Any update on Firebird/ SpeedWorld Phoenix
 

When I was visiting Arizona my friend who lives in Mesa said he had heard that SpeedWorld in North Phoenix was closing, is this true? I heard the track was going around in circles with Mairocopa County on facilities issues and some under age drinking incidents but, I didn't think the situation was that bad. They just put in a 3/8 semi banked dirt oval about 3 years ago. What a waste if this is true.

Also, what is going on with Firebird? Rumor is the NHRA is talking with the Indians to keep it a NHRA sanctioned track. Any updates?

Re: Any update on Firebird/ SpeedWorld Phoenix
 

The management at Speedworld just sent out an eMail stating they are closing. They hope to stay open until May, but the end may come sooner.

NHRA and the Tribe are still in negotiations over keeping Firebird open.. We have an employee meeting at Firebird this Saturday morning. I will let everyone know what is discussed.

Raul

Re: Any update on Firebird/ SpeedWorld Phoenix
 

Anxious to hear any news, Raul.

I don't care to dispense rumors, but I do know this.
The Tribe has been in contact with various independent promoters to gauge their interest in doing events in 2014

Re: Any update on Firebird/ SpeedWorld Phoenix
 

What happened at SpeedWorld?? This is a shock to me.

Re: Any update on Firebird/ SpeedWorld Phoenix
 

I have permission to post this here..and in my Southwest Drags section.
Please pay particular attention to the part about supporting the remaining events.
Your support of the SWND's in March will determine whether we attempt to move our events to another venue in the future.
Thanks, Mark ,Spike



Good morning everyone, I hope this message finds everyone well and staying warm.

This email is to let everyone know exactly what is going on with Speedworld and the County/State situation. First I want to give you our schedule for the next few weeks.

This SaturDAY, January 19 - ADRA + Open Test & Tune, gates 9am
Saturday NIGHT, January 19 - Cruise-In Street Meet, gates 7pm
Next SaturDAY, January 26 - No races scheduled
Saturday NIGHT, January 26 - Street Meet, gates 9am
Friday Feb 1 - Open Test & Tune & move in for National Open Weekend - Gates 10, T&T Noon-7
Saturday Feb 2 - NHRA National Open Qualifying, big car Team Speedworld #1, Jr Team Speedworld #1 & Jr Divisional #1 - Gates 8am
Sunday Feb 3 - NHRA National Open Eliminations, Jr Team Speedworld #2 & Jr Divisional #2 - Gates 8am

There are additional races posted on our website through the end of the year: www.racespeedworld.com. That and our hotline 623-388-2424 are the ONLY places to get ACCURATE information. Do not believe anything else you hear or read except from those two places!

That said, there won't be races to the end of the year, as we have reached the end. Speedworld WILL be closing permanently, we just don't know exactly when. We are in negotiations with the state & county (as I write this) to try and formulate an exit strategy that works for everyone. This must be done before a hearing scheduled for Thursday, Jan 17. Don't ask me why, you don't want to know all the political bull**** that is going on. Suffice to say, it will be much better for us if we can negotiate everything before that hearing.

Like you, I'm pretty much devastated over this situation - and I've only been here 20 years! Speedworld is my life, my family, my home, and for most of you, I know you feel that way too. But after 3 years and about $300,000 in legal fees, the opposition has become so intense and has thrown up so many obstacles that we cannot continue to fight them, in spite of all the tremendous support from you, our racer family.

Let's look to the future. We have found an extremely suitable location for the dirt part of our operations that could possibly have a dragstrip sometime in the future. That would depend on the willingness of the property owner to sell the suitable land next to the dirt operation. Right now, we don't know if that's feasible. From a physical standpoint, it is doable. It will require two things we don't have right at this moment: time and money, but then you already knew that! We can pick up our dirt operations & equipment and move them, we can't do that with a dragstrip. But it IS doable, and I personally assure you, I'm going to do everything I can to see that the dream of a new dragstrip in the Phoenix area becomes reality. We'd probably be looking at nearly two years before racing could begin, but it could happen. We will keep everyone posted.

Now, back to the present. Please support every race that you possibly can, as this will help us considerably to make a new facility happen. AS SOON AS I KNOW A FINAL DATE I WILL TELL YOU! We're asking to run at least through the end of May, to complete our 'spring' schedule. This would include enough Team Speedworld races to qualify for the ET Finals, both Juniors and big cars. It would include the Heritage race, as well as the Lucas Oil Off Road race. But I stress that this is not yet cast in stone, we don't know how much they'll give us. We believe it's a very real possibility they'll allow us that much time, but remember who we're dealing with: self-serving politicians.

