Official: Firebird International Raceway closing april 2013 - Page 4

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.

njk53 · 10-30-2012, 02:39 PM

First of all I wouldn't get involved with any race track venture unless the land is mine or I have a long, long term lease. I heard thats what killed Bee Line Dragway. I heard the property was on Indian Reservation and the track owners couldn't come to a lease agreement. Bee Line still sits there abandoned. Just think someone could have been making money all of those years it has been sitting.

A guy that runs a motocross track on Ironwood south of the US 60 in Apache Junction just put in a 3/8 dirt oval. This would be a great location for a new dragstrip. I was told the track is on state land not Indian Reservation property.

It was sad to see Manzanita Speedway close and now Firebird. Liked going to both tracks.

10-29-2012, 01:29 PM	#31
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	#32
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	#33
Albert Lee Member Join Date: Apr 2010 Posts: 253 Likes: 141 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	#34
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.

10-30-2012, 02:39 PM	#35
njk53 Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: East China, MI Posts: 504 Likes: 0 Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Re: Official: Firebird International Raceway closing april 2 First of all I wouldn't get involved with any race track venture unless the land is mine or I have a long, long term lease. I heard thats what killed Bee Line Dragway. I heard the property was on Indian Reservation and the track owners couldn't come to a lease agreement. Bee Line still sits there abandoned. Just think someone could have been making money all of those years it has been sitting. A guy that runs a motocross track on Ironwood south of the US 60 in Apache Junction just put in a 3/8 dirt oval. This would be a great location for a new dragstrip. I was told the track is on state land not Indian Reservation property. It was sad to see Manzanita Speedway close and now Firebird. Liked going to both tracks. __________________ Nelson Kowal Stock 345 Last edited by njk53; 10-30-2012 at 02:48 PM.