What's up with SRP? It's been a couple of years since Ive raced there but it seems that they may be on their way out. It's always been a poorly run track but they do host the World Finals there. The web site still has the '06 schedule up and a recent inquiry tells me that the "track's future is uncertain". Does anyone know the real dirt on this?

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Man, that track was "on the way out" when I was there back in 1984.

Hopefully they can keep it going. That is all that is left of the AHRA.

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Official Cookie and Mater Tormentor.

I know, even though we would bitch about the place every time we raced there, at least it was there. I hope somebody steps up and takes the reigns, it would be a shame to loose another drag strip.

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Last I heard the owner was going to jail and the land was going to be auctioned off. The indian casino next door to the track is already building a huge hotel and I'm sure they would love kill the noise. Also, the city is building houses virtually next door to the track and I'm betting the people buying the houses wont have any problems complaining about the noise. The last nail is the fact that the track is on top of a wealth of gravel.

I've also hear that the city of Airway Heights has been looking at the city run drag strip south of Portland (can't remember the name). The rumor is they like how the track has been making money for the city. Also, NHRA has said they would guarantee a division race if the track was brought up to standards.

All in all, they are just rumors. My gut says it will be a gravel quarry by the end of the summer and a parking lot after that.

Really sucks. Orville Moe ran it into the ground and chased off anybody that tried to run there, now they can't get anybody to come and prove it's a viable track. Moe was so greedy that he lost the money he could have had because of his short sightedness.

If I sound bitter, it's just because I am.

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'15 Chrysler 200S V6
'74 Duster 360, factory 4 speed car

I did hear rumors as well quite a while back that Orville was busted for embezzling track funds and yes, he was a real dick to deal with. Spokane is our closest 1/4 mile track (3 1/2 hours) to where I live. I'm not sure what our next option will be.

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Just an FYI, there is a sign on the reader board at the track saying it goes up for auction April 10th.

If I hear anything, I will let you know.

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'15 Chrysler 200S V6
'74 Duster 360, factory 4 speed car

Just saw today that it is going up for auction in 13 different parcels. Unless somebody buys the right parcels (or all of them) it looks like the end. Time will tell.

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'15 Chrysler 200S V6
'74 Duster 360, factory 4 speed car

That's some grim news. We would sorely miss it, despite all the griping.

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Update:

Yesterdays Spokesman Review reported that Spokane County was looking at purchasing the track. They are waiting on some info and supposed to vote on it Tuesday (I think).

Also hear that the owner of Pacific Raceway in Seattle is looking at the track, and if he bought it he would move his operations to Spokane which would possibly include the NHRA race. Didn't confirm that one, but the guy telling me said he thought it was in the Wall Street Journal, or something like that.

Time will tell.

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'15 Chrysler 200S V6
'74 Duster 360, factory 4 speed car

That all sounds pretty good.

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Yeah....Im the one who destroyed this rare, vintage automobile.....

That would be pretty cool, and quite possible. I know that they have been on thin ice for years at Seattle with the neighbors wanting the track gone. Also, the track is in need of some major upgrades to bring it up to national event caliber. They can probably buy Spokane and do the upgrades there, then close Seattle and move.

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Official Cookie and Mater Tormentor.

That's what I've heard as well. Sounds like they have to shut the track down at 6:00 pm due to a noise ordinance.

What I don't understand is that SRP is right next to Airway Heights, and the city is building right up to the track property. Seems like they are going to be in the same boat in no time.

I just hope that we don't loose the track.

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'15 Chrysler 200S V6
'74 Duster 360, factory 4 speed car

Thanks for all the updated Dion, it sounds like there may be hope yet. As far as Pacific Raceway goes, I race for last years season closer there and there was huge amounts of excavating happening for the new track, (apparently) close but not in the exact same location.

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Talked to a guy about that today. He thinks they are just mining the gravel and once they are done it will turn into housing.

He wasn't very positive about SRP either.

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'15 Chrysler 200S V6
'74 Duster 360, factory 4 speed car

Looks like the county voted to get into the bidding.

There are some .pdf's in the link that shows the county's study, and the auction brochure, if you are interested.

Read the article quick, but it did mention that the county would drop out if someone else was interested in keeping the track, and that they had talked to someone in Auburn, WA that was going to bid on it.

Just keeping things up to date.

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'15 Chrysler 200S V6
'74 Duster 360, factory 4 speed car