Forum: HoseHeads Sprint Car General Forum (go)
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I would hate to see this track leave... someone made a great point on one of the threads in regards to the number of race teams with Oklahoma ties that compete on the larger scale of sprint car racing and how this facility was where the majority of them started making a name for themselves. That is out the window if we loose this track! Hopefully something will work out!

Hello All,

Seen this thread for a few days. Just curious. Bottom line. What are the reasons/ motives for the city "people"/ officials wanting to close SFS? Isn't it a shame regardless of what historical value various establishments have that the powers that be,want to bulldoze in historical markers for something that "might" generate revenue,or so they think. It simply shows the mentality of business people wannabee's that don't have 'b_lls' enough to be in the business world on their own so they choose, city politics,as there "out" for being a business person,,,. I've seen this scenario too may times. Have you ever heard the term " Educated Idiots" This is the case many times in city council decisions regardless if it is Big City USA or small town USA, like were I live. Sad to say but between all the bickering between the people that are "in office" at any given time, the group as a whole usually doesn't know if they are coming or going.

I have driven by SFS,never been to races, there but just driving by I can only imagine the stories that people from the area have to tell in many different events that have taken place at this cool old Monument!

Kudo's to all that showed up at the city council meeting as was mentioned in an earlier post. Hopefully in a small way the sentiments presented will give the powers that be at least some consideration that this establishment remain in tact at least for a few more years.

Take Care

BC

Barry,

I'm Peter Davis, I'm one of the driving forces behind the Save the Speedway campaign going on here. To be honest, the reason the place is being closed is all about $$$. Or who's money they can get. Without making it too transparent, there is a group in our town that is all for the advancement of prestige of OKC. I don't mind moving forward, but I have come to find this fight is about screwing the "little man" to keep the elite happy.

As far as whateverhisname is and all those others that say this is a losing fight. I'm sick of hearing your defeatist attitudes. It's not been on just this board, but others too. Almost each everyone of you say your for the advancement of our sport, but when it comes time when YOU can make a difference, you become deathly silent. I'm challenging each and everyone of you to get on board with Erich and I's facebook, website and petition. I want over 25,000 fans on facebook and 100,000 plus signatures on our cumulative petitions after the Chili Bowl where we will have a major presence.

I posted my direct E-mail and cell phone number on her a week ago, and I'm here to tell you, my phone and E-mail has been flooded with people voicing their support. We have people who are working so many different angles, you couldn't imagine. I've been in constant contact with many important people who do care about this facility and are willing to move forward to save it.

It's time we get support from all over the city, state, country and the world.

Peter Davis

http://www.facebook.com/#/group.php?gid=151258391316&ref=ts

www.savefairspeedway.com

http://www.petitiononline.com/saveosfs/petition.html

Barry there is a numerous reason why but not a one fure sure concrete one. IMO I think the "powers" are trying to grasp something real quick. In the beginning of the deal we were told that 2012 was going to be that last year b/c of ADA reasons. However, that does not hold water b/c SFS has a elevator that goes up and down. The only thing that needs to be done to get it working again. IT IS THERE ALREADY IN PLACE.

Then we were told as a racing community about 3 weeks ago that a high power line needs to be buried under the ground. The "powers" told us that untill this is done there would not be any racing at the track. This power line has been up there on top of the grandstand for the last 50+ years. But now all of sudden they want it burried. From my understanding the Fairboard who is a city ran deal wants the power line a probably good 5 miles at Lanny's expense.

The racing community has been lied to in front of everyone. There was a Hotel/Motel tax that was passed a few years ago that the racing ass. was against. The mayor caught wind of this and came to them and told them that is they were not to oppose the tax the track would be there forever. I asked the mayor this very thing at the council meeting and he was backtracking on this statement.

The fairgrounds has some major horse breed shows come though at the end of the year and we have been caught in the crosshairs of the "powers" b/c of them for a long time. Some members of the racing ass. asked the "powers" what would be put in the tracks place to generate income and tthe powers could not give them an answer.

"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 

Peter and myself are two of a numerous group of people trying to save this place.

I have to agree with Peter it comes down to the greenbacks. Look up the Okc Thunder NBA basketball ownership and then look at the people on the State Fair board members and make your own assumptions.

Also there is rumblings around the the city brought someone in sue the city for ADA compliance.

"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 

Yes, the promotor, Lanny Edwards, is continuing wanting to continue operations. He is intially the one that told everyone to call, send emails and what not. Peter and myself as well as others just are taking it one step further. We are working on Multiple avenunes to keep this tracks around.

We are working with Lanny's people and they are working with us. We have Shane Carson on our side.Emmett is on our side as well. The "powers" that be are thinking that the racing community in Okc is a bunch of backwards rednecks.

"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 

Erich,Peter,

OK,,, What are some of the issues the city of OKC are saying for reasoning of validating the closure of SFS? Give me a 1. 2. 3. if you would? Sounds like they are talking out of both sides of their mouth. ..Can you say Politics?...

Thanks,

BC

Barry,

1. The ADA filed and won a lawsuit against the Speedway a few years ago, (Oddly enough, it is rumored that the fairboard encouraged the ADA and the plaintiff to file one.) Those renovations are supposed to be taken place by 2012. The original date of close. Supposedly, it will cost around 3.5 million dollars.

2. There is an electrical issue with the wiring on the main grandstand area. The city claims that it could cost near half a million dollars. However, when asked by FOIA or directly; no such document or report has been brought forth to substantiate the claim.

