Heated exchange over canceled public hearing on a bill to save the racetrack

The racing community came out in full force at the Guam Congress building demanding lawmakers to get back on track and help them save the Yigo Raceway.

Outside the people’s house Thursday morning, the motorsports community peacefully protested after a public hearing on a bill to open the former Guam International Raceway was canceled on short notice. 

Some even had a heated conversation with Senator Chris Barnett blaming him for pulling the measure. 

When Guam Motorsports Association Vice Chair John Burch asked, “Did that letter have to happen,” Sen. Barnett responded, “Yes, I sent that letter with every bill that has the same process.” 

“So there’s no way the public hearing could have happened today,” asked Burch. 

Barnett answered simply, “No.”

Guam Motorsports Association Chairman Hans Ada and Vice Chair John Burch were prepared to testify in support of Bill 235 which would authorize the CHamoru Land Trust Commission to lease all or a portion of the property to the association.

It also includes a $300,000 appropriation to help CLTC address facility damages and to prepare the Yigo property for public use.

Their conversation continued, 

Vice Chair John Burch: How did it get scheduled? 

Sen. Chris Barnett: I’m telling you, it’s politics. 

Burch: But it got scheduled, that’s crazy. 

Barnett: Senator Joe San Agustin knows he did not have the authority to schedule that hearing. 

Barnett said Appropriations Committee Chairman Sen. Joe San Agustin’s Office mistakenly scheduled the public hearing under his committee when it should have been under Speaker Therese Terlaje’s Land Committee as it deals with the CLTC. 

His ‘letter’, he said, simply pointed out the error. 

It should be noted Barnett and Terlaje also authored a bill of their own to save the racetrack, but it’s too costly and unattainable for the Guam Motorsports Association without amendments.

“We want to be respectful to the fatalities that have happened that have happened due to illegal street racing. The reality is that we have to make sure that this raceway is open, that its affordable. The raceway is very unique. It's not like the racetracks I raced professionally on in the states, where it’s $500 to $1000 for raceweek, track fees and entry fees. If we were treated as a commercial enterprise, the fees would be so high that you would still have illegal street racing even if it was open,” said Ada. 

The raceway has been closed now for over a year. 

Their priority is to open the track as soon as possible and to keep it a safe place to race. 

“One death is too much, that’s what I told Senator Barnnett. What does it take to open up that raceway? One death is too much,” said Burch.

An update on the fight for the Yigo raceway, late Thursday, Senator Barnett sent KUAM News the aforementioned ‘letter’ which was the referral of Bill 325-37.

Barnett is the chairperson for the Legislative Committee on Rules.

He clarifies the letter is dated July 19. It’s a whole week before Senator San Agustin’s Office published a notice of the public hearing under his committee.

Meantime, Senior VP of Cars Plus and triathlete Jennifer Crisostomo Camacho sent a letter to senators urging them to put the public hearing for the measure back on calendar as soon as possible.

“Our community cannot afford to lose another month to the elements, vandalism, and
theft. The Raceway is rotting away every week that goes by,” Camacho said.

“Our athletes deserve better, our people deserve better, and I’m proud to be a voice for our island
that so desperately needs the Raceway Park opened for motorsports and endurance sports alike,” she added. “Cycling, trail running, obstacle course racing, kids bike races, and so much more could be found at the Raceway. It is much more than motorsports. It is families bonding, children learning how to ride their bicycles for the first time, and women tackling races they never thought possible before. It is generations of racers continuing what their great grandparents and grandparents began decades ago.”

Senator Chris Barnett's Referral of Bill No. 325-37:

 

Feedback letter from Jennifer Camacho, Senior VP at Cars Plus: