Motoring Guide - April 2013

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FREE motoring April, 2013

Voyager Media Publications, Inc The Joliet Bugle The Plainfield Enterprise The Shorewood Sentinel www.buglenewspapers.com

INSIDEFeatures n Cover story Chicagoland revs up for Sprint Cup > page 1 & 3

Wheel of Fortune

n Monthly motoring Spring Detailing > page 3 n old car classic Greg’s Auto Body > page 5 n Monthly motoring Road Trip Tips > page 7

The Autobahn Country Club blends the grandeur of the club with the thrill of the track

T

he Autobahn Country Club in Joliet is, for all intents and purposes, a product of a mind that believed that one could, indeed, have the best of both worlds. The high-end car, and car racing, club was the brainchild of Mark Basso who, as a kid, enjoyed visiting the country clubs where the members chatted amiably over a drink on the patio and played a leisurely round of golf on the pristine, manicured course. Yet, it appears Basso leaned towards the mindset of his namesake, Mark Twain, who once said “golf is a good walk ruined.” Basso could have added a line of his own: “And I would rather drive, thank you very much.” He remembers “being a car guy all my life. I thought the country clubs were cool...except for the golf part.” So, in 2004, Basso became a trendsetter, of sorts, when he married his lifelong love of cars with the gentile camaraderie of the country club. The Autobahn Country Club was born and

has grown to the point where it has 400 members. Autobahn also offers lots that overlook the tracks. Autobahn sold out Phase’s I, II and III for a total of 52 lots. Autobahn has now launched Phase IV which features 16 track side lots and 8 back side lots. So far 11 members have been willing to put down $200,000 to have a phase IV lot on which they will build a “garage-mahal”. As well, if imitation is the truest form of flattery, Basso has reason to blush. “We’re in our

ninth year. We were the first purpose built track to start with this concept. Since then, several billionaires have been building their own versions.” A typical property at Autobhan differs from a standard country estate, insofar as the cars are the key residents. The first floor is likely to cover 4,000 to 6,000 square feet and all that is garage space. Continued on page 3

Autobahn country club Clubhouse


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