The future of the South Mountain Speedway, a diminutive yet historic racing track in Phoenix, is hanging by a thread as the city deliberates between costly renovations and returning the land to its natural desert state. According to ABC15, the track has been a mainstay since as far back as the 1960s and has most recently been run by the Valley of the Sun Quarter Midget Association (VQSMA), providing a competitive racing venue for children.
Despite its significance as "a landmark," and as VQSMA might argue, the city's assessment suggests nearly a million dollars in repairs are necessary, the electrical system being a key concern, AJ Imperial at the helm of VQSMA asserts, "It’s nowhere near the amount (the city is stating) stating," essentially contesting the city's estimate, this dispute adds a layer of complication with the city favoring plans to overhaul the land as indicated in its 1989 masterplan; the potential demolition supported by local tribes according to a recent presentation to the parks board, but the decision remains to be made by the park board, as mentioned by azcentral.
In a turn of events, during a May meeting, Phoenix Parks and Recreation staff elucidated two paths forward to the Phoenix Sonoran Preserve and Mountain Parks Committee: one to enact the necessary repairs and continue with a new lease agreement, and the other, to dismantle the track and rehabilitate the space of the Gila River Indian Community and the Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indian Community Tribal Historic Preservation Offices supported this second option, as azcentral reported.
At the heart of the issue, AJ Imperial, sees the track as a fabric of Arizona's history and community, providing a unique sporting environment for young racers, some of whom have gone on to broader horizons in racing, in an interview with azcentral, Imperial detailed the significance of the speedway, saying, "This is the only thing we have in the metropolitan area for kids for that type of racing environment," he emphasized the community's backing and the nonprofit organization's upkeep of the facility despite challenging the city's projection of repair costs, "We've been asking for the city's help for years, for grants for the lighting and for water and stuff like that, but they failed to provide to us," further illustrating a dichotomy between resource allocation and cultural preservation.
The tussle between progress and preservation subjects the South Mountain Speedway to an uncertain fate while AJ Imperial remains hopeful for an agreement that could keep the track running and the tradition of racing alive in the Phoenix area.
