Official: Firebird International Raceway closing april 2013

Tim Kish · 10-08-2012, 09:08 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Albert Lee

Does anyone have a factual update on racing in Lake Havasu City, AZ?

Al

My grandmother lives in Havasu and continually gives me updates from whats in the paper there. She said the site for the potential track has moved from Sara Park out to the other side of town near the airport. Said that there has been activity in that area with earth moving equipment leveling the site.

Jeff Lee · 10-08-2012, 11:55 AM

1st I've heard of this...any more info?

Greg Barsamian · 10-08-2012, 08:46 PM

They were running ASA trucks & Bondurant Road Course cars there on Saturday using the 1/4 mile as a straightaway.

There was construction equipment in the area around the Casino on I-10!
I asked a few spectators about the closure, no-one there had heard anything?

Cars, Boats, Bikes, You name it, the facility is AWESOME!
Hopefully it will remain a racing complex

z28kid · 10-29-2012, 12:56 PM

I'm in an organization that hosts the ASA speedtruck races and we are waiting just like everyone else on the news.

only people that really know whats going on are people who are working on it directly. I see everything else are rumors and gossip.

P.s I was at the event in Oct. we ran "mondo" configuration. First time for ASA to run that configuration.
Just last weekend an Off Road group was running over on the east track area. NASA was running main, Proauto was running West and this weekend Drag boats

If you guys would like more details check out proautosports. Lets hope FIR stays open

Philip Saran · 10-29-2012, 01:29 PM

My first house was one offramp away from OCIR in Irvine, CA back in the late 70's.

Yes I could hear the funny cars coming off the line on a Saturday night, but I enjoyed
it. Was sad to see it go and have business's built on the land.

The track was seperated from the Marine Base by a chain link fence and a set of
railroad tracks.

Stock726 · 10-29-2012, 05:23 PM

Official press release from Team Firebird site:

http://www.teamfirebird.com/News.aspx?a=154

Albert Lee · 10-29-2012, 07:44 PM

This Arizona Republic story from 10/11/2012 with the Tom Compton quote sounds a lot more encouraging!
Firebird future

NHRA drag racing might not be finished at Firebird International Raceway even though track president Charlie Allen's lease will expire shortly after the Arizona Nationals next Feb. 22-24.

NHRA President Tom Compton said he is working to continue the almost three-decade old event under different management. "Based on our discussions with the Gila River Indian Community (which owns the land), we are very optimistic that the venue will be on the schedule in 2014," Compton said.

Allen has been the lease holder for 29 years but wasn't able to successfully negotiate a seven-year option. Allen said last February he was studying a replacement site about 15 minutes south of Firebird, but has dropped that idea and isn't actively pursuing any other location, according to track vice president Franki Buckman.
Allen will remain at Firebird through April.

Al Corda

astikhossw · 10-29-2012, 09:53 PM

Always about money one person has it another wants more than there fair share.aint a dam thing funny in this land of milk and honey.

10-08-2012, 11:55 AM	#2
Jeff Lee VIP Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Anthem, Arizona Posts: 2,766 Likes: 0 Liked 3 Times in 3 Posts	Re: Official: Firebird International Raceway closing april 2 1st I've heard of this...any more info? __________________ Jeff Lee 7494 D/S '70 AMX

10-08-2012, 08:46 PM	#3
Greg Barsamian VIP Member Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: Central Massachusetts Posts: 1,398 Likes: 708 Liked 410 Times in 94 Posts	Re: Official: Firebird International Raceway closing april 2 They were running ASA trucks & Bondurant Road Course cars there on Saturday using the 1/4 mile as a straightaway. There was construction equipment in the area around the Casino on I-10! I asked a few spectators about the closure, no-one there had heard anything? Cars, Boats, Bikes, You name it, the facility is AWESOME! Hopefully it will remain a racing complex

10-29-2012, 12:56 PM	#4
z28kid Junior Member Join Date: Oct 2012 Posts: 1 Likes: 0 Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Re: Official: Firebird International Raceway closing april 2 I'm in an organization that hosts the ASA speedtruck races and we are waiting just like everyone else on the news. only people that really know whats going on are people who are working on it directly. I see everything else are rumors and gossip. P.s I was at the event in Oct. we ran "mondo" configuration. First time for ASA to run that configuration. Just last weekend an Off Road group was running over on the east track area. NASA was running main, Proauto was running West and this weekend Drag boats If you guys would like more details check out proautosports. Lets hope FIR stays open Last edited by z28kid; 10-29-2012 at 12:58 PM.

10-29-2012, 01:29 PM	#5
Philip Saran Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Parker, CO. Posts: 728 Likes: 165 Liked 14 Times in 11 Posts	Re: Official: Firebird International Raceway closing april 2 My first house was one offramp away from OCIR in Irvine, CA back in the late 70's. Yes I could hear the funny cars coming off the line on a Saturday night, but I enjoyed it. Was sad to see it go and have business's built on the land. The track was seperated from the Marine Base by a chain link fence and a set of railroad tracks. __________________ Phil Saran Parker, Colorado

10-29-2012, 05:23 PM	#6
Stock726 Junior Member Join Date: Jan 2009 Posts: 71 Likes: 24 Liked 13 Times in 9 Posts	Re: Official: Firebird International Raceway closing april 2 Official press release from Team Firebird site: http://www.teamfirebird.com/News.aspx?a=154

10-29-2012, 07:44 PM	#7
Albert Lee Member Join Date: Apr 2010 Posts: 253 Likes: 145 Liked 258 Times in 49 Posts	Re: Official: Firebird International Raceway closing april 2 This Arizona Republic story from 10/11/2012 with the Tom Compton quote sounds a lot more encouraging! Firebird future NHRA drag racing might not be finished at Firebird International Raceway even though track president Charlie Allen's lease will expire shortly after the Arizona Nationals next Feb. 22-24. NHRA President Tom Compton said he is working to continue the almost three-decade old event under different management. "Based on our discussions with the Gila River Indian Community (which owns the land), we are very optimistic that the venue will be on the schedule in 2014," Compton said. Allen has been the lease holder for 29 years but wasn't able to successfully negotiate a seven-year option. Allen said last February he was studying a replacement site about 15 minutes south of Firebird, but has dropped that idea and isn't actively pursuing any other location, according to track vice president Franki Buckman. Allen will remain at Firebird through April. Al Corda

10-29-2012, 09:53 PM	#8
astikhossw Member Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: moreno valley Ca Posts: 266 Likes: 2 Liked 20 Times in 9 Posts	Re: Official: Firebird International Raceway closing april 2 Always about money one person has it another wants more than there fair share.aint a dam thing funny in this land of milk and honey.