Save Los Angeles County Raceway Hey gang, Haven't logged on in a long time.. been up to my eyeballs these dayz. Anyway I just wanted to bring to your attention that we are holding a Save LACR Rally on June 1st. Here is the scoop! June 1st is going to kick off a big weekend with Friday nites Save LACR Rally, then on Saturday the 2nd I'm having a Pre Antique Nats BBQ over at the Outpost in Pearblossom we will have bands and the whole bit, everyone is invited, the bbq is going to be from a pro outfit and that will cost but the rest is free, bring your Kustoms, Kl***ics and Hot Rods you are all welcome to join us! and Sunday the 3rd obviously The Antique nationals at L.A.C.R. Then I'll be having my 5th annual BBQ after the nats over at my place. just bring stuff to eat and drink... In fact if folks want to bring their motorhomes and park them at my place if they want to hang out for the weekend they are more than welcome to do so.... I'm only a couple of miles from the track! Getting back to the Rally for Friday nite June 1st. Our press info is below...Hopefully we will have a good show of supporters, So Just show up! If anyone needs to call me I can be reached at (661) 944-2299 You can also always e-mail me at moldy@ratfink.org Well there you have it.. hope to see all of you soon.... Beeeeeee There! ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ Event: Save LACR Rally Date: June 1st, 2007 Time: 6pm Place: Los Angeles County Raceway - "Entrance on Avenue T" Address: 6850 East Avenue T, Littlerock, CA 91543 Website: http://www.SaveLACR.org Contact: Moldy Marvin- Save LACR Committee (661) 944-2299 On Friday June 1st 2007 there will be a "Save LACR Rally" in front Los Angeles County Raceway; the "Save LACR Rally" is for anyone who is as p***ionate about the closing of another Drag Strip in L. A. County and putting "More Street Racers" (our kids) back on the streets as we are! The "Closing of Los Angeles County Raceway" will effect the community at large, but most of all our "Young Adults"! I'm sure that like all of us you are concerned with the "Street Racing" problem that exists today in our society, this is brought home every time we pick up a newspaper or tune in to the local news, and are informed of another accident as a direct result of "Street Racing" with more loss of "Life and Property". LACR has been serving the communities in Los Angeles County for over 40 years; it has been a "Landmark" that has not only generated revenue for the County of Los Angeles but the Cities of Palmdale and Lancaster in particular. It's been the home to numerous ***ociations, including the So Cal Pro Gas ***oc., So Cal Super Street ***oc., Pontiac Drag Days, SCEDA, The Buick Grand National Club, So Cal Super Comp ***oc., the West Coast Corvette Challenge, American Nostalgia Racing ***oc., Road Kings and Early Riders Car Clubs, LACR is also home to the Motion Picture Driving Clinic ( Hollywood Stunt School ) just to name a few. LACR is host to major events through out the year including, The Antique Nationals, the World Jet Finals, The Annual Ratfink Party, and The Annual Big Rigs 4 Kids Charity Truck Drags & Show and the IDRC Finals, along with other NHRA divisional events. Most of all it has given our "Young Adults" and "Race Fans" a "Safe" and "Legal" place to race rather than the city streets. Due to the "Mining of Aggregate" by "Granite Construction" next door to LACR, the Drag Strip is doomed unless you help! There needs to be at the "Vary Least a Moratorium" on the digging to allow "Local Governments" (City and County) to come up with an alternative!! Be there Friday June 1st at 6pm and show your support, we need everyone to show up, Racers, Kids, Parents, Law Enforcement, City Officials and everyone else. There is strength in numbers so "Let's Unite" and let them know what LACR means to the community!! Call and Email Your Friends Today!!! Thanx big time, tha Moldy one http://www.SaveLACR.org
