George Fernald Jr. leased Unity Raceway from 2008 to 2012 before stepping away after losing more than $40,000 over those five years.
But Fernald is optimistic that the second time around will be profitable after he bought the track from Ralph and Nancy Nason earlier this month.
To enable the transaction to become a reality, Fernald will make annual payments to the Nasons for 10 years. He has already made the first payment.
Fernald and Nason wouldn’t discuss specifics of the transaction.
Orrington native Nick Huff will continue to lease the track and manage it for the remainder of the season. He likes the fact Fernald has bought it and will keep it a racetrack.
“It’s in good hands,” said Huff. “And he will be able to invest the money into it that I can’t.”
Fernald said he learned a lot from his previous experience leasing the track and that owning it will change his approach.
“If you own it, you have to put money into it to make it work,” he said. “You have to make it work.”
Fernald already has compiled a list of projects he intends to undertake and he may not stage any racing next season in order to implement the improvements.
He will add new lights, a fence, restrooms and a beer trailer where people can watch the races. He intends to jack up the grandstands and paint the facility. He also plans to pave the one-third-mile track.
“The track is very rough,” he said. “It needs to be redone.”
Fernald intends to build a campground at the site and plans to create a multipurpose facility that also would host non-racing activities like rodeos and concerts.
“George has a lot of good ideas,” said Nason. “When he leased the track, he learned what worked for him and what didn’t.”
When racing resumes full time, Fernald anticipates holding shows every other weekend rather than every weekend, with plans to race on Saturday nights rather than the current Sunday shows.
“I believe he can be successful,” said Nason, who had owned the track since 1980. “But you can’t do the same things they’ve been doing for years because they aren’t working.”
Fernald said he hopes to keep Huff involved with the track and also would like to retain Huff’s father, Kris, as technical inspector.
“Nick has done a very good job. And he’s amazing with graphics,” said Fernald.
Fernald hopes to implement a system in which a committee of drivers in each class will be responsible for policing the class when it comes to rules and regulations and dealing with confrontations. He would like one driver from each class to help Kris Huff inspect the cars.
“That will take some of the pressure off us,” said the 53-year-old Fernald, who hopes to have the track paid off by his 60th birthday.
Fernald has been visiting the other tracks across the state to pick up ideas to use when the track begins running full time under his leadership.
He said he may have a couple of races next season but may wait until 2018.
“I love the place just as much and Ralph and Nancy,” said Fernald, who began racing at the track when he was 19.
Nason has offered to help Fernald when he can and Fernald said he intends to take advantage of the offer.
He also will rely on long-time friend Ed Bellows of Fairfield for input.
Nason said it will be important for Fernald to hire someone to attract sponsors and feels Fernald has a good support system in place.
“George has a lot of friends,” said Nason.