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Manzanita Speedway, considered one of the top dirt tracks in the country since it opened in 1951, changes hands today.
Phoenix businessman Mel Martin, who helped build the facility as it was being converted from a dog-racing track, and his son, Bobby, are the new owners. Both are lifelong fans who own race cars, and they offered assurances that dirt-track racing would continue.
The track at 3417 W. Broadway Road was purchased from Joe and Millie Kimbro, marina owners in the Bay Area, who bought it in 1992. They said the decision to sell was a practical one since they are unable to travel to the Valley frequently. Also leaving the local racing scene in an official capacity is Dennis Wood, the track's former general manager and the former owner of Phoenix International Raceway. Manzy will be dark this weekend so the first steps can be taken in a remodeling plan, then reopen Aug. 24.
Mel Martin owns the land and is selling the track itself to his son. Steve Dunn, who has been involved in racing for 20 years as a driver, owner, racing official and Manzy's jack-of-all-trades for the past two years, is the new general manager.
"We hope to make Manzy bigger and better than ever," said Dunn, who graduated from Phoenix Trevor Browne High and Glendale Community College. "There's a lot of things you can do to bring in fans. You bring in good race cars, and you do that by fixing the place up . . . anything to make fans realize how important they are.
"You start seeing things completely different when you're a racer, and you look at what is just good for the racer. Sometimes, you've got to get out of that and look at the big picture: A, what are the race fans going to think; B, is it going to be profitable; C, is it doable? And you've got to take care of the racers along with the fans."
The Martins plan on making several improvements, including replacing the safety fence on the front straightaway, installing aluminum grandstands with ramps and opening up a children's area.
Bobby Martin's goal is to make the track as fan-friendly as possible. One of his priorities is starting a "co-pilot" program where kids can win a trophy if the driver they choose in the main event wins. He also wants to bring back late-model stock car racing.
Wood was brought out of retirement by the Kimbros to run the track, and he wanted to exit to spend more time with his grandchildren.
"The (Kimbros) main interest was to protect the integrity of Manzanita and auto racing because they know how important Manzanita is to people all over the country," said Wood. "Mel Martin had the background."
Dunn said it's an honor to manage a track with such a fabled reputation.
"Racing sprint cars, I've been back to Iowa, Eldora (Ohio), Pennsylvania," he said. "People who have never been to Manzanita talk about in hushed tones. People who have never been here want to come."
When the track reopens next weekend, the first 2,000 fans will get T-shirts, Dunn said.
"We want to tell them, 'thank you,' let them know we're moving on," he said, "and that it's going to be a racetrack for years and years to come." Jim Gintonio - Arizona Republic |
