Forum: HoseHeads Sprint Car General Forum (go)
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Ran across this this am on the abcmotorsports.com board:

I am very sorry to report that I could not save Manzanita Speedway from demolition. For the past few weeks, I have put in a tremendous effort to somehow save Manzy from extinction. For those of you that were clinging to the hope that I could pull this off, I am sorry to disappoint you. I want you all to know what all happened so you have accurate information. Here is a rather lengthy recap of what all went on from my perspective.

Back in early March the rumor started to circulate that Manzy had been sold and that April 11, 2009 would be the last race. In my first investigation into that rumor, I was told it was not true. Within 24 hours that changed and word was out. At this point there had been no official notice from Manzy or the Martins (Mel or Bobby).

First reactions ranged from sadness to outrage. With most of the racing community in shock, reality began to set in. While some scrambled to find a place to move Manzy to, I set out on a road to save it. I called Harry Baker of Southwest Industrial Rigging , the buyer, and asked to meet with him to discuss options.

I met with him in his office to find out why he wanted to destroy such an important part of Phoenix history. He talked about his operation and the needs he had. It was not about Manzy but about his business needs. He showed me trucks and equipment that he was paying to store out of town because he had no place to put them here. He explained his needs, requirements, and why the Manzy property made sense to him. I now understood where he was coming from. I asked him, if I could come up with a piece of property that met his needs, would he trade Manzy for it? He told me he had been looking and there was nothing on the market that would fit his needs. He told me "talk is easy and cheap," and then went on to say that if I could find something that made sense, he would certainly take a look at it. But he made it clear time was of the essence. He even suggested he might lease Manzy out so it could continue to operate if the right opportunity was on the table. This was a completely different position from just a few days earlier when he told someone that he would not allow any activities at the track after he closed escrow on April 14^th.

As I left his office, I was certain I could come up with the forty acres of industrial property that would fulfill the requirements he had outlined. Even though the Manzy property was 36 to 38 acres (did not get a clear read on what he said was the actual acreage), I sought the forty Harry had said he needed to operate his business. Having been in business and living in the area for the past thirty five years, I knew I could bring him several options. Two days later I found out I was wrong. He was right, there were no single properties on the market that met the list of needs he told me of.

As I continued to try to come up with something, Harry and I spoke and kept communications open. I told him to be honest with me and tell me if I was just spinning my wheels and even if I come up with something he was not going to trade. He assured me that he was open if I came up with something.

At this point I started looking at anything that would fill his needs, on the market or not. Trying to find owners of properties that are not for sale was difficult. Once I found who was the contact person of some of the LLC's and investment groups that controlled some land opportunities, actually getting them to call back or talk was a whole different problem. I was persistent. With the help of a lifelong friend, we continued to try to make contacts. Once we began to locate land owners, I talked to them about selling property they had. Some never called back, some said not for sale, some had asking prices well beyond the market value, and some expressed interest.

Some of the properties were owned by large families, trusts, or investment groups. Oftentimes there were several involved in a decision of whether to sell or not. Some thought selling now was a great idea. Most did not.

I had talked to some individuals that had expressed an interest in buying a 40 acre parcel with the intent of trading for Manzy. A few of these people had the capital to do just that. There was another small group that was going to pool their funds if I could put the deal together and find forty for them to buy.

During a conversation with one of the people involved in a property I was trying to secure, they mentioned Manzy and what a tragedy it was that it was closing. When I told him what I was wanting property for, he expressed an interest. He told me his family typically does not sell property but they might be interested in a trade. BINGO! They had a site that would work perfectly. It was at an ideal location and I knew Harry would have to be interested. I told Harry that I thought I was onto something and he offered encouragement and wanted to see what I had found.

While waiting for that family to assemble and decide if they wanted to do this, I continued to look for backups. Two more sites came into the picture that could be bought and then traded. I now had a plan B and C. Things were looking up. I now had one site that was 38 acres, one of 42 and the trade site that could be the 40 Harry needed. Then the news came that the trade site family chose not to part with any of their land but offered a long term lease. Lease was not an option so on to plan B.

