[IndyBound]

Slide Job Racing or Sprintsrgr8, do either of you know if drag racing is still active at Speedworld Motorplex? When I read Sprintsrgr8's post last night I remembered seeing drag cars in that area but I had never gone to the drag strip. Actually when I first moved to the valley I was looking into buying a house off of Grand Ave & 163rd Ave that is when I became aware of the drag strip. However I never knew they built a dirt track there also. Thanks for the info guys.


Patti

[sprintsrgr8]

Hi Patti,
Yes they do still run the drag strip, also have or had a motocross track as well.
From what I heard the problem with the 3/8's dirt track is that the dust blew onto the shut down lanes of the drag strip resulting in a dangerous situation and thats why the dirt track was kind of kicked to the curb? just hear say though, hope this helps
Bruce

[IndyBound]

Thanks Bruce, I haven't been in that area in a number of years. It sounds like the chances of reopening the 3/8 mile track would be slim if the drags are still running there. One thing is for sure there is a strong racing community in the Phoenix area, hopefully there will be a new Manzy in the near future.

Patti

[IndyBound]

Earlier in this thread I reported that I had seen something in a local paper stating that there was land set aside in Goodyear for a race track that had not been developed yet. A few days ago I contacted a person that writes for the paper and although he has no idea what land I had read about he told me there was a story coming out about a race track being closed down, no he wasn't talking about Manzy. The story he was talkinhg about ran in the West Valley View today and I thought it was worth sharing with you.

Judge orders temp closure of racetrack
Legal battle continues between AMP, county

A judge has ordered a temporary shutdown of a controversial West Valley racetrack, citing the facility had violated conditions of its zoning permit.
Arizona Motorsports Park and the Maricopa County Board of Supervisors have been in a protracted legal battle over the track's operation since 2004, when the board revoked the special permit it had orignally approved. The track later won the right to reopen. provided it complied with the county's zoning stipulations. The county has appealed that decision.
Both sides have been in and out of court since 2004 on several issues involving the track's operation. In April 2008, a judge ruled the county board had violated the track owner's due process rights when it revoked the permit.
In a new action, separate from the on going legal skirmish, Gust Rosenfeld lawyers representing the Board of Supervisors filed for a temporary injunction against the track Feb. 19. The board authorized the action at a Feb. 11 meeting after discussing it in a executive session Feb. 9.
A judge granted the temporary restraining order Feb. 24, effectively closing the track until the next hearing, scheduled for April 13.
Calls to track owner Dan Maloney and his lawyer were not returned by press
deadline.
The racetrack is on 148 acres in an unincorporated area at 15402 W. Camelback Road. on the northeast corner of Camelback and Reems roads, just south of Luke Air Force Base.
The board granted the track a special-use permit with 27 stipulations, authorizing construction of a 14.7 acre driving area, offices, pit area, and a helipad site, according to county planning documents and board meeting minutes.
The $6.5 million track opened in 2003 and drew the ire of nearby residents who complained to county officials about the noise.
According to documents filed with Maricopa County Superior Court in November 2008, county employees began photographing and videoing alleged permit violations, includling an unpermitted restroom facility and failure to complete Camelback Road improvements along the length of the property.
The Maricopa County Department of Transportation confirmed track owners had not submitted design materials for the half-street improvements, according to a sworn statement by Joe Rich, assistant county manager.

Some of you are probably asking yourself what does this have to do with Manzy? That answer is nothing and everything, it is a story I have been following ever since moving to the valley from upsate N. Y.. The story of that facility and watching what has happend to some of the races tracks I have attended over the years is what made me start another thread on here titled "Dirt Track Questions"; I think it is important you know what someone interested in starting a new track in Arizona is up against. It is just my personal belief that it would have been easier to try to preserve Manzy in it's present location than to try to move it. I hope I am proven wrong. The track that story talks about to the best of my knowledge is a pavement road course facilty. Over the years I have been following the story noise issues have been one of the biggest concerns.

