Milwaukee 225

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by garyshell

What is wrong with Kentucky Speedway? It has had some pretty exciting races the past couple of years. Are we talking TV or in person viewing? I've done both for the last two Kentucky races, and enjoyed them.

Gary

---

Hello....It's in Kentucky... ;) No seriously, nothing against Kentucky as a state at all, It's just that I personally don't like the majority of the racing the 1.5 mile NASCAR style tri-oval clones produce for open wheel cars. I don't particularly like watching NASCAR at the place either but Kansas and Chicagoland are the worst IMHO. Some people would like to see an entire season of that style of oval racing, I'm not one of them.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by nigelred5

Hello....It's in Kentucky... ;) No seriously, nothing against Kentucky as a state at all, It's just that I personally don't like the majority of the racing the 1.5 mile NASCAR style tri-oval clones produce for open wheel cars. I don't particularly like watching NASCAR at the place either but Kansas and Chicagoland are the worst IMHO. Some people would like to see an entire season of that style of oval racing, I'm not one of them.

---

I am not one of them either. I am not a big fan of 1.5 mile ovals either, but that particular track (Kentucky) has produced some really good races the past two years.

Gary

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by booger

The Mile started going downhill when Haas and his gang demanded that the track be repaved and all the main straight grandstands be bulldozed for new, modern stands and hospitality "sweets" (if you can call them that) built over the top. The state paid, and continues to pay for this fiasco and has left the State Fair b.o.d. with a really bad view of every type of auto racing. Soon after the new construction was completed, Haas and company walked away leaving the keys to the State Fair Park management. Then the real fun started. First the b.o.d. turned over race promotion to a bunch of greedy real estate developers, aka "carpetbaggers" who had no experience or interest in running racing events. Their primary interest was getting their hands on the real estate adjacent to the track for a new hotel, shopping mall and office space. When the real estate market fell apart, this bunch ran like a bunch of scalded dogs, leaving the place drowning in red ink and unpaid sanctioning fees and bills. The board then interviewed a whole bunch of nobodys, along with one proven promoter (Giufree Bros. who got screwed by the board, who changed the contract at the last minute). So with everybody screwing everybody, why is it a surprise that this wonderful track is in such a state of disarray? With all the bad ink that's been generated over the years, I'm surprised anybody showed up last weekend. Now you have what Paul Harvey used to call "the rest of the stroy".

---

Did you ever attend a Milwaukee race when the old grandstands were in use? I'd bet not. It was original and really old and in disrepair and needed to be replaced. Also, I think Carl paid for the new, complete replacement of the track (and sub-surface drainage systems) out of his OWN pocket and NO state/tax money was involved.

Don't know what Haas had to do with the main grandstand - but it was seriously crumbling away for years. (Not to mention the smell near the old restrooms...) The bleachers had a similar problem. When you sat in turn 4, there was the excitement of the race - and then there was the tension from wondering who around you was going to just fall straight through the rotten boards. I will agree with all the other nutty stuff that's gone on with the fair park board and promoters, etc.

I still don't think this lets Randy or AB off the hook. Randy is supposed to be the strategic decision maker, and the laundry list of criticisms about AB is a long one. I can't believe that Randy had no oversight on this operation - and couldn't see that it was turned over to folks with no extensive (lead) experience in putting on a major league event.