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Topic: In todays Enid Newspaper about Enid Speedway Email this topic to a friend | Subscribe to this TopicReport this Topic to Moderator
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dirtrack234
June 15, 2011 at 10:26:20 AM
Joined: 06/03/2008
Posts: 1628
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June 14, 2011

Speedway promoter did not have contract

When Checkered Flag Productions’ Ed Beckley abruptly canceled the Enid Speedway race season after one event, it caught most observers by surprise.

Now there appears to be little recourse for the Garfield County Fair-ground Trust Authority in the matter as Beckley was operating without a signed contract.

“He (Beckley) was sent a contract but it was never returned,” said Chisholm Trail Expo Center Director Steve Barnes. “He kept telling us he would get it to us after his lawyers finished looking at it.

“We thought we were doing the right thing. We thought he would get the contract to us.”

Despite the lack of a signed contract, Beckley was allowed to promote the first race of the season with the expectation he would promote a monthly event at the 63-year-old facility.

However, after promoting the season’s first race May 22, Beckley, who previously promoted races at tracks in Liberal and Dodge City, Kan., cited losing $7,000 on his first effort at Enid Speedway and the current economic climate as reasons that prohibited him from continuing as the track’s promoter.

Beckley posted a notice on the Enid Speedway website that read “First off, we would like to thank everyone who helped us with the Enid Speedway. We regret to inform that we are officially leaving the management of the race track as of June 6, 2011.”

“While we will miss running the track, we must concentrate on our own business,” Beckley said. “We just cannot dedicate the funds or time to keep trying to make Enid Speedway successful, especially under this depressed economy.”

Beckley earlier had indicated the track’s next event, which was scheduled for June 11, was canceled due to excessive water in the pit areas before posting the website notice.

The abrupt decision by Beckley to pull up stakes at Enid Speedway also frustrated and angered several area drivers who remain hopeful the racing season can still be salvaged.

“I’d like to see someone take it over,” said local driver Steve Blunk. “I want to go racing and a lot of fans want to come watch racing.”

It was a sentiment also echoed by driver Danny Long.

“I am ready to race,’” Long said. “It can happen. Somebody has to want to come in and do it.”

Barnes is hoping to find somebody who does indeed want to come in and salvage the season.

The shutdown of the racing season, or even part of the season, means lost revenue from concessions and rent for the Garfield County Fairground Trust.

“We hope to see someone come in and serve the interests of the racing community,” Barnes said.

Barnes indicated he has been in preliminary contact with other potential promoters, including C. Ray Hall of Wichita, Kan., who had expressed interest in promoting events before Beckley was selected as the track promoter for this season, but nothing is imminent at this time.

“Racing here is good for us and good for the community,” Barnes said. “In a perfect world, we would like to see some races here in the next month. We just can’t blink our eyes and make it happen. It takes a lot of work.”

Barnes indicated he hopes to have some more answers on the track’s future later in the week, but it can’t come soon enough for drivers like Long.

“This is Enid, America,” Long said. “I get to race where my heroes drove. Now, I can’t.”


JIMMY MINTER 'AKA'dirtrack234                  
Yesterday 
is history, 
tomorrow is a mystery, and today is a gift. That is 
why they call it the present.


dirtrack234
June 15, 2011 at 10:30:09 AM
Joined: 06/03/2008
Posts: 1628
Reply

I hope it's not too late and Mr. Hall is still interested. The fairboard should of listened to us at the meeting and took are vote that they asked for more seriously.


JIMMY MINTER 'AKA'dirtrack234                  
Yesterday 
is history, 
tomorrow is a mystery, and today is a gift. That is 
why they call it the present.

Dunz
June 15, 2011 at 01:06:11 PM
Joined: 09/06/2005
Posts: 2
Reply

Our tax money built the fair grounds for the people to have a place you play. The greed of not being willing to even give up any % of the concessions while charging rent is only part of the problem.

