Any update on Firebird/ SpeedWorld Phoenix

[MattConte]

I spent some time in the early 90s back east. saw some GREAT racing at some GREAT tracks. But the first thing I did when I got back to Phoenix. I headed on out the Speedworld (Back then Phoenix Raceway Park. I always liked that name better.) I missed that track. I lived out there for the rest of the 90s. That is my favorite drag strip of all time and places and I am really hating to see it go. No place like it in the world. This really saddens me.
Phoenix will really suck if we loose both tracks.
I never was ever really able to get involved with the drag racing like I would had liked to. Just never had the money. At my age now and income. I do not ever seeing it happening. But at least I could always keep a little of that dream alive with the drag strips being close by. Maybe hoping that one day I could have some sort of a race car to run. But with both tracks gone. I just cannot see it ever happening. Just a big bummer.

[RobbieRacer]

Mark and Matt, You both have good ponts. He is a "Pipe Rack" guy..LOL Speedworld is my home track and I will miss it as much as anyone else. Guess I'm just lashing out. If we loose both tracks that will so suck. Guess SIR wil be the home track for a while.

[Jeff Lee]

Originally Posted by RobbieRacer

Mark and Matt, You both have good ponts. He is a "Pipe Rack" guy..LOL Speedworld is my home track and I will miss it as much as anyone else. Guess I'm just lashing out. If we loose both tracks that will so suck. Guess SIR wil be the home track for a while.

I started @ Phoenix Raceway Park in 1978. It will be missed but as I said earlier, I saw all the nails going in the coffin long ago.
I do have high hopes that Firebird will remain. Heck, it may even improve with new management. Speedworld USED to always have the track prepped nicely. Firebird only had good track prep for special events (Super Class races, Divisionals & Nationals), forget weekly T& T sessions.
SIR is good but quite a drive.

[aspen7709]

My take is this...I am an EAST valley racer(Firebird is my "home" track) and the racers at firebird will and do travel to Speedworld for select events BUT maybe 10% of Speedworld racers will cross that invisible barrier called th i-17 to race at Firebird. People that live in AZ know what i am talking about. East will go west but WEST WILL NOT GO EAST! The economy has had a devastating effect on the racing community in the valley especially on the west side. Speedworld has always been good to racers but never was able to attract spectators or top shelf attractions. Firebird will survive. Speed world needs new ownership, new events and fresh life put to it to make it. And as for Firebird conditions I have only had problems when I did not call ahead to let them know I was coming with a serious car on a friday night.
Long story short is that for all the concern about losing speedworld the west valley community does not have the funds, dedication, car count or the ability to save it.Plus the current ownership could care less about the Drag part of it(he has made that PERFECTLY clear) and WEST side racers will rather street race on happyvalley road than drive to Firebird...Yes I am talkin to you RAY LEWIS and co.
Firebird is already on the fast track to renovations and Tom Compton himself is involved with making sure Firebird stays open for what thats worth.
Yes I will miss Speedworld but when one door closes another opens. Maybe this will bring the eastside and westside racing communities together.

Kenny Newsome 7709 ?/SA

[Jeff Lee]

Originally Posted by aspen7709

My take is this...I am an EAST valley racer(Firebird is my "home" track) and the racers at firebird will and do travel to Speedworld for select events BUT maybe 10% of Speedworld racers will cross that invisible barrier called th i-17 to race at Firebird. People that live in AZ know what i am talking about. East will go west but WEST WILL NOT GO EAST! The economy has had a devastating effect on the racing community in the valley especially on the west side. Speedworld has always been good to racers but never was able to attract spectators or top shelf attractions. Firebird will survive. Speed world needs new ownership, new events and fresh life put to it to make it. And as for Firebird conditions I have only had problems when I did not call ahead to let them know I was coming with a serious car on a friday night.
Long story short is that for all the concern about losing speedworld the west valley community does not have the funds, dedication, car count or the ability to save it.Plus the current ownership could care less about the Drag part of it(he has made that PERFECTLY clear) and WEST side racers will rather street race on happyvalley road than drive to Firebird...Yes I am talkin to you RAY LEWIS and co.
Firebird is already on the fast track to renovations and Tom Compton himself is involved with making sure Firebird stays open for what thats worth.
Yes I will miss Speedworld but when one door closes another opens. Maybe this will bring the eastside and westside racing communities together.

Kenny Newsome 7709 ?/SA

Fair & accurate assessment! I'm about 45 minutes to either track. I think Firebird will do just fine, maybe even better if they can drag in more cars.
And where on Happy Valley?

[RobbieRacer]

I hope you guys are right about Firebird staying open. Yes I am a "west side racer" but I have put in many passes at Firebird over the years. It's about the same driving time for me either way. No big deal. Sure hope they do more for the local guys.
And looking at the racer lists for both tracks, you guys are right. I guess I never relized how many racers dont ever go to Firebird. Maybe one race a year.
Get us all togeather at one track and the car count will be great.
So what will the new name be "Gila River Raceway"?

[Mark Yacavone]

Kenny , I live halfway between the two tracks too .The reason I didn't go to Firebird much was traction ...or more specifically...lack of it @ Firebird.
I had a 14 sec. 5.0 Mustang that would repeat to the hundredth all 3 time trials at Speedworld.
Firebird, it was like a John Force burnout .
At Fun Ford about 5-6 years ago, the cars were bouncing off the walls during Saturday night eliminations. They had to pull the plug and do an 8 way split with us.
They worked on the track all night long, but same thing on Sunday.
I had the same problem with a 5000 lb 472 Caddy , there.
There was something bad wrong with that track for the local races.
I hope they fixed it last time around.

[Belair 7548]

Good news......and there may be more to come!

[Jeff Lee]

I ran into an old S/ST racing buddy yesterday. Now take this second hand information for what it's worth, but knowing what I know of Dan, the owner, I believe it.
What I'm told is another racer did some fact checking with Maricopa County zoning department about the issue. He was told that Speedworld was offered a continued use permit FOR THE DRAGSTRIP but no to the MX track! I didn't ask if the no to MX track was the truck-off road and other dirt tracks. The response from Dan was "NO!, if I don't get MX, I don't want the dragstrip!"