[Formulajones]

Actually they have had a few drift and drags since that last police escapade a couple months ago. In fact there is another drift and drag scheduled for Feb 12th that I plan to attend.

Sad that the track is giving you such a hard time Steve, but I don't think it's entirely the tracks fault. The Gila Indian reservation the track sits on has imposed some really stringent restrictions, more so than Maricopa County or the city of Phoenix has. Makes life really difficult for the track. Just take a look at Tucson's schedule. It's booked every week all year for 2021. Wildhorse has nothing except the drift and drag Feb 12th I mentioned and some stupid drag queen show for cross dressers the week after. Why a dragstrip entertains that I'll never know, that certainly isn't helping any, but the rest of the calendar year for Wildhorse is blank.

As far as track management goes, they should embrace more events like yours Steve in my opinion if they want the support of the local muscle car crowd. We simply don't have enough events like this in Phoenix, and I feel that track does suffer for it. It's too bad Speedworld is gone, we wouldn't be going through this nonsense if that were still around.

What ever happens, I'll be there supporting any kind of muscle car event that Wildhorse is willing to entertain. When they don't, I'll be at Tucson and Vegas.

[68azbird]

Anybody else aware that wildhorse is going to be shut down and re developed. Just like Atlanta and Atco.
All the drag strips are disappearing
Clock is ticking boys

[Formulajones]

I've heard those rumors too and it doesn't surprise me. When they are booking drag queen cross dressers instead of drag racing events it made me think right away their days are numbered.

It's been posted pretty much everywhere on social media from what I've been told, with several people coming forward, including racers in my area, that they are considering the possibility of turning this into a water park or a sports complex, and what a surprise, another casino. Like the one right across the street isn't enough. lol

Interesting how a little mom and pop track in Tucson can book an entire year but an NHRA sanctioned track is struggling. That gets back to my point of being on reservation land and restrictions that are way more stringent than the rest of the county.

Lets hope this doesn't happen but unless they get on the ball it doesn't look good.

[Formulajones]

Here are a couple of quick shots I took at the Feb 12th test and tune. This doesn't really capture the crazy amount of people that showed up for this event.

There were easily 300+ cars drag racing. The upper pits were completely full, it took me an hour just to get through tech. From there I had to wait 2 1/2 hours between each run. Staging lanes were 5 lanes wide and completely packed.

Gates opened at 3pm for racers and I didn't get back home until 2 am.

Spectators were just as many. It was as busy as I've seen the track since the last NHRA event.

I'd say the track has no problem bringing in racers when they are open. Despite what their website says (which is basically nothing) they did have a poster at the track of upcoming events and it looked like test and tune is to resume it's normal Friday nights and every weekend had some form of racing booked. My son took a picture of it I'll see if I can upload shortly.

[Formulajones]

Here's a picture my son took of a schedule they had.

Why they can't put this up on their website is beyond comprehension. They can print out a giant poster board and hang it up in the pits but they can't stroke a few keys on the computer and post it on their website??

And I'll say this again.....why are they not advertising your Pontiac Heaven event Steve that is supposed to happen Nov 1st??? It just kills me the tracks advertising is so lack luster.

[Gastiresandoil]

From Pontiac Heaven (Steve B) on Facebook:

Not sure who all may know but, the Arizona state fair is moving this year and it is moving to Wild Horse Pass Motorsports park. In a meeting with WHP officials last week, I learned that my saved event dates of November 5-7 will not be avail because of this. In fact, no dates are avail to me until well into December. Pontiac Heaven events have suffered from bouncing around the calendar for several years and cost keep going up. I have been trying to stabilize that for the last few years with dates in early November. There are other factors effecting the event weekend for this year, some of those being covid restrictions are still in full force at the track. WHP has also imposed a new $10 parking fee for spectators which I am very unhappy about and the list goes on.
I do enjoy a good, healthy relationship with WHP and we have enjoyed running events there. Wild Horse Pass is an outstanding facility/location for a weekend event with plenty of attractive features for people visiting from out of town, etc. As for the future, I just do not know and I do not see how I could run a 3 day weekend event this year. This has been mention of possibly moving to another facility. However, many of my loyal sponsors are local and they do not want the event outside of the Phoenix area. National sponsors are less concerned. It is my intention and desire to remain at WHP as we have been for many years.
I am looking into a single day alternative event in December at WHP and will be announcing here. Otherwise- Pontiac Heaven events are on hold for now.
My next show is the 13th annual Apache County Motorsports Days event in St Johns, near where the Pontiac Heaven Museum will be located, August 28. Info and flier shown here

[Formulajones]

Thanks for posting that

I don't know how old that response is but I can tell you from being there in February that the Covid restrictions had no affect what so ever on the track, it's amount of support, or the amount of spectators. It was a full house!! So that is certainly not the issue right now.