The kind of business man we need is smarter than to sign a contract that needs hundreds of dollar worth of corner lights, sound system, pit shack and guardrails put back in place because the fair board will not step it up and make that part of the track! I watch this stuff come and go with each promoter for years thinking what a joke!!!!

The only way weekly shows will ever be back in Enid is making the race cars affordable again.

Sure everyone wants to watch and race $30,000 dollar race cars but who wants to pay for it weekly? A limited class is the fastest way to build up car count. The fastest way to kill it is open the rules up on that class. That is what has happen in every class all over the state.

Yes I would like to see weekly racing and not sell our self short putting on special shows because of this BS economy crap people keep talking about!!!! Racing started in bad times when there was no money as a cheep way to have fun.




jaydad37
June 15, 2011 at 03:28:41 PM
Joined: 08/09/2008
Posts: 593
Reply

according to the newspaper article he still may be interested...

we still have to put plenty of pressure on the fairboard aka steve barnes to release the concessions back to the promoter!!! I'm telling you if that happens and we have a decent promoter then Enid will thrive again!!!

Just my opinion here but I think the article shows exactly what kind of "snake in the grass" Ed Beckley truly is... I long for the day when KARMA catches up with that P.O.S.!!!

On a much brighter note, my wife had ultra sound today at 14 weeks pregnant, and the baby showed his stuff in a big way... LOL Our new son will be joining us the first or second week of December...


Jayson Ellis

Sportmod5
June 15, 2011 at 04:57:13 PM
Joined: 10/16/2008
Posts: 43
Reply

Dunz is right, if they get back to classes like Beckley was trying to start there will be new blood to move up into other classes.

Racers will find a way to make it expensive if the promoter allows it, wright the rules and then leave them alone.

The County needs to try giving up the concessions for the next contract! They're not making a dime for the county right now with it closed and it's their job as commisioners to do what's in the interest of this county.

If they post a date for a meeting we need to fill it with people from the business community as well as racers.

If they still are not willing to help the cause then we (racing community) need to step up at the next election and get a couple people on that board to help them understand our viewpoint in times like these.

 



jaydad37
June 15, 2011 at 06:12:37 PM
Joined: 08/09/2008
Posts: 593
Reply

here is an exact copy of the email I sent to two of county commisioners , james simunek email doesnt work.....

I'm sending this email in hopes of helping re establish a solid ground in car racing back in Enid, Oklahoma.

I've been a fan of Enid Speedway since 1974, and either drove a race car or worked on a pitcrew from 1989 til 2010.

Here lately the promoters have gotten out of hand and none of them stay long....

The biggest reason for this is because the fairboard has taken all the concessions. I know on the surface it doesnt seem like much but it is exactly what a promoter has to have in able to see a profit for his business.

It didnt use to be this way until the county built the expo center and the race track as suffered ever since!!!

Its truly unfair for the fairboard to do this so I turning to you for help in getting this turned back around.

The concessions need to go back to the promoter with the fairgrounds getting a 30% stake of the profit from the concessions. If this would happen then the speedway would have no problem getting 5 year contracts signed. Please help us get back what is fair for the speedway. It was bad enough when the money was taken for the roof over the grandstands and other improvements to keep the expo center above water. Its only fair to see the concessions come back to the promoter so that we can get a promoter in here that actually cares and can make a profit.

Please dont under estimate the racing community, we are large in numbers and will remember everyone that helped and those who didnt help at election time.



Thank you for your time and hopefully for your help,


Jayson Ellis


street stock 81
June 15, 2011 at 06:45:52 PM
Joined: 09/20/2005
Posts: 38
Reply
Jayson if you don't get a reply from that, send a letter to the editor of the paper and get that posted for everyone in the Enid area to read. Hopefully they will give up concessions, some money is better than no money and that's exactly what they are getting right now.

jaydad37
June 16, 2011 at 06:24:24 PM
Joined: 08/09/2008
Posts: 593
Reply
Reply to:
Posted By: jaydad37 on June 15 2011 at 06:12:37 PM

here is an exact copy of the email I sent to two of county commisioners , james simunek email doesnt work.....

