Forum: HoseHeads Sprint Car General Forum (go)
Moderators: dirtonly  /  dmantx  /  hosehead

Riverside International Speedway affectionately known as "The Ditch" opened it's doors in 1949 and has been operating continuously for 65 years without missing a season. The track has given the sprintcar world some of the top drivers in history. Such as Sprintcar HOF members Clarence "Hooker" Hood. His son Rickey Hood. Sammy and Jeff Swindell, two time NASCAR Nationwide Champion Ricky Stenhouse Jr., World of Outlaws Champion Bobby Davis Jr and many many more.

After the track had been in operation for over 50 years a developer decided that a plot of land across the road from the track and located in between lanes of I-40 and I-55 would be a cheap place to build an apartment complex. Since that time a local alderman one Rev Herman Coleman has made it his one man campaign to try and get the track closed. Of course i do not know how someone who plea bargained a rape charge can be considered a Reverend. He has tried many times to get the city to shut down the track but with no luck. . He is at it again but this time around he is using a different method. Instead of having it closed he is trying to restrict it's hours of operation to between 3pm and 8 pm on Saturdays and Sundays. Such a move would lead to the track being unable to operate safety and without going into massive debt and eventually lead to the owner shutting the doors.

The board of aldermen held it's second reading of the ordinance today and will be holding a public open house on Monday Dec 9th at noon to let the public speak on the issue. Then on Dec 18th at 1:30 the board will hold it's final reading and then vote. We need as many people as possible to either show up on Monday and speak for the track or to contact the city of West Memphis and show their support for the track. Riverside Speedway is the oldest continuously operating 1/4 mile track in the US and has placed on the list of US Historical places. We cannot allow one angry man with a political agenda close down such a large piece of US racing history.

Address:
P.O. Box 1728
WEST MEMPHIS, AR 72303

Phone: (870) 732-7500

[email protected]

http://local.arkansas.gov/local.php?agency=West Memphis

It's amazing to me that this post was started nearly 24 hours ago, and yet, not one person of 200 views, has commented at all.

Riverside is THE OLDEST/Continually operating dirt track in the US. I won't debate what region of the country is responsible for the greatest amount of talent, but there's no arguing, the greater Memphis, TN area has boasted some of the best. Additionally, Riverside has opened every year, without fail, since 1949. That says alot about the commitment of its' various ownership teams, as well as the continued support by the spectators in our region.

We are all too famiilar with the fact that far too many of our local, Friday and Saturday night dirt tracks have (and still are) going by the wayside, and being demolished in the name of obsolesence and replaced with new, faster profit producing businesses such as warehouses, restaurants, hotels and apartment complexes. In a day and age where there are so many things vying for our attention and entertainment dollar, the ability to save (and attend) a local Saturday night dirt track, showcasing sprint cars nearly EVERY weekend, seems to make all too much sense. Yet, it seems as though so few are willing to voice their support.

I was at the meeting yesterday, and talked with Tommy and Clayton after we dismissed.....it seems bleak for sure, but not completely impossible to overcome. As stated, the same city council member has retained Riverside as part of his targeted agenda for several years now, and is making this one last, valiant (in his eyes) effort for this to be his grand hu rah before his retirement at the end of the year. It's important to the future of not only Riverside, but also to our beloved sport, to show how supportive we are, and that it's our desire and intention to spend our discresionary income supporting local dirt track racing. Don't let this become the pattern by which other disgruntled councilmen (and women) decide to follow.

Please contact those listed above and offer your words of support.

Some more shenanigans going on.  We were first told that the final vote was going to be Dec 18th, now we get word that it may actually be Dec 11th.  It makes it even more interesting since that no one associated with the track was told anything about this until the day before the 2nd of 3 required readings before the board.  Sounds more and more as if they were trying to slip this through without informing anyone associated with the track.

Obviously the racetrack did not contribute as much money to the Alderman's political campaign as did the apartment house developer.  

If that apartment complex is located in between two interstate highways a little race track noise once a week should be the least of their worries.

