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Topic: Email to mayor and ward 5 councilman PLEASE READ
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December 16, 2009 at
11:31:29 AM
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I just now sent this and got a canned reply from ward 5 with same junk they put out before.
Mr mayor I was wondering if you remember a meeting you had with the Oklahoma Racing Association board members when you wanted us not to oppose the hotel motel tax. At this meeting you told us we would not have to worry about the race track as it would always be there. I would also like to ask you a few questions and a request. Just who ask for the electrical at the State Fair grandstand to be inspected? Did the inspectors climb onto the roof and check the wiring or did they do the inspection from their desk in their office. Also who came up with the figure of 4 to 500,000.00 dollars to bury these lines. Everyone is saying that the grandstands are 50 years old and would cost to much to update them, does this mean every building in Oklahoma City that is fifty plus years old will have to be updated? Why cant the city engineers figure out how to take care of the ADA problem with the ramps? I think anyone could come up with a way to take care of this with very little expense. Isn't the City of Oklahoma City the owner of the fair grounds, which includes the land and all structures on it. If this is true then I and all residents of Oklahoma City are the true owners of the fairgrounds. If this is correct then I believe the fair board would have to get the residents permission tho tear down or destroy and structures on said land. Is the city responsible for maintaining the structures and grounds? I would also like for you to send a copy of the contract between Oklahoma City and the fair board to Stanley Reed JR at 2200 S Portland Oklahoma City, Ok. I hope you will answer all my question and fullfill my request ASAP. A VERY CONCERED RACE FAN
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December 16, 2009 at
12:45:04 PM
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Reply to:
Posted By: Secretary on December 16 2009 at 11:31:29 AM
I just now sent this and got a canned reply from ward 5 with same junk they put out before.
Mr mayor I was wondering if you remember a meeting you had with the Oklahoma Racing Association board members when you wanted us not to oppose the hotel motel tax. At this meeting you told us we would not have to worry about the race track as it would always be there. I would also like to ask you a few questions and a request. Just who ask for the electrical at the State Fair grandstand to be inspected? Did the inspectors climb onto the roof and check the wiring or did they do the inspection from their desk in their office. Also who came up with the figure of 4 to 500,000.00 dollars to bury these lines. Everyone is saying that the grandstands are 50 years old and would cost to much to update them, does this mean every building in Oklahoma City that is fifty plus years old will have to be updated? Why cant the city engineers figure out how to take care of the ADA problem with the ramps? I think anyone could come up with a way to take care of this with very little expense. Isn't the City of Oklahoma City the owner of the fair grounds, which includes the land and all structures on it. If this is true then I and all residents of Oklahoma City are the true owners of the fairgrounds. If this is correct then I believe the fair board would have to get the residents permission tho tear down or destroy and structures on said land. Is the city responsible for maintaining the structures and grounds? I would also like for you to send a copy of the contract between Oklahoma City and the fair board to Stanley Reed JR at 2200 S Portland Oklahoma City, Ok. I hope you will answer all my question and fullfill my request ASAP. A VERY CONCERED RACE FAN
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You bring up some very valid points. I might add, As I understand the ADA, a single ramp to the grandstands is all that is required with an acceptable space for viewing. Restrooms will have to be upgraded to accomadate the handycapped. We're not talking enormous funds to do this, probably in the 10-20 thousand dollar area. I think the electrical issue is nothing but smoke screen and someone should demand a complete accounting of the inspection and estimate.
Through the years, I have seen various law firms or lawyers sponsoring race teams to some extent and there has to be, out of thousands of fans, some that are attorneys that enjoy and support racing. One of these should step forward, for no fee, and file an injunction against the city and fair board and make them account for all of their claims. There has to be a way to have at least one more season of racing at SFS. And what about the contract that Lanny has that includes next year? Why shouldn't the fair board and city be responsible for providing him the facility upgrades necessary to comply with the lease?
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December 17, 2009 at
02:50:39 AM
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Another question comes to mind, if the State Fair of Oklahoma is governed by the State Fair Board, should it not be up to all citizens in the State of Oklahoma to decide the fate of not only the Grandstands and Speedway but the entire Fair Park.
How many of the other facilities located on the property that where built at or near the same time period are under question, ie; The Arena, the Made in Oklahoma Building, the Transportation Building, the Boy Scouts of America Building, now a Horse Association Building, and how many of these are ADA Compliant.
When the State Fair of Oklahoma hosts their annual event "the Great State Fair of Oklahoma" all you see is Port-a-Potties with the exception of ONE lone building located near the Speedway that was built in the early 80's which may have been recently updated to ADA standards, but I am sure is not up to todays standards.