As we began to iron out the details of how plan B would work, another trade prospect surfaced. This trade site had perhaps even more advantages than the first one. The days are clicking past and the April 14^th deadline was quickly approaching. Through several phone calls and emails, I began to focus on the new plan A. It is now April 8^th and I have nothing set in stone. As the final nights of racing began, I was still scrambling to pull this off. I told Harry that I could not have anything to show him until Monday the 13^th. He told me that was fine and that he had put off demolition for a few weeks while all of the details were put into in place.

Over that final weekend it was pointed out that I needed to let the sale be completed and close escrow so that Mel Martin was out of the picture. It appeared like Mel was out to destroy Manzy so still having him in the equation could be counter-productive. I agreed and did not want to interfere in his transaction or hinder the sale of Manzy, so I waited. I too felt we needed the Martins to be finished with Manzy to have a chance to make this happen.

On April 14^th Mel brought people to Manzy to empty the office and move out. On the 15^th Manzy belonged to Southwest Crane and Rigging .

Then things got dicey. When public records surfaced of the transaction, I could not come up with the number of acres that I was led to believe was there. Depending on how you calculated it, there could be less than 30. I could not get that clarified. I had been offering 36 plus up for trade for forty. On top of that there were things taken, things missing, and some confusion over what was still going to be left there and what would not be. I knew my original intent was to provide a piece of land in exchange for the keys to the gates that would contain a race-ready operation for the most part. At this point there were accusations of wrongdoings, misrepresentations and/or misunderstandings surfacing. The water was getting muddy and I felt like I was shooting at a moving target. Although I had no written agreement, I think there was a good-faith understanding of what was intended.

When the trade property people saw what was actually on the table, they lost interest. I then talked to one of the investors and explained the discrepancy in the acreage, and they too pulled back. Understandingly, who would want to trade 40 acres of land for 30? Around this same time, I discovered that Mel had removed part of the P/A system and told Harry it was rented so it didn't go with the track. No one else was aware that any of the P/A system was leased, so that was a surprise. Fire equipment was missing, the radios were gone. Identification signs and banners, and I don't know what all had been taken. On top of that Harry now told me I had to have something that would knock his socks off by early in the week (of 4-20) or he was moving forward and not likely to look back. To me this was different than the "something that makes sense" we originally discussed. In all fairness I got the feeling that Harry's frustration level with this whole thing was on the rise for some reason.

On the afternoon of April 20, what seemed like a very realistic opportunity just a short time ago was quickly unraveling. With the time running out and not being able to figure out exactly what I had to bring to the table for the trade, I had to make the difficult choice to pull the plug on my efforts to put Manzy on life support. I had put most of my waking hours for the past few weeks into trying to come up with some kind of resolve for Manzy, but time was running out. I was trying to undo and redo in a few short weeks what had been in the making for months.

I knew going in this was a long shot. Deep down I knew the odds and perhaps the financial forces were against me. I also knew if I didn't try to save Manzy what the result would be. As I told many, the bus was running a hundred miles an hour and I was driving it to the best of my ability. I was either going to be the first one to the bus depot or the first one to the scene of the accident, I just didn't know which.

With the bus being run off the road and over a cliff, there will be a lot of casualties. Race fans, car owners, drivers, sponsors, businesses, a whole community will suffer the consequences of this dagger through the heart of Manzy and Arizona dirt track racing.