This is 100% racially motivated. The alderman in question is black and the apartments are HUD apartments. As a footnote, this particular alderman was recently involved (allegedly) in a rape investigation that led to the "victim" (allegedly) refusing to cooperate and signing a non-disclosure agreement (Allegedly).

the ditch is on the federal historical site registry.  The property is protected but not the activities. 

There is no replacement for cubic displacement 

This makes me sick to my stomach. I can't help but wonder how many people in support of the track will be unable to leave WORK to come to the Monday at noon meeting and if it will pale in comparison to the amount of apartment residents who for one reason or another have the day off.

The struggle that Grain Valley, MO speedway has gone through with city council and neighbors who moved in next to an active racetrack, interstate and train track has been scary. The fact that the Ditch has been operating for 5 times as long as Valley and is looking this kind of fight right in the face is very upsetting.

As people who don't live or operate a business in one of the aldermens wards what can supporters of the track from across the country actually do to help? 

Loose is when you hit the wall with the rear of the
car, tight is when you hit the wall with the front of
the car. Horsepower is how fast you hit the wall and
torque is how far you move the wall.

Email and Call the west Memphis, AR city hall. please be civil. Please remind them that the track is on the financially dead end of town and the only other business there is pancho's mexican restaurant and that business' employees depend on the Saturday revenue the track brings in. 

There is no replacement for cubic displacement 

There was a very productive meeting between the track and the city this past Monday. The tide is turning in favor of the track as it has shown a strong economic impact for the city. But we cannot count our chickens before they are hatched. Mr or should i say Rev Coleman fancies himself another local MLK jr and saw the track as his white whale. He was defeated this last election and will be out of office after the first of the year. So this is his last official attempt as an alderman to shut the track down. 

But i suspect the city will use this to get more concessions from the track.  Places such as Ponchp's, Iron Skillet , Pilot stations and Waffle House see  a very good economic input from the track and that should help. Just have a feeling that we may see more nise dampening requirements from the track in more restrictive mufflers which could restrict the number of travelling series and out of town cars. 

It is sad when any track is shut down due to urban expansion.  For the most part the land near the track is not the type of land needed to build on as far as housing goes. If not for the groundwork done to put in the two legs of teh interstates i doubt the land under the Apartments would have been stable enough to build.  Th3e only structures with in half a mile of track are those apartments, a motel on the edge of the property and a run down trailer park. A high water tanlemakes it unfavorable for building but great for racing. Hopefully this will be the last attempt to shut the track for a while.  The grand ole lady has been around every summer since 1949 and we hope to make it at least another 65 years.

Here is a tid bit about the track which most will not believe but it is true.  Except for right after it was built to raise the level of the track and once about 15-20 years ago to replace parts of the track where vandals spilled nails. The track has never had to have any dirt added to it in 65 years.  Something about where it is built in relations to the Mississippi river has made the track self replenshing. 

Just looked at Hoseheads for the first time in a couple of days. Immediately sent an e=mail, hope it's not too late. I know the helplessness after getting the run around from the OKC city council and subsequent closing of our speedway. Good luck to the "Ditch" and fans. 

Thelocal newspaper quoted the west Memphis mayor as having received e-mails and calls from Australia, New Zealand, and across America in support of the track as well as local business owners that benefit from the track. Please continue to contact the west Memphis mayor's office and visitors bureau. It is helping. The issue comes up for final vote next week.

the black alderman actually said, "the problem is that its a white man's sport in a black man's neighborhood."

There is no replacement for cubic displacement 

to me that would give any lawyer the grounds to protest the actions of the alderman were racially motivated and had nothing to do with the track.

as far as what neighborhood is involved it would be very easy to prove just who was there first.  and one new apartment building is not a "neighborhood".

sounds like the alderman knows he is losing and is trying to revert to the ol race card.

to indy and beyond!!

 For too many a black man's sport in a white man's neighborhood is riotiung.

@PPRIS_TheDitch: Thanks to all the support we had today!! We won this battle 8 to 2. We are looking forward to a Great 2015 Racing... 

Great news today. The vote was in Riverside's favor. 

Congratulations to the track and the whole racing community!