As Race Chairman of SOVREN, you would think that I might be in a position
to know what is going on at SIR. Well, I don't and neither do any others
for sure (except for the owners of the facility). The owners of the track
will take back possession and management once Jim Rockstad's 25 year
concessionaire agreement expires at the end of 2001. All indications are
that they want the track to continue and are planning on making necessary
improvements. Obviously SIR is subject to the usual problems plaguing
tracks in urban environments i.e. housing encroachment, noise complaints,
traffic problems, and zoning commissions. The fact that the track has been
there since 1961 and predates most of these problems should be in its
favor. It is true that SIR is not SCCA approved and could certainly use
some updates. I believe that the track will continue and hopefully be
improved. I also hope that the management will be more supportive of the
road racing program although drag racing historically has been the money
maker and has therefore gotten the most emphasis. It is said that the name
of the track will revert back to Pacific Raceway. I look forward to many
more years of racing at this historic and beautiful facility and have seen
no reasons to be pessimistic about those expectations.
Dick Buckingham, Jr.
Race Chairman - SOVREN
lwdent wrote:
> I work as Chief Steward at SIR 3 times a year and while this does not
> give me any real inside information I do hear a lot of comments, so, to
> answer your question as best I can,
>
> There has been a BIG fight (big lawsuit among other things) between the
> current lease holder, and the owner of the land, about use,
> improvements, etc.
>
> The current owner tried to take the track back several years ago but the
> courts supported management's claim for a lease option. All that comes
> to an end this year.
>
> Rumor has it that plans have been drawn for vast improvements to the
> track and that new managers will do so.
>
> NHRA has been critical of present management and want improvements to
> continue to hold the nationals there so there is pressure to improve,
> since the national drags are one of the major money makers there.
>
> The road circuit has not been approved by SCCA for some years now due to
> considerations that mostly can be easily fixed, so we expect the road
> circuit to receive some attention.
>
> Everyone that knows the track is waiting to see just what happens, but
> it seems sure that no what the changes, they will be for the better.
>
> Larry Dent
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