Wow... This is a RACING message board, right? I mean, most of you reading this are in FAVOR of auto racing, right? Thought for a minute there that I had stumbled onto the greenpeace message board...

The truth is, we have several things going for us on this deal, and as of this moment, the commision is leaning toward taking a fresh look at it. More than anything else, the tide is turning because the commision has recieved an overwhelming response IN FAVOR of racing at Driller stadium. Let me just bring a couple things to light here;

1. THERE IS A GREAT RACING TRADITION AT THIS LOCATION.
The old fairgrounds dirt track was located here. Emmett and all the old boys were legendary in their NCRA "big cars" (dirt Silver Crown to you and me), right across the parking lot. And of course, there is that OTHER little indoor track we all visit each January - its just steps away from the stadium. Did you know that the Chili Bowl is the second largest revenue generator for the City of Tulsa all year? (the state fair is first). Those are the kind of statistics that get you on the good side of local politicians...

2. THE TECHNOLOGY BATTLE HAS ALREADY BEEN FOUGHT. WE WON.
Ever Been to a Focus race at Ventura? 24 cars on the track for the main, and if you are standing by the hot dog stand all you can hear is tire squal on the dry slick (water the damn track, Jim!). If you are in the parking lot, you hear only the sound of the P.A. Across the street, people are reading their books on the beach in total silence. This country put a man on the moon - don't TELL me we can't make race cars quiet!

3. THIS IS NOT 16TH STREET.
It's bigger. It's much newer. It's in a safe part of town. And, Emmett would be running it - 'nuff said.

4. THE POLITICAL BATTLE IS THE ONLY FIGHT LEFT.
Unfortunately, this is the one that racers are typically worst at. There is a stigma among non-racers that all race cars are loud and dirty. I guess the same stigma applies to the racers themselves ;-) Then on top of that, many among us have a self defeating attitude - we just ASSUME that the world is against us, and that our sport will maintain a slow, steady decline into oblivion. SNAP OUT OF IT! We HAVE the technology. In the case of the Driller Stadium project, we HAVE a strong economic position. Tulsa is a town that loves Midget Racing and is craving more of it. All we need is the chance to prove that we can deliver it in a responsible manner.

Stop what you are doing, take 3 minutes, and respond to the links in the first post. Tell the commision that you support racing at Driller Stadium, and that we CAN conduct this activity in an environmentally responsible way. We are starting to win this one - lets not let it get away. Your towm just might be next to ADD a racetrack, how 'bout that?

Keith Iaia
805-238-3930