Final Effort Posted October 10, 2012 Share Posted October 10, 2012 FIREBIRD RACEWAY CLOSING IN MARCH 2013 One of the Agent’s Southwestern–based carrier pigeons landed in the second floor coop here in O’Fallon with a note scribbled on the back of a Firebird Raceway time slip. It read that Chuck Sundstrom, Track Manager at Firebird, has been going around to some of the NHRA Pro Team headquarters explaining that the Gila River Indian Tribe presented a termination notice to leaseholder Charlie Allen for the land on which the dragstrip sits. The lease expires on March 30, 2013, and Allen must vacate the land over the following two weeks. Rumors has it the land will be used for a new hotel and casino run by the Gila River Indian Tribe. It has been rumored that Charlie Allen has secured an alternate site south of the current location to move Firebird Raceway farther out of town near Casa Grande, Arizona and, according to the note, a replacement track will be up and running to in time to host the Arizona NHRA event for 2014. [10/09/12] Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Loud Pedal Posted October 10, 2012 Share Posted October 10, 2012 Major suck. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Desertdawg Posted October 10, 2012 Share Posted October 10, 2012 Word I got last week from the person setting up my track rental was they are still in talks, they have a full schedule booked until the end of March. April was still up in the air depending on how the meetings go... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Loud Pedal Posted October 10, 2012 Share Posted October 10, 2012 I'm actually meeting with my track rep today. I'll see what I can get out of him. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cross Posted October 10, 2012 Share Posted October 10, 2012 Personally I have mixed thoughts, one side is happy because well Casa Grande needs a track and is even closer to Tucson so I don't have to go to SIR all the time. However Firebird's track is mixed in with Bondurant and the Firebird road courses is another question I would raise... Especially if they plan to build a casino there... (Noise Complaints) Would Bob B. be looking to buy some of the tracks or is it all just going to be lost not just the drag strip... hmmm Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cyberuck Posted October 10, 2012 Share Posted October 10, 2012 Wowzers. I guess I just assumed they'd work something out with the tribe, but it's not looking too good. Add this to the troubles Speedworld has been having, and I guess the Phoenix metro just plain wants out of the racing business. Street racing it is, then! Vroom! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jbax Posted October 10, 2012 Share Posted October 10, 2012 yeah I heard about a track moving by Casa Grande for some years now from some of the local shops. I guess this is a little bit more backing to that rumor it's suppose to be off of the I-8 and Thornton Rd. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shifty Posted October 11, 2012 Share Posted October 11, 2012 This may just be a blessing in disguise.... First of all, parking at Firebird is teh suck, a dedicated drag track that is designed properly should have decent parking. Second, every time Charlie's lease comes up, teh indians posture and act like they want him gone, until he agrees to pay teh new price. Third, maybe Bondurant will work something out with Inde, and we can have a badass road course. Fourth, my employer owns a big interest in SIR, which is an IHRA track, and it is teh suck too, like Cross said, it would be nice to see major events without teh lengthy travel. Let's wait and see... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Marco Posted October 11, 2012 Share Posted October 11, 2012 frick Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TheCMSH Posted October 11, 2012 Share Posted October 11, 2012 Couldn't they just bulldoze Maricopa and build something there???? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HOXXOH Posted October 11, 2012 Share Posted October 11, 2012 I'm not surprised. Anyone who would build anything on indian land is taking a chance. After they shut down Beeline, you'd think a lesson would be learned. If they move the track farther South, I doubt I'd go there more than once. It's already 35 miles to FB and only 12 to SW. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ChadC Posted October 11, 2012 Share Posted October 11, 2012 I'm not surprised. Anyone who would build anything on indian land is taking a chance. DING!DING!DING! every time I have an interaction (or my clients) with something on indian land it has be a nightmare. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shifty Posted October 11, 2012 Share Posted October 11, 2012 I'm not surprised. Anyone who would build anything on indian land is taking a chance. DING!DING!DING! every time I have an interaction (or my clients) with something on indian land it has be a nightmare. Exactamundo... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Marco Posted October 11, 2012 Share Posted October 11, 2012 Dam resort shiz could go North of the casino.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
