ORP Disappointment

I have gone to ORP since it was IRP. I’ve seen Silver Crown and midget races dating back to the 1980s and have gone to the track five to six times a year, but no more.
I was locked out of practices for the Craftsman Trucks and the Nationwide Series until 3 p.m. — after years of watching practice as part of the experience.
ORP officials said it was NASCAR’s decision. When I asked a NASCAR official, he said it was ORP’s decision.
Well, I’ve made my decision not to return and spend my money there. I will attend Indiana Sprint Week next year (if I’m not deployed again) and spend money on a series that values its fans with accessibility to all racing on the track.
Tickets to ORP: $76. 1,200 miles round-trip gas: $285. Accommodations: $300. Treated like a bother by ORP and NASCAR: Priceless.
TSgt. A.J. Brookmyer
Alpena (Mich.) Combat Readiness Training Center

Another ‘Big One’

About this time last year, I wrote about a really “big one” here in Nebraska. What I was referring to was the family-fun night at Eagle Raceway at which 262 new bikes were given away to the winners that night in a bike draw.
This year’s family-fun night saw one of the largest fan turnouts in the track’s 45-year history. The giveaway this year was 350 new bikes. This incredible total was again thanks to the hard work of Rhonda Bryan and the Bryan Race Team. Roger Hadan, who is the promoter at Eagle Raceway, told drivers, owners and teams that he would buy one bike this year for every two they got.
A big hand goes out to everyone who contributed to this project. This makes over 600 new bikes given to children in just these last two years.
Also, the fans got more than enough action that night for the $5 ticket price as racing was very good in all four of Eagle’s race classes — 360 sprints, IMCA modifieds, IMCA stock cars and IMCA sport compacts. 
Les and Karen Domina
Fremont, Neb.

Boos To NASCAR

I have been a sports fan all my life and a motorsports fan since the 1950s. In all that time, I have never seen the prejudice, corruption and total lack of professionalism in any sport that exists in NASCAR racing.
I guess NASCAR officials think we race fans are ignorant and have the character values that parallel them. My family and I have not purchased any Goodyear products for years, and we never will.
Kent Avery
Constantine, Mich.

But A Great Anthem...

In spite of the tire problems at the Brickyard 400, there was one very bright spot and that was the performance of the national anthem.
It was performed in a dignified and respectful manner by a gentleman who could actually sing. We need a lot more of that at all races.
The evening before the Brickyard, it was refreshing to have Bob Jenkins as the lead announcer for the IRL race at Edmonton. He kept us informed of where drivers other than Danica were running. It was great to have a true racing professional calling the race.
Ron Norman
Monticello, Ind.

London Wrong On Oil

I hate to disagree with Gary London’s July 16 column, but, while he’s right on the negative impact of high gas prices on racing, not to mention engine design options, he’s been punked on the reason for high prices.
The idea of a connection between drilling for oil in sensitive environmental areas and lower prices is refuted by the best evidence from the U.S. Dept. of Energy, showing at least a nine-year or more lag time between new domestic drilling and a gas price decrease, if any. Apparently, the oil companies — now lighting their cigars with $10 bills — desire such drilling areas instead of the areas they already have available and are willing to donate a few million of their newly contrived riches to some corporate lobbyist political party now going by the code name “GOP” and more often seen lighting their cigars with $20 taxpayer bills.
But I guess it plays well in Valley Stream and provides a convenient distraction from the major causal factors which are deregulated commodity speculation on Wall Street, thanks to Republican Phil Gramm’s “Enron loophole” legislation, made more attractive by the recent sub-prime banking-scam collapse of the stock market (Gramm called those now out in the street and unable to fill up “whiners.”) He now works for the banking industry he helped deregulate by killing the Glass/Stegal Regulation Act and for John McCain’s “Straight Talk Express” until he talked too straight.
Now, if we can only get more Ethanol distribution from Obama?
Remember when oil was only $20 a barrel? Oh, that’s right. It was only eight years ago, before the oil men took over. How time flies when you’re having so much fun trying to keep up.
We already have a battery-powered dwarf car out here. I can hear it now from Mary Hulman-George: “Ladies and gentlemen, start your motors. . .”
Dick Lee
Seattle, Wash.