You read this article and realize NASCAR just flushed $128,000,000.00 or more down the toilet for a track on Staten Island that the community nearly violently opposed. Makes you wonder where the NASCAR heads' mentality level is. Most corporations would have a survey long before purchasing property to see if there would be opposition to them going into an area. Not NASCAR, they just bought up the property and started plans with out regard to the politicians and community opinions. Guess they showed NASCAR.
An odd thing happened to the developers of the Sparta, Ky. (near Cincinnati, Ohio) track when they were building it. NASCAR expressed interest in this track for the Cup and Busch series so the developers went full speed ahead on the completion using money out of their pockets, not NASCAR's. It is a state of the art 1&1/2 mile track with plenty of amenities. The Waltrips thought this track was great for a Cup race. Sparta occasionally gets a Busch race and NASCAR said they would never put a Cup race there. Why??? Indy and Cart race there along with other sanctions. This track was almost handed to NASCAR on a silver platter in order to get Cup racing there. Considering the track was right in the Midwest and central to NASCAR diehard fans, it would be a sell out track each race. Would not have cost them as much as the Staten Island fiasco. The track not being owned by NASCAR outright may play a pivital role in ignoring this track. In my opinion, it was a gross oversight on this tracks racing potential for the Cup series.
It must be nice to squander away millions of dollars and not be held accountable.
Nothing personal, don't be offended, I am often accused of being argumentative when I feel a need to point out a different perspective. But I like to think that my goal is to have people see a different side of an issue before making a decision.
I was working for Chris Pook when he owned Gateway Raceway in St. Louis, Memphis Motorsports Park and the new track in Tennessee before he sold them to Dover Downs. The same thing happened to us.
"Environmental concerns were also cited by opponents of the plan. ISC's decision to call off the plan was immediately trumpeted as a "monumental victory for the people of Staten Island," by New York City Council Minority Leader James S. Oddo."
We were working at Gateway trying to get approval to use land near wetlands for parking and were trying to convince NASCAR to give us a race before they granted Kansas City and Chicago races while at the same time Kentucky was trying to get a race. We were stopped by environmentalists who duped and used the minorities to support them. Yes, we wanted to use land in the "bottoms" (the old Mississippi River floodpath). But we were not asking to touch more than 10 (maybe even only five) acres of wetlands and most of the acreage we needed was formerly cornfields. We were not going to pave it and we only needed it twice a year.
Last edited by 14Falcons on December 9th at 8:32 PM.
It could have led to millions in revenue, but the wise African American female Islamic leader of East Saint Louis didn't see it that way (yes I lit a fire their so blog away [Hope this doesn't create a problem for you "photo guy"] but stereotypes exist because their is "some" truth in them. For example, I am from Tennessee, am a male, believe the man should be the head of the household, have bad teeth, am a hillbilly, like to go barefooted, like big dogs, drive a fast car, worked at Jack Daniel Distillery, and love NASCAR.)
"But I didn't come here to talk about Thanksgiving. I came here to talk about the draft."
The reason Nashville, Saint Louis and Kentucky did not and probably will not get NASCAR races is because NASCAR makes more money when they own the tracks. They were invested in Chicago and Kansas City so they awarded themselves the races. I imagine they will add another race at Kansas City. The owners of places like New Hampshire and Dover Downs are in trouble. NASCAR is putting the squeeze on them and will continue to do so.
The bottom line is still "Show me the money" baby!
Last edited by 14Falcons on December 9th at 8:33 PM.
You did not offend me a bit.Glad you brought some perspective to the blog.
Your argument made true the behind the scene facts in your situation. Perhaps she may have had other interest paying her personnaly more money for that land.I would imagine in the future you will learn about other development for that land starting. Nascar only builds tracks they own and awards their selves NASCAR races.That way they have more control and get bigger bucks.
Cases in point. The track you had affiliation with where you were involved.Granted there was political issues and environmental issues from the locals. Ky. Speedway near where I live: Not owned by NASCAR but was ofered to them on a silver platter with a lot of money included to get CUP races there.The area was estatic thinking they would get Cup races. Many businesses and locals invested a lot of money for development in aminities as well as the State of Ky. in road access and improvements.No environmental issues were present. The track owners association eventually sued NASCAR for a Cup race. It is now in litigation.
As far as the Staten Island fiasco, NASCAR was very presumptious in dumping wasted money in that project.The New York City area is well known and has a long history for opposing any thing comming into the New York city area. Many times in the past, retail giants have expressed plans to build new shopping centers in the surrounding communities but were vetoed by the locals as well as the political offices of those areas. So NASCAR should have known better and followed a more frugal plan to deve
Ironically we do share many of the same views. I am a photographer for Nature and model portfolios and love NASCAR races (despite the current leadership)in my retired years.Grew up in the N.W.Panhandle of Florida ( Fla. doesn't claim the area and ALA. doesn't want it).Think it is the man's duty to be a head of house hold, have no teeth except genuine store bought ones ( lost most of them in a racing accident), have a dog, and go bare foot but with socks on ( tender foot).
Good perspective. Actually, I switched firms and we later developed a client relationship with East Saint Louis. Being a white mail, I was somewhat out of place but had a good get together at one shindig with their political elite. Like i said, not that I am not ethical, au contraire, I am very big on it, but legally, "show me the money" and let's do business.
I am not prejudiced, biased, yes, but I think we all are to some degree based on our own experiences that we bring to the table. I have hung out with the African American crowd more than once, in the IFC in college on a trip to Atlanta, with office friends at apartments along Troost in Kansas City, at the "African American" bar in Shreveport Louisiana with one generation of their politically elite and later at a Kwanzai celebration at the casino with another generation of their politically elite.
I love learning about different cultures from getting to know people as friends and joining them in their world when invited to.
I used to work in Birmingham Alabama and enjoyed visiting LA (Lower Alabama for those of you not familiar with the region). I have a nice tooth restoration that cost me 2 grand plus a number of crowns, so at least I have had my teeth fixed. I like to go barefoot but don't much anymore because I have turned into a tender footed city boy darn it.
Last edited by 14Falcons on December 9th at 8:56 PM.
Sounds great that you can mix with diverse groups and be socially accepted.
My dad always taught me as a child that you don't judge people by their color, diversity, or monetary class but by their moral and ethical values as well as consider them your equal. That teaching has stayed with me through out my life and has garnered me many friends in many groups over the years as well as some enemies in the prejudiced groups because I do have a preposition to voice my views whether it is politically correct or not.
Last edited by nphotogr on December 10th at 10:49 AM.
Avid auto racing fan and former racing participant for over 40 years. Enjoy all forms of auto racing but found NASCAR sanction to be my favorite followed by GTP and INDY cars. Have raced in SCCA, NHRA, Stock Car, and Modified sanctions in the past.
Getting up in years has regulated me to being a spectator but still find it exciting to go to the races and enjoy the hoopala surrounding the pre and post race festivities. Also find Nature Photography to be a relaxing form of enjoyment and get quite a few opportunities traveling around the country to the races to use my cameras at the tracks and nature preserves.
