I'll bet an industrial park won't bring as many out of town visitors to stay and spend money.
photo credit: photosbyjuha.com
Sure, the shuttered Palm Beach International Raceway may be under contract to be sold to a company seeking to turn it into an industrial park. However, locals, several household names, the racing community and even the Palm Beach County Zoning Commission have voiced their concern about the proposed project.
Formula Race Promotions, led by seasoned motorsports promoter Al Guibord, is spearheading the effort dubbed Save Palm Beach Raceway. On the group’s site, you can sign a petition that seeks 15,000 signatures to voice support for the track. The website also provides information on how to contact the Palm Beach County Board of County Commissioners.
Even Dave Kerner, the mayor of Palm Beach County, backs the storied motorsports facility. “PBIR has deep ties to Palm Beach County,” Kerner says on the Save Palm Beach Raceway website. “If the track is replaced, we will never get another one. We must support the vision to preserve and enhance the facility to have it become an iconic destination that will create jobs and boost tourism.”
Others quoted include music star Armando Christian Perez (aka Pitbull); Zak Brown, CEO of McLaren Racing; and motorsports hall of famers Tommy Kendall and Danny Sullivan.
The strong contingent of supporters provides a glimmer of hope that Palm Beach International Raceway will continue as a motorsports facility. Those interested in seeing it remain a racing venue should voice their opinions now. The Board of County Commissioners vote on the approval for industrial park project on April 28.
I'll bet an industrial park won't bring as many out of town visitors to stay and spend money.
Part of the reason I moved here was because of the track. I ran the road course and drag strip when it was the old Moroso layout and also ran both with the PBIR layout. I recall one week when I ran the road course one weekend, went to Wed. night test & tune on the drag strip, then was back on the road course again the following weekend and met David Wallens who was there shooting pics. Last time I was there I went to meet up with J.G and watch him run an SCCA time trials event with the Vette. I'll be sad if it closes for good.
Already signed the petition and will ask anyone who has a minute when reading this to also sign.
Used to go there when i lived in Delray. It's evolved alot since then. Would be a shame if it went away.
There's an event on Saturday to celebrate the track. I'm hoping to be there for that. I've never run the drag strip, so I'd like to rectify that, and it's been over 25 years since I've run the road course. It's only $10, and the weather looks to be nice, so...
I hope this works. Would love to race there with Champ Car in future years. My brother lives in that area and attended many drifting events over the years. Crossing my fingers for a good outcome.
I hate to see tracks close, especially when it's down the street.
I have been lucky to run both the original and current layouts. I ran a Consulier there, too, at what was billed as Florida's first import drag race. (Well, I think technically it was an import/domestic event).
I really hope Tuesdays Champcar race wasn't the sunset for competition events there. That place has a ton of potential and could use a good powerwash, repave, and buildup of proper bathrooms but it's still a racetrack nonetheless and we can't lose it.
Finite.
Hate to say it, but their own words and possible inaction brought on their demise.
As far as they are concerned, yes it's closed. But if the county commissioners go with the recommendation of the planning and zoning board that the property not be re-zoned, the developers that over-paid will have no chance but to sell the property. Now, having said that, they over-paid for a reason... they didn't want any of the people bidding to keep it a race track to get it, and it's certainly not outside the possibility that they'll spend the money to make sure the commissioners vote the way they want.
I went over to the track for their "Last Lap" farewell celebration. Maybe it was because a lot of the staff was already gone, who knows, but it was quite underwhelming. I left around two, and the only thing that had gone on since the track opened at 11 was parade laps by the car show, and the same 10 cars going down the strip getting ready for a heads up race. A '69 Nova was nearly in the 8's, everything else was in the 10's or higher.
Never got to see Don Garlits run Swamp Rat 38, his electric dragster, either of the Florida Tech jet cars, or any of the various older cars (slingshots, Pro Stock, or Funny Cars) run. Gates were supposed to close at 8, so I don't know if they got it all in, as they had a track "walk" with Darrell Gwynn scheduled as well.
And David, if somebody sent you a text of him and a guy in a GRM t-shirt from the event, that was me!
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