Hollywood ‘racetrack’ plan gets red-lighted

Their plan was to set up a temporary stock-car racing oval in Hollywood.

But it was NASCAR racers and San Bernardino County officials who got the runaround when they sought permission to close streets tonight around the Avalon nightclub and music hall on Vine Street.

The operators of the California Speedway had hoped to have famed race-car driver Jeff Gordon and others take spins around a miniature speedway in the vicinity of Hollywood and Vine as part of a NASCAR Foundation fundraiser at the landmark music venue.

The event -- with tickets priced at $2,500 each -- will benefit charities supported by the foundation. It’s being sponsored by the speedway and the San Bernardino County Economic Development Agency.

The agency is using the show to launch a campaign to lure Hollywood studios and production companies to the 20,160-square-mile county for film production.

San Bernardino officials have labeled their county “Hollywood’s No. 1 back lot” and say their campaign is aimed at stemming the tide of runaway productions to places such as Louisiana, New Mexico and British Columbia.

Event organizers wanted to block Hollywood streets to create a scaled-down racetrack and offer rides to partygoers willing to pay extra for a lap around the mock circuit in stock cars driven by Gordon and other top-level NASCAR stars.

But Los Angeles transportation authorities require those applying to temporarily shut down a public street to obtain written permission from all commercial property owners or managers in the proposed closure area. And users of one Hollywood site refused to sign off on the plan.

“We originally envisioned turning part of Hollywood into a miniature California Speedway,” said Mike Uhlenkamp, a spokesman for the real two-mile track in Fontana. The course will be the site of Labor Day weekend racing Friday, Saturday and Sunday.

“But there was an issue with a parking lot that was needed for another event happening Wednesday night. So the racing element has been taken out. Fifteen or 20 drivers will be making an appearance, but there will be no rides.”

Instead, Gordon will drive the fundraiser’s headliner -- rhythm and blues star Rihanna -- to the Avalon’s entrance. “He’ll be a valet service,” a spokeswoman for event promoter Brent Bolthouse said Tuesday.

But the race for movie-filming business remains on.

San Bernardino County officials said their development agency’s involvement with the fundraiser is aimed at exposing the inland county’s offerings as a film location site to high-level Hollywood executives.

“There aren’t that many ways to get that information into Hollywood hands,” said Paul Herrera, communications coordinator for the agency.

Brian McGowan, the agency’s administrator, joked that Gordon may “do doughnuts and burnouts in the parking lot with Rihanna,” whose hits include “Shut Up and Drive.”

Those attending tonight’s event will receive information packets that include a DVD about San Bernardino County and recordings of several movies that have been shot there. About a dozen feature films are made in the county annually.

By starting their new campaign at the Avalon, “we’re going to the heart of the beast and selling it to Hollywood,” McGowan said. “I don’t think the city of Los Angeles should be upset. Instead of jobs going out of state, they’re staying in Southern California.”

Officials of FilmLA, the nonprofit corporation that collaborates with local municipalities and the film industry to promote movie-making in Los Angeles, said San Bernardino County may be handicapped by lying outside the industry’s 30-mile zone. That is the radius measured from the Beverly Center that Hollywood unions use to determine whether per diems or travel expenses must be paid.

“But anything that keeps filming in the greater L.A. area is a good thing,” Geoffrey Smith, director of communications for FilmLA, said Tuesday.

“Let’s spread the wealth around. But let’s keep filming in the region.”

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bob.pool@latimes.com