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Post by bfry5922 on Sept 16, 2009 12:24:16 GMT -5
now to set the record straight,granted from mr fry's message,a few people were asked for a date back in june for the ford program,needless to say,everytime this subject was brought up the same answer was given to the several people who asked for the sept date,the sept date was not available.any decision for any dates are made by the board of directors,not by any one individual.all of these people were invited to the board meetings and no one attended.last monday,9/14/2009,the reps for the ford program attended and once again asked for the same sept dates and were advised of the same answer,thet are not available,3 other dates were offered and refused.now,due to the refusal,srca board members must go before the city council and advise the council,which in my opinion is absurb,this will take the time of the council and their members to make a decision on this problem.i'm positive that the ford people are hoping for a reversal by the council on the srca dates due to the caliber of representation of the ford group.if this happens,the points bracket racers will be affected dramatically. butch fry,s/g5922
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Post by helium on Sept 16, 2009 14:46:46 GMT -5
This has now escalated far enough and I am going to clarify some records for Mr. Fry and this will stop now. For those of you that do know know how the Expo complex works lets clarify that first. The property is owned by the City of Great Bend and SRCA holds the operating agreement for the drag strip. There are three other entities that use this facility, Chamber of Commerce, Barton County Fair and the Saddle Club. We must set a tentative schedule for our points races, Lucas Division and big bracket races in August the previous year. Please note these other organizations are doing the same. We then have to meet with all factions involved and a city representative to see who has what dates and if there are any conflicts on schedule. There are 33 weekends from March 1st to October 24th. From those weekends there are 4 open weekends with nobody using the facility. One is in April we already have the Lucas and Big Bracket race scheduled in that Month, one open in May with a points race scheduled the week before the open date, one in August with two points races scheduled already and September with one points race scheduled and the ET Finals is that open weekend. Now that you have that info lets proceed. You are correct that a board member was contacted concerning a date for a event, it was requested for 2009 not 2010 and a fee was also requested for said year 2009. He informed them that the City calender would have be checked to see what dates were available at the Expo grounds. It was then requested 2010 dates and he was informed the calender has not been set. We try and mirror our races from previous years, but WAIT the 3I show is in 2010 that means from April 26th to May 15th Expo is being used by the chamber to set up and tear down for their three day event and also means that SRCA on their dime removes 2700 feet of concrete barrier and the starting line. That squeezes the season to an even smaller time line. Well lets look at July, but WAIT from July 1st to July 12th the Barton County Fair is setting up and tearing down for their event. Well folks that is how it is, they know when we do the Lucas we block the facility for seven days. This issue has been addressed at four different board meetings since 7/2/09 and a special meeting called on 9/14/09. We did retain those three dates in question just for these guys in case they picked one knowing if we do not, those dates could be pulled from another user of the facility, we are going to kick them out if one of those dates are not used, because we do not want to run three weekends in a row for points. September points race if given up means that YOU are loyal points racers that pay our bills, build our buildings and will now help pay to resurface the track, the very reason it is there is because of you will not have a race in September at all, because it was said that well our event is bigger then any points race you have. You do not have one in April either. You also have to take in account that everybody out there does so as a Volunteer, so we will stack races three weekends in a row to justify one event? Pretty hard on bracket racers and volunteers alike don't you think? I was told in a city council meeting from a prominent member of society that Mr. Denning stated that the points races at the drag strip take precedent over any other event at the facility. You are correct Sir and I will not retract that statement. We have worked with no less then three different individuals on this including the President of the Shelby Club who was not even aware of what was going on who told me Brock was the lead on this who did not even contact me until the day of the calender meeting in August, it was my responsibility I was informed. To many chiefs on your side boys and no communication. This is how it sums up, the date in September will not work with scheduling. The open date in September is when we are at the ET finals. We never have and will not schedule a special event in September before that date or on that date. They were informed multiple times and we would be more then happy to work something out on alternate dates. It was not an option on their part and no was not going to be accepted. Hence now we are trying to stir up emotions and throw juvenile tantrums with the city council to force us into a decision that we have made. If this happens and a precedent is set what is going to keep you MoPar, Chevy and Pontiac clubs from saying we want these dates because they forced it why can't we. P.S. Mr Fry if you think that no one has the authority or can make a decision concerning our club please take note that since you made an implication that George lied about the 2009 - 2010 dates I take that as a personal hit on our board of directors and now Sir he is removed from this project and it is mine. Any further discussion on this you will bring to me and I will bring to you, all other parties involved in this are out. Good Luck.
Hank Denning President Sunflower Rod and Custom Assc.
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Post by moweracer on Sept 16, 2009 17:36:30 GMT -5
Why not run them on the same day. We have been to ford races before like that.
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Post by shelbyfestguy on Sept 16, 2009 21:01:58 GMT -5
I understand not wanting to lose a points race but allow me to throw in my two cents.
Ultimately, isn't it about the track staying in business? Tracks are closing all over the country and I think anything that can be done to bring a lucrative event is okay.
I host an event that while we welcome mustangs and shelby's of all years, focuses on more on the late model product.
We would kill to have a track accessible for our folks. This year, we brought cars from 15 states. That's a lot of participants, registration fees, hotel rooms, dinners bought at restaurants, etc..
Maybe it's time to broaden out thinking to include more "social" shows and events as well as points races just to make sure that the track stays open and the hobby continues to thrive.
If this show happens, I will be there for sure so add my money spent to the pockets of the local merchants.
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Post by bowtieracer on Sept 16, 2009 21:03:44 GMT -5
Thanks, Hank for clearing that up. We are lucky to have division races here, and alot of folks don't realize how much work goes into the scheduling to make it all happen. You guys do a great job keeping my home track running. That's what I care about.
Don Dopita
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Post by mustang06 on Sept 16, 2009 21:46:19 GMT -5
I really hope that both the SRCA and the other parties can get something worked out. I can remember going to a lot of the Ford\Shelby races in the past and had a great time. Being a Ford guy and seeing a lot of the cars you don't normally see run is pretty cool. I support both groups and hope something happens. Thanks Dave
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Post by VP Fuels on Sept 17, 2009 9:32:30 GMT -5
Granted 400 is larger than 1 bracket race number, but not larger than the 1,300 or so points racer entries that have supported their bracket program to date. Rich I stand corrected, SRCA did not have 1,300 bracket racers trough its gates to date. SRCA had 1,904 bracket racers to date. It seems odd that a established event or events that produces good numbers and consistent revenue for the area is being asked to rearrange their set schedule. The Ford Performance Show sounds like a great shot in the arm for the area. As stated before on this forum, they were offered 3 dates(July23-24, Aug20-21,Oct 15-16 or 22-23) to which their representative refused them all. Common sense should tell any of us that you don't contract a event before having a date. Besides the organizations that were named in earlier posts, the ones not mentioned (Big Bend Bike Rally, Children's Ag Day, Sunflower Diversified, Big Bend Bow Hunters, Chris Cakes Fund Raising Events, Central Kansas Spring Expo, Barbecue Cook offs,4-H events, Class Reunions, Weddings, etc. all of which had to have a date before having a event at the Great Bend EXPO grounds. Unfortunately the dates that have been offered have all been refused and a lawyer has been recruited to make the City of GB make SRCA move its dates. Rich
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Post by deric89stang on Sept 17, 2009 10:12:04 GMT -5
In the past the Ford/ Shelby race was not that big of an event and not very many people attended the race over and over. I understand this one will be diffrent, butI feel the out come will be the same a 1 year event and a loose of a race that is very inportant to the dedicated racers that have kept this great Track alive.
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Post by helium on Feb 10, 2010 0:42:06 GMT -5
knowing full well that them days would not work Please tell me MR. Fry that we did not spend $1500.00 of club money on legal advice, over 100 hours of personal research to block multiple attempts at taking with the help of other people what is not theirs, multiple days of vacation time, two meetings with the city council, multiple meetings with the city attorney, multiple meetings with the city administrator and four board meetings of our club for you to set the date of this event for August 26th through the 29th at Wichita!! Please tell me that this is a warm up for September or just a typo and that you will fix it. The track and our city would have been more then supportive of this date and your event, but like you said (them dates would not work). We'll like I told Dan Kaiser in Kansas City, it will be OK, the club and our racers still control this track. Hank Denning President Sunflower Rod And Custom Association Great Bend Thanks for the name extension, and it did not even take a little pill. Bring on what you guy's got.
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Post by bowtieracer on Feb 10, 2010 8:54:41 GMT -5
Lawyers?!! This thing has gotten out of hand.
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Post by 1971dart on Feb 10, 2010 11:45:45 GMT -5
knowing full well that them days would not work I have just one question, why does the August dates work for Wichita and they would not work for Great Bend? Interesting to say the least. Michael Carlson SRCA Great Bend Treasurer
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