A “motorcycle person” since he was 3, Wayne Scarborough Jr. is working on development of the WW Motocross Park on the family farm in West Jacksonville, off Interstate 10 and Otis Road in the Whitehouse area.
Scarborough Jr. is one of the W’s in WW with his father, Wayne Scarborough.
Scarborough said Friday he wants to open the 145-acre facility by Jan. 1, or at least by Bike Week in March.
“I just felt like we needed a top-notch motocross facility,” Scarborough said.
He said motorcycle riders and fans from across the country head to Florida for the events. “I want to catch some of that traffic,” he said.
Scarborough, 46, is the sole owner of the motocross business and is working with engineer Anthony Goria, principal of Align Engineering Group Inc., to develop the facility.
The park is being developed on the 587-acre Scarborough farm, called WW Ranch, where WW Sporting Clays also operates.
The site shows the start of an equipment building and huge piles of dirt. Scarborough and Goria said the buildings at the facility, just like the buildings on the ranch, will be made from wood milled from the farm.
The project will be at least a $1.75 million investment.
The City is reviewing development plans for the park at 1439 Otis Road, which is north of I-10 and not far from the Chaffee Road exit. A Facebook page for WW Motocross Park says an opening is expected next year.
Motocross is a closed-course motorcycle race over natural or simulated rough terrain, such as steep inclines, hairpin turns and mud.
Scarborough said the track is being designed and built by Jason Baker. Baker runs the Bartow-based Dream Traxx company and has raced professionally.
Scarborough said he’s shooting for 100 riders a day on average weekends, when riders will visit for practice or just for fun.
He envisions six to eight races a year, that would draw participants from Friday through Sunday nights.
Scarborough developed a Facebook page, WW Motocross Park, to update his progress.
“Well it's finally official! We can now say that Jacksonville will have a national caliber motocross facility open in 2013,” it says.
The park is “shooting to be open around bike week. But if all goes well it could be earlier. Please stay tuned for updates. Pictures and video of new construction will be up soon. Thanks to all riders out there for supporting local tracks. The riding will be well worth the wait,” the Facebook page says.
The 72nd anniversary of Bike Week, referred to on its website as “The World's Largest Motorcycle Event in Daytona Beach, Florida,” is scheduled March 8-17.
Site-review plans for WW Motocross Park show a track, a pee wee track, a ticket booth, an announcer’s tower and the other elements of a motocross facility. There will be parking for the bikers who bring campers and trailers.
Scarborough is listed in state records as the managing member and agent of WW Motocross Park LLC. The company was registered July 18 with the Florida Department of State Division of Corporation.
Scarborough also owned WW Sporting Clays, which occupies about 40-50 acres of the Scarborough land at 1445 Otis Road.
WW Sporting Clays was established in 1990. Scarborough owned and it and Ken Branham managed it. It was sold to John Peek, who also owns Southwind Sporting Clays and Quail Hunting in Valdosta, Ga. Peek hired Branham to return as manager.
Scarborough said Friday the park will bring business to area hotels and stores. “I feel like it will be a shot in the arm for everyone,” he said.
Scarborough and Goria emphasize that motocross is a family sport.
Goria said the park will be a strong Jacksonville venue for the fans. “It is a very tight-knit group,” he said.
Scarborough said his son, Jakob, 11, also rides.
“I’ve been thinking about this my whole life,” Scarborough said.
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