AMP is For Sale

[John]

Sadly, AMP is for sale.

https://www.loopnet.com/Listing/West-Camelback-Road-rd-Litchfield-Park-AZ/31967378/

[phxsteele]

Boo

[CRBWS6]

As I understand it, there have been sale talks at least as far back as 2015 when one of my clients tried to buy it. Based on the popularity of this area for warehouse developments, not holding my breath that the next buyer would be able to financially justify keeping the track. Probably worth 10-15M.

Edited July 20, 2024 by CRBWS6

[scotturich]

This sucks because you doesn’t just effect us it effects all the clubs who use the site

[smeyers]

For many years we and other Clubs had a great relationship at Firebird. Often they would draw upon our Club members to assist with putting on some of their events. Looks like it's time to see what kind of new relationship might be possible.

I'm thinking that PIR (or whatever it's called today) might be worth an approach, we'd only need one of their side parking lots, maybe two.

[Manfred]

This is a general post not aimed at anyone in particular, but just to be really clear: starting (or restarting) a relationship with an autocross site can be tricky and delicate, and requires a great deal of care. Sometimes this means you only get one shot at it.

If you have an idea for a site, please do not go investigating it on your own, please do not pre-emptively reach out to the site owner, etc. Instead, provide the information to club leadership and allow them to develop a reach-out plan. 

[smeyers]

Absolutely, what Manfred said.

At this point in time (these days) any approach or reaching out to any site would need to be highly professional, organized, and always done through Club Leadership. All kinds of legalities….insurance, costs, and authority to make any binding agreement….

Like that.

Edited July 20, 2024 by smeyers

[Nokones]

And nobody should be representing the Club without the expressed consent of the Region's Executive Board.

[Mach5Mk5]

Damn, this is painful to see. I’ve been driving here at our competitions since high school. Given how the listing presents it, I’m also not expecting it to stay as a track. Firebird is back to being called Firebird now, and they did a whole announcement around their new management who seems to want the track to succeed. Fingers crossed the club can go back there once AMP is gone.

[Zuko305]

Well, this blows.
 

Maybe, fingers crossed, someone with deep pockets and a love a racing will purchase and turn it into a major, Motorsports club, and add amenities. 
 

I don’t have deep pockets, so that won’t be me.

[Chuck]

One person told me the sales deal was signed, but if that were true, wouldn't a lot of people have verified it and mentioned it here? 

Hoping it ain't so.....

[SEymann]

I have it from a very good source that no contract has been signed.  They are in negotiations with an interested party.  Any agreement would probably not close for a year.

 

[Chuck]

Whew, thanks Steve!

...and then possibly be 1 or 2 years MORE before the new owner gets all their permits and can do anything to the site

. 

[Zuko305]

55 minutes ago, Chuck said:

Whew, thanks Steve!

...and then possibly be 1 or 2 years MORE before the new owner gets all their permits and can do anything to the site

. 

Exciting nothing formal is signed. I really hope its 1+ years out or longer. However, being a west sider for 11 years, I've watched land go from public hearing to approved, to equipment onsite, to land improvement, to building in <16 mos and CoO within 4 months after that. Once its approved, it moves fast to land improvement, sadly. Investors need that ROI. Maybe we can get those ppl that purchased Laguna Seca to buy this place too.

[smeyers]

The tricky part would be to negotiate AMP/SCCA skidpad rentals up to the point of the actual future construction activity. AMP right now is only booking through June of 2025…… or so I’ve heard.

Edited September 27, 2024 by smeyers

[DaveM]

The news of the sale of AMP and that it likely means the closure of what has been a wonderful site both for autocross and track racing is a disapointment.  It has been several years since the Maxfield family has participated in autocross as we moved onto track events with NASA and also ventured across the Atlantic to compete in hill climbs.  However, we were considering a return to autocross as it always offered a fun way to zoom around at a lower cost than track racing.  We also have another Maxfield, my grandaughter who has expressed a desire to join in the fun.  So, (and to get to the point of this post!) we are interested in the possible future of autocross events and where they may be held?  With the potential for four drivers, setting up two cars will of course involve a bit of cash and if the future is really bleak, perhaps we should look elsewhere for driving pleasure?

[John]