Thanks, We really appreciate your support. Here is something else you can do if your are interested. We need to Email the following Officials now!! before the "Rally on June 1st", this will help make them aware and put the pressure on them to act!!! If we can get an "Email Campagine" going and flood them with "Real Racers and Fans" emails then this will help creat more buzz and that means more people at the rally. So let's get to work, send your own emails and contact your friends to do the same!! Email list and letter below. Thank you, the Moldy one Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger Los Angeles Office 300 South Spring Street Suite 16701 Los Angeles, CA 90013 Phone: 213-897-0322 Fax: 213-897-0319 E-mail governor@governor.ca.gov Runner, George - State Senator 848 W Lancaster Blvd. Suite 101 Lancaster, CA 93534 (661) 729-6239 Online E-mail Form: http://192.234.213.40/PublicLCMS/SenRep/Contact.aspx?district=SD17& Sharon Runner ***emblywomen 36th District 747 West Lancaster Boulevard Lancaster, CA 93534 Phone: (661) 723-3368 Fax: (661) 723-6307 E-mail ***emblywoman.Runner@***embly.ca.gov Zev Yaroslavsky - Chairman of the Board Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors 213-974-3333 E-mail zev@bos.lacounty.gov Palmdale City Officials: James C. Ledford Jr., Mayor E-mail jledford@cityofpalmdale.org Board Members: Mike Dispenza, Mayor Pro Tem E-mail mdispenza@cityofpalmdale.org Steven D. Hofbauer, Councilmember E-mail shofbauer@cityofpalmdale.org Stephen Knight, Councilmember E-mail steveknight@cityofpalmdale.org Tom Lackey, Councilmember E-mail TomLackey@cityofpalmdale.org LA County Supervisor 5th District Michael D Antonovich 1113 W. Ave M-4, Suite A Palmdale, CA 93551 (661) 726-3600 Online Email Form: http://antonovich.co.la.ca.us/forms/index.html#email address =================================================================== Dear, You may or may not beware of the Closing of Los Angeles County Raceway located at 6850 East Avenue T, Palmdale, CA 91543 and the effect it will have on the community at large, but most of all our Young Adults! Im sure that like all of us you are concerned with the Street Racing problem that exists today in our society, this is brought home every time we pick up a newspaper or tune in to the local news, and are informed of another accident as a direct result of Street Racing and another loss of Life and Property. LACR has been serving the communities in Los Angeles County for over 40 years; it has been a Landmark that has not only generated revenue for the County of Los Angeles and the Cities of Palmdale and Lancaster in particular. Most of all it has given our Young Adults and Race Fans a Safe and Legal place to race rather than the city streets. Due to the Mining of Aggregate (by Granite Construction) next door to LACR, the Drag Strip is doomed unless you help! There needs to be at the Vary Least a Moratorium on the digging to allow Local Governments (City and County) to come up with an alternative. To let this proceed unaddressed is not in Your Best Interest or that of The Community as a Whole. As Elected Officials we ask you to Stand Up for our Kids and Our Community! For more on this issue and contact information please visit http://www.SaveLACR.org Sincerely,
Hey, Ty thanx, can you let the rest of Rod ******s know, It would be great if we could get the whole gang down there. M
FORGET IT! You are ******* upwind. The deal is done and Granite Construction owns the land. Negotiation talks have been ongoing with local officials for an alternative site nearby. Hopefully that will be successfull. The Antique Nationals have been an awesome and unique venue for we hot rodders still living in the past. Our efforts need to be directed in a positive direction with local jurisdiction officials where it can serve to save the event but at another location.
