A Different Kind of Driving Range

At your typical country club, the drives that members care about are tee shots down the fairways. But for Twin Cities–area owners of vintage, classic, or high-performance cars, the term “country club” will soon take on a different meaning. A louder meaning.

In April, ground is scheduled to be broken for the Auto MotorPlex Minneapolis in Chanhassen. Think of the MotorPlex as a private club for upscale gearheads. It will be a place not only to store and maintain your Porsche 911, ’66 Ford Mustang, or other high-style auto, but also a club where you can hang out with fellow cool-car enthusiasts. In time, the Auto MotorPlex Minneapolis could also include a track where car owners can let their vehicles open up at speeds much greater than a rural freeway allows—and without those pesky highway patrolmen lurking near overpasses.

All told, Silikowski says, the MotorPlex "will be a perfect place for people to get together to watch a Formula 1 race, or a friendly place where people can work on their cars, or get together and smoke a good cigar."

The driving force behind the MotorPlex, which is scheduled to have its grand opening in October, is Bruno Silikowski, a former management consultant whose love of fast cars inspired him to start the club. He’s not charting new territory—similar facilities have opened up across the country. But for Minnesota owners of Ferraris and other high-performance cars, the MotorPlex could provide room to zoom.