Re: Bad News from out West
 

Patti,

What do you know about this place? I followed along on their website while it was being built, the photos looked nice. It seems they quit running after a season? It can't be more than 2-3 years old? Just wondered, with Manzy closing, if anyone is looking at this place?

David.

http://www.westvalleyspeedway.com/index.html

Re: Bad News from out West
 

David,

I have never heard of the place but it is quite interesting you brought this up. While having breakfast with some of my neighbors yesterday one of them asked about my racing, these are people that have no interest in racing actually. Anyway when I told them about Manzy closing one of them spoke up and said does that mean they will open up the closed track. I assumed because alot of people on Saturday were talking about the Indian land on the east side of the valley that was what he meant. I will have to do some investigating. The IMCA Modifieds were one of the divisions scheduled to run Manzy this year. You have given me something to be hopeful about, if there is a race track already built maybe with some revamping there could be a Western Worlds this year. I remember when I moved to the west valley there was a racing facility west of Luke Air Force Base I believe that was always doing battle with the town. I thought that was more of a road course type place, and the town was always on them about noise restrictions.
If my memory isn't failing me I believe they had pending lawsuits because of the amount of money the devolper had lost but I have heard nothing about that place in several years. The only dirt tracks I have been to are Manzy, Canyon, Casa Grande and USA Raceway, Tucson. Will see what I can find out.

Patti

Re: Bad News from out West
 

David, a funny tid bit jumped out at me from the West Valley Speedway link "For West Valley's premiere division Hollywood's Body & Paint IMCA Modified's". One of the people buying the Manzy name just so happends to have the first name of Hollywood. So maybe some one does know where this track is? Or maybe there is no connection between the two Hollywood's, I don't know the man that has been promoting Manzy named Hollywood. Just thought it was kind of interesting though.

Patti

Re: Bad News from out West
 

Patti,

I wouldn't know why someone wouldn't jump on this track. Obviously I don't know anything about why they aren't running, legal issues or whatever, like you said.
I remember when they were building it, maybe 3 years ago at the most. Every 2 weeks or so they would update the website with progress photos. It looked really nice. The stands looked new, not old ones shipped over from another track. The track looked wide and maybe a 3/8s, semi-banked, lots of runoff area (no wall except frontstretch), nice new looking catch fence and big pit area.
If you know anyone from the SCOA (winged sprints) ask them because I thought I remember they had races scheduled there. I wish their website still had photos of the track because I thought it was more than adequate to host a good sprint race. I remember thinking at the time that I hoped midgets would race there.
Anyway, something to snoop into.

David.

Re: Bad News from out West
 

David & Patti,
Yes they did build the track it is located at the Speedworld motorplex off of Jomax rd. and Grand ave. I think they had a few dirt modified races & mini sprints, but was in no shape to handle sprint cars from what I heard, but the pictures when it was in the early stages did have a sprint car hot lapping, so with the right people behind it, it could be a great place for future racing. It is only a 3/8's though, not sure if they have the space to build a great half-mile like Manzy. We can only hope.

Re: Bad News from out West
 

Sprintsrgr8, thank you for the information.

Patti

Re: Bad News from out West
 

Steve Purcell was the gentleman's name that was putting that particular track together.
They did get those really nice grand stands from PIR when they (PIR) did all of the refurbishing to the back straight.
A few of the problems that they encountered while building it was that they did not bring in enough clay or pull all of the rocks out of the race surface. We took one of our micro's out there at Steve's request and pretty much beat the crap out of it on a practice session. There were so many rocks and what not out there that it would take a long time and a lot of money to get it in racing condition.
As far as the area there is plenty of room if someone decided that they wanted to cut in a 1/2 mile no problem.
When they were cutting the layout of the track, they decided that it was going to be a 3/8 mile..... why? I am not really sure. The track itself is a spitting image of Casa Grande. Same banking and the whole nine yards. Hell, we used our Casa Grande gear and it worked perfect. I figured that they should have done something different (1/4 with a half outside) to have been successful.
The pits were enormous and could accommodate any size rig and many of them to boot.
The biggest of the problems was dust control. They were told many many many times by the land owner that they could not stir up dust as the drags are directly east of the track. Being how the man that owns the land is a huge drag race guy.... it pretty much sealed the fate with the dust issue. They did run out of money as well. That may have been a small issue.
I think that it would be a bad idea to try and make that particular track the next Manzy because of the dust control problems. The pits but up against the drags and I just don't see the dust staying under control.
BTY..... they did have a handful of IMCA races there during the summer. Steve wanted to build that track for the simple reason of running IMCA Mods. This was all about the time that Barnett came and got their foot in with Canyon , Manzy and Tucson and he despised Barnett. If you need more info than that let me know.... I was privy to the goings on out there.
I almost forgot the Hollywood part.... Hollywood Leary is or was the current/former promoter for Manzy...... not one of the people involved in buying the track. Hollywood is actively looking for a new site for the new Manzanita Speedway. He owns a few different body shops throughout the valley and sponsors quite a few different race cars as well. His name popped up from the sponsorship deal with all of the cars and being associated with West Valley Speedway when it was up and running.

