FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Motorsports Club Summit Announces 2027 Dates Following Successful Inaugural Event at Autobahn Country Club
Spring Mountain Motor Resort & Country Club to host next gathering April 19–20, 2027
JOLIET, Ill. — June 24, 2026 — The inaugural Motorsports Club Summit brought together leaders from membership-based motorsports facilities across North America on April 15–16 at Autobahn Country Club, establishing a new forum for collaboration, knowledge-sharing and strategic discussion within the growing private motorsports club sector.
More than 15 motorsports club projects were represented at the two-day event, alongside suppliers and industry partners. Participants included established clubs as well as facilities in development, reflecting the breadth and continued expansion of a business model that combines high-performance driving, member experience, hospitality, real estate and motorsports operations.
Designed specifically for facilities where membership is a central focus of the business, the Motorsports Club Summit provided an opportunity for club operators and partners to discuss the opportunities and challenges shared across the industry.
“The summit was built around bringing together the people who understand this business best,” said Mike Gritter of Autobahn Country Club. “Every club has its own character and market, but there are common opportunities in operations, member engagement, safety, technology and competition. The conversations throughout the event made it clear that there is significant value in sharing ideas and building stronger relationships across the industry.”
Gritter opened the summit with an overview of the growth and position of membership-based motorsports facilities within the broader racing landscape. Autobahn founders Tim O’Donnell and Mark Basso followed with a look at the club’s history and its role as an early pioneer of the private motorsports club model.
Christian Epp of Tilke Engineers & Architects provided a global perspective on the evolution of motorsports clubs, while Aurora Straus of P1 Motor Club shared insights from the development and operation of a contemporary club facility.
A featured roundtable explored the potential for an inter-club racing series, generating discussion around how greater competition and connectivity could benefit both members and participating facilities. The conversation included Tom Herb of Autobahn Country Club, Paul Sparta of Random Vandals Racing and Adam McGregor of BMW North America.
Attendees also participated in a comprehensive facility and track tour of Autobahn Country Club, including on-track laps and visits to Race Control, the karting facility, race shops and the club’s residential offerings.
The first day concluded with cocktails, networking and dinner featuring special guest speaker David Hobbs. The former Formula 1 and IndyCar driver shared perspective from a career that included the Indianapolis 500, 24 Hours of Le Mans and top-level international sports car racing, followed by decades as one of motorsports’ most recognizable broadcast voices.
Day two focused on operations, member engagement, technology and partnership development. Elizabeth McGee of Spring Mountain addressed member sales and retention strategies, while Alan Bertagnoli discussed the advantages of integrated karting programs. Shawn Hayes of Atlanta Motorsports Park introduced the Member Track Network concept, designed to create greater connectivity and shared value among participating facilities.
Dan Telfer of MyLaps and Badr El Maadoudi of Stand 21 North America also addressed the importance of technology, data, safety innovation and long-term relationships between facilities, members and industry providers.
“As both a vendor and track enthusiast, I believe we need more summits like the one Autobahn hosted this year. Bringing private and non-private tracks together to discuss the industry and its direction is crucial to keeping tracks strong and sustainable in the United States. I appreciated the opportunity to share with owners and directors the work MYLAPS is doing to support their facilities.”
— Dan Telfer, MYLAPS
The event schedule also created ample opportunity for informal networking through breakfasts, lunches and a cocktail reception, while optional Toyota GR86 lapping sessions and karting gave attendees additional ways to experience Autobahn’s facilities.
The summit concluded with the announcement that Spring Mountain Motor Resort & Country Club will host the next Motorsports Club Summit on Monday and Tuesday, April 19–20, 2027. The Monday–Tuesday format was selected to better accommodate the operational schedules of participating clubs, industry partners and attendees.
“We are truly honored to welcome this exceptional group of private country club professionals to Spring Mountain Motor Resort & Country Club. Gatherings like these provide a wonderful opportunity to build connections, share ideas, and learn from experts in our industry while celebrating the unique communities we each serve. Following the success of last year’s event at Autobahn Country Club, we are excited to continue this tradition of collaboration and camaraderie at Spring Mountain.”
— Elizabeth McGee, Spring Mountain Motor Resort & Country Club, regarding hosting the 2027 Motorsports Club Summit.
Additional program details, registration information and hotel accommodations for the 2027 Motorsports Club Summit will be announced in the coming months.
For more information about the Motorsports Club Summit, contact Mike Gritter at mike@autobahncc.com.
ABOUT THE MOTORSPORTS CLUB SUMMIT
The Motorsports Club Summit brings together North American facilities where membership is a central focus of the business. The event provides a forum for motorsports clubs, development projects, suppliers and industry partners to network, exchange ideas and engage in strategic discussions on club operations, member experience and long-term growth.
ABOUT AUTOBAHN COUNTRY CLUB
Located in Joliet, Illinois, Autobahn Country Club is a private motorsports facility featuring multiple road-course configurations, karting, member racing, professional driver development, race shop support and residential opportunities.