Speedworld Problems

[Eddies66]

This was posted on Drag Racing Online,

Maricopa County says Speedworld must close
Maricopa County, Arizona, officials have had enough. They say Speedworld owner Dan Matthews has not secured the proper permits, and they have asked him to close the northwest Valley track by Friday, June 15.

The problems with the county arose in 2006 when Matthews applied for a permit to run electrical lines to the property. He was told that Speedworld had grown beyond its original special-use permit by 26-1/2 acres and that, because of the growth, he would have to file for a new permit that would incorporate the additional land.

The county also informed Matthews that the original 1961 case file was missing and the plan that Matthews submitted in 2006 would be the one on record.

Four years later, the county claimed it had documented unapproved construction in April 2009, in addition to the continued use of the disputed land, according to a 2010 letter sent to Matthews.

Then, last year, the county found the 1961 site plan. In a Dec. 21, 2011, letter to Matthews, the county said the 2006 approval was based on the assumption that Speedworld had developed according to the original plan. Because this was not the case, approval was rescinded.

The letter also said Matthews had continued to develop the site without obtaining construction permits.

Earlier this month, the county issued a compliance offer, valid through June 14, to rectify all the issues. The agreement gives Speedworld a year to secure proper permits for construction and grading.

The offer includes a stipulation that Speedworld must close down while it obtains the permits. Matthews says that is a deal breaker. "I will not make any moves that will voluntarily shut down the business,” he said.

For more details go to azcentral.com. [06/15/12]
here is the link.....
http://www.azcentral.com/news/articles/ ... -says.html

[Curmudgeon]

On Google earth Speedworld appears to be an impressive facility . What is the problem with the local government?
1. Noise ?
2. Local politics ?
3. Land use / environmental ?
4. Other ?

Richard C Schmidt

[Jim Wahl]

Don't they realize this facility brings in REVENUE! Elected officials are brain dead. Work with the track you morons! Jim


.

[Eddies66]

Originally Posted by Curmudgeon

On Google earth Speedworld appears to be an impressive facility . What is the problem with the local government?
1. Noise ?
2. Local politics ?
3. Land use / environmental ?
4. Other ?

Richard C Schmidt

The property belongs to the Pima tribe and it is all about the money!

[Jeff Lee]

No....the property has no Indian tribal affiliation. Your thinking about Firebird Raceway (AZ). Speedworld is on a long term land lease deal and was originally part of Luke Air Force Base as part of several auxiliary airfields.

Personally, I think the problems started with the all night events ( mud bogs, asian drags, etc.) they have had in recent years that involve teens & young adults w/ DJ's brought in, mud wrestling, bikini / wet t-shirt contests and the like. That of course has brought in the booze and drugs. Whether or not keggers were part of the action for those of age or not, under age use of booze was rampant. This brought in under cover Sherrif's, many arrests and of course much attention brought to the facility. And the moto-cross track seems to be the biggest account for the air-evac helicopters.

I started racing in 1978 right when Beeline Dragway closed down. I then started racing almost weekly @ Speedworld (then Phoenix Raceway & previously known as Mel Larsons Raceway). I've had a lot of good times there & developed friendships I still retain. This track had a lot to do with who I am today. But I see a lot of attitude in that article (and I don't even know the current owner), which I fear will put this track out of business.
I understand through sources the drag strip & radio control airstrip may be safe as they were part of the original (and accepted by County) master plan. But what appears to be not in the master plan is the MX track, BMX track, dirt circle track for go-karts & mud bog. Those venues bring in a lot of revenue to the facility. if the County shuts those venues down & allows the R/C & drag strip, the drag strip may not be able to make it on it's own.
I'm under the impression the drag strip has been a low profit center for years since NHRA pulled the plug on the National Open events there.
I guess that's another story.

So is there a "grand plan" with the county & others for this land? I do t know. I've heard rumors about a casino. & mall. The land is not Indian owned so I can't see a casino. The area could support a mall but I sure can't see it from my perspective as all the box stores are only about 8 miles away on Grand & Bell.

I hope the owner can get this resolved . I'll be getting my car back soon & I plan on many T&T's there to get it all ironed out!

[Eddies66]

Originally Posted by Jeff Lee

No....the property has no Indian tribal affiliation. Your thinking about Firebird Raceway (AZ). Speedworld is on a long term land lease deal and was originally part of Luke Air Force Base as part of several auxiliary airfields.

Personally, I think the problems started with the all night events ( mud bogs, asian drags, etc.) they have had in recent years that involve teens & young adults w/ DJ's brought in, mud wrestling, bikini / wet t-shirt contests and the like. That of course has brought in the booze and drugs. Whether or not keggers were part of the action for those of age or not, under age use of booze was rampant. This brought in under cover Sherrif's, many arrests and of course much attention brought to the facility. And the moto-cross track seems to be the biggest account for the air-evac helicopters.

