Official: Firebird International Raceway closing april 2013

[aspen7709]

Just got official notice from staff at Firebird raceway here in AZ that it WILL BE closed effective April 2013. No lease will be renewed. There are no solid plans as yet for a new facility. I guess it will be Tucson and Speedworld from here on out. If Speedworld can keep the sheriffs dept from closing them down.

http://www.myfoxphoenix.com/story/19...erage-drinking

[Bernie Cunningham]

Buggar !!!!

[SStockDart]

That really sucks, especially for us in Arizona.....I understand that the land that Firebird is on would be much more valuable for something else. When Firebird was built, it was "out in the country"....now it is surounded by casinos and homes. I hope someone invests in a new drag strip and/or Speedworld can get their dispute handled and then expand.

[Jeff Lee]

Ruins my weekend!
Rumor has it Charlie Allan (Firebird's owner) has land for a track. If so, he better get on it; about 6 months ago!

And I've said it before, Speed Worlds wild party atmosphere or attitude will not be tolerated by the locals (or the Sheriff).

[Pat Cook]

Speedworld needs another Bob Curly.

I really like that track.

[BLAZER]

Originally Posted by Pat Cook

Speedworld needs another Bob Curly.

I really like that track.

Where is Sheriff "JOE" !

[Belair 7548]

Maybe not all is lost for local racers in Arizona. We are talking (in my architecture firm) with a group that is considering a multi-motorsport complex here in AZ...........of course I can't say more and it is highly speculative. Actually, we've not heard from them in a while..........they've gone quiet so who knows, it could go either way as many of our architecture projects do.

I think there are some groups who understand the importance of motorsports as a business venture and the benefit in the west and Arizona. If they resurface again I'll let you know.

[Jeff Lee]

I was in the area of Luke Air Force Base today and there's a SCCA track that I've heard about but have never seen so I decided to drive by it. It's Arizona Motorsports Park @ 152nd Avenue & Camelback in Litchfield Park. Damn impressive track! They are at the tail-end of LAFB (for those that don't know, worlds largest Air Force fighter training base) runway. Plans take off and fly directly over this SCCA track. It was shut down in litigation for two years due to noise complaints! There is a large subdivision (Palm Valley) across the street; also under the flight path of F-16's! From what I understand, the track has a strictly enforced WOT DB level of 94 that is enforced. I was told a Ferrari or Lamborghini with stock exhaust would not pass. Gates open at 8 and no racing allowed until 9:00 A.M and racing stops at 4:00 P.M. to appease the neighbors.
I'm going to have to give the track a whirl with my SVT Focus someday soon. I've never done this & sounds like a fun way to kill 4 tires and 8 brake pads!

Back to the architects looking at a track, there's definitely a lot of cars in the Valley and surrounding states. If you drive to California there's a little spit of a town called Dateland on I-8. I'm told there is a Marine reserve field in the area which is only used for emergency landings (Marines use Yuma, AZ for fighter training). Every time I drive by there I think it would be a great spot for a drag strip to serve both southern California and Arizona. Just a thought...

[SSDiv6]

Originally Posted by Jeff Lee

I was in the area of Luke Air Force Base today and there's a SCCA track that I've heard about but have never seen so I decided to drive by it. It's Arizona Motorsports Park @ 152nd Avenue & Camelback in Litchfield Park. Damn impressive track! They are at the tail-end of LAFB (for those that don't know, worlds largest Air Force fighter training base) runway. Plans take off and fly directly over this SCCA track. It was shut down in litigation for two years due to noise complaints! There is a large subdivision (Palm Valley) across the street; also under the flight path of F-16's! From what I understand, the track has a strictly enforced WOT DB level of 94 that is enforced. I was told a Ferrari or Lamborghini with stock exhaust would not pass. Gates open at 8 and no racing allowed until 9:00 A.M and racing stops at 4:00 P.M. to appease the neighbors.
I'm going to have to give the track a whirl with my SVT Focus someday soon. I've never done this & sounds like a fun way to kill 4 tires and 8 brake pads!

Back to the architects looking at a track, there's definitely a lot of cars in the Valley and surrounding states. If you drive to California there's a little spit of a town called Dateland on I-8. I'm told there is a Marine reserve field in the area which is only used for emergency landings (Marines use Yuma, AZ for fighter training). Every time I drive by there I think it would be a great spot for a drag strip to serve both southern California and Arizona. Just a thought...

A few years ago, a group of developers filed a lawsuit requesting to be allowed to develop land at the Gila Bend firing range and additional land near Luke AFB.

The government refused and they filed a lawsuit. The government won the case and the state and the AG have supported the limits to developments in the area. The US Air Force testified that if homes were built, the next thing it would happen was the home owners would request closure of the base due to noise.

The same issues that happen to many racetracks; people build and purchase homes near airports, military bases and racetracks and then want them close because of noise or traffic.

[GarysZ24]

Wow, this is the same kind of mess that tried (and failed), to mess up Bandimere Speedway in Denver...right around y2k! Fortunately the Bandimeres owned their land, and put up a very credible argument for why the track needed to stay there and in operation after the election ruined their plans for a "World Park" out east of Aurora, so as to enhance Bandimere in Morrison....