Eagles Canyon Raceway
ECR
LocationDecatur, Texas, United States
Coordinates33°22′01″N 97°25′38″W / 33.366921°N 97.427176°W / 33.366921; -97.427176
OwnerAutodrome LLC[1]
Address7629 North FM 51
Decatur, TX 76234
Broke groundApril 28, 2006[2]
OpenedNovember 16, 2007 (2007-11-16)
ArchitectRob Wilson and Peter Windsor (designers)[2]
Websitehttps://eaglescanyon.com/
Original course (2007–2018)
Surfaceasphalt
Length2.55 miles (4.1 km)
Turns11
Race lap record1.39.993[3] (Anders Krohn, Pro Formula Star Mazda, 2009)
Italian Canyon (2019– )
Surfaceasphalt, repaved 2019
Length2.75 miles (4.42 km)
Turns15
Canyon (2007– )
Surfaceasphalt, repaved 2019
Length1.65 miles (2.66 km)
Turns9
Little Italy (2020– )
Surfaceasphalt, crossover planned for 2020[4]
Length1.2 miles (1.9 km)
Turns6

Eagles Canyon Raceway is a motor racing track in Decatur, Texas built to FIA specifications.[5] The track is located 50 miles (80 km) northwest of Fort Worth in eastern Wise County.

The track was devised by David and Linda Cook, both with extensive backgrounds in motorsports, who set out to create a Formula 1-style race track in North Texas. They spent over two years locating the ideal land to recreate the feel of European countryside,[5] eventually purchasing 441 acres (178 ha) of prairie land near Decatur in January 2006.[1] The rocky hills and valleys of the property give the track 70 feet (21 m) of total elevation change, as a bonus providing good viewing for spectators.[6]

Ground breaking on Eagles Canyon started in April 2006. In October 2006 a small plane crashed upon take off from the still under construction track.[7] The track was designed by former racing driver Rob Wilson and former Formula One team manager and commentator Peter Windsor, among others.[2] Central Motorcycle Roadracing Association provided design input from a motorcyclist's perspective regarding curbs and the pit lane.[8] The original 2.5-mile (4.0 km), 11-turn[9] track opened in November 2007[10][2] after a $3.5 million investment.[11] It is 40 feet (12 m) wide overall and 48 feet (15 m) on the front straight.[12] The track has 200 feet (61 m) of elevation changes up and down, evoking the feel of Sonoma Raceway and Laguna Seca.[8] The 2,200-foot (670 m) back straight[13] and other straightaways terminate into hard braking zones ideal for passing.[8] The track features sweepers, esses, switchbacks, carousels, and double apex turns.[9][14] A shorter 1.65-mile (2.66 km) variant of only the east side of the track has 9 turns. Courses may be run either clockwise or counterclockwise.

In June 2017 David Cook sold Eagles Canyon to Livio Galanti of Autodrome LLC,[1] who quickly began renovating the track and facilities.[15] Construction began in August 2018[16] to repave the bumpy track and update the layout of the main course. Four turns were added to the original track, renamed the "Italian Canyon", increasing its turn count to 15 and length to 2.75 miles (4.43 km).[13] The smaller 1.65-mile (2.66 km) track, "Canyon", retained the same shape.[17] A proposed 1.2-mile (1.9 km), 6-turn layout named "Little Italy" consisting of the track's west loop would be made possible by paving a new crossover;[4] however, as of 2020 this remains incomplete.

Eagles Canyon has an off-road course in the over 400 acres (160 ha) of land next door.[18][19] The facility also contains a clubhouse, classrooms, and garages for members.[20]

The track provides the local car and motorcycle community a safe place to drive or ride fast[21] through its membership, performance driving days, and SCCA's Track Night in America.[13] Racing series held here include SCCA and NASA events, 24 Hours of Lemons,[22] LATAM Challenge Series,[23] and CMRA series.[24]

References

  1. 1 2 3 "Property ID: 751122". Wise CAD Property Search. Wise County Appraisal District. 2022.
  2. 1 2 3 4 "The Latest News". Eagles Canyon Raceway. October 25, 2006. Archived from the original on 2006-11-08.
  3. ↑ "Anders Krohn breaks track record at Eagles Canyon Raceway" (PDF). Eagles Canyon Raceway. April 13, 2009. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2011-09-23.
  4. 1 2 "Worst Kept Secret Alert!". Eagles Canyon Raceway. August 5, 2019 – via Facebook.
  5. 1 2 Sparks, JD (April 2, 2007). "Things That Make You Go "Zoom"". Fort Worth Business Press. Vol. 20. p. 5. ISSN 1527-4667.
  6. ↑ Baker, Sandra (March 10, 2006). "Southlake couple investing $3.5 million to turn prairie land into a racecourse". Fort Worth Star-Telegram. Archived from the original on 2006-11-08.
  7. ↑ "A small plane crashed on take off in Wise County, Texas, injuring..." Photo by Khampha Bouaphanh. Fort Worth Star-Telegram. October 6, 2006 – via Getty Images.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: others (link)
  8. 1 2 3 "New Road Course Near Ft. Worth, Texas Due To Open In 2007". Roadracing World Magazine. December 31, 2006. Retrieved 2023-02-02.
  9. 1 2 "Map" (PDF). Eagles Canyon Raceway. 2008. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2013-06-17.
  10. ↑ "ECR is open!". Eagles Canyon Raceway. November 20, 2007. Archived from the original on 2008-05-16.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
  11. ↑ Hogue, Andy (July 2, 2007). "Race track to cater to variety of high performance drivers". Gainesville Daily Register. Retrieved 2023-02-02.
  12. ↑ "Track Info". Eagles Canyon Raceway.
  13. 1 2 3 "Locations - Eagles Canyon Raceway". Track Night in America. SCCA.
  14. ↑ "Eagles Canyon Raceway Variations". LapMeta. Retrieved 2023-02-01.
  15. ↑ "Eagles Canyon ...will now be owned and operated by Autodrome llc". Eagles Canyon Raceway. June 12, 2017 – via Facebook.
  16. ↑ "We are closed this weekend for some Advanced Landscaping". Eagles Canyon Raceway. August 10, 2018 – via Facebook.
  17. ↑ "Turn-by-Turn: The Italian Canyon" (PDF). Eagles Canyon Raceway. May 2020.
  18. ↑ Smith, Brian E. (January 1, 2014). "January Newsletter". Eagles Canyon Raceway. Archived from the original on 2014-06-11.
  19. ↑ "Cover photo". Eagles Canyon Raceway. January 25, 2023 – via Facebook.
  20. ↑ "Facility Features". Eagles Canyon Raceway. Retrieved 2023-02-01.
  21. ↑ Chapman, Art (July 26, 2014). "North Texas track offers motorcyclists safe place to test skills". Fort Worth Star-Telegram.
  22. ↑ "Heaps In the Heart of Texas 24 Hours of LeMons: Winners!". Car and Driver. December 30, 2012.
  23. ↑ "LATAM Series: Ya están rumbo Estados Unidos" [LATAM departs for the United States]. ESPN deportes (in Spanish). September 1, 2011.
  24. ↑ "Camacho Breaks Track Record At Eagles Canyon Raceway". Roadracing World Magazine. August 11, 2022.
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