I heard a rumor last night that does effect Manzy, the newspaper article that ran the story on Manzy closing stated that three locations are being considered to move Manzy to. The article only listed the Firebird Area on Indian land as a possible area to relocate to, it didn't give the other two locations. I learned last night that land along 85 in Buckeye is also in consideration, this area only houses a prison, so there will be no residents from a major housing development to complain once the track is built. Remember I said this is a rumor I heard, I have not seen this in the newspaper or on the news.

I was also asked recently if they are trying to stop the sale of Manzy and declare it a historical location. I believe the only place I saw anything like that was any earlier poster in this thread came up with that suggestion. I have seen noting in the news here in Arizona to confirm action like that is being taken to save Manzy.

Will keep you informed of anything I hear.

Patti

[RacinFool]

I wanted to mention that here in the Syracuse NY area today it was announced that John Wight owner of Gypsum Express (trucking co.) as well as a car owner bought Brewerton and Fulton speedway rescueing these two great tracks from a developer. And yes they will continue to be race tracks!:applaud::applaud:

[IndyBound]

Originally Posted by RacinFool I wanted to mention that here in the Syracuse NY area today it was announced that John Wight owner of Gypsum Express (trucking co.) as well as a car owner bought Brewerton and Fulton speedway rescueing these two great tracks from a developer. And yes they will continue to be race tracks!:applaud::applaud:

Tom, thanks for posting, a friend told me last night they had been sold but that no information had been released as to who had bought them. I am glad to hear that they will still be race tracks, I have spent allot of time at both of these fine establishments. Hung out at Fulton when it was a pavement track and also when it was a dirt track. My thanks go out to John Wight for saving two of cetral N. Y.'s finest dirt tracks.

Patti

[RacinFool]

Originally Posted by IndyBound Tom, thanks for posting, a friend told me last night they had been sold but that no information had been released as to who had bought them. I am glad to hear that they will still be race tracks, I have spent allot of time at both of these fine establishments. Hung out at Fulton when it was a pavement track and also when it was a dirt track. My thanks go out to John Wight for saving two of cetral N. Y.'s finest dirt tracks. Patti

Ditto on that one Patti, I grew up at Oswego, Fulton, and Brewerton. Lots of great memories. John might be able to now turn things around and do the thngs needed to make these great tracks again.:thumb-Tom

[Jonr]

Originally Posted by IndyBound ....I learned last night that land along 85 in Buckeye is also in consideration, this area only houses a prison, so there will be no residents from a major housing development to complain once the track is built. Remember I said this is a rumor I heard, I have not seen this in the newspaper or on the news.....

I hate to say it, but that is the best news I have ever heard. Building a race track next to a prison would be a great idea. The prison would like it, because it would draw attention away from it. The land owner would like it, because the demand for his property is way low. The new track would like it, because no one else would want to develop in this area.

How much of the Manzy facility is moveable? Some things would be easy. Such as the lighting. However, what about the stands?

[IndyBound]

Originally Posted by Jonr I hate to say it, but that is the best news I have ever heard. Building a race track next to a prison would be a great idea. The prison would like it, because it would draw attention away from it. The land owner would like it, because the demand for his property is way low. The new track would like it, because no one else would want to develop in this area. How much of the Manzy facility is moveable? Some things would be easy. Such as the lighting. However, what about the stands?

Jonr, I must say the best news I could hear is this whole thread is a bad April Fool's Day joke started a few weeks early. Or a bad dream, more like a nightmare that we can now wake up from and racing continues on at 35th & Broadway for another 58 plus years.

Back to what seems to be the reality card we have been dealt by Mr. Mel Martin; I am no expert but I would think a good share of Manzy is moveable. I believe when a number of tracks were sold back east that the grandstands were sold off and moved. So yes, even grandstands are moveable. The history that has made Manzy the race track that it is today, that took 58 years to build and I believe that is not moveable. They can open a new track at Firebird, build a new track in Buckeye or reopen Casa Grande an call it Manzy, no matter what option they choose the allure of Manzy will be gone.

You made some good points about moving Manzy next to a Prison. Guess we will just have to wait and see how this all plays out.

Patti