Indiana Open Wheel

Indiana Open Wheel (https://www.indianaopenwheel.com/index.php)
-   Indiana Open Wheel Forum (https://www.indianaopenwheel.com/forumdisplay.php?f=3)
-   -   The American Dream Motorsports Nightmare ! (https://www.indianaopenwheel.com/showthread.php?t=6209)

pgray 6/2/08 9:38 PM

The American Dream Motorsports Nightmare !
 
American Dream Motorsports a Nightmare

Team Owner Arrested in Wisconsin enroute to Milwaukee Mile

By Paul Gray

Many of you know me as "USAC's Oldest Rookie" and '07 competitor in the USAC Regional Midget Series.

My other passion is the "500" and each May I once again participate as a team member to a "500" entry. In the past I have worked for Roth Racing ( Marty Roth ) ; this year with American Dream Motorsports ( Phil Giebler ).

The effort assembled for Phil ended on the 3rd day of Qualifying with a tremendous crash during practice.

The team also entered Al Unser III in the Freedom 100 Firestone Indy Lights event that was delayed by rain to Saturday , May 24.
"Al 3" started 19th and finished 11th in a good effort by both team and driver.

Fast forward to Thursday past ... the team is headed to the Milwaukee Mile ... Al 3 has been dumped ; replaced with Tony Turco ... the race is the Milwaukee 100 for the Firestone Indy Lights.

I have been asked to remain with the team for this event and beyond.
Iam happy to be involved and through these experiences most people in the garage know me and I have made friends with some of the big names in the IRL. What's not to like !!

American Dream Motorsports ( until recently Playa Del Racing , as majority ownership was sold ) is owned by Eric Zimmerman of Arizona and former Las Vegas restaurantuer.

Eric was driving the team transporter on Thursday evening. I was his sole passenger as planned. Eric is experienced in driving big rigs ... this trailer is 52 feet long.

About 8:00pm , Eric is hungry ; says he hasn't eaten all day.
We have been on the road since 3:45pm ... are approaching interstate exits for Kenosha , Wisconsin , ( about 40 miles from the Milwaukee Mile in West Allis ).

Eric spots a Texas Road House restaurant and takes the exit.
We immediately see no possibility to park our race rig in their lot. We look for alternatives.

I spot another truck of similar size to our own on a street to the rear of the restaurant. There is room for another ; Eric agrees.

While making a right turn ( to the available parking area ) , I feel a jolting from the trailer and hear a noise. Eric has climbed the curb ( with the 3 right side tires of the trailer ) and has hit a fire hydrant !

I get out to take a look ; two wheels damaged , trim rings & center caps smashed ... mostly cosmetic damage to our trailer.

Stay tuned for what comes next ... !!

Our "accident" was observed by a Kenosha fire marshall who had finished his dinner at the Texas Road House and was walking to his vehicle. We had hit "his" fire hydrant while he was watching ! What's the odds ?? !!!

While Eric and I saw no obvious damage to the hydrant , the fire marshall proved there was. He walked over to the hydrant , wrapped his arms around it and turned it in the ground ! Amazing !

We questioned why no water loss ? .... " You have broken it off above the water shut-off level " , the fire marshall explained.

The fire marshall would then call the police who would arrive some 30 minutes later. They explained the delay in saying " nothing ever happens around here ... we are always patrolling other areas ".

The fire marshall would again perform his "demonstration" to prove the hydrant broken ( for the police officer ).

The officer asked Eric for his drivers license and insurance information which he promptly produced. The officer then asked my identity and questioned my position as a passenger. He would then ask for my license also.

The officer returned to his cruiser ... was of course "running our licenses" , which took about another half hour. Soon another cruiser would arrive with two additional police officers.

The first officer who had collected our info would now exit his cruiser.
Walking to me , he said " sir , I'll be talking to him ( pointing to Eric )".
The second and third officers who had just arrived would stand to the side of and to the rear of Eric.

The officer ( holding our licenses ) said to Eric , "we have a warrant for your arrest". The cuffs were on in record time ... never seen it happen this fast on tv shows !