From all of us at Speedworld, thank you for your continued support over the past 52 years. We could not have gone on this long without this support, and we sincerely hope that someday soon we'll all be back racing at a new facility. In the meantime, we'll see you at the track!




Hal Sanguinetti
Speedworld Dragstrip
Track Manager/Publications Mgr/Announcer

Re: Any update on Firebird/ SpeedWorld Phoenix
 

That just SUCKS

I just licensed there in December and the track was in good shape

And here on this forum the whinners worry about NHRA charging $5 more - better get your priorities straight guys or there will be no drag strips at least out west (of couse since this is basically an east coast site - I guess that would not matter)

Sorry for the rant but this pisses me off

Ron

Re: Any update on Firebird/ SpeedWorld Phoenix
 

I love that place! I grew up out there in the 80s. I won my first bracket race there in 1995. It will be missed. It was called Phoenix Raceway Park when I raced there.:mad:

Re: Any update on Firebird/ SpeedWorld Phoenix
 

Well, at least NHRA has stepped up to the plate here, HUH !!!

Follow the money ?

Re: Any update on Firebird/ SpeedWorld Phoenix
 

Speedworld:
1. Owner that loved his motocross track and was openly against the drag strip (not Hal; writer of the announcement); call it a necessary evil. Maybe he wasn't against it but the MC track was definitely his baby.
2. Track Manager Victoria Griffey was there 20 years and left a year or so ago. I believe it had a lot to do with #1 above. Hal took over and put his heart into it but, again, se #1.
3. Track owner decided all night "rave" type parties at the track with DJ's, booze, bikini contests, mud wrestling, etc., was what the track owner needed. A total cash cow. Unfortunately, 25 or so arrests by the County Sheriff for underage drinking, drug possessions, fighting, etc,. per event. I hardly think the residents surrounding the track appreciated those events. And it sure caught the eye of the County.
4. County starts looking into the facility which had been off radar for decades. County finds #1 above had gone beyond the original land lease agreement and had built out of the boundaries and had not obtained proper building permits, structure issues, grading issues and the big elephant; county says they need sewer connections @ MC track.
5. #1 above takes on county. Makes the big paper last summer. Interview with #1 above makes it obvious that #1 above was going to fight city hall and was going to do things his way. Doesn't adhere to the well known proverb "you can't fight city hall".
6. Track announces closing.

I'm pissed but I saw it coming in the order I presented with each # being another nail in the coffin. I have raced there since 1978 and the owner at the time, Mike Donnelly, gave the track(no charge) to me and my buddy Brian Griffey for the day with timers to test / tune and experiment with our '70 & '71 Challenger street cars that we raced probably 50 weeks out of the year. Imagine that today? Mike loved that track and so did all the other owners that followed. Except #1 above.
We see tracks closed all over the country to make room for a parking lot, commercial buildings and whatever else. We see them close because of external influences. But this track is closing because of one person and it is internal.

Re: Any update on Firebird/ SpeedWorld Phoenix
 

I have raced there for many years and this guy is the worst owner we have had. He has said many times he doesnt care about the Dragstrip. He has already found a place for the drit bike track.
I Like Hal but he is a Dirt Biker at heart.
I dont see Speedworld ever opening again, if Dan owns it that is. Sad. JMO

Re: Any update on Firebird/ SpeedWorld Phoenix
 

Sounds similar to KCIR ( Kansas City International Raceway). City buys track due to neighbors complaints, and politics. City says they need another park and after a couple of years now still sitting vacant. Oh and BTW, D-5 director was part owner in the track. Now latest rumor is that snakes have halted city from making it a park. The only snakes are the politicians and the D-5 director.

Sorry to hear about the track.

Sean

Re: Any update on Firebird/ SpeedWorld Phoenix
 

I have been going to Phoenix Raceway/Speedworld since I was 16 years old, I am currently 59, I had a short career as a starter there back when the Freeman brothers still had their Nova stick cars, back when dials were only a tenth a part and the starter had to figure the difference as the cars were doing burn outs then you put the dial it to a little box with a rotary dial on it,

Really is a sad situation. I was slowly convincing my better half to move to Wickenburg partly to be a little closer to a race track that has always had a special place in my soul. Who knows....I was born and raised in the great state of Arizona, but it is slowly becoming too much like CA. no offense to my California buddies. My it is time to move, but not to Wickenburg.