Thank you for your response, I've been working on this project for over 2 years now.. Granite is only the Master Lease owner...they DO NOT Own the LAND, and we have been talking. There are 3 things that may happen, The first is we might be able to SAVE LACR as is, the City of Palmdale has shown interest in purchasing the land and turning it into a "Landmark". Frankly I think it may be too late but you never know. The second option is building a new track as soon as Granite is done mining the property which would be less than 2 years. The property is already permitted and Granite has already shown an interest in helping us out they have to reclaim the land and there are funds to help us get things started. We already even have a drawn plan, that would include not only the drag strip but a roundy round clay track, the motocross track, hook ups for Motorhomes, Restaurant, museum, gift shop and an amphitheater. Yes we would have to wait, but we are already looking into a portable system and an area out here that can be used a couple of times a month to keep things going. The third option is building on another parcel that the Los Angeles Airport authority has offered, the only draw back to that is it will take a heck of a lot more time and funding to get environmental impact studies done, permits, power etc. The thing here is to create an awareness. We are not bashing Granite because they have been very accommodating throughout the years, But do they really need what is left? is it really worth that much dollar wise.. these are the questions that are being addressed and that is why a moratorium may be needed just to slow things down until we can all figure it out. The thing is not to give up hope and to try as we might to either SaveLACR or to build another facility that is so important to the kids, the racers, the race fans in our outlining communities. It is at least worth the try. Moldy
Hey Abe, What a trip..Man it's been awhile, How ya been?... Yeah we are looking into that and as I understand it can be pretty simple if you can get the city or county to back you. love to see you out there on June 1st if ya can make it.. Moldy
Thx for the heads-up and good luck, gang. As a former Littlerock (Juniper Hills) and Palmdale resident with family in the area, I still consider the AV home. LACR was the first drag strip I ever went to, and I've always wanted to bring my daughter there to race her jr dragster in front of family. I'll help by writing letters. Hank
FINALLY! Someone beside me sees the TRUTH in this matter, Granite OWNS the ****ing land, and they have for YEARS! They gave Bernie notice 2, if not 3 years ago that they would be heading across the road to start digging. You can write all the politicos you want to, you can have a rally, hell be really cool and chain yourself to the starting lights the day they come to doze it, do whatever you need to do to make yourself feel good, just know that in the end, it won't ****ing matter, MONEY makes the world go 'round, and you can believe this Granite has lots of MONEY and lots of CLOUT in Sacramento.
Some times the truth hurts.... ("IF" what your saying is the thuth). But ****, nothing like a little negativity on a Sunday morning and when people are putting a lot of hard work into a POSITIVE cause. Join in for the cause you will feel better inside win or lose. The reality is that you will get no where if you do nothing. I'll send in the letters and be there on the first. Joe
I heard a rumor on the local channel (the palmdale news one, whatever it is) that they were considering putting the track down into the hole, when granite moves across the street. That was some time ago, but it came from someone on the city counsel I think. I really need to go over there before the old track is gone.
If all that is true, I commend you for any and all efforts to save or rebuild in two years. I was apparently misinformed about ownership. SO WHO IS THE OWNER? And when does the Granite lease expire? I am with you all the way as long as there is still hope. I also think that rebuilding lower after excavation is completed is a good idea for the future before the area gets filled in with happy homeowners to complain about the noise.
In my opinion I say try to save the track as is and make it a historical landmark if possible. Whats the point if they are going to re-build the track? Why not re-build it somewhere closer to sea level then? When was the last time you heard someone saying they love LACR because they run up to half a second slower due to al***ude? Or like the fact that they have trouble hooking up due to sand blowing on the track? Most people here (including me) like going to LACR becasue its the oldest operating dragstrip in So.Cal that street legal cars can still run at (Pomona stopped street legals drags back in 2001 I believe). I dont even know if Inyokern still exsists, Famoso is cool but its not really So. Cal. Even if Pomona let street legal cars still run in my opinion LACR is still more unique because it still looks period. Not only that you dont have to deal with NHRA tech inspectors.What im trying to say is if they do rebuild or relocate LACR,they win, and its just not going to be the same anymore.It will feel like every other rebuild or new track in So.Cal but just up in Palmdale. I will definately be there the weekend of the antique drags and I hope the track can be saved as is!!
