The Cal-look Lounge

http://www.pasadenastarnews.com/sports/ci_19947533 (http://www.pasadenastarnews.com/sports/ci_19947533)

Hmmm, Drag Day?? :(

Boo! :(

NOT GOOD AT ALL... >:(

I agree with you John !
 :'(

another california track closing....so suprising
 ::)

Is drag racing losing popularity or the economy is that bad to make close such facilities?

Our hobby is a luxury that only exists and thrives in a healthy economy.

I think we all need to think good positive thoughts, and hopefully someone bought it and is going to make the effort to make it better for the racers.

Rich will let us all know as soon as he hears anything, so we just need to wait and see what happens! And I know Rich is already thinking other possibilities, he is not the type to roll over and play dead, as most of you know!

It obviously is a waiting game till the official announcement is made!

The newspaper says they are already dismantling the grandstands !
Doesn't sound good.
Am keeping fingers crossed !
 :'(

Possibly Lucas Oil will purchase the track.

Damn. I'm glad I got to see the place last time I was out there. Interestingly enough my visit was not during an event.

(http://i67.photobucket.com/albums/h311/cmhauer/California%202006/Pechangatruck2.jpg)

(http://i67.photobucket.com/albums/h311/cmhauer/California%202006/Irwindale_1.jpg)

(http://i67.photobucket.com/albums/h311/cmhauer/California%202006/Irwindalestrip_2.jpg)

(http://i67.photobucket.com/albums/h311/cmhauer/California%202006/Irwindalestrip_3.jpg)

(http://i67.photobucket.com/albums/h311/cmhauer/California%202006/Irwindalestrip_1.jpg)

Thanks for the photos Javabug !
I have some great memories there !
 :'(

"Some years ago````" ~~~~What!_ 30 years, or so?!?!  :o

  Well , since Chevy Volt sales are in the toilet , and therefor not much (Green Racing) going on , we are considered the (enemy) by Mr.Obama and his gaggle of political pals across the country. If Motorsports were outlawed , what political party do you think would be responsible for it ?  No Brainer.... ;)

It's a sad sad day for another So Cal Raceway!

::)

::) ::) ::) :P

Bring back Vegas !!

Really sad news.  I was just telling a friend that I'd wish they would move the Bug in from Fontucky to Irwindale.  Let's hope that someone steps in and takes it over.  Can't believe they'd just trash it.

....Ed.

 Stop bathing , OCCUPY IRWINDALE, and of coarse , tax the rich and drink the COOLAID !!!      :D :D :D

Ed, I assume you have not driven a fast car down the right lane?  Not to mention the bump which unweights the fast cars.  Irwindale leaves a lot to be desired, hopefully a new owner will want to invest some money into the drag strip.  Only time will tell.

True John, I can't speak of the track, only the location.

I agree with Suzy, we should all just wait and see what happens, before we make conclusions on what is going on. Maybe somebody IS going to buy the track and fix it up, and  there is still time for Rich to make a move, lets just wait and see. Hope for all of us, it'll all be good at the end.

Ted

On the DKP e-mail grapevine:

"Buster John Varella drove by the track today and it is over tractors were taking away cement bariors today. Track website is down."

However, it seems possible that Lucas have purchased the facility – this from our very own Suzy over on the UACVW board:

Not good, loved going there on a Thursday night prior to any of VW weekends....... Will really miss this as this was the first track I raced on in the states.........

Hope all workout for the employees and the racers alike, it's a pity that the powers at be don't realise that this keeps street racing at bay as well.

If you're on FaceBook, there's a page that's trying to keep the track open and also share info on the future of the track.

https://www.facebook.com/pages/Restore-Irwindale-Speedway-and-Dragstrip/301129473276442 (https://www.facebook.com/pages/Restore-Irwindale-Speedway-and-Dragstrip/301129473276442)

There are still two more venues that could be used for the Drag Day events.

Fontucky and???

Barona??

Maybe Pomona? That track just sits there, there could be a really cool place to have a VW event.

Ted

Pomona.  But, I'm sure that's limited to usage and very expensive.

Plus the neighbors are a real problem. From what I hear they are why there are not more events held there.