They would then search Eric's pockets and said the warrant was from Clark County , Nevada. They said there was no bail .... a bond of $ 22,000.00 could be paid for his release.

One of the officers asked me if I could pay the bond ? ... if I had 22K with me ? ... ( guess I look affluent ! ) ; I answered , " damn , I didn't quite bring that much with me !". The officer smiled.

Eric provided me phone numbers for various people to call which I hastily wrote down. Eric was taken in to the Kenosha jail ... I was left standing on the street with the transporter. It is now near 9:40pm.

I enter the Texas Road House , take a table , get a drink , make phone calls ; everyone contacted is shocked - and I'm in total disbelief that this is happening !

The police had earlier advised that I may not want to leave the area as they would return Eric to the arresting location if the bond was paid in the next 2 to 3 hours. Left the restaurant at 10:20 returning to the cab of the truck ; made more phone calls . The number of incoming calls per hour was setting new records !

Now 3am , I'm still in the truck , cell phone battery now expired ( with no charger available ) ... no more calls , no more contact and I've now had about all I can stand !

Engine running , in the first of 6 gears , brake off , clutch out , I'm outta' here ! I am now driving this rig for the first time ever in an unbelievable down-pour , thunder , lightning ... I'm thinking "this has got to be the most f@#%d-up night of my life !".

As I'm driving the 40 miles to the Milwaukee Mile , I spot a cop car behind me ... he continues to follow closely for some time. I'm not feeling good about this.

Eventually , the cop car pulls along side ; it is our team engineer who has come out looking for me ! He is driving a police car purchased at auction. I am grateful for his concern !

I complete the drive to the Speedway , still raining , park it and get a ride to our hotel by 4:20am. Am back to the track at 6:30am ... no sleep.

Turco arrives late Friday afternoon and does not commit to running the race in Eric's absence. In case he should change his mind , we prepare the car for Saturday's first practice session to be held at 8:15am the next morning.

The garage closes at 9:pm ... we work until 11.
Saturday morning , Turco announces he's out ! ( In Eric's absence , it now becomes his responsibility to cover additional expenses to make the race for his "bought ride". Tony folds ... cut's his losses , so to speak ).

The crew has worked hard the night before and are now mad !
Words are exchanged between a crew member and hired driver. Crew walks off refusing to re-load trailer of equipment and race car. Turco disappears. Working alone , I properly re-load the trailer contents to protect the team's assets.

Turco drives the rig home , I drive another team vehicle home and the others depart by personal vehicle. No race , no pay , everybody pissed , and still no Eric.

At the time of the posting , Eric Zimmerman remains in jail for the 4th day thereafter. No bail , no bond produced by anyone. Strange.

My services and those of our other team members are available for hire.
All good guys who just like to get paid for a hard day's work.


Paul Gray may be contacted at paulgray@paulgray28.com
Please visit www.paulgray28.com

Bronco Billy Molkenbur 6/2/08 9:59 PM

Re: The American Dream Motorsports Nightmare !
 
Wow, that is some story!!!

throb 6/2/08 10:28 PM

Re: The American Dream Motorsports Nightmare !
 
hmmmm.....interesting read.......sorry for your trouble, and i hope you find a spot to land...you sound like a dedicated employee with a solid work ethic

Dano959 6/2/08 10:34 PM

Re: The American Dream Motorsports Nightmare !
 
Hey Paul, as a driver, how hard was it to not just jump into the car yourself?

throb 6/2/08 10:41 PM

Re: The American Dream Motorsports Nightmare !
 

Originally Posted by Dano959:
Hey Paul, as a driver, how hard was it to not just jump into the car yourself?

good question........i would have just gassed it up for pay for the hard work!! haha!

PJ Wright 6/3/08 7:49 AM

Re: The American Dream Motorsports Nightmare !
 
Another example of truth being stranger than fiction. Like Dano and Throb, I'm wondering if the thought of becoming the self-designated driver crossed your mind. Thanks for sharing your story.