It does seem the track isn't too concerned with hosting the event however. I'd be more than willing to head to Tucson. Phoenix people should be too. Hell I come down from Prescott and it doesn't bother me a bit. Tucson is a much more accommodating (friendly atmosphere) track anyway.

Steve, if you move it to Tucson, you have my support, I'll be there.

[Gastiresandoil]

Originally Posted by Formulajones

Thanks for posting that

I don't know how old that response is but I can tell you from being there in February that the Covid restrictions had no affect what so ever on the track, it's amount of support, or the amount of spectators. It was a full house!! So that is certainly not the issue right now.

It does seem the track isn't too concerned with hosting the event however. I'd be more than willing to head to Tucson. Phoenix people should be too. Hell I come down from Prescott and it doesn't bother me a bit. Tucson is a much more accommodating (friendly atmosphere) track anyway.

Steve, if you move it to Tucson, you have my support, I'll be there.

For what its worth, it was posted about a week ago.

[Formulajones]

Appreciate it. Steve doesn't check in here much and many of us don't do the facebook thing, and since the track doesn't bother advertising the event we just never know what's going on with it.

[68azbird]

i will be there with $100,000 to run any mo fo heads up

[68azbird]

Originally Posted by 68azbird

i will be there with $100,000 to run any mo fo heads up

Ok $10

[Steve Barcak]

Oh, how things change...After getting the info on the Az state fair taking over for the fall and bumping me. It appears that the fair now will not take place at Wild Horse Pass!!
I still have the option of renting and running a 3 day or a 1 day but, there are additional reasons, as well as months of less important lead time.
So, I just do not know if I will run an event this year. It may be best to sit out another year and regroup and see what happens at the track.
It would still be best to have the event at Wild Horse Pass due to its location and many sponsors want it there too.
hmmm I just do not know and am looking into all options and expenses.

Thanks to those who have supported my efforts for an annual Pontiac Heaven weekend. People have attended from all over the world and that is a cool think.

[Steve Barcak]

at this time, I have decided not to host a Pontiac Heaven event in Az this year. I do have my annual car show, open to all brands coming to the St Johns city park Saturday August 28. info on the event FB page- Apache County Motorsports Days.

[68azbird]

lame and patheteic

[Jack Gifford]

Originally Posted by 68azbird

.., lame and patheteic...

I sure hope you're not referring to Steve's efforts.

[AZDragracer]

Hey Everyone,

We are planning a Pontiac Racing Series !! This series will be open to ALL Pontiac cars, or cars with Pontiac Power !! Currently we have a weekend in October 8-9 and November 20, at Tucson Dragway. We are working with Wild Horse Pass (WHP) to get some dates this year, but the tribe is being very reluctant (over cautious) with dates right now with the virus cases rising. We are already in talks with other tracks in the west to see if we can have races there as well. The reason for 2 days in Oct..... because it gives everyone a chance to race if they can get there, we all know life has obligations, Wife, kids, work, etc.

I have purchased a website www.OutlawPontiacRacersWest.com and will be up shortly (gotta pay the web guy in steaks and beer) this will have all the information that the FB page has, Outlaw Pontiac Racers West.

We are looking to have fun, race, help each other, and just a good time !!

I'm doing this NOT to make money, but just bring a bunch of Pontiac Racers together. We see all the fun and racing back east, let's do some out here !!.

Contact me if you would like more information
Rick Unterseh

[Formulajones]

What new blocking?

It's not until the beginning of November, more than 3 months away. As of right now Wild Horse has a full schedule posted starting Aug 7th, and that is only due to the current Gila River Indian Community that has a stay in place order until August 2nd.

[Formulajones]

LOL

[Formulajones]

I think we'll be fine. Arizona the last few days has started to show a downward trend while other states are still struggling.

Matter of fact Goodguys has already cancelled events for next year as far forward as November 2021 for Colorado, California, North Carolina, Pennsylvania and a couple others, but they are still on schedule at this point for this November in Phoenix, which happens to be 3 weeks after the scheduled Pontiac Heaven event.

As long as things continue on the downward trend I don't see any reason why either of these would cancel, especially the Pontiac drag race since the crowd is much less and easily controlled with plenty of room.

Plus as I mentioned, the track is scheduled to open this coming weekend.

[Steve Barcak]

Here is the event weekend flier with schedules, features and registration form.