Re: Bad News from out West
 

Originally Posted by CHighAZ:
Here are some quotes from the newspaper when Mr. Martin bought Manzy- we all truly believed he meant what he said. ( bold emphasis is mine)

From the AZ Republic August 15, 2007


"Manzanita Speedway, considered one of the top dirt tracks in the country since it opened in 1951, changes hands today.

Phoenix businessman Mel Martin, who helped build the facility as it was being converted from a dog-racing track, and his son, Bobby, are the new owners. Both are lifelong fans who own race cars, and they offered assurances that dirt-track racing would continue.

"The (Kimbros) main interest was to protect the integrity of Manzanita and auto racing because they know how important Manzanita is to people all over the country," said Wood. "Mel Martin had the background."

"We want to tell them, 'thank you,' let them know we're moving on," he said, "and that it's going to be a racetrack for years and years to come."

This is why the racing community in Arizona feel like they were blindsided.

My only comment is that EVERYONE has a right to change their mind. And if you read the article properly, you'll see that it's Dennis Wood speaking, not Mel Martin.

If you can tell me that you haven't changed your mind once in the past three years. then I'll accept your position that you were blindsided.

As a business man, I can tell you that changing times demand changing strategies....just ask GM, US Steel, or PPG....or any other company dealing with this economy......

Re: Bad News from out West
 

This is terrible news. I cannot say I am totally shocked. I was out there 10 years ago and there was nothing to the south of the track. I was back 5years ago and it starting to really be developed. A freind of mine who relocated there from Indiana told me then he couldn't see it lasting another 5 years. I went back last fall and the area south was totally develpoed, and I was hoping it could hold on. In fairness to the Martins taxes were probably more a year than the place made. A very sad day as it was definitly one of my favorite tracks. It looks like my fall vacation just got shorter. Too bad my wife and I already booked our flights. One good thing, most everything there could be unbolted and moved. Anyone know a good sugar daddy?

Re: Bad News from out West
 

Originally Posted by mds motorsports:
ABC Motorsports.com has posted thet The Martins have sold Manzi to a trucking company and it will close April 1st. What will now happen to the Westerns-Copper on Dirt? A very sad day for open wheel racing and the history of such a awesome race track.

Ah, CRAP!:thumbsdown:

Re: Bad News from out West
 

Originally Posted by AlkyMadness:
What gives with these trucking companies and classic dirt tracks? That's what happed to Atomic Speedway in TN. Became a Crete Carrier terminal.

Well, guess I'll never see this vintage track in person.

Twin Cities Speedway/North Star Speedway/North Starr Speedway in Blaine, MN became a truck terminal, too.

Re: Bad News from out West
 

Originally Posted by sprntr:
Twin Cities Speedway/North Star Speedway/North Starr Speedway in Blaine, MN became a truck terminal, too.

And what driveway does Gas City share?

Re: Bad News from out West
 

Yes, Sprinter 25, I have changed my mind since Aug. 2007. About things like what I wear to work, where I go to eat, the color of my nail polish, what to buy for my house- but not about agreements I have signed, verbal commitments I've made to people who depend on my word. Yes, Mr. Martin has the right to sell the land that the track sits on, he has the right decide what ever he wants, to make whatever money he can. But there is also a "right" way to treat people. I doubt he woke up one day this week and made some calls and sold the property. My point is he let everyone think they were going to have a racing season this year, he hired people in January thinking that, car owners spent time and money with that understanding. I was taught you have responsibilities with those rights- call me old fashioned. I forgot the golden rule has no place in business these days.

By the way, the parts of article I posted were just that- parts. The first was an assurance given to the author that dirt track racing would continue by Mel and Bobby Martin. The last sentence, the "he" was not Dennis Wood- it was a quote from the general manager hired by Mr. Martin. But of course they changed their minds. :crying: race fans in AZ

Re: Bad News from out West
 

Since it seems there already are cars and owners in Phoenix that should prompt someone to consider a new track. Maybe the Gila River Indian Community should be approached. They are on the south edge of the metro area adjacent to Firebird Raceway and I10. They have a casino,hotel, two golf courses and are building a bigger hotel and casino. At one point they offered the land for the new Arizona Cardinals football stadium but the politicians didn't want to lose all the tax revenue by having it on indian land. They also have lots of land with nothing on it and may not have to comply with the EPA regulations. It sure would be great to hear a 410 again without mufflers. The San Felipe Pueblo built a nice facility at Hollywood Hills in New Mexico and the casino helps support it. You don't get so fixated on making a profit when those slot machines pay most of the bills
Just thinking out loud. :doh:

Vern Plotts

Re: Bad News from out West
 

Originally Posted by ColoradoFan:
Since it seems there already are cars and owners in Phoenix that should prompt someone to consider a new track. Maybe the Gila River Indian Community should be approached. They are on the south edge of the metro area adjacent to Firebird Raceway and I10. They have a casino,hotel, two golf courses and are building a bigger hotel and casino. At one point they offered the land for the new Arizona Cardinals football stadium but the politicians didn't want to lose all the tax revenue by having it on indian land. They also have lots of land with nothing on it and may not have to comply with the EPA regulations. It sure would be great to hear a 410 again without mufflers. The San Felipe Pueblo built a nice facility at Hollywood Hills in New Mexico and the casino helps support it. You don't get so fixated on making a profit when those slot machines pay most of the bills
Just thinking out loud. :doh:

Vern Plotts

The problem with it on the reservation is what they demand in return. This was tried by Buddy Murphy back in as I remeber the 80s and did not work. The lease was not to bad but at that time they wanted a huge % of concession's ,and a part of front gate ,and there had to be as I remeber 60or70% Indians hired as workers for ticket and concession sales. I do remeber in the end it did not last very long and the 3/8s mile dirt track was gone forever.

Re: Bad News from out West
 

I just caught the tail end of the first news story I have heard about Manzy closing on channel 12 news. The reporter stated something about the name being bought and efforts being made to relocate the track somewhere in the valley. Although the history of running at that famed track would be lost, it is the first bright ray of hope that we could get another dirt track here in the valley. Maybe what I saw in the paper last week about land in Goodyear being set a side for a race track is true. Will report more as it becomes available. Headed to Manzy tonight with my friends late model may have more to report Sunday morning.


Patti

Re: Bad News from out West
 

Sad news indeed. Hopefully a new track can be constructed in the valley to place it. This reminds me all to well about Santa Fe Speedway. When it was first built there was nothing around it. Then as time when by $400,000 on up to $1,000,000 homes where constructed closer and closer to it. All these people moved there knowing there was a racetrack in close proximity but still complained about the noise. Developers ended up buying the property around it to build more homes and eventually, I believe the principal owner died leaving it to his kids and they sold it to the developers. But the developer didnt get the chunk of change he was hoping for out of the property because the mass site cleanup that would have to be done from years of oil and who knows what else getting dumped onto the ground and now it is a parking lot for a school bus company. So much history being lost everywhere you go these days. What about going to a historical society and trying to get historical status for some of these racetracks that have been around for years. They do it for other historical sites in the country. Why not racetracks?