Guam Racing Federation fighting eviction notice, Simpson confident “we’ll be able to save the racetrack”

To receive an eviction statement in any context is a scary thing, indicating the possibility that you could be displaced from your home. Even more harrowing is when such an announcement is delivered suddenly and without any justification. This is the precise predicament in which the Guam Racing Federation finds itself, facing the reality they could be uprooted from the Yigo Raceway Park - their base of operations and literal home to generations of motorsports enthusiasts - after nearly a quarter-century of hosting international events. 

The notice says they’ve got until March 2 to clear-out. Accordingly, all calendared events for use of the facility have been suspended indefinitely while leaders work on some sort of a solution. Henry Simpson is one such person.

He told KUAM Sports, “We’ve hired attorneys; we’re obviously going to fight it. We’re hopefully going to keep it open - at least until Smokin’ Wheels. We have a big contingent of Japanese racers coming in. And we’ve got everybody else that wants to use it, and all the things that are planned, so we hope to keep it open. There’s a chance that we can’t, so that’s why we put out the notice that things may be canceled.”

And although Guam’s racing community are experts in being able to cover a lot of ground in very short amounts of time, Simpson says there isn’t a whole lot of time to act. He and his colleagues are fighting the notice legally, and with a grassroots petition to vocalize support for the island institution. 

Simpson continued, “We’re going to get out there, everybody that we can, and get as many signatures as possible. This whole thing to me is political hot potato. One year, everybody’s for it, and then the next, something changes and then no one wants it anymore. So I can’t tell, I really can’t.”

As general manager of the Guam Racing Federation, he says the organization to date has been on a month-to-month lease, but he's seeking legislative approval for a long-term lease with which to secure use of the Yigo property. 

“We started looking at Dandan [in Inalahan], Pulantat [in Yona], all around the island - there isn’t another place available where we can do a drag strip and an off-road track and all of the things that we’re doing here,” he added. “So, it could be piecemealed out maybe somewhere, but it would very, very difficult.”

He doesn’t mince words when it comes to projecting the impact the race park’s closure would have on the community and local economy, saying it would be devastating. He cited drag racing in the streets was an illegal activity from 1968-2000 prior to the park’s opening, costing a lot of money - and many lives. “We’re really disappointed,” he reiterated, “but we’re going to fight.”

If you’d like to lend your support to saving the facility, petitions are available at the racetrack and at CarsPlus in Maite, and Simpson’s talking to the other local auto dealerships to host it, too.  

In all, Simpson is confident in the outcome, saying, “I’m pretty sure we’re going to be able to save the racetrack. Everybody involved is going to put their best effort into saving the track.

For now, the greatest fear for the island’s motorsports community is that the familiar roar of engines that’s been a constant part of the fabric of this part of Yigo for more than two decades could be rendered mute by the deafening silence of a vacated, empty lot.