Bad Luck at the track..

[jgruzen]

Hey Bud...just found out about Tim...hope everything turns out ok..Keep me posted, direct "E" if you would..Thx..Tell Cheryl HI..Joel

[bud]

Thanks Joel, Ill do that. Bud

[bud]

This is the first car show I have taken my Dragster to in years,I just wanted to share I hope you all don't mind.

[bud]

I am Sure that most of the racer on the west coast may or maynot know that GIR in St Louis close over a year ago but they are going to reopen in 2012 story to follow :
Former professional race-car driver and St. Louis area land developer Curtis Francois is part of a group of investors that will lease Gateway International Raceway for one year.

The agreement, which is set to be formally announced today, will allow the Madison facility to come alive again — for at least one year with the return of the National Hot Rod Association.

The NHRA Midwest Nationals will take place on Oct. 5-7, 2012, and will be part of the "Countdown to the Championship." It will be the fourth of the six-race "Countdown," which will crown champions in the four professional categories — Top Fuel, Funny Car, Pro Stock and Pro Stock Motorcycle.

The group might not wait until October 2012, though, to get going — it might try to hold limited racing at Gateway this fall.

"We are currently working with state and local governments to put together a redevelopment plan that will allow us to purchase the facility and lay a firm financial foundation for the track," Francois said. "We've received incredible interest and support from the racing industry, state and local officials, local businesses and racing fans. We are very excited about the jobs this investment can create and the overall economic impact it can have on the region."

Francois, 47 of St. Louis County, is a former professional racer who has driven in the (NASCAR) Grand-Am (Rolex Sports Car Series), Indy Racing League (Firestone Indy Lites), Sports Car Club of America and International Motor Sports Association.

He has been a residential and commercial real estate developer since 1998, concentrating primarily on the developments in the Metro East area.

"In order to be a part of the 2012 season, we had to move quickly and negotiate a lease for the facility," Francois said. "We are excited to reach an agreement with the NHRA. This event is very important for the future viability of the track and illustrates the interest the industry has in revitalizing this wonderful entertainment venue. We look forward to a long partnership with the NHRA."

NHRA president Tom Compton is ready to return.

"We never wanted to leave Gateway," Compton said in a phone interview. "We're thrilled to be coming back. St. Louis is a great market. The group has been terrific to work with and they are good for Gateway."

Francois met with Compton and other NHRA officials over the weekend at the just-completed U.S. Nationals in Claremont, Ind. It was there where Francois finalized the return of drag racing to the St. Louis area.

The NHRA did not race at Gateway this season after Dover Motorsports Inc. closed the track in November 2010. Dover had been leasing the track since 1998. In March of this year, the Delaware company terminated its leases with three of the four majority owners.

Dover also owned 18 acres and relinquished that property to the lease owners in March.

What is unclear is whether the NASCAR Nationwide Series will return in 2012, although the prospects don't seem bright. The Nationwide and truck series schedules have not been finalized.

"All NASCAR sanctions are handled on a year-to-year basis and we will continue to evaluate potential race markets for all NASCAR series," a spokesman said.

In 2010, when Dover announced it would not seek 2011 dates for Gateway, NASCAR senior vice president of racing operations Steve O'Donnell said it probably would be hard for Gateway to get back on NASCAR's radar.

"It's fairly challenging to get back on the schedule," he said at the time. "NASCAR is not in the business of pulling dates from someone. So once someone opts out, we fill those venues with what we feel like are going to do a good job and have done a good job. Once that schedule is full, it's quite difficult to get back on there."

[bud]

Well bad news For KCIR.
Dear All,

I am happy to say that I firmly believe our collective voice is being heard. I am confident that Mayor James and some of our Community Leaders have a strong desire to find a WIN/WIN solution that benefits the majority. The Solidarity Rally on City Hall's steps sent out a clear message.

With that being said now is not the time to let up. I hope that everyone will continue to get the word out about the situation the KCIR Family finds itself in. I also hope that efforts to contact Kansas City Community Leaders continues. In addition, surrounding communities are not immune to the financial and social impacts of closing KCIR so I ask that you contact your community's leaders to let them know how it would impact your community.

If you have not seen it Rob Park was finally able to make a statement yesterday and it can be found HERE.

We are approaching 5,000 signatures supporting KCIR. Here again is a link to the petition website please sign and share with others: www.change.org/petitions/the-mo-state-senate-please-dont-turn-kcir-into-a-park .

Don't forget we are racing this weekend (Click HERE for more). Also I have heard rumors that there might be a solidarity cruise to the track before Saturday's Test-N-Tune. I will let you know if I hear more about that.

Thank you all again for all that you have done to support the efforts to keep a home for drag racing in Kansas City!

[bud]

Bad Day at The track... Ouch

[bud]

try this one its old but goodie.

vimeo.com/25680255

[bud]

Bad News , KCIR Kansas city international raceway has been closed and all equeptment has been sold off.
( another long time Race facility gone forever )

[bud]

This one looks like a lot of fun..

[bud]

Bakerfield what can I say :: awsome

[bud]

Home sweet home, ill never forget you..


This was my home track

[bud]

I don't know how many of you remember John Gates but if you do I would like to share this with you. June,4 2008

Hi Bud
I bought this car (202" WB, basket case roller) in 1975? Installed ONE 327 SBC on gas with my first powerglide and ran A/MD (AHRA) and B/ED (NHRA). I only ran the 1/8 mi with a best if 5.62 - 133 mph. That would be an 8.80 in the quarter. We called it the silver car as I never painted the bare aluminum.

