[Tony Barhorst]

To The Fans And Teams Involved In The 2008 UCS Midget Week Date:

The recent posts about Kamp Motor Speedway rekindled my thoughts about what transpired last year, and the reasons Union County Speedway was booked.

I feel that the entire story has not been told on my side, and I know it may be ill advised...but I need to get the truth out. At the time of the contoversy..I did not really get this story in.

As many know I had booked Kamp Motor Speedway for the 2007 Midget week date. This expanded Midget Week from a three race weekend deal to a four race series. I was taking quite a risk booking the event so far from major population on a Thursday nite...I worked to bring in new fans by bringing in gigantic mechanical dinosaur for intermission, and we had him on display in Lafayette the day before at a car dealership with the Brandon Wagner USAC Midget team. Radio remotes..etc...free t-shirts.

The day of the races it was nearly 100 degrees...but we had a good crowd.. and good racing with Jon Stanbrough winning the sprints, and Jerry Coons winning the midgets event. I wanted to keep bringing this race to Kamp every year.

When it was all said and done..even though we had a good crowd..it was a break even deal..But I considered it an investment for the future. I had assurances from Greg Staab and Rollie Helmling, that I would have the rights to the Thursday Midget Week dates in the future. We had a clear understanding on this, and I wanted that guarantee because I knew if the date was successful..that some promoter may try to take the date. And I was going to invest a lot in it.

I talked to the owners of Kamp right after that race to renew, and was put off and told to wait until after the season...They had almost sold out of concessions with the crowd we had...plus Kamp was paid a very good rental fee. It was a win for them.

When I tried to call them numerous times..my calls were not returned. Then I found out they were trying to take the Midget Week date themselves without even talking to me...Well..I informed Kamp that I had the rights to that date as promised..At that point Kamp raised my already high rent by 50%...That was very unfair..and designed to force me out of the date...All I heard were nitpicking negative comments about my company...not one good word about the good crowd..positive races we had.

So..We had a parting of the ways...thats when a date at Kamp for Midget week popped up on the USAC schedule for a Tuesday, August 5 date..I then tried to find a different track..and thought UCS may be able to handle it ...IF the owner made some safety changes...well....we all know what happened...the UCS owner did NOT make the suggested changes..to set the stage for what happened...the pullout of some teams.

I want to say this as a leasee of race tracks...IT IS HARD TO FIND A GOOD RACE TRACK...after you get past the top tier tracks who already have midget week dates..I rolled the dice that UCS would make the improvements and lost...The lack of good race tracks is VERY dissapointing. IF I OWNED THAT TRACK..IT WOULD NEVER HAVE HAPPENED.

In closing..I want to apologize to all the fans..and teams who's expectations were not met..

I want to apologize for the negative comments I made over the P.A. system.. The purpose of this post is not to hurt USAC..I just want to explain...that the pullout happened very suddenly..I was overwhelmed by fans wanting a refund..and the adrenaline was really pumping...

That being said..eveyone did what they had to do...some teams left...14 midgets, and 14 sprints stayed to race..the races were good..Bob Jenkins met fans...and stayed to enjoy the whole race..and we had a stunt show running before the pullout.

As a HUGE USAC fan myself..I was devastated at the pullout.. It remains the low point of my career...not to be forgotten....BUT...I would like to move on..I have had discussions with USAC since..And I remain a fan of their TRADITION...who knows..we may work together again someday.

Until then..I wish all open wheel race teams be they independant, Badger, PowerI , USAC, UMARA, WOLVERINE, ARDC..etc owners and officials the best this season.

Lets keep this positive as far as USAC is concerned..their part..and my part in this has been covered. It is the Kamp part of this story I am talking about.

Thanks,
Tony Barhorst
rumbleseries.com

[Pat O'Connor Fan]

Tony,
I am impressed that you have been able to avoid exploding due to the crap that you had from 2 race tracks and a sanctioning body (and we all know what that body did to Greg and Rollie) while trying to put on a Midget Week event last year. I agree with you that it was past time to reveal more of the Kamp situation. Good luck in the future with your midget event promotions.

[D.O.]

Tony will be one of our guest this coming Monday's Racin' with D.O. at Kellys Pub Too @ 10th & Lynhurst in Speedway.

[Beer Goggles]

Tony,

Thanks for your side of the story. You're a big man to continue to work with USAC after such poor treatment by them. As for Kamp, I assumed then that they had screwed you out of the date. Now we know that as a fact.
Continue what you are doing, you seem to do it much better that the other "Operators" out there.