Mel Martin selling Manzy for a profit that some report to be ten million dollars was certainly to be expected. Making profits from business ventures is what he does, and does very well. I do find it very disturbing in the way it was done. I remember shortly after buying Manzy Mel making comments like Manzy will be here for a "long time", or "ten years", or "as long as I am around". I never envisioned any of those time frames being less than two years. If this sale happened in January, I wonder why this was not disclosed to the entire motorsports community that was building new cars, gathering sponsors, planning for a season of racing, and actually starting racing in the '09 season until just before the doors closed? What was the point in putting everyone, including the Manzy staff, through that? It seems to me that a lot of effort was put into making sure racing took a serious hit. Maybe that is not the case. But it seems odd that Mel has offered nothing to help racing survive or continue. Makes me wonder if he is trying to punish somebody, or perhaps the whole racing community, who knows? I guess it was his sandbox to do with what he saw fit and we will just have to live with it.

I could not succeed in saving Manzy from the wrecking ball. But there are others that are on a mission to come up with a new track for Phoenix. Hollywood Leary gave so much in such a short time to try to bring Manzy back up to speed only to have the rug jerked out from under him by the Martins. Now, even after being treated like that, he is leading a charge to try to come up with a new racing facility. I wish that group success. If they get us a new track I will be there to enjoy the sport I love and once again enjoy the company of the friends that have become like family that I have met over the years.

I will never forget Manzanita Speedway. And I will never forget what Mel and Bobby Martin did to it.

Phil Hertel

Thanks for your efforts Phil - you went "above and beyond" ... I'm sure you will sleep better at night than that scumbag profiteer Martin.

Phil Taylor

home-theater-systems-advice.com

Sounds like you gave it one hell of a try and I thank you for the effort. Sad day for racing.

Sprint Cars Do It On Dirt!

Phil, just curious....

Do you make scumbag profits when you install/sell/advise people on home theatre systems? Making a profit is the American way; at least it was, the last time I checked.....

While losing any racetrack, especailly one with the tradition of a Mananita is sad, IMO it does not make Mel Martin a scumbag. He's merely an opportunistic businessman; you may hate what he's done to Manzanita, but I don't think that any of us has the right to hate him. He merely took advantage of a business opportunity to make a buck. As a racing insider, you may feel that he felt a little differently about saving Manzy, but you cannot eat dirt.....

Chuck.....

Thanks for trying Phil! I do agree with you. Mel Martin is your typical wealthy scum bag businessman looking to fill his pocket book even more. He is probably one of those typical fat-cat businessman who has lost touch with reality some times ago and doesn't car who he effect's or hearts as long as he is making money. He never did car about manzy he just saw dollar signs! Only thing I cant figure out is why such a smart businessman such as him self would put 1.5 mill into something he knew he was going to unload and soon. Must be nice to have money like that to through around. People like that is why are economy is the way it is wright now.Pure GREED!!

Thank YOU!! Phil, you gave it your best shot and I do thank you. Come on down to USA Raceway one weekend the sprints are running and I'll buy ya a beer or two.

Hey sprinter25 and 78sprints, Phil never called the Martins "scumbags", all I get from his article is his extreme disappointment with the Martins and their shady sale of a "priceless race track".

Sean

Tucson

!!SUPPORT YOUR LOCAL TRACKS!!
!!Get Well Shane!! 

Wow- how sad that the track couldn't be saved! I don't believe they had to shut down the speedway and there was probably other options. Thanks Phil for trying soo hard to save it! San Jose speedway and Baylands in CA were shut down to make more use of the land and instead years later all that stands is just empty lots with weeds! I grew up watching racing at these tracks and when I go by them today I almost tear up thinking of what was there and now it is gone. I have never been to Manzanita but when any track closes it is a sad day for our racing community

Looking forward to the new Golden State King of the 
West series schedule! 

Winged sprintcars = the fastest and most exciting 
racecars on dirt! 

Actually no I do not make scumbag profits - but rather a modest, reasonable profit. I treat my clients' money as I do my own ... and I am quite the frugal shopper/bargain hunter. I charge less than half what Best Buy and boutique installers charge and do a better job, treat my clients as friends and pay attention to detail rather than trying to crank out an install so I can meet a quota or get on to the next job. I never try to upsell my clients to Monster cables but rather recommend cables that perform as well at a tiny fraction of the over-hyped and WAY over-priced Monster brand. Also I do not promise clients anything I cannot deliver upon.

