The APEX Motor Club – the Valley of the Sun’s first private automotive country club – has opened in Maricopa, a convenient 30-minute drive southeast of Phoenix Sky Harbor Airport.
The first phase has debuted with 2.3 miles of track, including a 3,400 straight. At build-out in 32 months, the 280-acre campus will include two connected racing circuits of four-plus miles of track, garage condominiums for car storage, a clubhouse with restaurant, locker rooms and a swimming pool and a multi-purpose building with country club amenities. Phoenix-based contractor, RJT Companies, is completing the $40-million project.
“We’re closer to the nearest metro area than virtually any other motorsports club in the country,” says co-owner Matt Williams, whose Private Motorsports Group is based in Scottsdale. His partners are Jason Plotke and Jim Beatty. “You can get your driving fix in a half day or less in most instances.”
Members will be able to attend classes and, in their personal cars, obtain instruction from professional racers. In addition, Camaro SS 1LEs can be rented by members and guests.
Among the first 100 APEX members are Indy car driver and NBC Sports commentator Paul Tracy, two-time Indy 500 Winner Arie Luyendyk and Paradise Valley’s Craig Jackson, CEO of the Barrett-Jackson Company in Scottsdale. Membership will be capped at 400.
“Driving around the newly constructed APEX course was definitely a great experience with a nice long straight, some really well-laid-out fast and medium-fast turns and, thankfully, no awkward super slow turns,” says Scottsdale-resident Luyendyk, winner of the 1990 and 1997 Indianapolis 500 races and member of Indianapolis Motor Speedway Hall of Fame.
“The track works well for a multitude of car types and has paved runoff to safely recover you and your car in the event that you go off the track,” Williams says.
“We also have an electronic flagging system that is controlled in a tower instead of corner workers,” he adds. “We can immediately change the track conditions electronically if need be.”
Members with a trackside garage enjoy the ultimate in convenience. “They can park their personal car, grab their helmet and immediately grid in the hot pit,” he explains.
Memberships are $30,000–$75,000, the initiation fee, with a $5,000–$10,000 annual fee. Those new to the sport can enroll in the APEX Academy to acclimatize themselves to their private track.
“During the next two years, our country club will transform into a car home for hall-of-famers, car collectors and car enthusiasts,” Williams says. “It will be the only place in town where you can drive your prized possessions around a first-class facility and enjoy all the amenities of a traditional country club. Instead of putting here, though, you drive.”
For more information on how to join the APEX Motor Club, please visit ApexMotorClub.com or 855-404-RACE (7223).
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