Hiroshima based MAZDA bought 'MINE Circuit', the track I've called home ground (no, that's not why it's called "Mine"... it's pronounced me-ney) for the past 21 years. After the purchase, they announced they were closing it to make a private test facility!
No more races, no more practice, no more track day instructing gigs (free practice time 
) and most of all, no more 4hr Endurance race where the old T-Rex thumped its way to 2nd 'Superbike' last October...We had our final track day event on 2/25 where I got to put on the yellow instructor vest and play for four sessions in the freezing cold on tires that we ran the 4hr race with. It was like riding on marbles until the tires cleaned themselves off a bit and warmed up to the temperature of a 20 minute old cup of coffee.
Just got some pictures of it today, nothing exciting... Fortunately you can't see the tears behind the dark shield.
Something similar happened here in Sydney a couple of years back. Eastern Creek Raceway decided to award an exclusive contract to just one ride day provider. Suddenly the cost went from about $120 for 6 x 20 minute sessions in a day when there were three or four ride day companies to $229 with the new people!
)
) might just eat you for lunch. He often groans about the tripple jumps and whoop sections there. 
word(s)!!! 