Even so when the State Fair of Oklahoma is in progress the Hanicapped have to travel over several Acres of land to use the lone facilities provided for them.
Bottom Line is, as a Resident and Tax Payer of Oklahoma City, I want to see where and what my hard earned dollars are funding.
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December 17, 2009 at
08:54:21 AM
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04/24/2009
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keep the councilmen and mayor stirred up keep calling keep emailing to tear down the speedway will cost the city 2.9 million dollars a.d.a compliant that means there has to be handicapped seating and bathroom access we have seating on the north end build another for the south end and add a few handicap toilets look at gaylord stadium in norman it is in compliance their ramps are alot steeper than the tracks DON'T GIVE UP ON OUR TRACK
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December 17, 2009 at
09:15:50 AM
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Thank you so much for your email to the mayor and your councilman. This is a great example of the efforts we need to save the speedway and racing in Oklahoma City. The name calling, bickering, and crude comments do not help in any way with the situation. When you deal with elected and appointed officials you need to be factual and professional. Hold them accountable for their actions and demand to be heard.
Job well done by many of you.
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December 17, 2009 at
09:18:19 AM
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7918
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okay, I deleted my crude comment.
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December 17, 2009 at
09:25:19 AM
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This is what I sen this morning and got the typical canned response. I will
keep up the fight!
Mayor Cornett,
Good Morning Mayor. I am writing this email to convey
my concerns concerning the recent announcement of the
closure of the historical State Fair Speedway.
First of foremost, this facility has been and should continue
to be the proving grounds for the racing stars of Oklahoma
City and surrounding areas as they cut their teeth on one of
the most demanding and top-notch 3/8th mile racing facilities
in the country.
Secondly, the promoter and his staff, do a wonderful job making this
facility a family and fun atmosphere each and every Friday evening.
If you look at the schedule year in and year out, they recognize each
local community with free admission nights. Additionally, they
sponsor a Military Appreciation Night in which they honor and recognize
veterans from all services and genres. This is more than I can see
from other organizations throughout OKC.
SFS provides an atomsphere which is safe and fun. Generations of fans
and family members can recall memories from years gone by and the
closing of this famed oval will take away that tradition from the
Okalhoma City and Central Oklahoma fan base.
Also, albeit SFS is in need of repair of some of its facilities closing or shutting
down this facility would be a travesty on numerous levels.
The old adage fix what is broken and permit greatness to continue is
the way to go.
The drivers and race teams who have invested into the facility and their
individual race teams for the 2010 season will go for not. They hearty individuals
want to show their wares on their home track and were never given a chance
to voice their concerns. Now they have to go elsewhere when their hometown
just flatly them down.
The historical place of SFS is profound. The promoter, Lanny Edwards, has been
inducted into the National Sprint Car Hall of Fame in Knoxville, IA. Can you name
one other resident of Central Oklahoma who possesses that honor?
The fans of this speedway are also hurt by the Oklahoma City decision to curtail
operations at this famed oval.
Families have many great memories and have enjoyed great racing. Your assertion
that this facility is not the way forward maybe could use some retooling and thinking.
How would you feel if one of your children or family members week in and week
out supported an organization in hopes to be on that facility one day and then
all of sudden, the rug was pulled out from beneath them. That would be a
hard sell for you.
I have been a fan and in the dirt racing scene for over 40 years. I saw what
this type of decision and impact it had on local communities in the northeast.
This drove companies, sponsors, individuals, and families out of communities.
I do not believe this is your goal. However, this decision will have long lasting
effects that I do not think you have contemplated and are aware of.
The place that SFS has in dirt track racing lore and history in many.
Even the kingpins of the Sprint car industry think that SFS is a
great place. Just look at the number of drivers who have been at
SFS over the years. Steve Kinser, Sammy Swindell, Kasey Kahne,
Rockey Hodges, Jan Opperman, Gary Wright. This ranks as a who's who
in the history of sprint car racing.
Please let the fans, drivers, and race teams be heard. Their voices are loud and
clear. They want SFS to be part of the Oklahoma City landscape for
years to come.
I would love to have the oportunity to discuss this with you in person and
met with other members of city government to show that closing SFS
is not a good idea for all parties concerned.
Please respond to my inquiry.
I thank you for your time in this matter.
Sincerely,
John E. Banks
Regional Racing Journalist
Dirt Track Digest
[email protected]
[email protected]
"Where woould youo rather be than right here
right now"
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