Forum: HoseHeads Sprint Car General Forum (go)
Moderators: dirtonly  /  dmantx  /  hosehead

I see nothing wrong with what she wrote and its probably an accurate statement in some respects. Bottom line is that this is her opinion and she is allowed to have it. No matter if its sprint cars or Nascar, everyone has drivers that they do not like kind of like football. I'm from Ohio and here most people cheer for two teams, OSU and whoever is playing Michigan. In motorsports we cheer whenever a driver we do not like does bad, but I don't think it is to an extent to where someone wishes injury to a driver, though I am sure there are a few sick people in this world that feel that way. If you don't like here column just simply don't read it.

If that's Kathy's opinon then she's entitled to it. Just don't shoot the messenger! Her brother is the sports editor of the local weekly paper here in Knoxville and is at nearly all of the races during the season. Both are two of the nicest people I have met since moving to Knoxville 12 years ago. I also miss Kathy at the Nationals. She treated everyone in the media equally, whether you were a local or a national media rep.

Maybe, due to the fact that he's so pissed off about the opinion column, he recognized himself as being one of the idiots that Kathy wrote about.

By far not the worst topic this forum has produced the past couple of years, it is just it fits right in with the other idiotic posts that have been generated by - what appears to be - the new era of race fan.

David Smith Jr.
www.oklahomatidbits.com

Sadly what Kathy was writing about has become more and more prevelant (in all sports, not just auto racing).

I thought it was a good piece, I thought she conveyed exactly what I see/read on message boards about some "racefans" in the East.

Heck, I heard a small group of people cheer when Lasoski crashed during the Nationals this year and was appalled (was part of me happy that he wasn't going to make the A-main on Saturday (yes)), but the bigger part of me that sees a wreck and has the immediate thought of "I hope he's ok and isn't hurt" is much stronger.

My first thought when reading the article was "Wow, there are some classless individuals out there", but after re-reading and giving it some thought, I think it's more along the line of "Are these people so consumed in their "hate" for the Outlaws that they somehow have lost their humanity?"

I can't say this is the only sport where this is happening, same goes for College FB rivalries (I've heard many a cheer when a hard hit was put on someone only to se those same people clam up when the player didn't get up off the field and left on a stretcher), or the idiot from Alabama that poisoned the tree @ Auburn because he's a Crimson Tide Fan.

I'm not afraid to admit that I've cheered when Terry McCarl, Danny Lasoski or Schatz have had issues and had to pull of the track (lost a motor, broken parts) because I'm not a huge fan of watching them win anymore (same goes for Kinser in the 80's), but I'd rather BOOOOO at them winning than any of them get hurt.

Troy VandeKamp

Knoxville, IA

I can remember when I used to write, I would actualy ask Justin to edit my stuff because it could get long. To be honest, he is probably one of the most writer friendly publishers you will find and the magazine is proof positive of his support of this sport.

In case any of you forgot, he was responsible for brining back a magazine in print after Open Wheel folded.

Hope all is good back your way Justin and as for Kathy, the few times I had the pleasure to talk and work with her were great. Writers work from teh heart. But I guess you would have to have one to understand that.

Paul

Just my $.02 worth.

Paul...

Hey, thanks for the kind words and I'd love to take credit for bringing FlatOut into being but the credit for that would go to Dean Nardi and Kevin Eckert, who is planning to contribute columns plus his regular photo features in future issues of FlatOut. I came on the scene after it was already an established publication.

Thanks,

Justin Zoch

Editor - FlatOut Magazine

www.threewidemedia.com

Member of this message board since 1997

Since sprint777 has done NOTHING but attack and spew his garbage in virtually every post why is he still around, when is enough, enough? Personal attacks are what he specializes in, plain and simple. What might be even better is to have his real name exposed, nothing worse than a hackjob by a coward in the bushes too chicken to be known. How 'bout it....

PS Kathy Bell has done more for this sport with her goodwill and work at Knoxville than most in this forum, not sure I've met a more pleasant and dedicated person who is totally aware of her surroundings. Zoch is just a class act, always was, heck even as a kid you knew he was going to be special and he lived up to it.....

I don't know Kathy personally, but we have met and I have always respected her work. Her contributions to racing and to the Knoxville Raceway over the years is something she can proud of. Journalists share their opinions and I love reading their different perspecitives and insight, and Kathy deserves to be recognized for her work in a positive way, not like this.

It is gutless of people to tear down and attack people like this while hiding behind a screen name and remaining anonymous.

Eric Arnold
Knoxville, Iowa
Columnist - Flat Out Magazine

Eric Arnold
Social Media Manager & Track Historian
Knoxville Raceway