Milan Dragway to remain dormant for 2021, hope lingers on horizon
Now that your bank balance has topped seven figures, the time may be right to indulge your favorite fantasies. If one of those dreams is owning your own race track, you’ve got until the end of July to rescue Michigan’s Milan Dragway from receivership.
Royal Oak, Michigan, attorney, and car enthusiast David Findling is the court-appointed receiver responsible for identifying those with the means and the will to restore Milan to its previous glory. Thus far he has received a half-dozen or so bids to shoulder Milan’s debts topping $2,500,000. Findling notes his task is three-fold: identifying the highest-dollar and best offer, confirming the viability of those funds, and determining the likelihood the new owner will fulfill future obligations related to Milan’s operation.
Findling adds that once his determination is made, the judge who appointed him must approve the sale in an open hearing. Since the final closing is unlikely before October 1, there’s little chance racing activities will resume until next year. Revenue exceeding the amount needed to settle the track’s debts will go to the current owner Bill Kapolka.
After Kapolka suffered ill health 18 months ago, Milan’s maintenance activities were suspended. In addition to repairing the strip’s weathered pavement and cleaning up spectator facilities (grandstands, parking lots, restrooms, food stands), the new owner faces two additional hurdles: remediating any environmental damage identified on the Dragway’s property and diminishing some of the noise radiated during racing to appease neighbors. An excavation crew to remove soil contaminated with traction compound, fuel, and drain oil will have its hands full; some combination of vegetation and earth berms may help reduce the din escaping the track.
In addition to IHRA sanctioned weekend drag racing, Milan has potential as a swap-meet, campgrounds, and rock-concert venue. There’s ample real estate to support motocross, go-kart, and speed boat competition. Michigan-based car makers and suppliers may be interested in renting these safe and secure facilities during the week for private testing. What better place is there to develop Amazon’s air-delivery drones?
If Milan piques your interest, don’t waste a moment getting in touch with Findling. Send your sincerest pitch and most generous offer to david@findlinglaw.com. And when you get Milan back on its feet, we’ll report that great news to the waiting anxiously fan base.