Re: Any update on Firebird/ SpeedWorld Phoenix
 

We have been thinking about Portland Or.

Re: Any update on Firebird/ SpeedWorld Phoenix
 

Phoenix is now scratched from list of places to relocate to.

WF

Re: Any update on Firebird/ SpeedWorld Phoenix
 

Robbie, I think you ought to cut Hal some slack here..He's a car guy.He just likes those old pipe rack things..He did a lot of work at the M/C track., because that's where the business was..The drag strip under Dan, and I don't know before that, never held up it's end of the deal.
They tried Wed night , Fri night ,Saturday day and night, and Sundays, but the racers and T& T-ers never came out in any great numbers.
Some of our independent promotions did okay, and propped up the drag strip, but bottom line, the numbers just weren't there for what it costs to open ,staff light up ,and prep a dragstrip in this century.
This Valley was hard hit by the recession and paying spectators were scarce.
We talked to plenty of old timers with our race promotion at the various FREE cruise nights.
Most of the comments were ; Oh that ol' Mel Larson's place ?
They still open ? I haven't been out there since they started that " go too fast and lose stuff".
We'd manage to drag a few former racers and fans, and some of the younger retro guys out there for our nostalgia deal, but in reality , I think the market for a local strip dried up with the last century...at least in this part of the country.
It's a shame ...but that's how I see it .

Re: Any update on Firebird/ SpeedWorld Phoenix
 

[QUOTE=RobbieRacer;365509I Like Hal but he is a Dirt Biker at heart.
JMO[/QUOTE]
That is not true at all about Hal. Hal is a HUGE lover of drag racing. If you ever saw what is in his little shop out behind his home. You would not say that.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v2...ps1e4ac9a7.jpg
That is my daughter sitting in Hal's front engine dragster. (Get the name in the cowl?)One thing I know about Hal. He has ALL of his heart into that dragstrip. Always had.

Re: Any update on Firebird/ SpeedWorld Phoenix
 

I spent some time in the early 90s back east. saw some GREAT racing at some GREAT tracks. But the first thing I did when I got back to Phoenix. I headed on out the Speedworld (Back then Phoenix Raceway Park. I always liked that name better.) I missed that track. I lived out there for the rest of the 90s. That is my favorite drag strip of all time and places and I am really hating to see it go. No place like it in the world. This really saddens me.
Phoenix will really suck if we loose both tracks.
I never was ever really able to get involved with the drag racing like I would had liked to. Just never had the money. At my age now and income. I do not ever seeing it happening. But at least I could always keep a little of that dream alive with the drag strips being close by. Maybe hoping that one day I could have some sort of a race car to run. But with both tracks gone. I just cannot see it ever happening. Just a big bummer.:(

Re: Any update on Firebird/ SpeedWorld Phoenix
 

Mark and Matt, You both have good ponts. He is a "Pipe Rack" guy..LOL Speedworld is my home track and I will miss it as much as anyone else. Guess I'm just lashing out. If we loose both tracks that will so suck. Guess SIR wil be the home track for a while.

Re: Any update on Firebird/ SpeedWorld Phoenix
 

I started @ Phoenix Raceway Park in 1978. It will be missed but as I said earlier, I saw all the nails going in the coffin long ago.
I do have high hopes that Firebird will remain. Heck, it may even improve with new management. Speedworld USED to always have the track prepped nicely. Firebird only had good track prep for special events (Super Class races, Divisionals & Nationals), forget weekly T& T sessions.
SIR is good but quite a drive.

Re: Any update on Firebird/ SpeedWorld Phoenix
 

My take is this...I am an EAST valley racer(Firebird is my "home" track) and the racers at firebird will and do travel to Speedworld for select events BUT maybe 10% of Speedworld racers will cross that invisible barrier called th i-17 to race at Firebird. People that live in AZ know what i am talking about. East will go west but WEST WILL NOT GO EAST! The economy has had a devastating effect on the racing community in the valley especially on the west side. Speedworld has always been good to racers but never was able to attract spectators or top shelf attractions. Firebird will survive. Speed world needs new ownership, new events and fresh life put to it to make it. And as for Firebird conditions I have only had problems when I did not call ahead to let them know I was coming with a serious car on a friday night.
Long story short is that for all the concern about losing speedworld the west valley community does not have the funds, dedication, car count or the ability to save it.Plus the current ownership could care less about the Drag part of it(he has made that PERFECTLY clear) and WEST side racers will rather street race on happyvalley road than drive to Firebird...Yes I am talkin to you RAY LEWIS and co.
Firebird is already on the fast track to renovations and Tom Compton himself is involved with making sure Firebird stays open for what thats worth.
Yes I will miss Speedworld but when one door closes another opens. Maybe this will bring the eastside and westside racing communities together.