767 6/3/08 9:09 AM

Re: The American Dream Motorsports Nightmare !
 
heck being that frustrated, i would have thought about takeing a few laps. at least the crew members could split up last place money. heck you might have won then spent the next 4 months makeing a disney movie.....lol. Good Luck

pgray 6/3/08 10:30 AM

Re: The American Dream Motorsports Nightmare !
 
UPDATE - Tuesday,June 3rd.

* Eric Zimmerman remains in jail at this time. No-one has paid his bond of $ 22,000.00.

* Mrs. Zimmerman is working thru her attorney and Ohio police to recover the team assets now in or near Cincinnatti. Those assets ( race car , pit equipment , spare parts , misc. tools , fuel jugs , wheels , etc. ) were not returned to the Indianapolis race shop located just south of the Speedway at 150 Gasoline Alley.

* It would have required a well funded driver , already approved with proper credentials , to step into this ride on Saturday morning.

pgray 6/3/08 5:55 PM

Re: The American Dream Motorsports Nightmare !
 
Our race car was looking like one in a ghetto with the tires & wheels stolen !

Honest-Sam 6/3/08 11:13 PM

Re: The American Dream Motorsports Nightmare !
 
That's gonna be a tough story to beat.

jfry1 6/4/08 1:39 AM

Re: The American Dream Motorsports Nightmare !
 
Why is there a picture of the car like it was parked at the 7-11 over night?? You know no wheels and tires? A low budget team need some spares?

Redbone 6/4/08 7:16 AM

Re: The American Dream Motorsports Nightmare !
 
Couple of questions. What charges are they holding Eric on? Why did the equipment end up in Cincinnati instead of the race shop?

pgray 6/4/08 9:06 AM

Re: The American Dream Motorsports Nightmare !
 

Originally Posted by radiusrod:
Why is there a picture of the car like it was parked at the 7-11 over night?? You know no wheels and tires? A low budget team need some spares?

The photo was taken shortly after Firestone Racing seized 4 sets of tires from the team for non-payment of a previous bill.


Originally Posted by Redbone:
Couple of questions. What charges are they holding Eric on? Why did the equipment end up in Cincinnati instead of the race shop?

* The warrant issued in Nevada was said to stem from charges of felony fraud. Specifics unknown or not stated. ( per Kenosha County Wisconsin Police ).

* The truck & trailer is owned by Tony Turco.
Mrs. Zimmerman authorized Turco to keep possession of the trailer contents ( the team assets ) in exchange for - 1) first paying Eric's bond , and - 2) until the later re-payment of same. ( Turco did not go to Kenosha ; has not paid bond ; instead returned home to Cincinatti ).

* I spoke with Mrs. Zimmerman last night. She stated again that this was her agreement with Turco and does not understand why he chose to do otherwise. Mrs. Zimmerman now maintains that the trailer contents , owned by she and her husband , and valued at nearly $400,000. should be returned to the team shop immediately.

* Eric remains in jail - Day 6.

pgray 6/4/08 1:37 PM

Re: The American Dream Motorsports Nightmare !
 
Eric Zimmerman was released on bond from the Kenosha County Jail earlier this morning. No other details available at this time.

oh yes 6/4/08 3:21 PM

Re: The American Dream Motorsports Nightmare !
 
any idea what al unser 3 is gonna do ?

pgray 6/4/08 8:36 PM

Re: The American Dream Motorsports Nightmare !
 

Originally Posted by oh yes :
any idea what al unser 3 is gonna do ?


Al Unser III is a great guy , good driver and should be marketable from the Unser name alone. But that hasn't been the case.

His racing resume lacks accomplishment after a 9 year career and at 25 years of age ; 26 in October.

The Barber Dodge Series , Toyota Atlantic's , Infinity Pro , Indy Pro , etc. shows average results and running less than full schedules.

The Playa Del Racing deal , begun in '07 , was his best opportunity to date while not well funded. Al brought Ethos Fuel Reformulator aboard as primary sponsor. Ethos recently bowed out preferring to position itself as a series associate sponsor in the future , Iam told.