3. The noise pollution claim of local residents, the locals that did move in could do nothing about it. The noise is governed by mufflers and the such. Also, that is one portion of the Grandfather act that has helped the speedway.

Ok I will try lol. They are talking out both sides big time.

1) The high power electric lines- The city are afraid that if these were to fall on the grandstands then everyone would be a crispy critter. Thus they want Lanny to pay for him to bury them at the est of 400 grand. We have on multiple times have asked for a copy of this report from the city stating that it is not safe but no one knows where it is. The material that the seats are attached to that make up the interior of the grandstans is concrete. The inspection was done by a private firm and not the city inspector. This coming from the city inspector himself.

2) ADA- The city had untill 2012 to comply with the ADA standards. We have ramps that lead to the upper seats of the grandstands. The ADA people said that these ramps were to steep also the bathrooms were not met up to requirments. Under the ADA standard from what I understood is that you have to have bathrooms that are ADA complient for every price level Well at the track we only have GA, SR and kids prices. What we have learned is that the city brought someone in to file a lawsuit against them under ADA requirments.

3) Does not generate enough income- The city feels as if the track does not bring enough incomes into the city to validate it being there. They made a mention that somthing that is in use only 50 days of the year does not fit their plan. Multiple sources have told them that it could if shows were brought to the grandstands.

Basically, it comes down to an issue that the city does not want to spend money on the track to bring it up. However, the city just passed a 1 cent tax increase to fund the building of a new convention center on teh same grounds. The mayor feels as if OKC needs a multi complex track. Such i guess one like St Louis and Bristol. A drag track plus a circle track. He has yet to say anything about it being a dirt track. I think he wnats to tap into the asphlat craze.

"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 

There is no doubt that you are in for a tough fight. Since you are dealing with polititions, I would say that getting press sympathy for your struggle is of the utmost importance. One thing that no elected official can stand is bad PR. Please aim all of your efforts in that direction.

9th Annual Northern Ohio Sprint Car Show
March 18-20, 2011
Featuring the FAST sprint cars
NOSCS Hall of Fame, and much more...
At the Tiffin Mall in Tiffin, Ohio
Official home of the Hoserville Ohio Benefit Auction

Press sympathy is well pretty tough. The mayor still works for the major advertising company in town. Most media in town is afraid to challenge him.

Peter is right. However, we have been in the main newspaper and on local TV a few times. We are sending updates to the paper everyday as well. We are hoping also someone like National Speed Sport or a major racing magazine picks up on this story as well.

"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 

Erich, Peter,

1). In regards to the ADA stuff,I would be willing to bet any amount of money that the city of OKC could get grant money for this stuff from feds. Have you asked anyone this? Anything to do with special needs these days is a no-brainer in regards to feds coughing money for upgrades on public buildings as far as making them accessible,etc.. If the budgeting people in the city department have brain one they would know this.

2) on the wiring you could insinuate that this "should have been addressed a long time ago" and the city should have been seeing to it that this is taken care of so as to not endanger anyone that steps onto the premises,if they feel this is in fact a possible hazard. You have to throw it back in the 'Educated Idiots" faces, that seem to be ramrodding this take down.

3) In regards to 'not being used enough" what are their intentions if the track is in fact leveled. Do they have a blueprint in place with what they want to see go in the tracks current location? If not then they may as well leave it in place until say they have a 'buyer' for the property to generate city tax money.

I know this is easier said than done. But it simply sounds from the information given, ,is the city in fact has nothing in blueprints to set in place even if the track is leveled.

Is it possible to come up with $$ to hire a lawyer to bite into the cities cubicle dwellers, so called findings of the SFS deficiencies. As you stated ,as good intentioned as you are you have to get someone that can play hardball. You will be viewed as nothing more than the good ol boys,without some sort of lawyer representing your efforts. And I don't mean that in a bad way.

May be worth going over the locals and trying to get some numbers for the state and find a local representative. I can not imagine the state can't cough up money for a State Fairgrounds Building if you get the right person jacked up about what is going on. I know every state is broke in regards to funds being available for anything but this is a long established building not like it is a new novelty thing such as a gambling establishment that all the states are so hep on.

BTW: Is John Sullivan still a representative there? I would be calling him,pronto,What would it hurt? We have a representative here in this fare state, name is John Sullivan too!

Just some ideas.

Sorry for long post.

Keep us posted..

Take Care

BC

Hey guys Lanny was in Smileys last Tuesday or Wednesday and was leaving right then to talk to a lawyer. You might ask Lanny what he found out.

Mike, we talked to Lanny last Tues after he met with his Lawyer. With out given to much stuff out on a public forum lets jsut say he is going full force as well. We have the help of his lawyer as well.

"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 

Lanny keeps an eye on the muffler inventory at Smileys in OkC, so yes he did do something about the noise issue, at least the part that was his to do.

Thats funny he was in Smileys looking at a new 3 ring muffler for his Lincoln

The Capitol Quarter Midget Club near Sacramento was up against something like this a couple of years ago. Their grass roots effort and the power of getting the message out to the public about a venue that had been in place for over 50 years overcame even the environmentalists. In 2008 they were able to renew their lease for 50 more years at the same place where Jeff Gordon and Paul McMahan got their start. Just saying anything is possible. Petition signed.

Here's part of their story:

http://www.quartermidgets.org/Article_View_Search_Results.asp?ID=898&keyword=save+capitol

The greatest knowledge is to know that you know nothing
at all.