inkjunkie
Well-Known Member
Kalispell Tribe has put an offer on the table. Lots of rumors circulating. Lot of folks claiming it is going to become a golf course. Well...just so happens that I know a Tribal member...and he has been tasked with talking to all of the local racers to get suggestions/ideas about what it is going to take to make it a successful track again....this is my friends post on Facebook...
"WARNING! This will be a long read but I hope you find it worthy.
If you look at the picture most of you know who I am, but if you look at my car closely, you’ll also see what I am. I am a Member of the tribe that made the offer to buy SCR. Many of the older generation may not know me because in my early days I only ran different street cars in trophy & moved away for years for work, & only started racing again 6 years ago. I have been reading & sometimes commenting on a few posts in various groups. Mostly because people seem to be pulling facts out of their orifices or grabbing them out of the air (I heard it from 4 different people!, it’s on the interweb!). I don’t know who started the thing about the golf course, but I have said elsewhere that the tribe did want to offer golf as an amenity to our guests but to develop a golf course in the west plains basalt would have been cost prohibitive. So, they bought an old (1910) golf course on the north side & saved it from financial ruin. Renovating it, upgrading it & running it to save a piece of Spokane history. I have seen one post where the OP says “why be mad that the tribe gets it? Who’s to say that they won’t turn it into a 1st class facility like everything else they touch?” would those folks griping be griping if it was a Russian outfit that bought it like the paper mill up here? What would their plans for it be? Just because someone may have deep enough pockets to buy it, doesn’t mean their intentions are in OUR best interests.
I have been asked by the Tribal Business Council to ask YOU the racers what can be done to make the track a better place for you? Why? Because they want to make a go of it but want YOUR input! Not insults or speculation! Now you can send me a PM or post a response, realize however that I am going to be bombarded with messages & probably will not respond to every comment/message I receive, maybe just a “got it.” Please understand that I am not dismissing your input & will pass them up the chain. For example, people who do know who I am & that I am a tribal member have blasted me since the news went public. It’s also a given that no matter what is done, not everyone will be pleased.
Also know that in the past few years different people have posted questions here on social media, “what would you do if you were in charge at the racetrack?” I read those posts & comments & have made a file that has some of those suggestions in it, so I have been listening.
Remember too, this isn’t set yet either, we can talk about how to improve it for years & the tribe may never get control. So, we are still talking hypothetically.
So, Instead of bashing my people for trying to buy it, why don’t you provide your input & help them make it into what you want it to be? I want to hear from EVERYONE, drag racers, circle side, road course, cart racers. remember however that Craig wasn't joking about the stands on the circle side being costly to repair, maybe give ideas for how to remedy that situation. I may not know about those other types of racing very well but I’m just gathering intel so share away.
I could have just went out & about the pits in Walla Walla & Renegade with questions but thought this might be easier & I would never have heard from other types of racers. keep it civil or stay off please.
One last thing, HUGE thanks to those people who are positive about the outcome, many of our tribal members who don’t race are excited about the venture as well!!!!"
So...I am asking for any of you folks that race to leave a comment here...what you don't like about the track you race at, what you do like..and what you think needs to be addressed..
"WARNING! This will be a long read but I hope you find it worthy.
If you look at the picture most of you know who I am, but if you look at my car closely, you’ll also see what I am. I am a Member of the tribe that made the offer to buy SCR. Many of the older generation may not know me because in my early days I only ran different street cars in trophy & moved away for years for work, & only started racing again 6 years ago. I have been reading & sometimes commenting on a few posts in various groups. Mostly because people seem to be pulling facts out of their orifices or grabbing them out of the air (I heard it from 4 different people!, it’s on the interweb!). I don’t know who started the thing about the golf course, but I have said elsewhere that the tribe did want to offer golf as an amenity to our guests but to develop a golf course in the west plains basalt would have been cost prohibitive. So, they bought an old (1910) golf course on the north side & saved it from financial ruin. Renovating it, upgrading it & running it to save a piece of Spokane history. I have seen one post where the OP says “why be mad that the tribe gets it? Who’s to say that they won’t turn it into a 1st class facility like everything else they touch?” would those folks griping be griping if it was a Russian outfit that bought it like the paper mill up here? What would their plans for it be? Just because someone may have deep enough pockets to buy it, doesn’t mean their intentions are in OUR best interests.
I have been asked by the Tribal Business Council to ask YOU the racers what can be done to make the track a better place for you? Why? Because they want to make a go of it but want YOUR input! Not insults or speculation! Now you can send me a PM or post a response, realize however that I am going to be bombarded with messages & probably will not respond to every comment/message I receive, maybe just a “got it.” Please understand that I am not dismissing your input & will pass them up the chain. For example, people who do know who I am & that I am a tribal member have blasted me since the news went public. It’s also a given that no matter what is done, not everyone will be pleased.
Also know that in the past few years different people have posted questions here on social media, “what would you do if you were in charge at the racetrack?” I read those posts & comments & have made a file that has some of those suggestions in it, so I have been listening.
Remember too, this isn’t set yet either, we can talk about how to improve it for years & the tribe may never get control. So, we are still talking hypothetically.
So, Instead of bashing my people for trying to buy it, why don’t you provide your input & help them make it into what you want it to be? I want to hear from EVERYONE, drag racers, circle side, road course, cart racers. remember however that Craig wasn't joking about the stands on the circle side being costly to repair, maybe give ideas for how to remedy that situation. I may not know about those other types of racing very well but I’m just gathering intel so share away.
I could have just went out & about the pits in Walla Walla & Renegade with questions but thought this might be easier & I would never have heard from other types of racers. keep it civil or stay off please.
One last thing, HUGE thanks to those people who are positive about the outcome, many of our tribal members who don’t race are excited about the venture as well!!!!"
So...I am asking for any of you folks that race to leave a comment here...what you don't like about the track you race at, what you do like..and what you think needs to be addressed..
