Larry Miller wanted to build a racetrack for himself and his friends. Somehow, the Salt Lake City business mogul ended up with an $80 million Disneyland for motorsports junkies, complete with go-karts, dirt bikes, on-site camping, a heliport – and one of the fastest tracks in the US.
Professional drivers routinely whip through curves at 160 mph and hit 200 mph on the straightaways. That’s saying a lot, because Miller Motorsports Park offers a challenging course with 120 feet of roller-coaster elevation changes, 12 passing zones, and 24 complex turns. Anyone who aces the safety test and coughs up $375 can take a spin on the 4.5-mile track. Designer Alan Wilson gave Wired a road map (click left-hand image) for conquering his course.
– Brian Lam 
A. STARTING LINE Keep your foot on the gas. This straight - one of the longest in the US - is 3,500 feet of pure acceleration. Expect to hit up to 200 mph. B. THE 3 Ds Don’t bother to calculate your angle of attack, simply muscle through at 60 mph and keep your eye on the road ahead. Named for its three points - Demon, Devil, and Diablo - this turn has a varied grade so drivers feel like they’re losing traction.C. SUNSET BEND Drop your speed to 70 mph or you’ll slide off the track. And at the end of a day, you’ll be zooming into the sunset, so wear shades. Dodging competitors while blind ain’t easy. D. ALTERNATE COURSES Miller is used to running sporting events - he owns the Utah Jazz - so he made sure the raceway had a lot more than just asphalt. For amateurs, it has one of the fastest go-kart courses in the country, featuring a 1,000-foot straightaway. There’s also a dirt-bike track. And for spectators, 95 percent of the main circuit is visible from the raised berms surrounding two-thirds of the course (think stadium seating, a rarity around tracks).E. THE CLUBHOUSE The control tower, at the final bend, also contains a five-star restaurant and a garden oasis. F. RELEASE Take the final 90-degree left at 60 mph. With a 9-degree grade, it’s heavily banked and uphill, meaning forward momentum will keep your tires glued to the pavement. Then its 900 feet to the checkered flag - just enough time for last-second, Hollywood-style passes. Hey, isn’t that what you’re paying for?
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Built for Speed
