http://www.9news.com/rss/article.aspx?storyid=93480

PUEBLO - It appears that the city of Pueblo is exploring its options regarding 2,300 acres that is currently home to a motorsports complex.
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Sources at the Pueblo Chieftain newspaper say that a security training outfit, possibly military-related, is planning to lease the land for training purposes.

The full-time lease would be much more lucrative for the city – and would effectively close the road course to car clubs. It appears the current lease by Pueblo Motorsports runs out at the end of the year.

In an article published last week in the Pueblo Chieftain, Tracy Renck reported that Jay Gilman, longtime vice president and general manager at PMP, resigned in late May.

According the Renck, Pueblo's city manager, Dave Galli says the city is ready to begin to address what it's going to do with the land and the surrounding area.

The Pueblo City Council approved the building of Pueblo Motorsports Park in 1974. It sits on 900 acres west of I-25 near U.S. 50.

Renck quotes Galli as saying: "We're now in a position to look for a more long-term relationship with some organization in regards to the property at Pueblo Motorsports Park and that doesn't exclude the current organization (Pueblo Motorsports Inc.) that is managing the track."

Pueblo Motorsports Inc., a nonprofit organization, has had a management agreement with the city to manage Pueblo Motorsports Park since PMP opened for racing back in September 1975.

Galli tells Renck that Pueblo Motorsports, Inc., has a managing agreement to run Pueblo Motorsports Park until Jan. 1, 2009. Galli said as long as Pueblo Motorsports Park, Inc. and the city honor the respective terms, the contract will be honored.

According to the Pueblo Chieftain article: "We haven't sent out any Request For Proposals to any prospective organizations that would like to manage Pueblo Motorsports Park, but we will probably start sending out those RFPs in the next 60 to 90 days," Galli said.

Pueblo Motorsports Park consists of a quarter-mile dragstrip, a 2.2-mile roadcourse, a one-fifth mile quartermidget track, a motorcross track and Pueblo Speedway.

 

Thats sad news...

 

I think this has been the status quo for PMP over the past few years. It looks to be even more threatening when you consider the change in leadership within the track management.

 

There's a lot of rumors floating around about that.

Here are a couple of links about the discussions going on.

http://www.pueblomotorsportspark.com...pic.php?t=2275

this link has a far more understanding poster that has a lot of behind the scenes history about the facility-- http://forums.pueblochieftain.com/showthread.php?t=1872

http://www.pueblomotorsportspark.com...pic.php?t=2278


Apparently Jay didn't like what the security company did to the facility after they were finished and told them he would no longer rent to them. At least that is one of the rumors. If that is true then it's sour grapes from the whiny security company threatening to cause trouble for PMI.

Now if Pueblo decides to change management companies and they in turn close it down for their own use, then it would be bad for the pueblo community.

There's more to the story that none of us are privy to and there will continue to be rumors floating around. At least it will be good reading the rest of the year.

Worse case, pueblo will raise rates almost making it a country club style track and have stricter rules than what are already in place now.

 

Does that mean I can finally race with two golf clubs in the back and my golf outfit on? Ive been waiting for a track that will let me do this!

 

Not sure what will happen. The city council might decide to keep PMI as managers. Or they could see green and go a different direction with a for profit company to manage pueblo. From the other thread from someone who is more informed with the history about pueblo, the land cannot be sold or developed for commercial or residential improvements as it is open space.

It will depend on who is awarded a management contract of the facility. PMI is a non profit company, but will the city award it to a for profit company? Time will tell.

 

I just noticed it was Adele Arakawa that wrote the article. It seems like it's a scare tactic so we could get more funds for HPR ;-)

So, uh, yeah, pueblo is going to close so give early, give often to HPR :-D

 

More info on pueblo

http://www.chieftain.com/articles/20...2063238490.txt

http://www.chieftain.com/articles/20...3071992847.txt

 

Interesting read - thanks Darrel.

So 2009 isn't locked in as Earleane intimated previously - that's doesn't sound good. On the other hand, if this new company uses the facility for training, they may put more money into the track and it's resources to make a viable teaching venue that doubles as a club racing circuit. I don't really care who has the contract as long as they don't go private and cut out the club events.

 

The PMI board is working with NEK and their new subsidiary. So they may have the same people working together with NEK to schedule and keep PMP open like before.

The good thing it should bring improvements for the track,(let's hope the majority is for the road course). Rates will undoubtedly go up, how much is anyones guess but it will probably be comparable to what HPR will be charging next year.

There is more info/rumor/bitching on the PMP forums in the drag racing section. It can be interesting and entertaining reading as well.

http://www.pueblomotorsportspark.com/phpBB2/index.php


I would be concerned what will happen to open test and tune during the week. Will NEK want to monopolize the facility during the week? And will they clean up after themselves like they didn't when Jay kicked them out and cancelling their contract, which also facilitated Jay's resignation.

There will still be a lot of questions that will need to be answered.

 

Sounds like a story I am unaware of. Can you elaborate?

 

NEK rented the track for drivers training (para-military). Apparently they did some damage and also didn't clean up after themselves. jay Gilman the prez of PMI board after contacting them time after time for damage and clean up reimbursement cancelled their contract. NEK in turn went behind his back to the pueblo city council wanting to run the track.

The council said there would be bid proposals for anyone wishing to manage the track, but obviously there wasn't and it is temporarily awarded to NEK subsidiary Front Range Motorsports.

Here is a forum on the chieftan web site. The pueblo motorsp[ort park is a lively thread especially on page 3 where even the person that knows the politics in pueblo isn't so sure that PMP will survive.

http://forums.pueblochieftain.com/forumdisplay.php?f=8

 

Public info meeting about PMP. If anyone in the south can go to one of the meetings and post your take on the meeting will be appreciated by those who are interested in the future of PMP.

http://www.pueblomotorsportspark.com...pic.php?t=2381

 

Here's a thread from the MRA forum and one of their rep's conclusion.

I would be wary of a 99 year lease though.

http://forums.mra-racing.org/viewtop...?p=41000#41000

 

Interesting, to say the least.. I wonder how the re-opening of PPIR, the probable opening of HPR and Genoa will affect all of these business plans, as well.

 

It will al depend on what rates each track needs to bring in to cover expenses and improvements needed.

PPIR I hear will be $800 this year and $1K next year for the parking lots for autox. $4K this year and $5K next year for the roval.

That will still be more expensive that what HPR will be asking for member clubs. HPR will be minimum $3K+ for member clubs, not sure what non-member club rates will be.

I haven't heard about any progress on Genoa or the rates they will be asking for when they do open.

There is another thread on the SCCA forums from another person who attended the 1st meeting.

http://www.coloradoscca.org/msg/view...hp?p=9786#9786

I think PMP is $2K minimum this year for daily rental.