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Firebird International Raceway

Discussion in 'Arizona & New Mexico' started by agup48, Oct 23, 2012.

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  1. agup48

    agup48 Two Time F1 World Champ

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    #1 agup48, Oct 23, 2012
    I've had some great times out there. Thanks again to arizona...er...SanFranciscoItalian :)D) and Joey for taking me out on the track! This track is in such a great location, I wonder if they can save it! :(

    http://www.arizonaautoscene.com/archives/7206
     
  2. GuyIncognito

    GuyIncognito Nine Time F1 World Champ
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    #2 GuyIncognito, Oct 23, 2012
    that would really suck :eek:

    in addition to all the drag racing, it's home to the Bondurant school, and used for lots of club racing. IIRC the reconfiguration of PIR means they no longer have a road course either, so where to go road racing in Phoenix?

    also, Ayrton Senna drove an Indycar once in his life....for Penske in 1992, at Firebird.

    [ame]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w5pwFSjO5bs[/ame]
     
  3. agup48

    agup48 Two Time F1 World Champ

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    #3 agup48, Oct 23, 2012
    Bondurant doesn't have any other tracks in the Phoenix area that they could relocate to and really work well at.

    Club racing will have to go to the other tracks around Arizona...Firebird was the primary track for the Phoenix region.

    Yes, PIR's road course is bye-bye. Senna did drive on the track, quite a cool video, I remember watching that a few years ago and was so ecstatic.

    We have one other track. AMP and they have noise restrictions. So, it sucks. :D
     
  4. plastique999

    plastique999 F1 Veteran
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    #4 plastique999, Oct 23, 2012
    Wow that is a shame if it shuts down.
    I've heard such good things about Bondurant.
    I've raced at Firebird as well.
     
  5. agup48

    agup48 Two Time F1 World Champ

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    #5 agup48, Oct 23, 2012
    In your 2-Eleven? Did you do the cup race in April of 2011?! I was in the grandstands watching, if so!
     
  6. plastique999

    plastique999 F1 Veteran
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    #6 plastique999, Oct 24, 2012
    It was last year in our LotusCupUSA series. At the time, I was racing my Elise. Ill try to conjure up the YouTube vid of the race.
     
  7. Kyoso_Joey

    Kyoso_Joey Formula Junior

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    #7 Kyoso_Joey, Oct 24, 2012
    If I wasn't at work right now id be yelling F**K at the top of my lungs. This sucks for those that enjoy trask days. Ashwin if I ever do Mondo you have first dibs as passenger. Ill miss all the awesome action shots you got at that track too. Damn Firebird west is where I got my first ever ride in a Ferrari. :(
     
  8. agup48

    agup48 Two Time F1 World Champ

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    #8 agup48, Oct 24, 2012
    Last edited by a moderator: Sep 7, 2017
    ROFL! Just freakin' remind me to wear jeans and shoes so I don't have to sneak in your car! :D

    Haha. Found one of my pictures of it in the background:
    Image Unavailable, Please Login
     
  9. Challenge64

    Challenge64 F1 Veteran
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    #9 Challenge64, Oct 29, 2012
    There are a couple other tracks. The Inde Motorsports Park is south of Tucson, St. Johns runs stuff now and then, and Arizona Motorsports Park too. Sadly Inde and St Johns is a bit far to drive and AMP has been in a state of Limbo for many years. So unless we all want to start Oval racing, most of our track fun is done for now.
     
  10. Kyoso_Joey

    Kyoso_Joey Formula Junior

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    #10 Kyoso_Joey, Oct 29, 2012
    I never knew about St. Johns til I read your post and cant seem to find any good info on it or the track lay out. Was a fun track? Ive done a track day at Indie and felt like the track does not live up to the hype that surrounds it, the unpaved road to get to the track was so harsh it rattled my mirror loose. I got the opportunity to do a sound test at AMP and it was a fun track.

    Its sad to see Firebird go, just did a DE event there on Sunday and had a great view of the event that NASA AZ was having on the main track and Pro Autosports was having in the west track while I stood on the bleachers. So many racers and specatators will soon be without a home track :(
     
  11. plastique999

    plastique999 F1 Veteran
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    #11 plastique999, Oct 29, 2012
    Holy crap - that's it!
    Man I really miss that Elise!

    That weekend was one to remember. It was raining off and on. Finally dried up and during one session spun through a puddle and hit a tirewall. Knocked my rear wing off but duct taped the body and raced.
    In the race I passed my competitor near the end of th race then lost 2nd gear to have him pass me in the last lap.
    Aw the memories
     
  12. 410SA

    410SA F1 Veteran

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    #12 410SA, Oct 30, 2012
    I don't think Firebird is going anywhere. The current operators are simply not having their lease renewed. No-one really knows why. The tribe is apparently seeking another operator
     
  13. agup48

    agup48 Two Time F1 World Champ

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    #13 agup48, Oct 30, 2012
    It's final, I have confirmed it with 3 people.

