Forum: Oklahomatidbits.com General Forum (go)
Moderators:  /  David Smith Jr

Did you hear on news 5 tonight that they are bringing racing to OKC? Does the Mayor not know he already has racing in here?

The mayor won't recognize it, or give it any credibility. Because you know that idea of tearin the track down is still floatin on a shelf somewhere.

How much would could a wouldchuck chuck if a 
wouldchuck could chuck would

I run into people constantly that live less than a mile from venues  and racetracks that have been holding races for the past 30 to 50 years that have no idea that racing happens near where they live.

One night when the Chili Bowl was going on in Tulsa, I was at the grocery store Reasors directly across from the outdoor racetrack.  The checkers, and manager had no idea there were races that were happening at that moment at the Fairgrounds.  One checker had nver known there were 10,000 plus people that attended Tulsa Speedway right out the window from where she stood and worked for 40 hours a week.  She could see the grandstand and the fence to the track  from her cash register. 

So I could believe there are thousands of people that have no idea what the majority of businesses and events are in a City.  Even those remotly associated, or direct neighbors of the facilities.  One needs to keep in mind today that perhaps 40 to 50% of the population in many areas do not speak English, listen to english radio or television, or read english newspapers or magazines.  They cannot read english web sites as well.  So they are a large segment of the population in many cities that are missiig any advertising regarding events unless they are produced in multi languages common with the US population today.   

So,..........lol.......chuckle.........lol...........okay. What does his majesty have in store for the great city?

Remember, one good way to get the public on the side of the ones against us is to build public opinion with a false undertone of good faith. Until I see a track built and prepared[for race cars], I do not trust anyone. I am like most people, I can hardly go anymore but I like knowing that I can. I only like SFS,Lawton or the Bowl. Great drivers have cut many ruts in these soils, we should protect them.

They said he is trying to bring an IRL or Champ car race to down town

Oh, to pass a sales tax in order to repave all the streets in that area. I'm a skeptical SOB aren't I? Get the race, make it happen and I'll believe it. I only represent a point of view.

Any group that talks of tearing down the Fairgrounds Speedway for horses instantly gets off of my Christmas card list.

The streets downtown are way to narrow and like Brian said we would loose all the cars in the potholes the size of the grand canyon.

"The ultimate measure of a man is not where he stands 
in moments of comfort and convenience, but where he 
stands at times of challenge and controversy." 
Martin Luther King, Jr. 

Erich Petersen 

Lake Draper is in the OKC city limits, build the multi-purpose racing facility there and maybe when they are digging the dirt they will find some of the bodies of missing people they can't find. Lake Drapers known for that you know.

Build a one and a half mile paved oval to get some kind of NASCRAP and IRL race in here and watch it sit idle in five years when NASCRAP has lost its appeal to the racing public and there are no foreigners to make up a twenty car field for the IRL Not to mention they will have a fifteen car field full of female drivers to attract the male race fan.

David Smith Jr.
www.oklahomatidbits.com

Brain? Yeah I get tired of hearing me too.LOL

Sorry about that. Fingers dont always do what I tell them to do. lol

"The ultimate measure of a man is not where he stands 
in moments of comfort and convenience, but where he 
stands at times of challenge and controversy." 
Martin Luther King, Jr. 

Erich Petersen 

Yeah well my mouth doesn't always shut up when it needs to!LOL

Anybody remember the kart races they held downtown? Broken arms, broken legs, broken ribs, and a broken promoter, near as I recall. Pretty decent support initially, but no follow-through. A friend of mine was involved in an effort to get a CART race in San Antonio years ago, and the bite was so big even that city couldn't handle it....they went with IMSA at that time. Street races are "events," having little to do with racing, so what kind of cars or organization comes in doesn't really matter if the suckers will get on the band wagon. That being said, I don't see it happening here....the only people in the local power structure who know anything at all about racing, or care, are the Noricks, and they pulled the rip cord years ago. Sounds like what someone said, a bright idea to justify raising more money for street repair.

A street race in OKC would be a lost cause because the majority of race fans around here are like the majority of posters on this board. They could care less about anything that doesn't race on dirt or isn't NASCAR affiliated.

I, for one, (and probably among the few), would be first in line for tickets to a major event in downtown.

Galen, I remember the karts. I went down there during the morning and thought the race itself was a good idea but you never could get a good place to watch. I think i walked to entire course trying to find one. I dont even think the Norrick'ss have anything to do with racing anymore.

"The ultimate measure of a man is not where he stands 
in moments of comfort and convenience, but where he 
stands at times of challenge and controversy." 
Martin Luther King, Jr. 

Erich Petersen 

Who owns Pole Position at 36th & May ?? Isn't Lance Norick part owner or something?? I never thought I'd see Dragboat races in the North Canadian River. You can call it the Oklahoma River if you want but you know, it will always be the Canadian River to me. So I guess someone trying to get a race in OKC it wouldnt be impossible. Hell,lets have it on the Kirkpatrick Turnpike. Nobody uses it any way. No wait,Bad Idea. Car Owners would be required to buy PIKE PASSES for the race cars. Sorry, I forgot I was in Oklahoma,turnpike capitol of America. Hey yeah,that's it....The PIKE PASS 500 !!

Hey, I just remembered an OLD idea that might work. When Grand Blvd was first built, it was the outer loop around the city, and people complained that it was too far out of town. However, some proposed that it would make a great speedway. Someone could stage a race completely around the city.....lots of spectator areas, plenty of parking in the closed-up strip malls around town. Could work. I think the featured class should be bicycles, but whatever.......

Guess what?!!! Champ Car Stats lists Oklahoma City Road Race Course as the venue for a Champ car race held in 1915. 4/29/15

Yep, that was the 2.4 mile oval course connecting Linwood Ave and I believe NW 16th st. Funny that Champ Car would lay claim to it, but they claim Indianapolis and the board speedways, too, so it figures. The cars (and motorcycles the day before) went nearly as fast as people drive on Linwood now. Unfortunately, my man Eddie Rickenbacker was a no-show for that one, even though the promoters advertised him. When the Oklahoma Racing History thing gets going, I'll post the story.