[MARCH 1, 2006]
The Lincoln City Council heard from the
representatives of Lincoln Speedway's new owner on Tuesday evening.
Official announcement that the two-year-old program that Norm Horn
and Gary Baugh started at the Logan County Fairgrounds was sold to
Glynn Barber was made last Thursday (see
news release) via the XPlex
website.
Barber is the owner of an extreme sports park, headquartered in
Portland, Ind., that is aimed at family entertainment.
Brian Thompson and David Ayers from XPlex took turns addressing
the council. They gave testimony on the type of businesses that
Barber runs and what could be brought to Lincoln that is working in
some of their other locations.
Ayers explained that the philosophy of the company is to offer
family fun and build the local economy.
Brian Thompson, who is the promoter for the company, said, "We
have a lot of extreme sports that we can bring to Lincoln, more than
just the oval track." They would particularly like to bring in a
portable mountain for rock crawling, motocross, concerts and
paintball competitions -- "activities that can use the whole
fairgrounds, not just the racing," Ayers said.
"Paintball tournaments can be a huge money-maker, bringing tens
of thousands to the area," the promoters said.
They would like to bring in the rock-and-roll of Rascal Flatts
and Drowning Pool in order to get younger kids out to the racetrack.
Both men emphasized that, contrary to anything the council
members may have read or heard about any race plans the company was
making, everything was stated as tentative, based on getting city
approval first.
First in their requests is that they would like to switch their
regular night from Sunday to Saturday. They believe they would
attract larger crowds that way. They have over 100 racers who are
dedicated, but their goal is to reach over 1,000 fans.
Thompson said that changing the nights would help them reach that
goal, as fans who travel a distance would be more apt to come to a
Saturday night race, when they don't have to get up for work on
Monday morning. Then they can sleep in on Sunday and plan to relax
around the house and maybe watch some more racing on TV on Sunday.
Saturday races put a cushion on both sides for fans, especially
those who drive great distances. We've seen in other places that
after a couple of times of getting home late the night before going
to work early the next morning, that fans stop coming, Ayers said.
Also, race car drivers would be apt to stay over in town, using
area motels and restaurants. This benefits the city's economy.
Second, they would like to see the hours made later. They would
like the current 5-10:30 p.m. schedule changed to 6 p.m.-midnight.
Warm-up heats would begin at 6 p.m., with a 7 p.m. start.
This is to help avoid the extreme heat in the summer, bringing
more comfort to fans and better tracking conditions for the cars,
which becomes especially important on nights like the one they saw
last year that was 105 degrees at 5 p.m.
Third, they would like to make beer available. Thompson said that
this would boost attendance. There are many people who sat on their
doorsteps at home last year who have told him they would be there if
there was beer sold. They identified other tracks that are selling
beer as successful.
To keep this a family-oriented event, the organizers presented
several options. One was to have sections reserved for alcohol and
sections for families, where alcohol would not be allowed. Another
option would be to have a restricted tent area at one end of the
track.
Fourth, was a request to add several special occasion events,
beginning with Sunday, May 28, Memorial Day weekend. They would have
fireworks and would celebrate "Sprint Week."
Other special days would be:
Sunday, June 4
Saturday, July 1 --
UMP Summer Nationals
Thursday, Aug. 3 --
Logan County Fair has an opening
Thursday or Friday,
Sept. 14 or 15 -- to run in conjunction with a Spoon River race
on Sept. 16
Aldermen responded with a number of questions throughout the
presentation. When asked what they would do if they couldn't get the
changes they were asking for, the organizers said that they would
definitely try to make it work. They believe that their ideas will
bring more people to the races and into the city.
A concern for the noise level and types of vehicles they would be
bringing in was answered that the new business will be hosting the
same vehicles, nothing louder, and their company has a muffler
requirement on all vehicles. In fact, if a muffler falls off, the
car is automatically disqualified, they said.
Asked how they would keep the event from becoming more of a
drinking crowd, the organizers said that they have had some
experience at this. They've found that if your keep the price high
enough, around $4 a drink, it limits itself. They would also provide
strict ID enforcement and restrict alcohol from leaving the area.
City attorney Bill Bates pointed out that the city has no liquor
licenses to issue that fit their situation.
It was suggested that they could see if one of the organizations
that have a license, such as the Knights of Columbus, which sells
beer at the beer garden during the fair, would be interested in
participating with them.
Several aldermen said that they have received a number of calls
against the racetrack hours being made later.
The organizers said that they requested a midnight deadline to
allow some latitude in case of uncontrollable situations like rain
or too hot to start, but they have no intention of running till
midnight. They themselves have a long trip home to families and
don't want to be on the road too late.
Alderman Benny Huskins, who serves the ward closest to the track,
said he just wished that the people who have been calling him would
show up at the council chamber to show that it is not just a few who
are opposed to the late-night noise -- for it to be understood that
it's not just the opinion of a few making the decisions for the
majority. We'd be here till 3 a.m. if they all showed up and each
got a few minutes to speak, and I wouldn't care if we stayed that
late, he said. It would show how many people are against this.
The business needs to get answers for the requests fairly quickly
if they are to enact changes for this season.
The council has scheduled a committee meeting for Monday at
6 p.m. to discuss it.
