Jackson County’s drag strip got a kick start this
week after county commissioners chose a new manager to promote the White
City facility.
With the support of local race car enthusiasts,
the Hot Rod Gassers Association of Woodburn signed a five-year lease to
manage the quarter-mile track.
Gassers business manager Bill Fitting said he
would like to put past differences aside and get down to promoting the
facility.
"The track has had so much negative publicity and
we don’t need it anymore," he said.
Some drag strip supporters have said the track
was not promoted properly, and the facilities — particularly the bathrooms
— had become run down over the years.
The track has had six managers since it opened in
the 1970s, but none have been able to make a profit out of it.
The most recent, John Skinner, said he’s sunk
$300,000 into the track over the past six years. He will continue to
operate the adjacent circle track.
The Gassers, based in Woodburn, have promoted
races previously, including the Hot Rod Gassers Nationals, which Fitting
said is the second largest event held at the drag strip. The last time it
was held in White City was in 2003.
Fitting, who now lives in Grass Valley, Calif.,
said he plans to move to Jackson County and will spend part of next week
looking at local schools and homes for his wife and two children.
One of the big issues at the track has been the
state of the bathrooms, and Fitting said they will be torn down and new
ones will be built largely through a volunteer effort by Joy Construction
of Woodburn.
"It’s time to move on away from the bathrooms,"
said Fitting. "The whole focus should be promoting the track."
County Commissioner Jack Walker had expressed
concern about the Gassers, wanting the group to agree to invest at least
$100,000 into the track over the five-year lease period. The lease
payments are $1 annually.
In the end, the commissioners went along with the
county parks department recommendation to select the Gassers and ask for a
$40,000 investment, which is a similar arrangement the county had with
Skinner. The parks department has estimated new bathrooms alone would be
worth about $200,000.
Randy Hutton, county parks administrative
assistant, said, "We’re relieved the contract has finally been signed."
Dave Ix, president of the 86-member Oregon Drag
Racing Association, said the Gassers already have sent out promotional
materials to help line up sponsors for upcoming events. The first race is
set for April 30.
Bill’s Backhoe Service of Medford is lined up to
complete the return road from the track to the pits, he said.
The Gassers are buying new timing equipment and
will continue to use the equipment left by Skinner as a backup, he said.
Reach reporter Damian Mann at 776-4476, or
e-mail
dmann@mailtribune.com