Going into '08 with Playa Del Racing remained his sole opportunity and the team was positioned to run the full schedule. By May the Ethos committment was no longer in play.

After the Freedom 100 at Indy on May 24th , new owner Eric Zimmerman met with Al III and Al Jr. The message was simple - this would now become a paid ride. Bring your money or that of a sponsor to keep your seat ... this ride would now go to a well funded driver.

The Unser's brought nothing to the table , offered no solutions going into the future. Meeting adjourned. Enter Tony Turco. The rest is history.

Whether at the race shop or at the track , Al III began his day acknowledging every team member with a hand shake and a thank you.

Al's goal , like all Unser's , is to compete in and find victory in the Indianapolis 500. This will only be accomplished through a major sponsor buying a ride for Al on a great established team.

I wish Al III ( aka "mini Al" or "just Al" ) all the best !! :thumb

mikew 6/5/08 1:20 PM

Re: The American Dream Motorsports Nightmare !
 
This whole mess just got a write-up on one of the IndyCar blogs I follow. It even links to this forum and Mr. Gray's account of what happened. Enjoy.

http://www.mynameisirl.com/2008/06/n...can-dream.html

pgray 6/6/08 9:52 AM

Re: The American Dream Motorsports Nightmare !
 
When Turco was announced to the team as our Milwaukee driver , team members knew little if anything about him. We were led to believe that he had last driven in the Indy Pro Series maybe a year or so ago.

The Firestone Indy Lights drivers meeting was held at Milwaukee on Saturday morning ( May 31 ) at 7:00am. Turco attended and was told just prior to the meeting that he had much paper work to do with the series officials prior to be approved to drive. Also , his helmet had to go to Tech for certification / approval.

Meeting lasted just under a half-hour.
First Indy Lights practice was scheduled for 8:15am.

Turco bowed out shortly thereafter blaming increased costs that he would incur and in the absence of the team owner. Maybe. ( ? ).

Was he approved to drive ? Some think not.

As it turns out , Turco's last Pro Series event was at the Homestead-Miami Speedway on February 29th , 2004 ... more than 4 years ago !

His entire career in Indy Pro ( now Indy Lights ) consists of only 5 starts !!

2002 - 3 starts , finishing 9th , 13th , and 12th.
2003 - 1 start , finished 11th.
2004 - 1 start - ( 2/29/04 - Homestead-Miami ) finished 4th.
2005 - 2008 = 0 starts.

Was he approved to drive ? To have gone through that process , he would have missed the first practice session at 8:15 to 9:15 am.

The next and final session was to be at 11:30 to 12:30 pm.

Four years out of the seat and one hour of practice ... ? The debate is on. :action-smiley-049:

Beer Goggles 6/6/08 7:24 PM

Re: The American Dream Motorsports Nightmare !
 
Paul, this whole episode should qualify to be a chapter in the next edition of "Stroker Ace". Too bad you guys didn't get paid for your efforts at Indy.
At least we now know you don't have any warrants !

pgray 6/6/08 11:33 PM

Re: The American Dream Motorsports Nightmare !
 
Some thoughts & just for the record ...

1 - Sarah Fisher should be an inspiration to all drivers who struggle year to year seeking rides from second and third rate teams. Sarah broke that cycle and took control of her own destiny. She presented her vision , talent and value to potential sponsors , collected the money , purchased the assets and created her own team. While not a top tier effort , Sarah has already accomplished more than many will ever know ! Al Unser III should spend some time with Sarah and take notes.
( I'd also like to see Buddy & Jacque Lazier start their own team ).