I started racing in 1978 right when Beeline Dragway closed down. I then started racing almost weekly @ Speedworld (then Phoenix Raceway & previously known as Mel Larsons Raceway). I've had a lot of good times there & developed friendships I still retain. This track had a lot to do with who I am today. But I see a lot of attitude in that article (and I don't even know the current owner), which I fear will put this track out of business.
I understand through sources the drag strip & radio control airstrip may be safe as they were part of the original (and accepted by County) master plan. But what appears to be not in the master plan is the MX track, BMX track, dirt circle track for go-karts & mud bog. Those venues bring in a lot of revenue to the facility. if the County shuts those venues down & allows the R/C & drag strip, the drag strip may not be able to make it on it's own.
I'm under the impression the drag strip has been a low profit center for years since NHRA pulled the plug on the National Open events there.
I guess that's another story.

So is there a "grand plan" with the county & others for this land? I do t know. I've heard rumors about a casino. & mall. The land is not Indian owned so I can't see a casino. The area could support a mall but I sure can't see it from my perspective as all the box stores are only about 8 miles away on Grand & Bell.

I hope the owner can get this resolved . I'll be getting my car back soon & I plan on many T&T's there to get it all ironed out!

Jeff, you are so right! I kept reading that the county was having issue and couldn't figure why they would have an issue on Indian land. This is the ole Mel Larson strip?

[Mark Yacavone]

Jeff is correct here for the most part...
The dragstrip is the least profitable venue on the site.
It would be very hard for it to continue to exist without the other venues...Not impossible with more racer support, including from some who might read this post.
Dan Matthews' background is in Motocross ...He has tried to manage and promote the dragstrip on his own, through various experienced managers and partners, and once again, through his own hands-on efforts.
A veteran racer told me when I came to the Valley, is there is a lot of apathy here with the racers. When you have tracks that are open year round, it's very easy to say...It's too hot..too cold now...I'll just go out there some other time..
I have seen this personally in the last six months

I wish I could post a more rosy picture here.....but the bottom line, boys, is ...

>>>Use it ...or lose it<<<

[SStockDart]

Some corrections for ya. Speedworld does have a NHRA National Open...I raced in it this year. It is not Indian land. Noise is not a problem. Speedworld allows people that live within one mile of the facility to get in FREE. They are racing Moto Cross this afternoon. This facility is not as good as most National Event facilities (better than Denver). But it is as good or better than most Division race tracks. I want them to be successful. Good people and only ten miles from my house.

[Jeff Lee]

I believe it was I that told Mark the apathy in AZ to race tracks or it may have been somebody else. Doesn't matter who get's the credit as the bottom line here is it is true. Not only is the weather race perfect almost every weekend out of the year, the weather is also perfect for boating, jet-ski, golfing, fishing, camping, hiking, you name it; if it's an out door activity anything can be put off for another day.

I was at opening day for the Union Grove, WI track probably in 1991. It was something I had not witnessed before; racers that had been coped up all winter finally taking their cars down the track. I couldn't believe there was a parade of participants and an intro to each car and crew (Joe is our returning champion and has a new 540" replacing last years 468", Bob has a new chassis, etc.). The stands were packed. I also had the opportunity to go to some lakes the 6 weeks I was in Illinois. Same story but this time it was all families and their street rods and muscle cars. Point is, anticipation and anxiety brings racers out.

I hear Al Corda's track is only open a few months (4-6???) out of the year and he get's 500+ cars on each event.

On the other hand, Speedworld is open 50 weeks out of the year and sometimes 3 nights a week. I suggested to management that if the emulated Union Grove or Corda, they may make more money. I got a look like I had three eyes and was told the only way they could stay ahead was to be open more. They just didn't get my point and that was the end of the subject.
Mark Yaccavone here has a Stock / Super Stock event and he get's what, 12 participants? That's pathetic! I sponsored one of his races, probably 2004? There was plenty of PR going out and I was paying $1500 cash to the winner no matter the car count. The entry was less than $100 ($50???) and I didn't get a dime of that. I think we had 12 or 15 cars entered and Ken Passerby got the whole enchilada and I was happy for him. But I sure would have liked to see the promoter making a lot more money off that event.
Even decent payouts can't bring out the cars.

I have high hopes that Speedworld can work through this. Firebird is slippery as snot unless it's a Super class race, divisional or National type event. Tuscon is a great track but 3+ hours one way and if it matters, is IHRA.
Speedworld has always been a good track in my opinion and they take care to prepare the surface most of the time. When I started racing there in '78 they gave out trophy's to the 1st round winners. That boosted the confidence levels like nothing I've seen for a young racer and I had an attic full of those trophy's. The owner back then, Mike Donnely, allowed myself and Brian Griffey ( a current S/ST racer) the use of the track one week day all to ourselves. We played with timing, dwell, jetting, RPM's, everything we could think of on our 340 & 383 Challengers and at the end of the day it was well worth it with significant ET reductions to both cars.

I fully intend to be there with my AMX in the Fall to test & tune before I go to an NHRA event. I hope the boy's from Texas will be there!

[Mark Yacavone]

Need your help, guys:

http://signon.org/sign/keep-speedwor...t&r_by=4712535