phoenix crash

[W J]

Originally Posted by 7423

Vegas has 2 nationals now, you want them to have 3? There are no other tracks to host a nat on the west coast and support a pro car. This is where it all started and we have very little left.

Then step up to the plate and do the track over....many other track owners have done the same---it works. Like they say: "Build it and they will come!" WJ

[John Kelley]

Originally Posted by W J

Then step up to the plate and do the track over....many other track owners have done the same---it works. Like they say: "Build it and they will come!" WJ

How do you expect Charlie to do that ??
He does NOT own the land and the Indian tribe that owns the land wants him GONE !
Finding other land for a strip and getting thru all the red tap would be very expensive.
He's between a "rock & a hard place"...........sad for the racers in that area.

[W J]

John, Think I read in a previous post somewhere here that Charlie and a partner are negotiating a deal to take over a track in Wash., maybe? Someone said the native Americans want to re-locate Firebird 5 mi. away from where it is now? Build it, put a casino next to it, "And they will come".WJ

[RULER]

Lets see if i understand this the track is unsafe to race on the poeple that own the land want it gone and the renter of the track either can't afford to fix it or will not so you say we must just race on it anyway and take our chances, well that's just stupid if it's not safe for any car it's not safe for all cars period, if it's not fixed then there is no choise but to race somewhere else, the argument that it's the only track in this area doesn't work. If one car or anybody is hurt because of track conditions then that is to many, if you can't afford to travel to pomona or vegas or sonoma then maybe you should race brackets or combo's at speedworld.

[BobOrme]

I would suggest that the track being on leased land shouldn't be an excuse for not updating the facility. The land that is home to Heartland Park Topeka is owned by the city of Topeka and leased to the track owner. That fact hasn't been cause for stagnation on improvements or allowing the facility to deteriorate.

I've read statements here and elsewhere claiming the tribe that owns the land under Firebird wants the track gone. If that is true, all they'd have to do is not renew the lease at its renewal date. If the lease renewal date is only one or two years away, and the track owner knows for certain that the lease will not be renewed by the land owner, that would explain a reluctance to invest very much money in the facility by the track owner. However, I suspect the lease is long term, and rumors are being used as excuses.

[7423]

Originally Posted by W J

Then step up to the plate and do the track over....many other track owners have done the same---it works. Like they say: "Build it and they will come!" WJ

As was said, he does not own the land. His lease is up shorty and he just bought in to an IHRA in Washington, I think he wants out. He will never sink the $ in to make it a first class venue. Other than Speedworld he has had the only game in town for many many years and had no problem gaining customers, Orange County always had a full house also. (He ran that track prior to Firebird)

BTW, I am of NO relation, just unfortunately have the same name.

[W J]

Originally Posted by 7423

As was said, he does not own the land. His lease is up shorty and he just bought in to an IHRA in Washington, I think he wants out. He will never sink the $ in to make it a first class venue. Other than Speedworld he has had the only game in town for many many years and had no problem gaining customers, Orange County always had a full house also. (He ran that track prior to Firebird)

BTW, I am of NO relation, just unfortunately have the same name.

Charlie, does the tribe own the track, and do you know if they built the facility, or is there a 3rd party involved in Firebird? Thanks. WJ

[7423]

Originally Posted by W J

Charlie, does the tribe own the track, and do you know if they built the facility, or is there a 3rd party involved in Firebird? Thanks. WJ

The Indians own the dirt, most of the workers are Indian, I believe he built the facility that includes a road race track, driving school and a lake for boat races. The grandstands on the drag strip came from OCIR.