2 - I continue to feel bad for Jay Howard. Was replaced at Indy by John Andretti ; was supposed to be back in the #24 at Milwaukee and beyond. Andretti again in the seat at Texas. " Come on , Marty ... do the right thing ! ... honor your original committment to Jay ! " :thumb

3 - If you could only go to one Firestone Indy Lights race and only meet one driver you will want to meet Cyndie Allemann ! From Moutier , Switzerland , Cyndie drives for American Spirit Racing in association with PDM ( Paul Diatlovich ). For all of you who cannot find reasons to like Danica , you'll love Cyndie !! :respect:

4 - American Dream Motorsports will re-group and be back maybe by the Iowa event on June 21. The problem began at a fire hydrant will prove just a minor bump in the , well off of the road ! :O:

smbpreformance 6/7/08 8:09 AM

Re: The American Dream Motorsports Nightmare !
 
Some thoughts & just for the record ...

2 - I continue to feel bad for Jay Howard. " Come on , Marty ... do the right thing ! ... honor your original committment to Jay ! "

:applaud::respect::applaud: Jay showed talent in the few race he ran my favorite is earlier in the when one of the well funded teams was running behind him and trying to pass called on the radio to his spotter to go down to the 24 car and tell him to move over so I can pass.....The spotter came back on the radio with the response the 24 is in 4th and I doubt he is going to move over for you

3 - If you could only go to one Firestone Indy Lights race and only meet one driver you will want to meet Cyndie Allemann ! From Moutier , Switzerland , Cyndie drives for American Spirit Racing in association with PDM ( Paul Diatlovich ). For all of you who cannot find reasons to like Danica , you'll love Cyndie !!

The women are doing very well in FIL and I have been cheering for Ana Betritz most of the season, I do not know much about Cyndie but In a couple of years there will be a woman beating Danica week in and week out in the IRL. For those of you that have never seen an FIL race go this is an execlent series that has produced some execelnt racing. I have been following it on the net with steaming video of the races but after watching the Freedom 100 I am going to make sure I get to the track early from know on to make the race

openwheelinsider 6/7/08 3:03 PM

Re: The American Dream Motorsports Nightmare !
 
You know what I think is funny in all this!?

PAUL GRAY!!!

From what I understand you are merely a gopher for this "team", what business is it of yours to be posting ANYTHING regarding their operations on a public forum!?!? If I were Zimmerman (THANK GOD I AM NOT) I would fire your ass in a heart beat!

If you're dumb enough to still be involved with Zimmerman then you're just a clown, if you're dumb enough to believe that Zimmerman is going to be allowed to keep running in the IRL you're just stupid.

Look at everything that guy has said he was going to do to the media:

*Run the Indy 500 - ooops, let's put the most inexperienced driver in the paddock into a fast, sensitive Panoz and see if he qualifies with no practice!! STUPID!

*Run the Freedom 100 with Al III - my people tell me that he wasn't involved at all, and Susan Schafer had to put it together because the Unsers wouldn't be associated with the idiot, shows how smart the first family of motorsports really is!!

*Run the remainder of the FILS season with Al III - ooops, I guess Tony Turco, the 50 year old dude from Ohio is a better choice than the up and coming next generation of the Unser family, DOES ANYONE HEAR THAT JAIL DOORS SLAMMING?

*Run a Dallara at Texas - well I watched qualifying and if I'm not mistaken Zimmerstupid's car isn't in that field! Jaques Lazier wouldn't be caught dead in that ride, no one wants to be associated with that nut except runner gophbitch Paul Gray!

*Run Iowa in the FILS (says PG) - give me a break, Barnhart and Cotman shouldn't let this idiot near a track, and the Fed's should lock him up!

Whatever you're smoking runner boy, I'd like some of it!!! Obviously gophers don't seem to care much about the integrity of the sport, or else they wouldn't be supporting Zimmerstupid and his crazy wife!!!

Sprint Fan 6/7/08 3:19 PM

Re: The American Dream Motorsports Nightmare !
 
***?

:rolling:rolling:rolling:rolling

Sprint Fan 6/7/08 3:26 PM

Re: The American Dream Motorsports Nightmare !
 