Back to the original topic of this thread -- I stand by my original opinion that Mel Martin is a scumbag and a rotten lying one at that. According to Phil Hertel, Martin said Manzy would be around as long as he is - hopefully he will leave the planet and make good on that promise.

PS - "Chuck" don't tell me who I have a right to dislike - 'cause you just joined the short list.

Phil Taylor

home-theater-systems-advice.com

Phil, thank you for such a noble and gallant effort to save Manzy.

A close friend of mine Sonny Favasole, Owner of Desert Fox 4x4 in Glendale, Az. told me about 1 or 1 1/2 years ago that Manzy was being considered for re-development. So obviously the Martins bought the property with full intent to put the property on the auction block without regard toward History or Legendary Drivers that have competed at the famed track during it's storied history.

Although I was transplanted from Phoenix / Glendale in 1964 (age 4) and raised in Oklahoma. I grew up around all the great dirt tracks we have in this area State Fair Speedway, Tulsa, Hutch, Wichita, Dodge City, Devils Bowl, and Shreveport just to name a few. (NCRA)

I have ties and fond memories of visiting Manzy as my father Richard "Butch" Crawford was awarded "Rookie of the Year" at Manzy in the 70's and raced against such greats as Hank Arnold, Billy Shuman, and Lelland McSpadden to name a few. Back in those days the old man "Butch" had the likes of Drag Car Racers Johnny Loper (Loper's Speed Equip.) and Ed Smith (Ed's Speed Shop) behind him. They were all of course trying to outrun the famed "Twister".

It is indeed a sad day, I only wish I had gone back to Phoenix to pilfer some of the Manzy signage and momentous that seemed to have mysteriously disappeared.

Anyway, Hats off to you Phil for putting your best foot forward. You can't say you didn't try.

Thanks agian,

Allen Crawford, Oklahoma City

Walking over to HyVee this afternoon, I stopped in at the H of Fame and met a great gentleman by the name of JD. He was from KC now and travels to a lot of different tracks. He went to the last race at Manzy and shared his thoughts and experiences with me. Having spent many Saturday nights there with my boys for 39 years, I really enjoyed the conversation as we sat in the new theater. I guess it was quite am emotional "Last Dance!" Thanks to Phil for the impressive effort to save the track.

My wife told me if I went to one more Sprint Car race 
she would leave me.................I'm sure gonna miss 
that ol' gal. 

If this sale happened in January, I wonder why this was not disclosed to the entire motorsports community that was building new cars, gathering sponsors, planning for a season of racing, and actually starting racing in the '09 season until just before the doors closed

if i were to try to answer that question i think my best guess would be that the parties involved did not want to take a chance of disrupting the sale. they had to know what a commotion it would cause and that people would try to find a way to prevent or delay it. i would say they did not want anything to interfere with what they were doing. the seller wanted to make the sale and the buyer wanted the property. any public knowledge of such a high profile transaction would create opportunities for what, in their eyes, could be unnecessary hassles. in the end, they worked everything to their best advantage.

can anyone tell me, if after finding out what the true amount of land the track encompased, was the buyer upset that he got 30 acres of land when he believed he was getting closer to 40? i am going to say no. i believe the buyer knew exactly what he was getting. now wanting to trade 30 acres for 40 acres is not something to be ragged on for, but to not be honest about it just may be. if they would have made that clear from the outset then things might have had a better shot. if the people that were offering to trade land would have known from the start that those were the terms then not much could be said. they would have known what they were getting into and and phil would have known how to present the deal. it sounds like the crane guy was either out to get a little more for his money or was just stalling for time, knowing the discrepancy in acres could cause a stumbling block.

to indy and beyond!!

Read Bill Sessa's article in the new "Sprint Car and Midget"; while it won't make you any happier about the Manzy closing, he gets an explanation from Mel Martin as to why he sold the track.