Kenny Newsome 7709 ?/SA

Re: Any update on Firebird/ SpeedWorld Phoenix
 

Fair & accurate assessment! I'm about 45 minutes to either track. I think Firebird will do just fine, maybe even better if they can drag in more cars.
And where on Happy Valley?

Re: Any update on Firebird/ SpeedWorld Phoenix
 

I hope you guys are right about Firebird staying open. Yes I am a "west side racer" but I have put in many passes at Firebird over the years. It's about the same driving time for me either way. No big deal. Sure hope they do more for the local guys.
And looking at the racer lists for both tracks, you guys are right. I guess I never relized how many racers dont ever go to Firebird. Maybe one race a year.
Get us all togeather at one track and the car count will be great.
So what will the new name be "Gila River Raceway"?

Re: Any update on Firebird/ SpeedWorld Phoenix
 

Kenny , I live halfway between the two tracks too .The reason I didn't go to Firebird much was traction ...or more specifically...lack of it @ Firebird.
I had a 14 sec. 5.0 Mustang that would repeat to the hundredth all 3 time trials at Speedworld.
Firebird, it was like a John Force burnout .
At Fun Ford about 5-6 years ago, the cars were bouncing off the walls during Saturday night eliminations. They had to pull the plug and do an 8 way split with us.
They worked on the track all night long, but same thing on Sunday.
I had the same problem with a 5000 lb 472 Caddy , there.
There was something bad wrong with that track for the local races.
I hope they fixed it last time around.

Re: Any update on Firebird/ SpeedWorld Phoenix
 

First time I went to Speedworld was in 1994 for the Div.7 points race. Great race, lost too early and went home too soon.Same thing next year. Last time I went was to a national open in September '03. Got sick there and wound up in the hospital.At least I got a grade point. The thing most noticeable was the continuing onslaught of population growth that is now on the edge of the track,in '94 it was 15 miles away.You know in that area developers and politicians have eyes on that land. Sort of like the movie where Rock Ridge was doing battle against Hedley Lamarr in order just to stay there. In that humorous scenario, the town of Rock Ridge won.This doesn't look so good. The parallel is very similar in the plot for the land,however. I don't have the answer.Mongo only pawn in game of life.

Re: Any update on Firebird/ SpeedWorld Phoenix
 

Latest 1-17-13 >>>> This will include the NHRA Open on schedule, and the Southwest Nostalgia Drags S/SS combo .March 16th
Please remember what I said about our events.
If we are able to move them across town,
the expense will most likely be higher, so we need your support on this one...I need some inspiration!

********

Hi everyone, I apologize for the lateness of this email, but I just got off the phone with Dan, and it looks very good that we have reached an equitable agreement with the state and county to be able to run Speedworld for the next 4 months. It's not cast in stone yet, but enough was hammered out today that Dan is very encouraged, and that's good enough for me. HOWEVER, there is no question that we will be closing sometime this summer, so if y'all need a Speedworld fix, now is the time to do it.

One thing that will almost certainly have to change is we will have to double up on weekends (with a lot more Sunday races) as part of the deal seems to be that we will get a Special Event Permit good for a certain number of weekends. This means a significant revamp of our event schedule, which will take at least a week, maybe more. I know many if not most of you have made your year's racing schedule out by now, but it will probably have to be adjusted. I'll still try very hard not to schedule on other events, especially Firebird Team Races - that's important to many of you. I will send out another email with the new schedule as soon as possible. For now, the schedule I sent out last week still applies, INCLUDING the National Open weekend!

Dan & I would also like to thank all of you who have called, texted and emailed both of us this past week, the additional encouragement and well-wishes have been a HUGE boost to our spirits (which were pretty damn low the past couple of days, especially for me!) THANK YOU SO MUCH, and see you at the track!

Re: Any update on Firebird/ SpeedWorld Phoenix
 

Thats good news.

Mark, where are you going to run your events?

