Geeze, I'm starting to get the feeling that our city's white trash population is under attack. First the Blazers fold, and now it's being reported that the State Fair Speedway is closing. Before you know it, they city's going to demolish all the Frisbee golf courses, too.
The state fairgrounds has likely seen its last motor race because $400,000 in electrical repairs must immediately be made before racing could be safely conducted next season, Oklahoma City Mayor Mick Cornett said Monday night...
State Fair Speedway completed its 55th season of racing last summer. The decision was made long ago that it would remain open as long as racing could be safely conducted, but no more capital dollars would be invested in it, Cornett said.
"The track has served us well for 50 years, but it's not the best place for racing the next 50 years," Cornett said.
"The decision has long been made we were not going to invest more capital dollars in the track because of the wishes of the neighborhoods around it."
Track promoter Lanny Edwards is not being offered a renewal on his lease. Edwards thinks the electrical issues are a smokescreen.
"They have dreamed all of this up in my opinion," Edwards said. "They've been trying to get rid of that grandstand for quite some time. I think it's a bad deal that they are doing the racing community this way."
Edwards contends State Fair Board officials and city leaders simply want to abolish State Fair Speedway and replace it with something more profitable.
If you have a mullet, seven teeth and a KATT sticker on your Camaro, I guess this is pretty sad news. Otherwise, who really cares?
I think I went to the races at the fairgrounds once. It was about as exciting as watching NewsNow 53 reruns all day. The only difference is that when you finish watching NewsNow 53, you don't smell like dirt, cigarettes and Busch Light.
That being said, I will miss the sounds of the races. I live a good four miles from the Fairgrounds, and on Saturday nights, I could still hear the cars racing from the backyard patio. I'll miss those oddly peaceful sounds. I'll also miss telling European fashion models that the sounds were from one of Steve Lackmeyer's rambunctious motorcycle gangs, and that they should all just drink more and spend the night in the safety and comfort of my peaceful home.
Let me tell you, Steve Lackmeyer and motorcycle gangs sure do scare people.
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