Originally Posted by pgray:
Some thoughts & just for the record ...
3 - If you could only go to one Firestone Indy Lights race and only meet one driver you will want to meet Cyndie Allemann ! From Moutier , Switzerland , Cyndie drives for American Spirit Racing in association with PDM ( Paul Diatlovich ). For all of you who cannot find reasons to like Danica , you'll love Cyndie !! :respect:

Here's Cyndie!
Is it just me or does she have "MAN HANDS"?

http://www.1to1energy.ch/fr/magazin/...6920053810.jpg

pgray 6/7/08 5:49 PM

Re: The American Dream Motorsports Nightmare !
 

Originally Posted by openwheelinsider:
You know what I think is funny in all this!?
PAUL GRAY!!!
From what I understand you are merely a gopher for this "team", what business is it of yours to be posting ANYTHING regarding their operations on a public forum!?!? If I were Zimmerman (THANK GOD I AM NOT) I would fire your ass in a heart beat!
If you're dumb enough to still be involved with Zimmerman then you're just a clown, if you're dumb enough to believe that Zimmerman is going to be allowed to keep running in the IRL you're just stupid.
Look at everything that guy has said he was going to do to the media:
*Run the Indy 500 - ooops, let's put the most inexperienced driver in the paddock into a fast, sensitive Panoz and see if he qualifies with no practice!! STUPID!
*Run the Freedom 100 with Al III - my people tell me that he wasn't involved at all, and Susan Schafer had to put it together because the Unsers wouldn't be associated with the idiot, shows how smart the first family of motorsports really is!!
*Run the remainder of the FILS season with Al III - ooops, I guess Tony Turco, the 50 year old dude from Ohio is a better choice than the up and coming next generation of the Unser family, DOES ANYONE HEAR THAT JAIL DOORS SLAMMING?
*Run a Dallara at Texas - well I watched qualifying and if I'm not mistaken Zimmerstupid's car isn't in that field! Jaques Lazier wouldn't be caught dead in that ride, no one wants to be associated with that nut except runner gophbitch Paul Gray!
*Run Iowa in the FILS (says PG) - give me a break, Barnhart and Cotman shouldn't let this idiot near a track, and the Fed's should lock him up!
Whatever you're smoking runner boy, I'd like some of it!!! Obviously gophers don't seem to care much about the integrity of the sport, or else they wouldn't be supporting Zimmerstupid and his crazy wife!!!

It's often been said here that an anonymous post for some is a license to be ignorant without accountability.

OpenWheelInsider registers today for the sole purpose of responding to this thread. Why ? The insider is just that. He is very close to an element of this story.

The insider knows everyone spoken of in his post except me.
He knows Mr. & Mrs. Zimmerman , Susan Schafer , Tony Turco , Jaques Lazier , Brian Barnhart , Tony Cotman and Al Unser III.

The insider hates Zimmerman so anything concerning him in a detrimental way is ok. His closeness to one individual of the story and a less than complimentary reference has set him off !

Upon returning home from Milwaukee I was contacted by a local reporter who requested an interview to publish this story. I declined.

Shortly thereafter , we started hearing some wild and bizarre versions of what happened on a street in Kenosha. Then we heard from a writer for an online motorsports blog. Heard more rumors and false accounts.

I decided that I would write the story myself as I was the only person there with Eric. Who knows the story better than me ? I have offered an accurate and detailed account of what occured in Kenosha and later at the Milwaukee Mile. And in the aftermath of this , the falsehoods have subsided.

There is nothing in the original story that bothers the insider. He doesn't care what happens to the Zimmerman's and doesn't want me to care either. His attempt to insult me in a personal attack was in vain.

... because I know and understand his motive and closeness to a less than central character of this story.:wink

badgerfan 6/7/08 6:32 PM

Re: The American Dream Motorsports Nightmare !
 
Paul, I for one appreciated a "real insiders view" of an interesting story. Thanks for posting and don't let the out of line comment bother you.

openwheelinsider 6/7/08 11:39 PM

Re: The American Dream Motorsports Nightmare !
 
I have no personal interest in this team, I'm just sick of crooks coming into racing, and hurting people.

