Looks like Another Historic Track is going to be Closed...
 

Unfortunately it appears that another famous track in our Country is closing. 55 Year Old State Fair Speedway in Oklahoma City, OK has been told to cease and desist immediately, due to ADA regulations compliance issues. They were supposed to have until 2012 to become compliant but leave it up to the Politicians to get involved. They Mayor shut them down now. Below is the Link to the News Cast and interview with the Mayor.

A petition has been formulated by some of the guys that race and attend the facility. It can be found on another link below. I would like to call on the IOW faithful to sign this petition in a show of support. Even if they don't reopen this track, which would be a shame, they may open another elsewhere in OKC. If we all show our support it may help the cause. Many of the Indiana Teams have raced there for years, including ours, with the TNT Series. It has been a regular stop for years. Coleman and our entire team have enjoyed racing at this very fast joint.

Here is the link to the News Cast:
http://www.kfor.com/news/local/kfor-...,3277252.story

Here is the link to the "SaveFairSpeedway" site with details and the link for the Petition:
http://www.savefairspeedway.com/

I know it is a sign of the times but perhaps the power of the IOW group can help make a difference.

Thanks,

Pete G. and Team CGR

Re: Looks like Another Historic Track is going to be Closed...
 

is this the same track that shane carson and his dad promoted?

Re: Looks like Another Historic Track is going to be Closed...
 

Yes

Re: Looks like Another Historic Track is going to be Closed...
 

From the glory days of MAR-CAR, Bud Carson was a genius in the right time.

http://www.youtube.com/user/vintagesupermodified

---------- Post added at 04:05 PM ---------- Previous post was at 04:03 PM ----------

MAR-CAR is from Buds wife, Mary. A LOT OF HISTORY HAS PASSED QUIETLY THROUGH THE FAIRGROUNDS.

Re: Looks like Another Historic Track is going to be Closed...
 

I agree. I don't see a lot of IOW names there yet. Shortbus, Kevin Besecker, Jimmy Carter and Jim Spridgeon have all been there. There is a lot of power in the numbers, here on this board. Remember the Action Track petition? IOW reponse just flat overwhelmed that one.

Jerry

Re: Looks like Another Historic Track is going to be Closed...
 

While I have many fond memories of the track including the Leep/Hahn/Howerton era of the early 70's and the Stone/Ewell/Wooley era of the early 80's, I don't really consider it nearly as historic of a track since they tore up the 1/4 & 1/2 mile tracks. I do feel for the fans and racers in OKC however.

Re: Looks like Another Historic Track is going to be Closed...
 

Not so fast here. Correct me if I'm wrong, but I think that ADA is Americans with Disabilities Act. How would you feel - for instance - if you are a race fan and you were injured and put in a wheel chair while fighting in Iraq. Now you have no access to the speedway anymore. Is that right?

All people, disabled or otherwise should have equal access to public places.

Just my .02

Re: Looks like Another Historic Track is going to be Closed...
 

Gregg,

I don't think the argument they're making here is "Screw the handicapped. Let's go racin'." I think what they're saying is they should spend whatever they need to to get it ADA compliant, so they can continue racing. I could be wrong, but that was my impression.

And the place does have a series of ramps that go up to all of the levels, so I don't think it would cost that much.

Jerry

Re: Looks like Another Historic Track is going to be Closed...
 

I am very much in favor of compliance with the ADA. However, the cynic in me would not be surprised to find out when it's all said and done that this situation has almost nothing to do with the ADA and almost everything to do with politicians helping themselves to taxpayers money.

There is an agreement to bring the track into compliance within a couple of years. The track was built over 50 years ago and has managed without ADA compliance all that time. What would it hurt to allow the agreement to go through? Those handicapped fans would soon be able to go to the fairgrounds to watch the races and so would everyone else. On the other hand if they tear the track down, nobody, handicapped or otherwise will be able to see the races there. How will that help the handicapped?

If the real issue is compliance with the ADA, then why isn't the mayor pushing something that would speed up that compliance?

Re: Looks like Another Historic Track is going to be Closed...
 

I don't know how many drivers look at these boards, but it is disapointing that only a few have signed this petition

Grady

Re: Looks like Another Historic Track is going to be Closed...
 

I've been following this and it seems the Fair Board won't spend $400,000 to repair the electic service. This is the first I've heard of the ADA problem.Theres only 2yrs left before they were planning on shutting the track.

Re: Looks like Another Historic Track is going to be Closed...
 

Unfortunately it appears the ADA compliance is the issue as well, according to the Mayor. Lanny Edwards, who owns Devils Bowl and Sapulpa manages the track but apparently it is not financially viable for him to provide the funding. I am only passing on the details that I am aware of at this time.

pg

Re: Looks like Another Historic Track is going to be Closed...
 

