No dirtywhiteboy, it is not a nasty/horrible April Fool's joke. Althought those were my thoughts when I first so it posted. Sadly it is true, just watched the Verus coverage of the USAC midget and sprint features; am still in disbelief that was the last USAC race I will ever see run at Manzy.

Patti

Slide Job Racing, I did not think you were implying that I thought the Martin's were bad people. Alot of people are frustrated by this news, this has effected racers all over the country not just the Arizona racing community. On Friday of Copper on Dirt the two gentleman sitting next to me had ties to Ron Shuman when he use to race. I believe one of them owned a car he drove at some point in his career, they made the trip from IOWA. On Saturday night the man sitting next to me had on a NEMA midget sweatshirt, sure enough he came to Manzy from CT. In that same section was a couple from PA. that enjoyed going to Jennerstown to watch ISMA run. Manzy was the type of place that no matter what kind of racing you followed you had to make at least one trip to Manzy in your racing lifetime.

Yes, I will be there next weekend, also April 4th & 11th; as well as the World of Outlaws Show March 28th. Good luck April 11th. Last night there was also some indication the season could run a few races longer than April 11, we will have to see what happends.

I don't understand your statement "I for one won't miss it for the world". My personal belief is everyone that has ever been to Manzy is going to miss the racing, the friendships they have made over the years and the history of the place.
The one thing I wouldn't miss is the drive down 35th Ave. to get to the track at times it can be pretty scary.

Safe racing,

Patti

Patti,

I took that to mean he wouldn't miss the final races at Manzy for the world. I think that's what he was saying. Just watched the speed report, still can't believe it's for real. :crying:

David.

I've never been to Manzy, seen it on video/TV plenty of times.

I guess what seems so upsetting to me, I live in one of the most densely populated regions in the country right between Philadelphia and New York City. There's just no place to build anything except where something else already exists, and we've lost countless historic tracks because of that.

It just seems to me from my northeastern elitist mindset that out in Arizona you could throw a rock from where you are standing at any moment and come up with a million acres to park a bunch of equipment on. Of course I know it's not that simple, just unfortunate.

Thank you Ovalmeister... I would not miss that last race for the world.

Thanks David, sometimes I'm a little dense. I didn't catch the speed report today, going to watch the 11 P. M. version. I still can't believe it either. I am still trying to win the lottery, I guess the list of places to spend the money keeps getting bigger and bigger.

Patti

Patti, I thought I either heard them say on the Speed Report or read on the ticker at the bottom of the screen that the were looking for a site to relocate the track. Was I dreaming that or maybe that was just wishful thinking?

Terre haute was very close to this already. Thanks mike king and company, we can only hope the promoters get enough help and fan support to keep this historic venue open for the rest of us and children to enjoy.

Yes, if you can believe what you read, I saw it also, on the ticker last night. Bob

No Gregg, you weren't dreaming. The first news report I saw hear in Arizona said the Speedway name has been bought and there is talk of relocating to some where in the valley. Actually last week there was an article in the West Valley View a small west valley paper that said land somewhere in Goodyear has been set aside for a race track but hasn't been developed yet. From what I learned at the track last Saturday, two people involved with currently running Manzy have bought the name and do plan to try to relocate the track. The question is where? Rumors were flying about the Indian land by Firebird, of course I would rather see it come to the west valley. Interpretion is the key word here, Windy and a younger announcer both addressed the subject of the track closing; my interpretion of what they were saying was the sale was handled in a wrong manner, unfairly to the racers and racing community that has supported Manzy for so long. They mentioned something about the ideal situation would be to have a new track up and running by October, however permits and town board aprroval can be a long process. I know that for a fact, myself and a large group of my neighbors have taken a interest in the shaping of our town, we regularly attend council meetings, unless your name is Walmart permit approval is an endless battle.

Maybe it is wishful thinking on my part or selective interpretion, but I interpreted what the announcers were saying as follows: if the track had been sold with the understanding that the racing season would be completed in full for the 2009 season, the parties buying the name could have started the process of buying land, securing permits and possibly having a track built in time for the 2010 race season.

On Wind Tunnel, Dave stated that the Manzy promoter didn't even know the land was for sale. I notified the competitors that I go racing with about the sale as soon as I saw it posted on IOW; they didn't have a clue. I am back on my rant again but, IMHO I feel this is why the racing community is having such a hard time with this news; a racing schedule had been secured for 13 regular classes of cars as well as two USAC special events with three classes of cars, the World of Outlaws and USAC Off Road GP (which I had never seen on the schedule before). Sponsorship had been secured for the year. The Martin's are a racing family which when they bought the track it is my personal belief gave people a false security that they no longer had to worry about the rumors of Manzy going away. I will stop ranting and simply say let's hope it doesn't take long for Manzy to be relocated. An I personally vote to relocate to the west valley.

Patti