I've been a member of the Playa Del Racing fan club for years, and I loved that little team. This is the classic story of bad people doing bad things. I do commend you for working in racing regardless of your position, because I wouldn't dare put myself in a position of dealing with guys like Eric Zimmerman, and the other crooks that come in and steal good people's time and money.

I have met Lazier, and I think he's one of the classiest drivers out there! I can't imagine him, or his brother having anything to do with this Zimmerman guy!

It's sad that Playa Del Racing has succumb to this situation, and all that's left is PG and EZ. It'd be nice for someone to step up and make sure that people like Zimmerman are cast out of racing forever.

I will be the first to admit I don't know Zimmerman personally, but I've heard some nasty things, and to sit here and read PG's stories it's ridiculous to listen to PG's bias opinions and take it all as absolute truth. If PG says Zimmerman is a stand up guy, and deserves to own a business in Indiana then I guess I'll shut up!

pgray 6/8/08 2:19 AM

Re: The American Dream Motorsports Nightmare !
 

Originally Posted by openwheelinsider:
I have no personal interest in this team, I'm just sick of crooks coming into racing, and hurting people.

I've been a member of the Playa Del Racing fan club for years, and I loved that little team. This is the classic story of bad people doing bad things. I do commend you for working in racing regardless of your position, because I wouldn't dare put myself in a position of dealing with guys like Eric Zimmerman, and the other crooks that come in and steal good people's time and money.

I have met Lazier, and I think he's one of the classiest drivers out there! I can't imagine him, or his brother having anything to do with this Zimmerman guy!

It's sad that Playa Del Racing has succumb to this situation, and all that's left is PG and EZ. It'd be nice for someone to step up and make sure that people like Zimmerman are cast out of racing forever.

I will be the first to admit I don't know Zimmerman personally, but I've heard some nasty things, and to sit here and read PG's stories it's ridiculous to listen to PG's bias opinions and take it all as absolute truth. If PG says Zimmerman is a stand up guy, and deserves to own a business in Indiana then I guess I'll shut up!

To OpenWheelInsider -
I have 200 posts currently showing here on IOW and everyone of them contains my name. You have 2 anonymous posts in a thread where you truly had nothing of value to offer. I wouldn't have signed my name either !

Stating that you do not know Zimmerman personally says a lot...But you've heard "some nasty things". I challenge you to tell us all what those "nasty things" are.

You say that [quote] "it's ridiculous to listen to PG's bias opinions..."
You must be referring to something that I wrote over on MidgetMadness because you won't find it here ! My second challenge to you will be to quote from any post in this thread any statement made that is my "opinion" of anything concerning Zimmerman.

Let me help you get started -
I have 9 posts in this thread.
#1 is the story of how the arrest came to be. Told firsthand , by me , the only witness ; an accurate and factual account told in great detail. No opinion offered.
The second post ( numbered 8 ) is an update. Again no opinion.
The third post ( numbered 9 ) is a photo. No opinion.
The fourth ( numbered 13 ) is my answers to three questions submitted from readers. Those answers are not opinions. Check it out.
The fifth ( numbered 14 ) is another update. Nothing offered in the way of opinion.
The sixth ( numbered 16 ) is a post discussing Al Unser III , his career and other information that does offer my opinion of things concerning Al III ... Nothing about Zimmerman. Please review.
The seventh ( numbered 18 ) is about Turco on that Saturday and his career stat's. No opinions offered , just the facts.
The eighth ( numbered 20 ) is complimentary to Sarah Fisher , Jay Howard and Cyndie Allemann. No opinions to Zimmerman.
And the ninth is my response to your first post which contains no opinion or anything defending Zimmerman.

Please quote all of my bias opinions concerning Zimmerman for all of my friends here at IOW to see !

Also , please share your knowledge with us concerning "all the crooks coming into racing" ! And please don't give us the old , tired Larry Curry story ! Something more up to date , please !

You see , the membership here knows me because I sign my posts. They also know that my posts usually pertain to things of fact , nothing left open to debate. It's just the nature of my subjects.