Pete, we were there this past summer following the TNT Tour, we followed you in to the track, I told my wife,we will follow the Gulicks, they know where they're going, sure enough, right to the front door the night before.
Nice place,great facility,hope it all works out for everyone!

Re: Looks like Another Historic Track is going to be Closed...
 

I signed it.

Re: Looks like Another Historic Track is going to be Closed...
 

Hi Dan, We have been following the TNT your for couple of years so know our way around pretty good. It really is a nice place; lot of History. Shame to see it go this way. But, there are a lot of fans that are wheel chair bound and should be able to see the shows, so tough spot for everyone. Thanks and Happy New Year.

pg

Re: Looks like Another Historic Track is going to be Closed...
 

This topic has gotten a lot of attention on numerous boards, and I have been mostly quiet. However, there is just a lot of half-truths and half-lies around this topic. The track has a lot of history -true. The track/fair board/city was sued for ADA access and was given till 2012 to make improvements -true. The track is leased to Lanny Edwards to run-true. The city/fair board decided to run the track until 2012 and the cease operations - true. The track is located well inside the city limits of OKC- ture. The track is not well liked by some of the neighborhoods around the city- true. The track has been lacking a lot of improvements and TLC- true. The city has passed several tax incentivites for captial improvements in the city-true. The city has targeted the fair grounds as an area that could stand to be redeveloped-true.

The following is where it gets interesting. Did the mayor make promises to the racers because they were concerned about the tax incentives and the future of the track? Is the "electrical code" issues just a political move to force the track to be closed sooner so redevelopment can happen sooner? Was the ADA lawsuit an inside job?

As an outsider, it appears that saving this track is a long shot. It is not wanted by the neighbors, it is not wanted by the city/fairboard, and the city/fairboard already has redevelopment plans for the land. This is like a marriage both sides have to want to make it work. Right now, you have two sides with different plans.

It has been mentioned that the mayor has talked about creating a multi-use facility to replace the track. Whether or not this has any merrit, is another question, but it seems to have better odds than saving the old track.

Re: Looks like Another Historic Track is going to be Closed...
 

I just read a book today by Larry Woody a Nashville based stock car writer. In it he relates a story about the meeting to try and save the Cup races at Nashville, another fairgrounds track. It was going to be expensive to update the track to what Cup wanted, but there were millions to be made by keeping the date. He said he knew it was a lost cause when he witnessed the "debate" over whether the promoter or the board was responsible for fixing a roof leak in the office. He said the races were lost over a bucket of tar.

FYI, it was a good read although it was all stock car and I was disappointed that he didn't have any mention about Tim Richmond. But the stories were interesting that he did have.

Re: Looks like Another Historic Track is going to be Closed...
 

I attended a cup race at the Nashville Fairgrounds in 1983. It was a great track. I remember thinking at the time it would be a terrific track for the USAC Silver Crown division. Sad when they quit running there, it was a racey track.
David.

Re: Looks like Another Historic Track is going to be Closed...
 

David,

It now looks like they will be tearing it down if the mayor and city council gets there way. They seem to think that it is more valuable for development than it is as a race track. Where it is located, I certainly don't see it that way.

Re: Looks like Another Historic Track is going to be Closed...
 

I would agree with your assessment. I never was able to attend a race at the Nashville track, but I've been there and I would not have thought that area would be prime real estate. And that was 25 yrs ago. The same could be said of the OKC fairgrounds area that I attended last year.

Re: Looks like Another Historic Track is going to be Closed...
 

The politicians have been shady and elusive on the issue of OkC, that is for sure. This part of the wave across this country to kill out the fairgrounds grandstands type tracks. We have watched it coming for a long time, but this approach was an insult, beyond what is acceptable.

Re: Looks like Another Historic Track is going to be Closed...
 

The fair board and county think they need it for a parking lot!

Re: Looks like Another Historic Track is going to be Closed...
 

It is a shame these folks are so narrow minded. In Colorado, near Denver, three years ago we opened a NEW fairgrounds track. AND it MADE MONEY FOR THE COUNTY!!!! More $$ every year for the county. Now a new PRIVATE track is opening this spring, and another government owned track, leased to a promoter , is schedlued to open as well this Spring- thats THREE NEW tracks in 3 years all within 100 miles- ALL dirt !!! Of course local racers are happy, but only time will tel lif they all survive- lets hope so. I think the quality of the promoter and their relationship with the county/city/neighbors etc plays a real big part. We have a curfew (very strict) at the three year old track- they will send a cop to tell the flagman to throw the checkered at 10 pm in case he forgets- regardless of what lap it is- BUT we still have the track.....

Re: Looks like Another Historic Track is going to be Closed...
 

I think this is what it will take to save the track. Seeing that someone else is doing it and making it work COULD change their minds. That is of course my original suspicsions are correct and then nothing but more money in the hands/control of politicians would change things.

But it's great to hear about a situation where the govt and the people are making things work like they are supposed to work.