GM Closes Mesa AZ Desert Proving Grounds

[Bill Pritchard]

On the front page of today's issue of the Arizona Republic. This has been in the works for several years, but especially sad given the current troubles at GM. Many of our favorite car models were tested at this facility over the 56 years it was in operation http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/frown.gif

http://www.azcentral.com/community/mesa/articles/2009/06/12/20090612gmleaving0611.html?&wired

[mockingbird812]

Truly sad. I have lunch occasionally with 3 fellows that retired recently from there. Lots of cool stories!

[al8apex]

They had a 66 GTO that was rigged for high speed tire testing there until ~ 5 years ago, not sure what happened to it, it was "supposed" to be crushed ...

it had been at one or the other PG since day 1, I understood it had never been titled either

[CC Rider]

Sad indeed.

Maybe houses and shopping centers will spring up there. http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/hmmm.gif

[jannes_z-28]

Check these coordinates in Google Earth
Lat: 33°20'3.08"N
Long: 111°37'11.53"W

Quite an impressive facility.

Should be preserved as an historical landmark.


Jan

[Ngtflyr]

For the 50th anniversary/open house a few years ago our local 1st Gen Camaro Club, among other GM makes, were invited. They had a car show and allowed the club members to tool around on all the tracks beforehand, and there were a number of driving demonstrations. It was an enjoyable day, it has been slated to close for a while, coincidental that it is happening during their bankruptcy. A massive resort complex, an industrial park and some housing developments are in the works for the real estate. It is located next to Williams Gateway airport the former Williams AFB. The housing developments will be further away to the east in order to alieviate noise complaints after people figure out they moved in next door to an airport. In 10 years there probably wont be any sign of the proving grounds ever existing.

[Xplantdad]

It'll fade back into the desert...sort of...like the trotting park off of Cotton Lane...LOL



http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/7/7b/Phoenix_Trotting_Park_from_I10_-_July_6%2C_2004.jpg/800px-Phoenix_Trotting_Park_from_I10_-_July_6%2C_2004.jpg