Maybe this will help the track from getting torn down. http://www.myfoxla.com/myfox/pages/...n=1&locale=EN-US&layoutCode=VSTY&pageId=3.1.1
While I really hate the fact that places like this are closing all over the country, the real culprit is money. We talk about saving places like drag strips and drive in's, but unless we back it up with real economic action, i.e. pay the price to use the facility regularly and attend often, none of these places can stay in business. This is not a public venue like a Performing Arts Center where you can tap public money to subsidize operations. If you want to save the place, you need a viable business plan that makes it profitable, in fact, more profitable than any other use of the land. Why would any reasonable person run a marginal dragstrip operation when there is more money to be made by converting it to a strip mall? You really need a viable business plan to overcome that, not just an emotional response to the loss of some history and a forced rezoning or historic restriction that uses the power of government to take away the rights of the property owner. What is your concept to increase attendance, increase revenues, lower operating costs, and increase profitability?
I want to thank everyone for their responses and I'll try and answer all the questions that have been posted so far but first.. This is why we need to create an awareness, for both the general public and kids that like to race their cars in the Antelope Valley. This is why we need to Save Los Angeles County Raceway or build a new facility so people can have a place to legally race their vehicles. Win or lose; This is why we are trying to do something about it. 2 Killed in Hit-and-Run at Lancaster Street RaceDriver Followed by Witnesses LANCASTER, May 20, 2007 (CNS) - Two young people watching a car race in Lancaster were killed Sunday when they were struck by a hit-and-run driver, and three other youths were injured, a sheriff's lieutenant said. The accident in an industrial area near the General William J. Fox Airfield, popular a**** street racers, occurred about 1 a.m. at 45th Street West and Avenue G, said Los Angeles County sheriff's Lt. David Oliva of the Lancaster Station. The victims were watching a race when they were struck by a Chevrolet pickup, Oliva said. The driver, a man about 40 years old, sped away and was followed by witnesses, Oliva said. Deputies stopped the pickup driver at 90th Street West and Avenue E-8 a short time later and took him into custody, he said. Two people, whose names were withheld, died at the scene, the lieutenant said. One person was taken to Providence Holy Cross Medical Center in Mission Hills in critical condition, he said. Two other people were taken to a hospital with lesser injuries, he said. Copyright © 2007 KABC-TV and City News Service (CNS). All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. http://abclocal.go.com/kabc/story?section=local&id=5323169 Please Join us on June 1st 2007 at 6:00pm. For more information go to: http://www.savelacr.org
Yes, this is one of the things that we are looking at and Granite is willing to lay down the track at a little above contractor cost...
More answers... The Lane Family of Lancaster has owned the property since the early 50's and still owns it. Granite only holds a mineral lease on the property. They are aware of our concerns, however there is no reason to get them involved at this time; Why? Because the lease is the lease and the Lane's can not pull out of it until we can come up with some kind of solution with Granite or actually get a Moratorium set by the county. etc.etc.etc. As far as the funding such a project we have several people that are willing to chip in, refinance their houses, Racers for Racers so to speak, there are also city, county and federal grants out there, and obviously the reclamation bond. Who will run the track? Well first of all we would hire on the current employees then add new management and other workers, and volunteers. It is all very feasible, it just depends on how one looks at things, Is the Gl*** Half Full or Half Empty? If one truly believes, then one can attract the things that are necessary to bring things to fruition. When you have a specific group that share the same belief then anything is possible.
Tonight's rally is gonna be pretty darned big, channel 7 news is gonna be there along with a bunch of folks and the local press, the city is in talks with Granite and a lot of new news is out on the streets... There is a whole weekend of stuff happining out at the track and up the road... folks can camp out at my place or at the Outpost. Check it out go to http://www.savelacr.org If you are intersted in some of the latest news check out our "News on the Street' pages... If ya can't make it earlier, I'm lookin' forward to seeing ya all out there on Sunday, Sunday Sunday! Thanx big time tha Moldy one
The Jalopy Journal
