Connect with us

Offroad

OFF-ROAD SUPPORTERS FILL LEGISLATURE WITH LEASE EXPIRED

Hope still in the air with plea to senators

By Nick Akimoto

A public hearing was held before the 36th Guam Legislature Friday afternoon to discuss the issues that have been plaguing the Guam International Raceway.

The hearing, which began at 2 pm, dragged out for nearly six and a half hours as many concerned community members delivered testimony to save the raceway which has been home to many members of Guam’s racing community. 

In January of this year, the Guam Racing Federation was issued an eviction notice by the Chamorro Land Trust Commission (GLTC) and was ordered to leave the property. This left many worried for the well-being of Guam racing, fearing that the eviction would lead to more illegal and dangerous road races and threaten the future of the sport for its younger members. Even weeks after the 120-day extended deadline for the GRF to vacate the raceway expired on June 2, the racing federation continues to occupy the property. 

This issue was brought before the Guam Legislature with the introduction of Bill 56-37, which suggested that the 250-acre property which the Guam International Raceway occupies be transferred from the CLTC to the Department of Parks and Recreation. 

Early in the hearing, the CLTC wanted to clarify their purpose in issuing the eviction notice. 

“[The Chamorro Land Trust Commission] does not oppose racing. This is a huge piece of property. Only a portion of this has the raceway, so the commissioners can take up in discussions in portioning out the property. There is no opposition to the racetrack staying open,” said Alice Taijeron, Administrative Director for the CLTC. 

Director Taijeron holds that the GRF has failed to live up to their lease agreement and assert that the GRF has allowed for illegal quarrying to take place on the property for their own financial gain. 

“The eviction that was issued to the Guam Racing Federation was brought upon because of violations they committed, because of a breach of their contract with the Chamorro Land Trust Commission, because they conducted other activities not associated with the racetrack, because they were not good stewards of our land,” said Director Taijeron. Despite serving an eviction notice to the GRF, the CLTC maintain they are more than willing to continue to allow racing activities to continue the property so long as the overseeing organization is able to live up to the land lease agreement for the raceway. 

Following the testimony from the CLTC, other members of the community called into question the eviction notice itself, especially considering the violations made by other tenants of CLTC properties. The concerns against serving an eviction notice to the home for so many racing and car activities also remained despite the CLTC insisting that they do not intend to put an end to racing should another overseer take over responsibility for the racetrack.

“When I signed this bill, Public Law 24-141, at that time I used to run, and I was running from Two Lover’s Point to Marine Drive and I was faced by four car lights heading towards me with crowds cheering them on. It was not safe. The raceway park created an opportunity for those illegal racers to go on to a park and race with a lot of confidence and safety,” said former Senator Larry Kasperbauer, who testified in support of the racetrack and called into question the CTLC’s action at this point when so many violations had occurred beforehand. 

The future of the Guam Racing Federation and the Guam International Raceway continue to be deliberated over, as the Legislature waits to vote on the bill in session. Meanwhile, the CLTC and GRF continue to look for resolution outside of the Legislature to rectify the issues between both parties.

PHOTO GALLERY BROUGHT TO YOU BY:

ALL PHOTOS BY MO JONES

Ad

GPS Sports Calendar

September

October 2023

November
SU
MO
TU
WE
TH
FR
SA
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
Events for September

30th

No Events
Events for October

2nd

Events for October

3rd

Events for October

3rd

No Events
Events for October

5th

Events for October

6th

Events for October

7th

8
9
10
11
12
13
14
Events for October

7th

No Events
Events for October

9th

Events for October

10th

Events for October

11th

Events for October

12th

Events for October

13th

08:00 PM - 11:00 PM

BRAWL 3

Dusit Thani Resorts
Events for October

14th

15
16
17
18
19
20
21
Events for October

14th

No Events
Events for October

15th

No Events
Events for October

17th

Events for October

17th

No Events
Events for October

19th

Events for October

20th

Events for October

21st

22
23
24
25
26
27
28
Events for October

21st

No Events
Events for October

22nd

No Events
Events for October

24th

Events for October

24th

No Events
Events for October

26th

Events for October

27th

Events for October

28th

29
30
31
1
2
3
4
Events for October

29th

Events for October

29th

No Events
Events for October

31st

COMING SOON …

  • Brawl 3: Oct 13
  • Guam’s Strongest Man and Woman Competition October 29

 

QUICK HITS

The Figo Islanders 40s women’s softball team took gold in the Senior Softball World Championship in Las Vegas. Figo came out of the loser’s bracket and beat the Arizona Belles 17-3 in the AA division championship game Sunday afternoon.
Other Guam teams that played in the 40s tournament were: Team SOTTA (women’s) and Bud Light Guam, Friars 671 and Sindalun Guahan (men’s).
Sindalu finished a respectable 4th out of 24 AAA division teams.
——————————————————-
In Guam’s first time competing in the FIBA Asia Cup, we draw China, Japan, and Mongolia in Group C. Competition begins in 2024. Guam also moves up the FIBA world rankings to #76.

More in Offroad