And the established membership here will not use this board for launch of a personal attack to people not known to them. But if they did , they would sign their name. Anonymous BS doesn't get you much around here. Have a nice day Mr. Open Wheel Insider !

wbr 6/8/08 11:25 AM

Re: The American Dream Motorsports Nightmare !
 
Paul, for what its worth; I have enjoyed the story. I bet you couldn't make up a weirder story either. Truth is stranger than fiction for sure.

"I have no personal interest in this team, I'm just sick of crooks coming into racing, and hurting people." quote from openwheelinsider:shout

I agree with the above statement in general, but will hold judgement on Zimmerman, Turco and the other players until i know more about them or one of my friends can give me insight about them.

indyin09 6/8/08 11:41 AM

Re: The American Dream Motorsports Nightmare !
 
Tony Turco is a known thief in Hamilton Ohio, where he lives. Zimmerman will never get his equipment back.Tony is probably selling all of it as we speak.

LocalYokel 6/8/08 1:40 PM

Re: The American Dream Motorsports Nightmare !
 
...from www.kvbc.com

Rancho Seniors Broke, Blame Businessman

Updated: June 14, 2007 06:02 PM EDT

Planning for the prom is supposed to be fun. But last year at Rancho High School, it turned into a nightmare. As Kids First Kendall Tenney explains, the kids who planned last year's prom are now seniors, and say thanks to a local businessman, they're broke.

That means no money for a senior class gift, or cash to celebrate graduation. The students are out thousands of dollars, and even the court says they should get that money back.

"I loved the venue," said Senior Morgan Scharf. "It was beautiful."

Last year, Rancho High School wanted to hold the prom at a business on Paradise near Tropicana that was called "The Front Door."

The students toured the facility, and paid its owner at the time, Eric Zimmerman, $5,000 up front. But, Zimmerman found that he didn't have the proper license from the county to hold a teen event. So the was venue gone. And as it turns out so was the kids' money.

Kendall: They said we'll give you your money back?

Morgan: Yes, they told us they'd give us our money back.

"We'd often time go to the place itself, and every time we went they'd have an excuse of why they didn't have it or they just wouldn't open the doors for us, they'd act like we weren't there," added Student Body President Geno Esparza.

After the students started having trouble, Principal Bob Chesto got involved. He knew that $5,000 had taken the kids three full years to fund raise. "They tried to do the right thing, they bargained in good faith and in good faith the money should be returned to them," said Chesto.

So the Clark County School District took the matter to court. Eric Zimmerman was a no-show, and so the court awarded the kids their money back -- all $5,000, plus expenses. But it's now seven months after the judgement, and the students still haven't seen a dime.

Kendall: What do you want to happen?

Geno: We need our money back because there's a lot of things our senior class wants to do.

Meanwhile, "The Front Door" has closed, as have Zimmerman's business offices. And as we found, Zimmerman no longer lives in the upscale Summerlin home where he was served with the students' suit. But we did track down a phone number. And after several messages, we eventually got a faxed response which says after learning a special license was needed, Zimmerman "offered to host the prom in our other facility." When Rancho students said no thanks, "we informed them the deposit was non-refundable." The fax goes on to say, "it's unfortunate that the students of Rancho High School are the result of how Clark County Business Licensing operates."

"What have they learned? What have we have adults taught them? What has this businessman taught students who are about the enter college," questioned Chesto.

Kendall: Do you think in the end this guy just scammed you?

Morgan: Oh, of course. I don't know what he was thinking. I don't know why he would scam high school students.

"It's horrible," agreed Geno. "Why would they do that to especially a young adult? Why would they do that? I don't know."

In the contract, it says refunds will not be given unless there's a natural disaster, damages to the premise, or government action -- you could argue the latter is what happened. The students say they don't want help from the community. They just want their money back from Eric Zimmerman.


All times are GMT -4. The time now is 5:54 PM.

Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.7
Copyright ©2000 - 2025, vBulletin Solutions, Inc.
© 2005-2025 IndianaOpenWheel.com