Speedworld Motorplex in AZ rumored to be Closing

[TurboTGuy]

Rumors and inuendo have been swirling around this topic for about a year now.

Speedworld's facebook page reportedly is confirming the story. I don't have a facebook account cuz it's the devil, so I can't confirm this.

Too many of our hobbies' outlets are being closed buy greedy developers with politicians in their back pockets and crazy shortsighted liberal environmentalists trying to save the planet.

We've got to take a stand!

Shane, I sincerely hope you are OK with what I have done here.

Below is a copy of what I wrote to Governor Brewer.​

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She can be e mailed using the followin link - http://www.azgovernor.gov/Contact.asp​

I suggest that you all do the same, heck you can copy and paste mine into the e mail area if you want to,but don't forget to change the name at the bottom, I dont want her to think i'm stalking her. ​

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Topic: Speedworld Motorplex in Whitman, AZ​

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Governor Brewer,​

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I am writing to ask that you look into the closing of this facility and do what you can to stop it from happening. The state has decided to no longer lease land to persons who wish to operate a motorsports facility. Maricopa County has recently begun a dispute with Speedworld also.​

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Speedworld has been a part of the AZ community since 1961 and is a venue that is cherished and counted upon by motor sports enthusiasts of all kinds.​

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Drag race, off road, motorcycle and all terrain vehicle enthusiasts use this facility to enjoy their hobby in a safe and controlled evironment, keeping them off of the public streets and our oh-so-fragile desert lands.​

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With the Gila Indians not renewing the lease for Firebird Raceway to continue operations, Speedworld will be the only all purpose motorsports facility left in Maricopa County.​

The forcing of closure of this venue seems to me to be a bit shortsighted and unwise.​

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Forcing the folks that make regular use of Speedworld away from there will only drive them out onto the public streets and fragile desert lands.​

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Again, Speedworld has operated for over 50 years with very few problems and, similar to Luke Air Force Base, new neighbors have moved nearby and then started an intiative to make it go away . The owner is working diligently with the county to correct drainage and construction issues.​

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There has also been some bad press lately about underage people doing things they shouldn't be doing there. The fact is, thare are a few bad apples in every group, lawmakers not withstanding, but it makes no sense to judge the majority by the few, now does it?​

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Governor Brewer, I beg of you to take a close look at what the closing of this longtime icon of the motorsports community, tax revenue generating business, and one of the few places left in the State of Arizona to participate in and enjoy the offerings this business provides would mean to so many.​

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It would be a tragedy to see it lost forever.​

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Thank you for your time.​

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Guy Cunningham​

Drag Racing Enthusiast and Voter​

 

[BuickMike]

Sad. I have previously signed petitions and sent out emails concerning this. I've only been to Speedworld once since it is pretty far for me, but I hate to see it go...especialy with Firebird closing its doors in April. It's gonna be interesting to see where all the racers go when all the tracks are gone.

 

[CGASTON]

Sad. I have previously signed petitions and sent out emails concerning this. I've only been to Speedworld once since it is pretty far for me, but I hate to see it go...especialy with Firebird closing its doors in April. It's gonna be interesting to see where all the racers go when all the tracks are gone.

SIRaceway in Tucson will be the only spot.

Sent from my iPhone using Turbo Buick

 

[TurboTGuy]

Looks as if it doomed.

Hal just posted this on YB:



This 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: http://www.racespeedworld.com. That and our hotline 623-388-2424 begin_of_the_skype_highlighting 623-388-2424 end_of_the_skype_highlighting 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 bullshit 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
Dragstrip Manager, Publications Manager, Announcer
Speedworld Dragstrip, Surprise AZ
http://racespeedworld.com/

 

[BuickMike]

Street's closed pizza boy!

 

[TurboTGuy]

Street's closed pizza boy!

 

[Red C5]

Is it mainly a west coast thing for tracks to be shutting down or is it happening all over the US? In our area we are down to only 2 and one is really not racer friendly for the most part.

 

[ttaowner]

no dragstrip in mass we havent had a dragstrip in CT since about 1991. there is no dragstrip in RI the 1 up in VT closed in the 1970's . thats the report here from the northeast. the nearest tract to me is 100 miles 1 way and 2 hours. they made street racing a felony around here a few years ago too. people have been trying to open a track back up around here for 20 years and i dont think i will see it happen.

good luck out there in AZ

 

[BuickMike]

I heard a rumor that the facitity that Hal Sanguinetti is referring to for a possible new dragstrip location is at ET Motorpark way out on Ironwood. If that is true, it would be cool for me since I live out in Queen Creek. I doubt it's gonna happen though. Too sad. Next thing you know we will all get our cars siezed for using too much gas and will be forced to drive our government mandated Volts.