It may not make it any easier to swallow, but it does present a point of view that has been unheard up till now.

And I'm sure that the buyer knew how much land he was getting; that is why they do title searches before propery closing. And I don't know if the crane guy was trying to trade up, as it were; but wouldn't you, especially if you could do it for free?

Aside to Phil Taylor: I could care less if you like me. I just have a problem with judgmental people.

It's nice that you're such a noble and righteous person........Sarcasm off now......

Chuck.....

Hey "25" I guess that is why the whole country has been sold to outside interests. Brought to you by the same people who say "but it was legal!". Legality used to be based on morality; right and wrong. Now,legal is what you can get away with. The fact that they have to have a course in ethics for business people tells me that a strong moral compass is lacking. We better wake up,and soon.

Hey gentleman...

How where exactly did I say anything like that? I can use your logic and reasoning, too....

Do you drive over the speed limit? Do you cheat(get creative) on your taxes? Do you drive while intoxicated, or at least had a few? While they're all done by someone, they're also illegal. But as long as you can get away with it....

My point here is everyone has their own moral compass, and some have a better/worse compass than your own; but unless you're DIRECTLY impacted by their choices, it really doesn't matter. It's their choice.

Judge ye not, lest you be judged.....at least that's how I remember the quote from the Bible.......

Chuck.....

Half the lies they tell about me aren't true. 

I'm up Fish..I'll make an appointment to see a pch..pscyh....head doctor later....First ,didnt the Martins come in when Manzy was failing/closing and save the place....Financed a loan and spent a lot of time ,effort and money to refurbish the place..then gave you 2 more great years of memories.Despite what some think..racetracks aren't gold mines...I dought the profit paid the morgage payments....considering the plumeting real estate values..anyone offered a profit from a property they bought just a couple of years ago..I believe his statement'offer was so good,I just didn't think about it'.I PERSONALY DON"T BELIEVE ANYONE WOULD MATCH THE PRICE PAID AND RUN IT AS A RACETRACK...so you hate the Martins because they didn't go bankrupt? IMO a racetrack owes no moral obligation to a racer ,building a car ..just as that racer isn't obligated to show up to every race a track runs just cause he has a car..the only legal obgligations the Martins had were to the finance company..they meet that obligation......it would have been nice if they could have continued a few more years at least until guys like us were dead....I don't believe the Martins are satan,they just Tried and Failed...Manzanita R.I.P. Ken,keep in mind in your response I never question that you and others who now hate the Martins so aren't great sprint car fans,you are ..but I think your loss of your beloved track is so great you have to hate someone....Now you can hate me to cause I have a slightly different take on the facts as I see them.....

So, what is the current state of the track demo? Did the equipment fall to the wrecking ball? Did the stands, lights, etc get saved? Or will the name be the only thing that can be re-used?

Don't put words in my mouth 88...I don't recall saying I hated anyone, not even you..LOL And yes, I believe you when you say that you "wouldn't have thought of it either", and that say's all I need to know.

I'm very aware that there are some people that are "lacking" when it comes to some things on this earth...but I don't have to like it, do I?

Kenny

I'll be heading down to Canyon this evening.. I've been supporting the ASCA ever since ASCS squeezed them out at Manzy. It will be interesting how this thing shakes out now.

Half the lies they tell about me aren't true. 

Got my S C & Midget magazine today and sat and read the Manzy article right away. Quite an article and provides a little more info but I don't think it will change anyone's opinion. Actually after reading about Jimmy Blanton and Windy's opinions on the situation I think it will reaffirm the dissatisfaction about the whole deal. I know the situation is inevitable now but it is just a sad thing to see history passing like this.

My wife told me if I went to one more Sprint Car race 
she would leave me.................I'm sure gonna miss 
that ol' gal. 

Didn't mean to put words in you mouth......reread I didn't say"would't have thought of it either" so I guess even the best mis reads sometimes and mis quotes....hope you have a good night at the races