Life in The Fast Lane: Joliet’s Autobahn Country Club and Race Track Delivers True (Racing) Satisfaction!

March 18, 2004; Joliet, IL - The Fast Lane became reality during today’s Ground Breaking at the Autobahn Country Club and Race Track. Mark Basso of the Autobahn Country Club joined his founding members and partners, and together with Joliet’s Mayor and City Council members, the shovels hit the ground. After a “Champagne Initiation” over the bulldozer’s baskets, the crowd cheered as the ‘dozers started their engines!

Excitement levels surrounding the Autobahn Race Track have begun to peak and generated national velocity through media, members, car clubs and thrilled fans. The meticulous Planning and Engineering by Ruettiger, Tonelli & Associates, Inc. will give Country Club members in Joliet a place to safely “open up” and generate peak speeds. Now being billed as the Midwest’s Ultimate Driving Experience, the Autobahn will deliver 3.5 miles of pure racing satisfaction.

Ruettiger, Tonelli & Associates, Inc. recently launched Construction of the Track, together with The Autobahn Country Club, a group of investors and developers led by Mark Basso, who is very enthusiastic: "Obviously, until now, with a Ferrari, Porsche or Lamborghini, there wasn’t much possible in terms of speed or safety on city streets. Now we can push the pedal to the absolute limit on the Autobahn!”

Dennis Tonelli, Co-Founder of Ruettiger, Tonelli & Associates, Inc. and overall Consultant for the project, wholeheartedly agrees: “This is a great site, and it will be a phenomenal success – a real bonus to have the Autobahn here in our community of Joliet, and a real gem for the Midwest.”

For Chicago race fans, proximity to nearby race courses such as Elkhart Lake, WI, South Haven, MI, or South Beloit, IL has posed a problem. The logistics have typically required at least a two or three hour drive just to get there, and an overnight stay usually in the plan. Not now, with the Autobahn’s location in Joliet on 320 acres of beautiful, wooded rolling hills at Patterson and Millsdale Roads, just 45 miles West of Chicago. Developed for auto owners, racers, and enthusiasts, the club will offer complete facilities including three professional road courses, a karting course, luxurious clubhouse, family recreational amenities and car storage facilities.

Ruettiger, Tonelli & Associates have facilitated Joliet’s approval and permitting process, and coordinated all the challenging technical requirements, including multiple natural gas pipeline crossings and elevation changes. Sean Dudak, Design Engineer with Ruettiger, Tonelli, explains how racers may not specifically notice, but will definitely enjoy the experience of the finer engineering details in the fast lane: “We’ve coordinated the specs for the high quality, polymer asphalt surface to the track; integrated the site’s four stream crossings with the steel corrugated arched bridge systems, added protective pipeline slabs and steel guardrails, and ensured that the grading will safely accommodate the fastest speeds possible.”

The Track traverses Wetland Areas and wooded streams, with native trees, plantings and wildlife. Approximately 30 acres of wetlands are on site, and extreme care was taken to integrate the Track’s layout and site design with the land’s contours, all with minimal environmental impact. “We coordinated closely with the Army Corps. Of Engineers, and the end result is total quality in the Mitigation Plan. We’ll have restored one stream bed and preserved a variety of species here,” observes Rick Suttle, Landscape Architect with Ruettiger, Tonelli. The undulating features of the Track will be spread throughout the site’s trees and streams; and with varying Track elevations coordinated throughout the site, the layout will be picturesque, yet a totally challenging Track - a true test for even the most experienced drivers.

Joel Weinberger, a founding member of the Club and co-owner of Continental Audi in Naperville and Continental Acura in Lisle, recently loaned a Maserati Spyder ’04 Convertible for the recent IL Park District conference held at the Hyatt Regency, Chicago for Ruettiger, Tonelli & Associates to highlight the Autobahn project. The thrill of the Maserati generated more buzz in anticipation of the Track’s opening.

Designed for the “Ultimate Drive,” and with a tough challenge in mind, the Autobahn arrives as motor sports events and auto racing continue to appeal to an increasing cross section of America. Former racer and race course designer, Alan Wilson, designed the Autobahn’s Track. "Into the curve with apprehension, and out with exhilaration! That’s the flow I like to create,” enthuses Wilson. Prior Wilson projects in the U.S. include tracks at GingerMan, Barber, Mid-America and Beaver Run; as well as England, Canada and other international locations.

Wilson has worked closely with Ruettiger, Tonelli and Basso’s group from his Colorado home base for conversion of his concepts into the required drawings. He then flew to Joliet to meet with them and begin implementation of the reality: "I coordinated with Ruettiger, Tonelli & Associates to survey and stake the centerline, then rode the course on an ATV, to get a feel for the flow. We moved the stakes to make it perfect- and that’s just the beginning to the Track’s precision tuning."

Site preparation has been the initial construction focus to date. Paving the Track will rapidly follow and be the next focus before Grand Opening, scheduled for July. The Plan features three layouts: a 9 turn, 1.46 mile North track; a 14 turn, 2.2 mile South track. Combined, the tracks will be linked to form a 3.56 mile circuit, the third largest in the country.

Final Construction plans include a luxury clubhouse with a family-friendly atmosphere. Upscale amenities will include family dining, banquet and meeting rooms. Locker rooms for members and a Pro shop will all be part of the Club’s ambiance.

"The Autobahn will have all the amenities, and a great Chicagoland location. Vehicles won’t have to be transported – we will eventually offer climate controlled storage on site.” Basso says. The vision for the Club and Track includes evolvement into ultimately becoming an all-inclusive motorsport complex incorporating collector auctions, professional and vintage races, driving schools and other racing-related special events and activities. There will be opportunities for commercial business sponsorships and track rental. According to Basso, memberships to the Autobahn are going fast, even through the website.

With a Grand Opening planned for July, there is real “uber” excitement in anticipation for the Autobahn. The result will be exhilaration – and pure racing satisfaction!
Contact Ruettiger, Tonelli & Associates, Inc. at: 815-744-6600.

For more information on the Autobahn and to view Groundbreaking photos, go to: www.autobahncountryclub.net.