Re: Bad News from out West
 

I first attended this track in 1955 with my dad.Ran full house jalopies which grew to super then sprints.I use play alot after school with Dee Jones brother.I attended races weekly from late 60s to late 70s.Would return for Western Worlds until i moved to Ms.I was employed by Mel And Don Martin for a period of time.One of my first dates with my lovely wife Connie was the 1976 Western World.It is sad to see track close.I have many memories .Dick Sutcliff leaving the track a landing on 35th ave.Wayne Weiler making a comeback to win then retiring for good.Watching Ron Shuman mature as a driver from supers on fridays to winner on Saturday in Sprints.Watching Buddy Taylor work the low groove to many wins.Billy Shuman winning with a lil 289 ford.The Legend Leland McSpadden running the wall never letting up.My friendship with Bob Cleberg in later years in Tucson.So many people do depend on this track for thier livelyhood.Bobby and Mel had outside issues which may have force the sale of this track.So be kind to this racing family as Mel and Don did promote Big car races at Az Fairgrounds the mile track.I have been lucky enough to attend last 2 Westerns and Coppers. I promoted a midget race at Casa Grande in the 80s .Quickly found out i was in wrong business .Better as a mechanic.Speedword had a TQ track in the 80s so this west valley must be same track.There was a 3/8 mile at Firebird in 80s also.Casa Grande I'm sure could be reopen if right folks put up the dollars.There was some missing accounting the last time it was open.Peace

Re: Bad News from out West
 

Ok, let me throw this one out there. For those in attendance last month at Manzy remember the helicopter that landed in turn two? Well the first two guys that got out stopped at BC's pit to check out a midget. We got talking and these two were big RC guys and they said that they were flown in from "Speedworld" out by Luke AFB. I had never heard of the place. They said the helicopter went back to get the guy that invited them to fly out to Manzy. I don't recall his name. He wanted them to see some real racing. The way they talked this guy was someone important. (read $$$ helicopter and all). Don't know if it means anything, but it sounds interesting. Wish I had paid attention to the names...

Re: Bad News from out West
 

The Press release from the track: :checkered:

Manzanita Speedway - Over the years

Manzanita Speedway, widely regarded as one of the top three dirt tracks in the country and an oval that helped spawn the careers of Al Unser Jr. and JJ Yeley, among others, has been sold and is closing its doors after a 58-year run.

The final race is scheduled for April 11.
"This is a very sad day for auto racing," said longtime Manzy announcer/public-relations manager William "Windy" McDonald, who started at the track in 1957. "When the final lap is run, I want to be sure and shake everyone's hand going out the gate."

Southwest Industrial Rigging purchased Manzanita from co-owner Mel and son Bobby Martin for an amount the younger Martin said was between "$10 (million) and $20 million." The Martins bought the track, which encompasses 38 acres on the southeast corner of 35th Avenue and Broadway Road, in August 2007 for $3.5 million.

"I haven't slept two hours a night since we agreed to sell two weeks ago," said Bobby Martin, who is 59. "I was 2 years old when I first came to Manzanita. My dad helped build the track (in 1951). I own race cars, and we've spent $1 million for renovations.

"I thought we'd get 10 years out of it before we'd have to sell it. But attendance is down 40 percent, and we lost ($468,465) last year.

"We still had enough money to last several years. It's just that the nail in the coffin was some environmental issues involving dust and also noise complaints from neighbors. We knew eventually we'd get closed down because of it."

Bobby Martin said fans have been understandably upset with the news.

"A lot of people have called us and expressed their dissatisfaction," Martin said. "Everybody feels like we didn't give racing people a chance to buy it, but I didn't know anyone out there with that kind of money. And even if there might have been, you still had the environmental issues. The county had two pages of complaints against us."

Hollywood Leary, who was appointed general manager in January, wants to build another dirt track in the Phoenix area and is looking at three potential sites, one of which is near Firebird International Raceway.

"I just don't want to see Manzanita Speedway die," he said. "The Martins already have told me I could have the name for a song.

"Now it's up to me to try and put something together. I feel like it's 60-40 we'll get something done and have another track up and running (this summer)."

Among big-name drivers who've tested Manzy's famous half-mile oval are Hall of Fame drivers Roger McCluskey, Mario Andretti and A.J. Foyt. Several local drivers reared on Manzy's famous dirt track later drove in the Indianapolis 500, including Wayne Weiler and Billy Boat.

"I was there in the grandstands when my dad was racing and my mom still was carrying me (in her womb)," said Boat, reached in Texas at a U.S. Auto Club midget race where his son, Chad, is competing. "This really tugs at your heart. Manzy has played such a role for my whole career. I even had one fan tell me he wants to go to Phoenix and stand on the top row of the grandstands one last time and then go down and scoop up dirt. And he's not even a racer."

The Manzanita departure leaves Canyon Raceway near Lake Pleasant and Central Arizona Raceway near Casa Grande as the two closest dirt track venues to the metro Phoenix area.