    They are building a casino. Stupid idea, in my opinion. :eek:
     
  14. GuyIncognito

    GuyIncognito Nine Time F1 World Champ
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    #14 GuyIncognito, Oct 30, 2012
    sad face :(

    on the plus side, in 10 years when all these Indian casinos go broke you'll be able to buy the land back for a song!
     
  15. agup48

    agup48 Two Time F1 World Champ

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    #15 agup48, Oct 30, 2012
    I read on the NASA AZ forum that the owner and/or operator of Firebird is not giving up and has plans to open up a new track with a lake, like FIR has currently for the boat races and wake-boarders. IIRC, it said it will be open 2014 or 2015. The NASA guy I talked to said they don't have the exact date of the last track days but it'll be sometime around this time next year.

    I spoke to one of the ProAutoSports guys and asked what their plan was next and they said they will keep running till they close it and will be at Arizona Motorsports Park and INDE. The track was busy this weekend, with ProAuto, NASA, Bondurant running a few CTS-Vs and the Lucas Oil Off Road races going on.
     
  16. GFUracing

    GFUracing Formula Junior

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    #16 GFUracing, Oct 31, 2012
    I dont think they can build a casino on that property. I ready somewhere they cant build another casino with 5 miles from existing casino (wild horse pass). they'll probably just get a new operator.


     
  17. agup48

    agup48 Two Time F1 World Champ

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    #17 agup48, Oct 31, 2012
    Not sure what they'll do with the land. One person told me that so I didn't ask the ProAuto and NASA guys.
     
  18. arizonaitalian

    arizonaitalian F1 World Champ
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    #18 arizonaitalian, Nov 27, 2012
    Would suck if they don't find another operator.

    My *guess* is that they will after much wringing of hands and stomping of feet...

    INDE and Chuckwalla are both ~3 hours from Phoenix...not ideal. St. john's is closer to 4 hours and I have no idea what even goes on there.

    I can't imagine the CS will be sound-compliant at AMP.

    Good grief. I'll have to get a BRZ for the track :)
     
  19. agup48

    agup48 Two Time F1 World Champ

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    #19 agup48, Nov 27, 2012
    The current operator of Firebird, or the likes of an operator said they would be building or moving to a new location. That location will not be completed till the end of 2013, IIRC.

    Chuckwalla is a great track, wide and open. Haven't been to INDE, but from Google Maps, it looks to be similar to Chuckwalla.
     
  20. darthenzo

    darthenzo Formula Junior

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    #20 darthenzo, Nov 28, 2012
    Well, I remember as a kid, My father was Service and Parts Director @ Earnhardts Dodge, and they sponsored the Hawaiin Punch Funny Car. We were in the suites right on the line for many events over the years. I saw a short lived class of drag racers there... a rocket car. That thing was crazy quick (close to 300m.p.h. IIRC) in the mid '80's. I still remember my eyes watering from all the tire smoke. As a side note my SIL Bought my brother and I a ride (me in a 430 and my brother in a lambo). So I get my first ride and drive in a Ferrari and its going to be on a real race track tomorrow at 1:00 Holy Crap I don't know how I'm going to sleep tonight. I have the best Sister in Law in the world.
     
  21. agup48

    agup48 Two Time F1 World Champ

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    #21 agup48, Nov 29, 2012
    I saw that event going on and thought about it, but didn't think it was worth it to me, even after a discount.

    Post your experience and some pictures! Groupon has a different offer for something at PIR.
     
  22. Ingenere

    Ingenere F1 Veteran
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    #22 Ingenere, Nov 29, 2012
    You have Sears Point and Laguna Seca! :(

    Well........... How did it go?
     
  23. darthenzo

    darthenzo Formula Junior

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    #23 darthenzo, Nov 30, 2012
    HOLY CRAP.... THAT WAS AWESOME. I paid extra and drove the Mclaren (sp) as well as the F-430 Brutally fast. The loud pedal is addictive. I want one even more now.
    I'm having troubles with video and pics right now. I will upload when I can.
     
  24. darthenzo

    darthenzo Formula Junior

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    #24 darthenzo, Nov 30, 2012
    Last edited by a moderator: Sep 7, 2017
  25. darthenzo

    darthenzo Formula Junior

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    #25 darthenzo, Nov 30, 2012
    I gave the memory card to the driving instructor in the Mclaren and I got that video.....I was so giddy in the Ferrari, I flipping forgot to give the card to the instructor, just means I will have to do this again. As soon as the video finishes uploading to Youtube, I will post it here
     
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