In news that will probably make your blood boil like ours, Arizona’s Speedworld Raceway Park is in a pitched battle with county officials over permitting and red tape issues that may result in the 51-year old facility shutting down (at least for now). According to a story recently published in Arizona’s The Republic newspaper, track operator Dan Matthews has come under fire from the local government regarding work completed inside the facility that was never permitted properly by said committee. This all began back in 2006 when Matthews apparently ran wires from one part of the property to another without getting a document granting him permission.
Things have gone down hill from there, to the point that Matthews had to obtain permits every time he wanted to groom or alter the dirt bike course at the facility. We’re guessing that he wasn’t rushing down to city hall to get those, either. It has been reported in other places that Matthews has closed the track, but such is not the case. Below we will run the press release he sent out late last week when the news started rolling. We think that this situation is 100% BS for a multitude of reasons and Matthews is getting screwed. He is operating the track currently and plans to for as long as he can, which is hopefully for the long term.
We’d have to guess that if the track were forced to close, it would be temporary. Hopefully everyone can get this thing worked out and the track is rolling for the foreseeable future as the multi-use facility it has been for so many decades. The folks on this committee must hate the tax dollars generated by the track, the amount of people that are drawn into the area over the course of the year, and the benefit to public safety that comes along with a race track. Instead they want to halt a 50 + year business due to non-participation in a bureaucratic mess of permitting. We’ll stop there before we start swearing.
Thanks for the multiple tips on this, everyone!
Here’s the track’s press release:
I live a few miles from Speedworld and from what I’ve gathered from people I’ve talked to is that the “closing” part is directed at the moto-x area only where the alleged infractions occured and NOT the drag strip. Nor the mud bog track, sand drag track, BMX track, paintball area, RC car track, RC plane area and whatever other parts I forgot.
Like the moto-x area is a bad thing? Blow hard Supes flexing their small one!!
Keep Speedworld Raceway Park Open. Online Petition!
http://signon.org/sign/keep-speedworld-raceway.fb10?source=c.fb&r_by=4710941
Keep Speedworld Raceway Park Open
By Rey Martinez (Contact)
To be delivered to: Fulton Brock, Maricopa County District 1 Supervisor, Don Stapley, Maricopa County District 2 Supervisor, Andrew W. Kunasek, Maricopa County District 3 Supervisor, Max W. Wilson, Maricopa County District 4 Supervisor, MaryRose Wilcox, Maricopa County District 5 Supervisor, and Governor Jan Brewer
Stop the closing of Speedworld Raceway Park while Speedworld works towards meeting Maricopa County zoning and planning compliance requirements.
Speedworld has been an Arizona motorsports icon for more than 50 years and is in jeopardy of being shut down by Maricopa County for minor zoning violations, some of which that were made more than 20 years ago.
Maricopa County alleges that Speedworld is in violation of grading/drainage requirements and use permit violations that were implemented long before current owner Dan Mathews took over the business.
Speedworld is not trying to avoid coming into compliance with the County’s requests, we are only asking to be able to keep our doors open while the changes are being made.
If forced to close it’s doors during the process, Speedworld would be put out of business completely due to the cost of the changes that the County is seeking.
We’re calling on Speedworld customers and motorsports fans around the country to raise awareness on what this track means to Arizona and those across the country. Don’t let Arizona’s longest running motorsports park be shut down due issues that can easily be worked through by Maricopa County and Speedworld Raceway Park together.
https://www.facebook.com/#!/speedworld.dragstrip
What is it with Arizona? I live on the other side of the world and I get bad news about the committees or councils in Arizona cities. My mate who lives in Arizona had his Speedway closed down because of “RED TAPE” and now all the youngsters who used to compete there now are on the bored list! …..WAKE UP ARIZONA these youngsters need more to occupy them not less…….they complain that young people are out of control then they take away places where they are in control and have to obey rules and regs! Crazy.I wonder if it’s cheaper to look after someone in the pen rather than support their efforts outside?
Man I from Canada and I get pissed when I here this crap
The kids need a place to play ! young, old
If not here where ; The mall, the streets , neigheours ?
Bikes arn’t as niosy as they use to be
If thay were out of line let them know.
KEEP IT OPEN !!
The county :
” It will be better used as a ( nat gas field ) ???? ”
Come on I’m pissed and I’m from Canada !
The only natural gas in that area is after free beans and weenie night at Trackside Bar and Grill.
Have you ever noticed that the ones that throw spanners in the works are usually the last ones who ever try to fix the situation!
After looking at Google Earth, I’ve got to believe some county supervisor’s friend is a developer. That land looks like a good spot for a golf course community.
Like Phoenix and The Central Valley need another golf course! After Florida, AZ ranks as the most golf course-saturated area in the world. More likely someone wants to develop another high-end community. As if the area needs another one of those!
Like everything in this country,MONEY TALKS,plain and simple!!! The powers could care less about giving people a place to race,look at what they want to do to the Firebird site!!! ROY.