Re: new bloomington promoter?
 

As of a few weeks ago when ask about this Mikes answer was wish someone would tell me about this. It still may be true but I'm sure the family will still be involved. You got to be carefull because the city of Bloomington would like to see it closed so if true they will get thier paper work work fixed real good. The track is by the way not for sale by the owner,lease maybe.

Re: new bloomington promoter?
 

Why does the City want it closed ?

Re: new bloomington promoter?
 

They do not approve of racing and the noise it creates keeps the liberals awake!

Re: new bloomington promoter?
 

City officials don't want a racetrack or an up-to date interstate system through town. They had better get all of the revenue they can cause their roads are gonna suck for the next ten years if they don't watch out. The school is the only thing in town.

Re: new bloomington promoter?
 

Because the taxes on the houses they would build there is more than they get when the land is used as a track.

Re: new bloomington promoter?
 

Its like building a house beside an airport then complaining about the noise....This whole town is like that!

Re: new bloomington promoter?
 

When the track was built in the good old days, it was in the sticks. Now come down That Road toward the track, and look north , once you get there. This isn't the country anymore.The rickh folk don't like the noise.

Funny thing is you really can't build a lot there. A lot of the area the track takes up is more than likely in a flood plain due to the creek, though I may be wrong. Biggest problem is the rich folk.

Re: new bloomington promoter?
 

If Mike were to sell the lease, I think he would make sure it was done in a way that the transition would be seamless. He knows better than anybody, the complaints about noise. And, there's no question we've all heard rumors over the years that our elected officials here in Monroe County would love to see the track shut down. You'll never hear them acknowledge the revenue that the track produces for the area. Especially, the big shows. At least I've never heard them do it. Troy is exactly right, it's amazing the track has been here since 1923, yet when people buy or build close to it all they do is complain about the noise.

Mike and Judy have done a great job over the years. Is there a better place to watch a dirt track race? I'll guarantee you that there isn't one that's more fun to race on. As far as the rumors go, I guess we'll find out soon enough. April's coming quick.

Re: new bloomington promoter?
 

Nice article in the paper last weekend Troy:6:

Re: new bloomington promoter?
 

I'm starting to "feel" what racing needs is "hope & change"....it's them rich people up to no good again. You bet.

Re: new bloomington promoter?
 

Sounds like the same thing happening here, that happened to the Warsaw track.

Re: new bloomington promoter?
 

Seems like the houses keep getting closer and closer to the track

If the city ever tried to shut the track down, the track could probably fight it in court and win. I'm sure there is something that says if an establishment has been there long enough than it can not be forced to shut down over. It has sort of been grandfathered in. The people that moved in the same area as the track subconsciously accepted the track being there and the noise that goes along with it. The track was there first.

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Re: new bloomington promoter?
 

Nope, ask the folks in Warsaw and many other shuttered tracks around the country, that arguement doesnt fly.

---------- Post added at 2:54 PM ---------- Previous post was at 2:52 PM ----------

Right now its surrounded on all sides but the south side. There is plenty of room to build across the street from the entrance and it wouldnt surprise me to see houses sprouting up there before too long.

Re: new bloomington promoter?
 

Similar deal here with the airport. Out on the north side and housing creeps ever closer to the airport.

Re: new bloomington promoter?
 

It would make no sense in my opinion for them to ever close Bloomington Speedway down. They could more than likely never build any housing due to the soil being impacted from the years and years of racing. (motor oil, gas, anything petroleum based)

The clean up and removal of the dirt would by far out way the the revenue that the track brings in weekly to the south side of Bloomington.

Thats my opinion though.

I don't think the race track is in city limits either for those who qestioned that....

Re: new bloomington promoter?
 

That's precisely the reason you've always saw Mike promote the slogan "Racing since 1923"

Re: new bloomington promoter?
 

It's not a matter of the rich people being against it. Everything would be fine if we only raced bicycles on it, and planted some trees in the corners or the infield. As far as the noise issue goes, that's where the curfew comes into play. I think it's midnight, that we're not supposed to race after. That's not usually an issue though. I think Mike has communicated with the "neighbors", and has tried to keep them as happy as possible.

I don't think there is any danger of it being shut down. What I've always heard is if it ever sits idle, then it might be hard to win the fight to start racing there again. I don't see that happening.

Back to the rumor side of things. Obviously, at some point there will be a new promoter. Whether it's now, or Mike keeps it for another 15 years, and a change is made then. As long as the place stays up and running, that's all that matters. We've lost too many short tracks all over the country.

And, Troy that was a cool article last weekend. Enjoyed reading it.

Re: new bloomington promoter?
 

What is that told Saying, Been There done That!
You will have to go down to the 3rd or 4th article to see My take on closing tracks when You click on the link below.:15:
aXe


http://www.openwheelracers3.com/News___Stories.html

The property to the south of Bloomington speedway on the other side of fairifax road is in a flood plain .