phxcobra Posted October 11, 2012 Share Posted October 11, 2012 ballz Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Final Effort Posted October 11, 2012 Author Share Posted October 11, 2012 I'm actually meeting with my track rep today. I'll see what I can get out of him. Dave; What did you hear at your meeting. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cross Posted October 11, 2012 Share Posted October 11, 2012 I'm actually meeting with my track rep today. I'll see what I can get out of him. Dave; What did you hear at your meeting. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Azmotorhead Posted October 12, 2012 Share Posted October 12, 2012 Dam resort shiz could go North of the casino.... Have you seen the monstrous building thats going up there now?? Dont know what it is but It could pass as a fortress or prison Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bromley's Corvettes Posted October 12, 2012 Share Posted October 12, 2012 Dam resort shiz could go North of the casino.... Have you seen the monstrous building thats going up there now?? Dont know what it is but It could pass as a fortress or prison There building some kind of fancy mall by the wild ace pass. Been working on it for awhile now. Im guessing a huge casino probably makes a little more $ then a race track so Fire Bird is out of luck. I bet they will build a resort that over looks the lake. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Marco Posted October 12, 2012 Share Posted October 12, 2012 Dam resort shiz could go North of the casino.... Have you seen the monstrous building thats going up there now?? Dont know what it is but It could pass as a fortress or prison looks like retail outlets or Pi-gow ..there may be Pi-gow there because they have a sign out front claiming biggest Pi-gow gaming in AZ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest PURPLE95 Posted October 12, 2012 Share Posted October 12, 2012 FIREBIRD RACEWAY CLOSING IN MARCH 2013 One of the Agent’s Southwestern–based carrier pigeons landed in the second floor coop here in O’Fallon with a note scribbled on the back of a Firebird Raceway time slip. It read that Chuck Sundstrom, Track Manager at Firebird, has been going around to some of the NHRA Pro Team headquarters explaining that the Gila River Indian Tribe presented a termination notice to leaseholder Charlie Allen for the land on which the dragstrip sits. The lease expires on March 30, 2013, and Allen must vacate the land over the following two weeks. Rumors has it the land will be used for a new hotel and casino run by the Gila River Indian Tribe. It has been rumored that Charlie Allen has secured an alternate site south of the current location to move Firebird Raceway farther out of town near Casa Grande, Arizona and, according to the note, a replacement track will be up and running to in time to host the Arizona NHRA event for 2014. [10/09/12] I can't say that I'm totally disappointed that Fire chicken is closing. I have road raced there for many years. The prices have gone up and the track condition has deteriorated. The last roadrace event that I was involved in was on a ZX10R motorcycle. Firebird wouldn't even blow the dirt off of the track for us and it was a scary ride. I don't like the front wheel locking up a 140 mph, I had to have the seat surgically removed from my ass. Anyway I think that it's critical the track owner takes an interest in the racers safety, if they crash, they may not be back to spend entry fees in the future. Driving a car at FIR is not as hair raising, but the pit situation can be dismal. If you have a full pit at Firebird main there can be some tight fit issues. The last time I was at main with my IROC Z someone hit the car in the pits with his trailer. Too many people jammed in to too small an area. In closing. Maybe its time for a changing of the guard and we should check out some of the newer tracks that may be out of town, but the service and the track may be better. Just my thoughts. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Final Effort Posted October 14, 2012 Author Share Posted October 14, 2012 Firebird MAY not be done. NHRA President Tom Compton said he is working to continue the almost three-decade old event under different management. "Based on our discussions with the Gila River Indian Community (which owns the land), we are very optimistic that the venue will be on the schedule in 2014," Compton said. Allen has been the lease holder for 29 years but wasn't able to successfully negotiate a seven-year option. Allen said last February he was studying a replacement site about 15 minutes south of Firebird, but has dropped that idea and isn't actively pursuing any other location, according to track vice president Franki Buckman. Allen will remain at Firebird through April. Remember; Charlie Allen earned his name Cheap Charlie. By doing the least amount of upgrades as possible. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NRS Posted October 14, 2012 Share Posted October 14, 2012 I for one am hoping it is/was a money negotiation issue. That leave hope to get this settled another way. There aren't too many other options to road track you car near phoenix. I have been running cars and bikes for over 10 years there and would definitely miss the venue. Going farther out of town, would make me have to start looking at trailering, and all of of the headaches that go with that. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Loud Pedal Posted October 15, 2012 Share Posted October 15, 2012 I haven't forgotten. I'm still waiting to get some answers. It's pretty tight lipped at the moment. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HOXXOH Posted October 15, 2012 Share Posted October 15, 2012 I haven't forgotten. I'm still waiting to get some answers. It's pretty tight lipped at the moment. Maybe reminding them that major sponsors aren't beating down their doors to spend money and your contract renewal hangs in the balance. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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