3/7/2010 6:00:00 AM
School construction project puts street drags on hold
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KINGMAN - The seventh annual Kingman Street Drags event has been cancelled for this year due to logistical problems stemming from the construction of Lee Williams High School downtown.
In an online message, Route 66 Winds and Wheels President Brian Devincenzi announced earlier this week that his organization would be unable to continue the event this year due to the construction. For the past several years, the Street Drags were on Beale Street in the downtown business district, drawing huge crowds but also requiring large amounts of public parking.
Typically, the grounds of the White Cliffs Middle School campus at 400 Granview Ave. served as a staging ground for racers, as well as a place for spectators to park and take to the bleachers to watch the action. Now, however, the entire campus is cordoned off as contractors prepare to build a new high school in place of the demolished middle school.
"With the school under construction there is no way to work the event in conjunction with it," Devincenzi said. "Many people have contacted us from all over the United States asking for the event dates for this year. Plans are to come back in 2011 should the school construction allow it."
Kingman Unified School District's Construction Director Oz Enderby said the school's lead contractor, Core Construction, simply cannot allow the public onto an active construction site.
"We talked with the street drags people over a year ago to apprise them that when the construction starts, the site would be completely fenced off and we could not accommodate any activities on the site such as when they'd used bleachers in the past," Enderby said. "It's just a one-year deal, and when we're done there'll be a new opportunity."
According to Devincenzi, the Street Drags have continued to search for a permanent location to host the street drags, and this year's closure may give coordinators the chance to put more effort into that goal. In the meantime, however, the loss of the event is sure to put a dent in Kingman's bottom line, as the event drew upwards of 15,000 in its most recent years.
"In my mind, any event that draws that many people to Kingman and puts us in the national spotlight certainly is a loss," said Chris Durkin, president of the Kingman Downtown Merchants Association. "Each year it brought more and more people."
Calling the drags a "tourism gem," Mayor John Salem said he was very sorry to hear of their cancellation and hoped to see them return in 2011.
"It's attracted all kinds of people from all over the country here, and even some people from outside of the country have come here to watch this in years past," he said. "It's just been an outstanding event, and I wish there was some other venue that can be provided so that the event could come to fruition again, though at this point I haven't heard anything."
Salem added that he would be willing to lend his assistance in any way he could, should Route 66 Wings and Wheels seek to bring the Street Drags to a new location.
"We'd do anything in our power to help support them - I always look forward to it, and I look forward to participating in it," he said. I know the city realized great revenue from it, directly and indirectly, through tourism dollars as well as through people purchasing items and spending their money here."
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Posted: Wednesday, March 10, 2010
Article comment by:
s kak
Otis Otis...[deleted]...
You must have never had fun as a child...it was far to "dangerous"....and your parents health insurance wouldnt allow it.
As for NON racing drinking and driving....Kingman has plenty of that already..just read this paper.
Competitive cars start at 20k ..thats not including the cost of the original car.
Someone who can afford to play this game is far far from being a moron.
Serious race car builders DONT get drunk and waste their investment and safety at the track...drinking comes AFTER you run the races...
Posted: Tuesday, March 09, 2010
Article comment by:
Ed Kaatz
Mr. Faggio,
Those of us who are involved in motorsports do love it as it would seem that you love some other venues. I am not seeing the "joke" in having an interest in something that is outside the norm. Car shows are great but do not satisfy everyones need. The whole motiviation of this program is to educated people about the unsafe and deadly act of illegal streetracing and to eventually provide a real race track in Mohave County. We also understand that we take a risk when we propel these vehicles down the road. And we know we are not insured and we sign waivers. I would not even imagine my insure company would ever want to insure a race car. I also sign a waiver of responsibility making me the sole person responsible for my actions, my vehicle is inspected prior to racing for required safety equipment. A number of members work for the National Hot Rod Association making them professionals at providing technical assistance in running this program. I can't speak about the demise of other Mohave County venues, but it is a shame to see any money making venues that are professionally conducted, safe, family-oriented being taken off the annual calendar. With a growing attendance of 15,000 and national exposure, it is hard to ignore this Billy Bob event run by a bunch of morons.
Posted: Monday, March 08, 2010
Article comment by:
OTIS FAGGIO
Don't you just love it. No one says a word when you shut down the horse races or some other venue..but just try and shut down the Billy Bob Redneck Races and you have a war. I think the races are a Joke, not only very hazardous. Shoot, if you want to see races, sit at Stockton Hill Rd from Detroit to Airway. Now there are some real races. I think a car show would be great with some real prizes being given out. Besides, not one of those racers are insured when they race their cars. Any moron knows your policy won't cover you for participation in racing events. DUH! Its to dangerous to hold on any public street, these are NOT professionals and probably have a few tickets under their belt already, if not a few beers!
Posted: Monday, March 08, 2010
Article comment by:
Davy Dietrich
You know this town can never come up with "A Change of plans" it has to be cancel this or cancel that, Why cant you just move it somewhere else. Close down stockton hill rd or andy devine. This is government at its best.
Posted: Monday, March 08, 2010
Article comment by:
pwotw pwotw
I can't believe no one can come up with another solution. Kingman really needs the revenue. Why don't they hold it out at the airport, or on a strip on Airway Ave?
I think it's a shame for the community to lose the revenue in such difficult times.
Posted: Monday, March 08, 2010
Article comment by:
Ed Kaatz
I think there is a need for alot more concern/interest than presented here. With 15,000 people in attendance last year this concern seems to come up a little short. There are a really hard working group that puts in endless hours to make this event happen and they are to be applauded for their hard work. The sugggestion to use the airport is a good one but has already been looked at and has been given a negative response. And it really doesn't fit into the theme of "Street Race". To the people of Kingman....don't this opportunity to shine pass you by, this is an event that is professional, family-oriented, safe and draws people to Kingman businesses.
Posted: Sunday, March 07, 2010
Article comment by:
Justin Chambers
This is the backwards thinking that is holding Kingman back. Instead of cancelling it we should move it to the airport or a different street. That way there is no break that will hurt attendance. Think of the economic impact this has on Kingman. We have "tourists" that fill hotel rooms, buy gas, eat at our restaurants etc... All of this creates sales tax revenue and puts Kingman on the map. Don't cancel it just move it to a place that will have it.
Posted: Sunday, March 07, 2010
Article comment by:
Jenna Seay
WOW! What a major disappointment and not a smart move for the already struggling economy of Kingman. Now maybe someone will finally approve a drag stip in Kingman?
The lack of thinking and planning in the Kingman area is ruinning the town and it's ability to grow and flourish!
Hey, use the section of Bank St. between Airway and Gordon, great stretch of road, but don't cancel something that brings greatly needed revenue to a depressed area.
Wake up people.
Posted: Sunday, March 07, 2010
Article comment by:
Kingman is a joke
There goes kingman losing revenue again at a time when every penny counts. What a joke this tows/county is. Let that money slip through your fingers. I wonder how many racers will not show up anymore because of this.
Posted: Sunday, March 07, 2010
Article comment by:
dwayne jones
well more lost $ for kingman ! the good old boys will tax us more !! vote them out pls ty
Posted: Sunday, March 07, 2010
Article comment by:
Rick Veradt
Really bummed out about the drags. Seemed to be one thing in this town that didn't brew a lot of controversy. What about the airport? Seems to me they were doing the drags there several years ago. Why not return?
Posted: Sunday, March 07, 2010
Article comment by:
disappointed 1
Could they try to use the airport? More space there and it seems it would be less congested than the downtown area.
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