Post Falls man died in raceway accident

A contractor killed in an accident Friday at the Spokane County Raceway was identified Monday as Bob L. Arndt, of Post Falls.

Arndt, 68, owned Quality Maintenance, a company that specializes in parking lot work, according to a Web site listing.

The Spokane County medical examiner performed an autopsy Monday morning on Arndt and ruled that he died of multiple fractures and trauma in an accident.

Arndt was talking with the track’s general manager when an Infiniti sports car spun out of control, striking him near a curve in the track’s 2  1/2-mile road course.

A 46-year-old retired military pilot taking laps in his Infiniti G30 struck Arndt at the south end of the track, sheriff’s deputies said last week. The driver’s name was not released.

The victim was thrown 15 feet and hit a tree.

Services for Arndt are set for 1 p.m. Thursday at English Funeral Chapel, 1700 N. Spokane St., Post Falls, with additional services to follow at Evergreen Cemetery.

A voice message on the business answering machine acknowledged Arndt’s death and indicated that the company, which started in 1987, was working to deal with his loss.

The county purchased the raceway property last year and turned it over to Austin Motor Sports Management, owned by Tacoma businessman Bucky Austin, also the owner of Bucky’s Complete Auto Repair.

Arndt was working on track improvements Friday. He was talking with track manager Jay Livingston about where to paint lines on the track surface.

About 30 sports car drivers of various ages were at the track running practice laps. Some were from out of the area.

The raceway’s events calendar indicates the track was leased to Scott Adare Motorsports. According to Adare’s Web site, the company sponsors experienced track drivers who bring their own vehicles to drive on the track one Friday a month.

Attempts to contact Livingston and Adare were unsuccessful.