I'm sending this email in hopes of helping re establish a solid ground in car racing back in Enid, Oklahoma.

I've been a fan of Enid Speedway since 1974, and either drove a race car or worked on a pitcrew from 1989 til 2010.

Here lately the promoters have gotten out of hand and none of them stay long....

The biggest reason for this is because the fairboard has taken all the concessions. I know on the surface it doesnt seem like much but it is exactly what a promoter has to have in able to see a profit for his business.

It didnt use to be this way until the county built the expo center and the race track as suffered ever since!!!

Its truly unfair for the fairboard to do this so I turning to you for help in getting this turned back around.

The concessions need to go back to the promoter with the fairgrounds getting a 30% stake of the profit from the concessions. If this would happen then the speedway would have no problem getting 5 year contracts signed. Please help us get back what is fair for the speedway. It was bad enough when the money was taken for the roof over the grandstands and other improvements to keep the expo center above water. Its only fair to see the concessions come back to the promoter so that we can get a promoter in here that actually cares and can make a profit.

Please dont under estimate the racing community, we are large in numbers and will remember everyone that helped and those who didnt help at election time.



Thank you for your time and hopefully for your help,



I recieved a reply email from county comissioner Marc Bolz today,

it simply stated that he would look into things and see what he is able to do...

Its a start, now we need everyone to step up and email the comissioners and let them know that we are large in numbers and that we care very deeply about racing in Enid.

So help me out all...


Jayson Ellis

Glen Chapa
June 16, 2011 at 07:10:56 PM
Joined: 04/02/2007
Posts: 104
Reply
Hey Jayson.. Congrats on the baby boy, a great way to spend the winter time!! Congrats again!


drttrktom
June 16, 2011 at 07:41:46 PM
Joined: 06/03/2010
Posts: 16
Reply
Reply to:
Posted By: jaydad37 on June 16 2011 at 06:24:24 PM

I recieved a reply email from county comissioner Marc Bolz today,

it simply stated that he would look into things and see what he is able to do...

Its a start, now we need everyone to step up and email the comissioners and let them know that we are large in numbers and that we care very deeply about racing in Enid.

So help me out all...



I sent an e-mail to Steve Barnes today asking what was going on and when the next meeting was. He wrote back stating that they are working on something and hope to make an announcment by the end of next week. Tom Roark



David Smith Jr
MyWebsite
June 16, 2011 at 08:00:12 PM
Joined: 11/20/2004
Posts: 9152
Reply

yep


David Smith Jr.
www.oklahomatidbits.com

jaydad37
June 16, 2011 at 10:17:20 PM
Joined: 08/09/2008
Posts: 593
Reply
Reply to:
Posted By: Glen Chapa on June 16 2011 at 07:10:56 PM
Hey Jayson.. Congrats on the baby boy, a great way to spend the winter time!! Congrats again!


thanks glen,

we are truly excited and looking forward to him joining us!

sorry for hijacking the thread with his announcement ....

 


Jayson Ellis


1dirtracer
June 26, 2011 at 08:40:02 PM
Joined: 04/15/2008
Posts: 24
Reply
Reply to:
Posted By: jaydad37 on June 16 2011 at 10:17:20 PM

thanks glen,

we are truly excited and looking forward to him joining us!

sorry for hijacking the thread with his announcement ....

 



Has anybody heard anything about Enid yet?



David Smith Jr
MyWebsite
June 26, 2011 at 08:43:00 PM
Joined: 11/20/2004
Posts: 9152
Reply

Should know something this week...


David Smith Jr.
www.oklahomatidbits.com

devildog racing
June 26, 2011 at 09:09:20 PM
Joined: 06/14/2011
Posts: 11
Reply

have heard through the great vine that he has C Ray has signed a contract and was trying to get a race for this coming weekend but it wasn't possible, for the rest of the year he will run two races a month, and starting next year possibly an every week show. This is the rumor mill i have heard, hopefully its true.





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