 

[mapmaker]

I was out to Bondurant earlier this week. They have just renewed their lease with the tribal authorities. It sounded like the discussions were still in progress for Firebird.

 

[BuickMike]

I spoke with the track officials a couple weeks back. Apparently Lucas Oil will be leasing the dragstrip out for their race series, but that's it. The track will still stay around and have spectator events, but the "test and tune" days are over according to them.

 

[T- Type Tim]

If they get a track out at ET that would be a good deal there... hope that at least works out

 

[gordyzx9r]

What are the obstacles? The opposition wants the land for development? Noise complaints?

 

[GBGN1]

What are the obstacles? The opposition wants the land for development? Noise complaints?

yeah-what gives? to close to retirement homes?

 

[BuickMike]

I believe that they are in violation of a zoning law for drainage and the cost to fix the problem is prohibitive.

 

[TurboTGuy]

On Wednesday the County refused to issue a Temporary Use permit to Speedworld for the Pacific National Open.

This is getting really scary guys, we need to DO SOMETHING!!!!

I wrote my County Supervisor the following, please feel free to copy it and send a copy to YOUR supervisor and County Land & Development attorney Wayne Peck

Supervisor Kunasek,
I am writing this to ask why the Temporary Use Permit for Speedworld to operate and hold an event at the facility this February 1st – 3rd was not approved.

I am also writing to ask that you look into the forced closing of this facility and do what you can to prevent the closure from happening.

Speedworld has been a part of the AZ community since 1961 and is a venue that is cherished and counted upon by motor sports enthusiasts of all kinds.

Drag race, off road, motorcycle and all-terrain vehicle enthusiasts use this facility to enjoy their hobby in a safe and controlled environment, keeping them off of the public streets and our oh-so-fragile desert lands.

With the Gila Indians not wanting to renewing the lease for Firebird Raceway to continue operations, Speedworld will be the only all-purpose motorsports facility left in Maricopa County.

The involuntary closure of this venue seems, to me anyway, to be a bit shortsighted and unwise.

Forcing the folks that make regular use of Speedworld to go elsewhere will only drive them directly out onto the public streets and fragile desert lands.

Again, Speedworld has operated for over 50 years with very few problems and, not unlike Luke Air Force Base, it seems new neighbors have moved nearby and then started an initiative to make it go away . From what I understand, the owner is working diligently with the county to correct drainage and construction issues.

I would be very interested in learning exactly why the Maricopa County and MCBOS is so bent on closing Speedworld and what can be done to help all involved to come to some sort of agreement? I would be glad to do my part in helping facilitate any changes I might be able to from a user of the facility’s position.

There has also been some bad press lately about underage people doing things they shouldn't be doing there. The fact is, there are a few bad apples in every group and as you well know, even elected officials aren’t exempt from this rule , but it makes no sense to judge the majority by the few, now does it?

Supervisor Kunasek, I beg of you to take a close look at what the closing of this longtime icon of the motorsports community, tax revenue generating business, and one of the few places left in the State of Arizona to participate in and enjoy the offerings this business provides would mean to so many.

It would be a tragedy to see it lost forever.

I look forward to your response.

Thank you for your time and attention regarding this matter.

Guy Cunningham
Drag Racing Enthusiast and Maricopa County District 3 Voter​

 

[RIFF RAFF]

THE REAL DEAL IS .. THE INDIANS WANT A CASINO .. AND THEY WILL GET IT ! WRITE ALL THE LETTERS YOU WANT GUY IT WONT HELP . THE DECK IS STACKED AND PEOPLE HAVE BEEN PAID OFF . DIRTY BASTARDS .WE SOLD OUR HOUSE IN SCOTTSDALE AND BOUGHT A NEW ONE NEAR GLOBE . IM LOOKING INTO BUILDING A STRIP NEAR THE JUNCTION . IN THE NEAR FUTURE . WHEN IM DONE WITH MY CONTRACT WORK .

 

[TurboTGuy]

THE REAL DEAL IS .. THE INDIANS WANT A CASINO .. AND THEY WILL GET IT ! WRITE ALL THE LETTERS YOU WANT GUY IT WONT HELP . THE DECK IS STACKED AND PEOPLE HAVE BEEN PAID OFF . DIRTY BASTARDS .WE SOLD OUR HOUSE IN SCOTTSDALE AND BOUGHT A NEW ONE NEAR GLOBE . IM LOOKING INTO BUILDING A STRIP NEAR THE JUNCTION . IN THE NEAR FUTURE . WHEN IM DONE WITH MY CONTRACT WORK .

This one isn't about Firebird raceway.........