Racecars + Hipsters = TCL Explodes?

[hipster.]

http://gothamist.com/2012/08/20/will...chine_shop.php

Williamsburg is a hotspot for all kinds of entrepreneurial endeavors, and starting next summer, the neighborhood will add artisanal racing cars to its portfolio. As part of Mayor Bloomberg's PlaNYC, an abandoned plot of land at 105 Metropolitan Avenue will become home to a race car consulting and design services group, including a small race car engine machine shop. The site, which was abandoned in the 1980s and contaminated with historic fill pollutants [pdf], was enrolled in the NYC Brownfield Cleanup Program last February and will end its 27-year-vacancy when Ethan Bregman, owner and engineer of Ayton Performance, moves in to develop the space.

Bregman, a native New Yorker, grew up fascinated by cars but never had a venue to explore that interest. Despite cheaper real estate in other parts of the country, Bregman is set on doing business in Brooklyn, and at a press conference today said that having a shop here in Williamsburg will give others the opportunity to pursue racing in a way that was not available to him while he was growing up. "New York is not only about Wall Street, but using our minds and hands," he says.

The Brownfield Cleanup Program encourages development of polluted or contaminated sites and offers complete environmental liability release as an incentive. Bregman received $85,000 in grants and bonuses for participating in the program. The hope is to instill confidence in investors or, as Brooklyn Borough President Marty Markowitz put it, create "jobs, jobs, jobs that are Brooklyn tough, pumping our Brooklyn swag!"

"If intellectual competency is part of your business plan, New York is the place to be," Mayor Bloomberg said of Bregman. "Smart people who want to compete with the best." The Mayor turned down the opportunity to test-drive the display car however, telling reporters, "It's been a long time since I've been in the front seat of a car." Helicopters are more his style.

I'm not going to lie. I'm pretty excited about this.

[DTMTrini]

Oh snap, stop playin! I might have another reason to visit BK more often haha Thanks for sharing!

[hipster.]

Oh snap, stop playin! I might have another reason to visit BK more often haha Thanks for sharing!

You better hit up TDE or me for a beer if you're going to stop by this way. Maybe Mr. Mook too, but he scares me with his aloof-ness.

[DTMTrini]

You better hit up TDE or me for a beer if you're going to stop by this way. Maybe Mr. Mook too, but he scares me with his aloof-ness.

Haha most def man. Im'a have to keep an eye on this...schedule has been ridiculously busy for the past few months

[im no hero x]

Def gonna check this out!

[hipster.]

I can't wait to get over there and shoot some video.

[AuForm]

Step 2: street circuit







Step 3: money
4 is power
and 5 is women I thought



excellent pole holding - good job woman

[hipster.]

NYC has been in talks for a track for a long time now. Nascar though not a real track

[C4 A6]

Should make the course go through Central Park.

[92skirmishgti]

NYC has been in talks for a track for a long time now. Nascar though not a real track

Watkins Glen?

[CO Boy]

Maybe their uniform will be skinny jeans and tight button down shirts.

[AuForm]

Maybe their uniform will be skinny jeans and tight button down shirts.

Don't forget the hats and big glasses. Don't worry though - in 15 years when their will is properly eroded they'll be wearing beige long shorts and roomy mostly white button shirts.

[Tim@VMG]

Watkins Glen?

Is not even remotely near New York City.

-Tim

[92skirmishgti]

Is not even remotely near New York City.

-Tim

Gotcha, when I think of New York track and Nascar Glen came to mind.

[lorge1989]

Gotcha, when I think of New York track and Nascar Glen came to mind.

It's not that far! Only like 4 or 5 hours away.

[kobra kai]

Was expecting a Prius, Volvo or a mid 80s diesel Mercedes. Not a Porsche.

[Mike!]

Gotcha, when I think of New York track and Nascar Glen came to mind.

Fair enough. New York (state) is sooooo much bigger than NYC. I live a stone's throw from Northern New York, but once I'm there I'm still 6 hours from NYC.

Lime Rock Park is probably the closest major road course, next door in CT, and maybe Dover (DE) for the nearest Nascar circuit.

[vortexblue]

Lime Rock, NJMP, & Watkins glen are all local-ish.
Summit Point and Pocono aren't too far away either.

There are also private tracks like Monticello that may be closer.

[sirswank]

where is the track mentioned? i just read "race car consulting and design services group"

which sounds to me like some guy with an art degree is getting grant money to pump out vaporware cars in a abandoned shack, and if he puts a sign out front with the word "race" in it, he's gonna have people beating down his door looking for "rimz, yo"

can someone dumbify this for me?

[WakusPakus]

[benjaminobscene]

that porsche needs a roof rack with a keg and a fixie on it.

[benjaminobscene]

PS: here's a real Brooklyn race car shop: http://forums.vwvortex.com/showthrea...ots-2012-build

[vdubjb]

Maybe they can build a Civic and race it in the NJ F1 support race.

[Remedy]

Off topic, somewhat: But, what kind of porsche is that in the pic? I know it's a 996, but is it a GT3 or GT2 or something?

[TheDarkEnergist]

My answer to this is....what?!

[Gates311]

Off topic, somewhat: But, what kind of porsche is that in the pic? I know it's a 996, but is it a GT3 or GT2 or something?

996 GT3 RSR, built purely as a racing car.

[VikingVR6GTI]

You would think if they were going to hold a press conference for this, they could clean up the graffiti in the background for the photo ops.

[Remedy]

996 GT3 RSR, built purely as a racing car.

TY

[RacingManiac]

996 GT3 RSR, built purely as a racing car.

Also a really old race car by category standard....

[Gates311]

Also a really old race car by category standard....

Nevertheless an awesome car

[mac dre]

Awesome, definitely going to apply for an internship here.

[Preppy]

The new LMP class at ALMS:

[RacingManiac]

Nevertheless an awesome car

Yes, but makes me wonder what level of "race car" they are planning to be involved in. I don't know if there are that much money to be made in grassroot level and having a shop within NYC seems expensive...

[Gates311]

Yes, but makes me wonder what level of "race car" they are planning to be involved in. I don't know if there are that much money to be made in grassroot level and having a shop within NYC seems expensive...

Oh I see where you were going with that, my bad. Yea a 996 GT3 RSR isn't very relevant anymore. But it can be had for relatively cheap and it's more than reliable when taken care of. Maybe it will be used as their training tool, on and off track. Who knows.

[TheDarkEnergist]

Yes, but makes me wonder what level of "race car" they are planning to be involved in. I don't know if there are that much money to be made in grassroot level and having a shop within NYC seems expensive...

The Brownfield Cleanup Program encourages development of polluted or contaminated sites and offers complete environmental liability release as an incentive. Bregman received $85,000 in grants and bonuses for participating in the program. The hope is to instill confidence in investors or, as Brooklyn Borough President Marty Markowitz put it, create "jobs, jobs, jobs that are Brooklyn tough, pumping our Brooklyn swag!"

From the article.