Santa Pod and Gardermoen LOL

As soon as they put the Trans-Atlantic expressway in  ;)

I heard today on NPR that consideration is taking place opening a track at the old El Toro Marine Base; very close to where OCIR once was!  I'm keeping my fingers crossed....

Could you  imagine... that would be awesome.  I don't know how the city of Irvine would deal with such a thing happening so close.

good luck with that...would be cool..but some oc residents are prickly...fbi is struggling to get a new shooting/training range in the area and met with much resistance...ill vote for a track though!! ;D

That would be so cool!

Heck... I could walk there!

This OC Resident would vote YES!!  ;D

http://espn.go.com/los-angeles/story/_/id/7576141

Me 2!  ;D  I could walk to the event or get a Nitro BURN from my own house!  :'( 8)

I say let's just keep thinking positive.  I know how hard Rich & Ron are working on this, so like Ron says on another forum - Stay Tuned!

I agree with Jon - most company's come out of bankruptcy stronger.  You never know what could happen!

There is just so much speculation, so we need to wait and see what comes out of all of this!

I am reading it as if it is just in transition.  They do not say that Irwindale had been shut down - they say the 2012 season has been canceled!
 
 

More info

http://scvnews.com/?p=26343

fwiw the racers I know said the track manager was a pita.
He made it hard on the racers, forced the racers to use his fuel, changed the color dye in it often.
Then teched race cars/trucks on a regular basis to make sure they bought his race fuel.
The racers were just waiting for a better track to open in Bakersfield, but that track went bk I guess.
So the only place for the circle track trucks to race now is PHX.
Its not worth it to them to tow out to PHX for every race.
So soon we should see a bunch of race trucks for sale cheap.   >:(
 

don't bring politics to the lounge please, it has been free of it before ;)

 ;D

More on Irwindale

http://www.pasadenastarnews.com/news/ci_19982699

http://www.autoweek.com/article/20120221/NASCAR/120229981 (http://www.autoweek.com/article/20120221/NASCAR/120229981)

Maybe Firebird to.

http://bangshift.com/blog/is-firebird-international-raceway-going-to-close-in-2013.html

To#¤ta Speedway at Irwindale
Saturday, February 25, 2012
Statement from Nu-Way Industries, Inc. Regarding Irwindale Speedway

  
 
There have been numerous rumors regarding Irwindale Speedway. Please permit this statement to provide clarification:

1) THE PERMANENT TRACK GRANDSTANDS ARE NOT (NOR ARE THEY IN ANY DANGER OF) BEING TORN DOWN. There was a report that the portable, temporary bleachers outside the first turn were being dismantled. That is correct. Those temporary stands were rented and the company that owned them was simply removing their property.

2) THE TRACK WAS NOT BUILT OVER A POTENTIAL MINING SITE, IT WAS A SAND AND GRAVEL MINING SITE, AND AFTER MATERIALS EXTRACTION, BECAME A MINING RECLAMATION PROJECT. THE SITE CANNOT BE MINED. There are a set of very strict rules about the use and development of this sort of property, which are being carefully followed. In 1993, the City of Irwindale approved the site to be used as a Swap Meet, and in 1997, approved its use as Irwindale Speedway.

3) NU-WAY INDUSTRIES, INC. OWNS THE LAND, THE RACE TRACK, AND THE EQUIPMENT TO OPERATE THE TRACK. An entity called Irwindale Speedway, LLC. leased the facility from Nu-Way Industries, Inc. On February 13, 2012, Irwindale Speedway, LLC filed for protection from creditors under Chapter 7 of the bankruptcy code.

4) BECAUSE OF THE CHAPTER 7 BANKRUPTCY FILING BY IRWINDALE SPEEDWAY LLC, THE COURT IS IN CONTROL OF THE PROPERTY AT THIS POINT. HOWEVER, NU-WAY INDUSTRIES, INC. IS ACTIVELY SEEKING A POTENTIAL BUYER FOR THE COMPLETE FACILITY. A hearing will be held soon in order to return the facility to Nu-Way Industries, Inc. control.

Light at the end of the tunnel?. Got a heads up on another site posting, so just sharing the love

http://bangshift.com/blog/irwindale-raceway-back-under-control-of-nu-way-industries-re-opening-drag-strip-a-top-priority.html