Eric found and emailed me these pictures last week.

This car, owned and driven by Jim Bucher, a AA/GD won the Popular Hotroding meet at Martin, Mich and the NHRA Supernationals at Ontario, Ca in 1971.

John



RIP. John We all miss you.

[bud]

any one having trouble with getting a track built, look at what Mid America Raceway Park is running into:

In a brief hearing today at the Montgomery County Courthouse, the circuit court today decided to set-up two dates meant to give the judge enough information to decide the case against the Montgomery County Commission. About a dozen property owners near New Florence sued the County Commission in November after the Commission approved a Planning & Zoning decision to grant a conditional use permit for the Mar-Park drag strip near New Florence.

The plaintiffs allege that the County Commission granted the conditional use permit in error. The trial is about whether the County Commission's actions in approving the proposal were proper.

Today, the judge specified all the evidence that will be needed for him to render a decision. He also set April 11 as the next court date for the case.

The judge in the case of the Honorable Keith M. Sutherland. The case is styled, "11AA-CC00042 - Gene Weiss et al v County Commission of Montgomery."

The Montgomery County Commission's attorney -- heavyweight Ivan L. Schraeder of Clayton, Mo. -- told CNL today that if the judge and the attorneys for both sides stipulate on April 11 that the judge has all the evidence he needs, then there will be no need for a trial and the judge will begin his deliberations on the case.

On the other hand, if either side's attorney feels a trial is needed to extract additional evidence for the judge to consider, then the date for that trial was also set today -- for April 23.

Schraeder told CNL that he and opposing counsel continue to talk about the lawsuit, always looking for a possible settlement. That said, he also indicated losing parties often appeal in such cases.

Both Schraeder and County Commissioner John Noltensmeyer told CNL they feel the county followed procedures carefully and the county will prevail in court. Anticipating the possibility of legal action to block the project, County Commissioners closely consulted Schraeder every step of the way last fall in granting the conditional use permit.

Noltensmeyer is still bullish on the Mar-Park project. He said already numerous businesses have now expressed interest in building businesses in New Florence. He said the Mar-Park project could lead to the reopening of the Hardee's restaurant, and a major "name brand" hotel chain has checked into land near where the drag strip would be located. He said another developer has begun looking into developing an RV park nearby.

Said Noltensmeyer, "I don't think the people understand fully the economic development impact that would come from the drag strip."

CNL also learned today that the plaintiffs in the lawsuit sent an offer letter to the developers of Mar-Park. The plaintiffs are suing the County Commission, not the developers. But it is widely expected that if the neighbors settled with the developers, the lawsuit against the Commissioners would go away.

However, the offer letter was not well received by Mar-Park partners Ronald Moss, Steve Stahlschmidt, Dave Hemsath and Maragret Hemsath. CNL spoke to all four partners today at Double Smoked BBQ in New Florence. When asked what they thought of the offer, they laughed. They said it was more of a threat letter than an offer letter.

According to the Mar-Park partners, in the letter the neighbors proposed:
:: The developers pay the neighors at least $112,500 to make-up for alleged reductions in land values
:: The developers pay at least $21,000 in legal fees racked-up so far by the neighbors
:: That Mar-Park not operate (make noise) one weekend every month from May to September
:: That all noise from "top fuel" dragsters cease at 6:00 p.m., every night (top fuel dragsters are not expected to race every weekend, just some weekends)
:: That a tow truck be permanently on-call to tow unathorized vehicles from a driveway the neighbors use
:: That steel gates and signs be installed on Tree Farm Rd. and an easement road
:: And that the developers submit voluntarily to an annual review of their conditional use permit, to be reviewed by the County Commission and local law enforcement

Moss said the letter from the St. Louis lawyer for the neighbors threatened another lawsuit -- "a nuisance lawsuit" -- in the future if the project continues without a settlement with the neighbors.

Mar-Park's Ron Moss said the partners' lawyers have responded to the letter. In that letter, according to Moss, Mar-Park agreed to the steel gates, the signs, and counter-offered to not run races on Easter Sunday and Mothers Day Sunday.

[bud]

This is my comment about the offer letter :

quote =The developers pay the neighors at least $112,500 to make-up for alleged reductions in land values

What happen if it increases there property value ? do they (plaintiff) pay MAR or the County ? Hummm

quote =The developers pay at least $21,000 in legal fees racked-up so far by the neighbors

Why would they, They didnt file the suit.


quote =That Mar-Park not operate (make noise) one weekend every month from May to September

So does that mean I-70 needs to be shut down as well it makes noise 24 hours a day 365 days a year, an it only 300 ft away from the Track site. ( For you folks in LA its like having the track next to the 405 fwy at LAX. )


quote =That all noise from "top fuel" dragsters cease at 6:00 p.m., every night (top fuel dragsters are not expected to race every weekend, just some weekends)


I would be happy to see top fuel there once a year,


quote =That a tow truck be permanently on-call to tow unathorized vehicles from a driveway the neighbors use

hay I'm all for that, no heart burn there.


quote =That steel gates and signs be installed on Tree Farm Rd. and an easement road

Hay this is a must, don't want people that should not be . safety first.


quote =And that the developers submit voluntarily to an annual review of their conditional use permit, to be reviewed by the County Commission and local law enforcement

This should be a no-brainer except it need to be an independent non partisan group and for recommendation only and isn't Dave is a property owner there with 750 achers and doesn't he have any rights as such?

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Bud Smith

[bud]

Well they say good things come to those who wait, This just in today 2-15-12 .