End of the line for Sacramento Raceway (1 Viewer)

[Oldwino]

Just got word that Sacramento Raceway is closing at the end of the year. Been expecting it for quite a while now. Last race to be in November. Track has fell into disrepair the last few years but fortunately Redding looks good.
california running out of places to race

 

[Cliff]

ARGHHHHHH But been expecting that also.

 

[mole]

Probably going to be housing that no one can afford and have the pinhead architecture of a box....But...Someone will think it's absolutely beautiful....And then it will take a few years to break ground due to all the impact studies and fees for planning and building.....They should save the track...Get the kids off the streets.....Sacramento is an hour from where I live...Redding is like 3-4 hours...I have no interest going to Redding...Sorry.....I'm just pissed.....

 

[Oldwino]

Heard that Sac County will not issue use permit when original owner sells. Rumor I heard is Copart woll operate a yard there

i too am disappointed. Sac is 2 hrs from home, Redding 3 1/2. Redding is becoming a nice facility thou

 

[Cliff]

Better Copart than some developer telling prospective condo owner that his unit is "right on the starting line". argh

 

[DG]

The handwriting was on the wall when the Air Force base closed clear back in 1993.

The housing track began their never ending additions towards the track.

 

[Nitro Cane]

Sounds like here in S Fla. Tracks closing all over . Nearest track from Ft Lauderdale/Miami is Bradenton or Orlando. Long haul every weekend

 

[5150 mechanic]

Spent alot of Wednesdays there, about an hour away. Gov. Cup, fox hunt, funny car fever. Gary Beck and the 4 cammer, rod Phelps rocket, teachers pet, Brad Anderson, folsom flash, riolo bros.,,,,, Alot of good memories.

 

[twostep]

Sure has been a lot of "for the last time" statements in the last few years...Englishtown, "for the last time"; Houston Raceway Park "for the last time", Wild Horse Pass "for the last time", Bandimere "for the last time".....many other local and regional tracks, "for the last time....

It won't surprise me if Gavin Newsom, once somebody brings it to his attention, moves to shutter ever drag strip in California. "They make too much noise...it's affecting the public...it's affecting wildlife...leaded fuel is affecting the climate...they don't pay enough taxes...California needs the room to build homeless shelters...."

Sorry about you guys in Sacramento losing your track.

 

[glofria]

Haven't posted anything for a while as I forgot my password and been dealing with other life events.

Where one track closes another one may open. California has hundreds of old runways used for training during WWII (like Famoso Dragway) governed by the FAA and controlled by the counties. In fact, as time goes on California is going back to the beginnings of drag racing as more small airport runways are being used for this purpose. Places like Eagle Field, Lodi, Banning, Santa Margarita and others. Here's an example of a place near Fresno under consideration; https://www.facebook.com/photo?fbid=725993399331863&set=a.310573450873862

We have our first meeting with the Santa Maria Airport board of directors tomorrow to discuss plans to build a facility on their property.

While this may not mean having NHRA caliber race cars there, there's a resurgence of guys and girls racing their 9, 10 , 11 second cars here and events like the antique nationals or organizations like The Race of Gentlemen.

 

[r2]

The housing track began their never ending additions towards the track.

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I am 40 minutes away and have been racing there since the 60's. It has been on the burner for 25+ years, despite Dave's attempts to sell or fight every step of the way to keep going.

Sad

 

[sutton]

Sorry Guy's but Sacramento was never my favorite place to race. Every time I raced there they had a major crash or the fields would catch fire. there were funny times there also, Mike Kuhl blowing up all the out house's with M-80s, also the time I chased my good buddy John Shoemaker around the pit area with mike Kuhl's 12 gage shot gun when John burned me down on the starting line. But I am sorry to see any track close.
RIP-John Shoemaker
Larry Sutton---Lions Starter and racer (RET.)

 

[sammi]

The killer of race tracks all over the country is conservative capitalism. Try and name one track liberals did away with. If you can, I will name you a dozen killed by capitalists. Running a race track that doesn't have much ROI on expensive real estate is a pretty liberal idea.

 

[TSK]

No need to bring politics into a discussion on the NHRA forum.

 

[.]

Awww, man. I liked that place. Only been once for Funny Car Fever. I think it was 2008 or 2009; Jeck Beckman rolled a nostalgia funny.
Always wanted to go back, just that it's so far away for me.

 

[Mike]

Mark, glad you could bring politics in but this is called business and thank you Dave Smith and all the other track owners who have stayed around for so long and now they are getting up in the years and would like to enjoy the rewards of their labor.

Oh, I guess you arent aware of the very liberal business polices in the state of calif that make it very hard on the businesses

 

[twostep]

Mike Kuhl blowing up all the out house's with M-80s

My kind of guy. I was a charter member of our local M80 Club back in the day, and if I recall more than one outhouse fell victim to our demolition squad.

 

[Randy]

The killer of race tracks all over the country is conservative capitalism. Try and name one track liberals did away with. If you can, I will name you a dozen killed by capitalists. Running a race track that doesn't have much ROI on expensive real estate is a pretty liberal idea.

Pardon me while I puke. So you're claiming only conservatives exercise their private property rights? I guess if the government owned everything Sacramento, Houston, Bandimere, etc., would all be saved? They never would have been built.

Land goes through stages in life. When people of any demographic need a home or business someone fills that need, and it takes land to do it, which drives land values up in an expanding area. The demand for land changes it's highest and best use over time. It evolves. Once it was a farm or raceway. Now it's homes or businesses that provide jobs because of expansion. Look further away for new property, or look for viable options like abandoned airports away from homes and businesses if you want to make a lot of noise on at least a mile long property.

Truth be told, racing facilities are one of the least efficient uses for land. If I had 100 acres making me $100,000 a year after expenses plus the headache of knowing any day now the powers that be will shut me down, and I have an offer on the table for $100 million for my property, I know what I would do. Take the money and go find another location while I can.

I'm with Sutton on Sacramento. I have a few reasons for never going there after a few experiences. I'm sad about seeing another track shut down, but that's where it ends.

 

[Randy]

My kind of guy. I was a charter member of our local M80 Club back in the day, and if I recall more than one outhouse fell victim to our demolition squad.

Don't forget the turned over empty drums of nitro.

 

[Jim]

Land goes through stages in life.

Track owners also go through stages in life. At some point, they may no longer wan t to be track owners. Or, they may be more concerned with setting their families up in a good financial situation for years ahead.

Truth be told, racing facilities are one of the least efficient uses for land. If I had 100 acres making me $100,000 a year after expenses plus the headache of knowing any day now the powers that be will shut me down, and I have an offer on the table for $100 million for my property, I know what I would do. Take the money and go find another location while I can.

Particularly when you consider that investing that $100 million would bring you more than $100,000 a year without you lifting a finger.