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Re: new bloomington promoter?
 

:39:This post is a very clever way to bring awareness to the speedway. Well done guys! :39:

Re: new bloomington promoter?
 

Thanks for the nice words guys....I will be signing autographs all day Saturday....Come on by.

There is the possibility in Indiana that the city could/would rethink the zoning if the track was sold. Subleasing it would be a way around that.

I personally like Mike, I think hes done a good job. Every track has an off night and for the nights that it slicked off a little too quick or stayed heavy a little too long its still better than nothing and a heck of alot better than the some of the options.

Mike....if you do move on...Nothing but the best for ya!

Re: new bloomington promoter?
 

Do you have a link to that article?

Re: new bloomington promoter?
 

Re: new bloomington promoter?
 

I am not allowed access, apparently.

Re: new bloomington promoter?
 

I live in a conservative town in Lincoln Il and these people would love for this track to close. So not just liberals want tracks closed. I say to friggin bad it's only one night a week for 20 weeks a year deal with it. :26:

Re: new bloomington promoter?
 

Yep, and here in Columbus I doubt if there are very many liberals living out by the airport, some in the same area where a plane crashed several years ago.

In other words, ideology doesn't matter when it's a NIMBY issue (that's Not In My Back Yard).

Re: new bloomington promoter?
 

Ron, here is the article at least you can read it, no photo though



MY FAVORITE RIDE
Rebuilt Model T anything but a drag

February 18, 2012


This photo was taken during a test run at Lyons Raceway Park just before it ended in disaster at the starting line. Courtesy photo

Troy Wilson got hooked on drag racing — driving, not watching — a quarter century ago.

He was 13.

Back then, altered drag racing vehicles had huge engines, a high center of gravity and a short wheel base. They were unstable, prone to crashes, downright dangerous and “always good to put on a show for the fans,” the Bloomington man said.

As the cars evolved, engines and the center of gravity sat lower, he said, “making them a little easier to drive.” Because the exposed motor sits square in front of the driver, “you see everything, including the chance of hot oil or fire.”

Hot oil spewing from a motor is not unusual in the world of drag racing. Wilson actually has layers of plastic laminate on his helmet face shield. When it gets coated with oil, he peels off the top layer to see the quarter-mile track ahead. “I know it sounds crazy, but I have been covered in hot oil while driving.”

Wilson rebuilt his dragster with a smaller engine than it once had so he can see where he’s headed when the car launches, like a rocket. Zero to 154 mph in 8.7 seconds. Then out comes the parachute, activated by pulling a lever releasing a tightly wound spring.

The car, with a one-piece fiber glass body, is a 1923 altered Model T Ford. Really. The only thing left on the car from the old Ford is the rear differential housing and the taillights. “I’m sure Henry Ford never imagined this,” Wilson said.

Wilson initially built the car for someone else, then took it to Lucas Oil Raceway in Indianapolis for a test run. They got it up to 150 mph. It was ready to race, so they went to Lyons Raceway Park in Greene County.

He revved the engine to 4,000 rpms, then released his thumb from a button mounted on the steering wheel. “The car launched, but it broke the wheelie bar off the back and went straight up in the air,” he recalled.

The car landed back on the ground, hard, buckling the chassis, crushing both front wheels, splitting the welds on the aluminum fuel tank and breaking some brackets. Wilson ended up with a headache that lasted a few days.

The owner decided to build a car with a longer chassis, so Wilson bought the wrecked one. He hauled the heap of metal to Prince Racing in Heltonville, and before long it was in Wilson’s garage being primed to return to the track for the 2011 season. He won his final race.

He’s preparing for the 2012 racing season. “Right now, the car’s stripped down to the chassis, and I’m rebuilding the engine and checking everything,” Wilson said. “It will be race ready in three weeks.”

He started a drag racing series called the Nostalgia Drag Racing League, and holds races at tracks in Indiana, Kentucky and Ohio. The first is Memorial Day weekend.

“We end up with about 50 cars at some of our events,” Wilson said. “It’s not uncommon to see cars going over 200 miles an hour. It’s pretty exciting.”

Re: new bloomington promoter?
 

I can see how the tax thing makes more $ but i also see it like this. Now you only have noise in that area one night a week (Friday). Build houses on the land and you have noise every day. I'm not arguing the point with you i'm just making a comment. I wish you guys could see the track here at my fairgrounds, houses surround turns one and two and go all along the backstretch. Those people have built decks on the back of the house and some on the back of their garages and watch the races every Saturday night and make a deck party out of it! Those seats on the decks aren't much farther away than sitting in the grandstand, you just have to look into the lights though.

Re: new bloomington promoter?
 

Here ya go!