drive, Broward Road and Zoo Parkway, west of Interstate 95, in March for $1.1 million. 

The facility is designed to allow drivers to improve their skills and test their cars in a safe environment. 

"We wanted to broaden the accessibility," May said. "There are so many people out there who have fun cars and enjoy driving, but there’s no place they can legally and safely go around the First Coast area to push the limits of their car, and try it out in a controlled environment." 

Plans comprise two components: A 275-foot concrete skidpad used for wet road conditions training, and a 1½-mile road course, used for dry conditions, braking, performance handling and crash avoidance training.

May said the course will be open to the public. He hasn’t set requirements on the types of cars that will be allowed to drive, but there will be guidelines to ensure the car is safe to operate. 

Drivers can buy a minimum of two 20-minute time slots on the track, which he estimates will cost $79.

The two time slots don’t have to be used on the same day. Three 20-minute time slots could cost $99, but the prices and durations for the time slots haven’t been determined.

An expanded version of this story is at JaxDaiyRecord.