[Eddies66]

Originally Posted by Jeff Lee

No....the property has no Indian tribal affiliation. Your thinking about Firebird Raceway (AZ). Speedworld is on a long term land lease deal and was originally part of Luke Air Force Base as part of several auxiliary airfields.

Personally, I think the problems started with the all night events ( mud bogs, asian drags, etc.) they have had in recent years that involve teens & young adults w/ DJ's brought in, mud wrestling, bikini / wet t-shirt contests and the like. That of course has brought in the booze and drugs. Whether or not keggers were part of the action for those of age or not, under age use of booze was rampant. This brought in under cover Sherrif's, many arrests and of course much attention brought to the facility. And the moto-cross track seems to be the biggest account for the air-evac helicopters.

I started racing in 1978 right when Beeline Dragway closed down. I then started racing almost weekly @ Speedworld (then Phoenix Raceway & previously known as Mel Larsons Raceway). I've had a lot of good times there & developed friendships I still retain. This track had a lot to do with who I am today. But I see a lot of attitude in that article (and I don't even know the current owner), which I fear will put this track out of business.
I understand through sources the drag strip & radio control airstrip may be safe as they were part of the original (and accepted by County) master plan. But what appears to be not in the master plan is the MX track, BMX track, dirt circle track for go-karts & mud bog. Those venues bring in a lot of revenue to the facility. if the County shuts those venues down & allows the R/C & drag strip, the drag strip may not be able to make it on it's own.
I'm under the impression the drag strip has been a low profit center for years since NHRA pulled the plug on the National Open events there.
I guess that's another story.

So is there a "grand plan" with the county & others for this land? I do t know. I've heard rumors about a casino. & mall. The land is not Indian owned so I can't see a casino. The area could support a mall but I sure can't see it from my perspective as all the box stores are only about 8 miles away on Grand & Bell.

I hope the owner can get this resolved . I'll be getting my car back soon & I plan on many T&T's there to get it all ironed out!

Jeff, you are so right! I kept reading that the county was having issue and couldn't figure why they would have an issue on Indian land. This is the ole Mel Larson strip?