Re: Any update on Firebird/ SpeedWorld Phoenix
 

Robbie, I can't release any news yet, but I'm working on it as we speak

Re: Any update on Firebird/ SpeedWorld Phoenix
 

Here is what I learned at the meeting today.

Bondurant has just signed a one year lease with the tribe. The tribe will only do one year leases, no long term. Bonderant gets their current location plus the other road race tracks on the property which includes the drag strip. The drag strip is a long straight section of one of the road race tracks. This means that to hold a drag race Bondurant will have to give the OK since they now lease it.

Lucas Oil is still in negotiations with the tribe for the lake and the off road course they built. They want a long term lease, but the tribe is not budging from their one year policy. Lucas only wants to have 2 boat drags and one off road race a year. I do not know if this will be resolved.

As far as the drag strip goes there is no new news. A few people were contacted by the tibe to see if they want to run it, but I do not know if anyone has been chosen. Charlie Allen has decided to leave all of the equipment at the strip when the track closes on 4/1/13. That means if someone wants to run it for the tribe it could open the following week. I guess the track will hire some of us to run and staff future events. Who knows!

I will let you know if I hear anything else.

Raul

Re: Any update on Firebird/ SpeedWorld Phoenix
 

The National Open at Speedworld this weekend is cancelled. According to the Speedworld website, a temporary use permit was not granted.

I guess this will sadly be the end for another track!

Re: Any update on Firebird/ SpeedWorld Phoenix
 

I just spoke directly to the source @ Firebird .
They are definitely re-opening with a new management team, and perhaps even in an uninterrupted manor.

He asked that you not believe any rumors to the contrary.

That's some good news for The Valley anyway . One drag strip is a lot better than NO dragstrips in a city this large.

Re: Any update on Firebird/ SpeedWorld Phoenix
 

Great news. Maybe I can get a job there when my current job ends on 4/1.


Raul

Re: Any update on Firebird/ SpeedWorld Phoenix
 

In case a few here might be interested......

Re: Any update on Firebird/ SpeedWorld Phoenix
 

Great report and information!

Re: Any update on Firebird/ SpeedWorld Phoenix
 

Good news......and there may be more to come!

Re: Any update on Firebird/ SpeedWorld Phoenix
 

I ran into an old S/ST racing buddy yesterday. Now take this second hand information for what it's worth, but knowing what I know of Dan, the owner, I believe it.
What I'm told is another racer did some fact checking with Maricopa County zoning department about the issue. He was told that Speedworld was offered a continued use permit FOR THE DRAGSTRIP but no to the MX track! I didn't ask if the no to MX track was the truck-off road and other dirt tracks. The response from Dan was "NO!, if I don't get MX, I don't want the dragstrip!"

Re: Any update on Firebird/ SpeedWorld Phoenix
 

I can't or confirm or deny that one...nor do I care to at this point.

However, check back here Friday for a big announcement for Valley S/SS racers.

Re: Any update on Firebird/ SpeedWorld Phoenix
 

Speedworld is currently closed .The county has continuously made unrealistic demands , preventing the track from re-opening, even on a temporary basis.


Firebird news:

We have an agreement with The Tribe to hold our events at Firebird Raceway.

That would be the 18th edition of The Southwest Nostalgia Drags and Car Show /
Stock /Super Stock combo race , Saturday ,April 13th.
(See our new flyer in our section down below on this forum)

The last day for Charlie Allen and company is April 6th, and they are booked up solid until then.
Our event will be the first with the new management, except possibly a T&T , Friday night, the 12th.

Re: Any update on Firebird/ SpeedWorld Phoenix
 

That is great news Mark.

Raul

Re: Any update on Firebird/ SpeedWorld Phoenix
 

New news:

I just spoke to the incoming president of the new Firebird raceway (or whatever it will be called.)
He wanted it known that they will be re-opening soon after the end of the lease with Charlie Allen on April 6th.
Unfortunately our event (Southwest Nostalgia Drags, S/SS Combo) will have to be postponed until the earliest possible race date...which will be as soon as humanly possible.
I am meeting with this gentleman later next week, and will have more at that time.

That's all I have today .If you are a sponsor or directly involved and want to call , I'll do the best I can , but you'll have to bear with me.

Former employees of either track...Stand by !

Re: Any update on Firebird/ SpeedWorld Phoenix
 

I hope it'll have a new name...there should be only one Firebird Raceway, and that one's in Boise...since Charlie seemed to always lay claim to such in his race ads, I hope it'll be different...