MIO — The man in charge of constructing 33 Motosports Park at the corner of Mt. Tom Road and County Road 608 in Oscoda County said he envisions it being the second-largest motocross park in the state.

Hillman resident David Hassell, speaking at the Jan. 24 meeting of the Oscoda County Board of Commissioners, said the Red Bud MX track, located in Buchanan, is currently the largest park in the state. Hassell said while Baja Acres in Birch Run also has a large facility, he thinks the Oscoda County facility will be better for races and spectators alike.

“We will have better dirt and better facilities,” he said.

Hassell said he is targeting a May opening date for the park. He said until the recent snowfall hit the county, he had been on-site overseeing the park’s construction.

“We were pushing dirt every day,” he said.

According to Hassell, Fairview Mill owner Jon Gusler deserves credit for providing the idea and financing for the park.

“The owner approached me in late September,” Hassell said. “This is 100 percent Jon’s idea.”

Hassell said one of his goals for the park is to make it affordable for people to attend, and he said he will structure the prices for the park accordingly.

“We are comparable to the smallest club tracks,” he said. “This is an idea of Jon’s, to make it affordable for families.”

Last month, Hassell said the park will be open every weekend from May through October, and will also be open Tuesdays and Thursdays during August. According to Hassell, once the park is open, it will offer racing for all sizes of motocross and trail motorcycles, quads, and utility terrain vehicles, as well as snowmobile racing and riding during the winter.

“We could have 300-400 riders on any given race day,” he said.

Hassell said at the meeting there are no plans for the track to be an American Motorcyclist Association (AMA) sanctioned park.

Nonetheless, he said he has received positive feedback about the park.

“The industry response has been overwhelming,” he said.

Commissioner Tom Trimmer asked Hassell how many jobs will the park provide, and Hassell replied that there will be between nine and 14 people working between practices and race days.

Vice Chairman Michael Hunt questioned Hassell as to how much of a factor noise will be from the park, and Hassell replied that he does not see it being that big an issue.

“I think we’re going to be contained within the trees and within the valley,” he said.

Hunt also asked what kind of food would be provided at the park.

“We’re working with several restaurants to cater a café space,” Hassell responded. “We’re working with the health department.”

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