RIP Firebrd Raceway?

[marshall9]

I'm told that the Gila River Indian Community is refusing to renew Firebird International Raceway's lease, citing reasons of it being too close to the Casino etc, and the facility will be closed by end of next spring. Does anyone have any details about this? Will it be all of it, NHRA drag strip, Firebird lake for boat races, as well as the three road courses? What about the Bondurant Facility? This doesn't sound good, as it will have a big economic impact on the area and really crush SCCA, ASA, NASA and others, since PIR closed their road course and AMP is gone, there will be no where to race near Phoenix.....

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[Josh Pitt]

marshall,
nobody knows what will happen, but i have also heard about plans for a new facility near casa grande if FB closes.

truthfully, if FB closing is what it takes to get a real roadracing track in AZ, then it will be worth it.
I have raced on FB since back in the 80s when i roadraced motorcycles. the truth is that it is really a drag strip , not a roadcourse. i would not drive from out of state for this track, or anyother in az right now.
that needs to change if there is going to be anything more than racing the same dudes at the same old dragstrip.

change is scary, but it is also good.
either way, with the racing as it is in AZ something needs to change.

I would invite taking a step back for a year, to take a leap forward in the future.
either way, right now racing sucks in AZ, so something needs to change.

so there is to be 3 clubs fighting over dates at one track that was designed to have to be a country club facility, not a roadcourse for competition?
something will have to give.

i wont worry about it, i have found less events of higher quality are better than more events locally at the same old track..........................ROADTRIP !

[TimH]

A lot of chatter has been going on for at least a year, but this story seems to have grown more prominent in the last week. Some say the bulldozers are already lined up to tear the whole place down and build yet another casino. Others say that the tribe is pissed at the current lessee for not doing enough improvements and wants to take over the operation. Bondurant has successfully picked up and moved before, but they really do have a substantial investment at FIR that they probably will try to protect. My completely ignorant opinion is that there's some posturing going on here. A new facility in Casa Grande could be nice, but it's hard to beat having 3.5 distinct layouts less than ten miles from my front door and I really do like the West track (boy did we have fun today).

And AMP may be coming back.

Meanwhile, EFF was invited to run with HSR West at Chuckawallla next month.

Despair not!

[marshall9]

Thanks Tim for the insight. No dispair here. It will not affect me directly either way. Just seeking info here from some "In the know." As racers are addicts, like those addicted to other things, they are very resourceful in feeding said addictions and will find a way to get their fix

[Tracy Simmons]

It would be a shame to lose Firebird. It's nice to have a track here in town. We did have a blast there this weekend and I think Jenns said we had 15 FF at the track on Saturday. I for one don't want to sit out a year hoping someone builds a track.