Meeting #1 a Success
by Walter
Johnston
Well, meeting #1 is history.
It was well attended by race fans, mostly drag racers who've
been displaced by the closing of Westhampton. Oval track racers
were well represented, but attendance could have been better.
Many thanks to those who did attend. You know how important this
issue is. If you missed this meeting, be sure to attend one of
the two remaining ones to show that you care, and to give the
people who will be deciding this issue a sense of how much we
care about the future of racing of all kinds and entertainment
varieties here on Long Island. Many people took their turns at
the microphone to express their feelings about the issue, but
without a doubt, one of the best was one of the first, and here
it is, in it's entirety:
"I am Joe Larsen, a lifelong resident of Suffolk County. I was
raised here, educated here, and am raising my family here."
"I come before you to express
my concerns regarding Top Gun's proposed facility in Yaphank. My
concern is that the facility will not be built. We need this
type of park here on Long Island."
"I am the owner of a present
NASCAR type race team and have sponsored numerous race teams
over the years. I grew up as a race fan here on Long Island. I
have participated as a fan, competitor or team owner at Freeport
Stadium, Islip Speedway, NY National Speedway, Bridgehampton
Race Circuit, Westahmpton Speedway, and Riverhead Raceway. I
have seen 5 out of 6 of these facilities close and have been
forced to spend my disposable income in New Jersey, Connecticut
and Massachusetts."
"The reason we need an
entertainment and sports facility in Yaphank is multifold. Oval
track racers will have a new, modern facility with all the
latest state of the art saftey equipment. Drag racers will have
the same and will be off the streets, such as NY Route 231 in
Deer Park and Babylon, just to name one."
"Concert goers will have a
choice whether to attend Jones Beach, Westbury, or Yaphank,
forcing promoters to revisit ticket costs. Families will have a
place to go for entertainment and family fun in a Disney type
atmosphere."
"This facility caters to all,
whether you are 1 or 71."
"Long Islanders are leaving in
droves, due to the high cost of living, high taxes and very
little family entertainment. Both of our Pro-Football teams play
in New Jersey. Golfers have literally hundreds of golf courses
to choose from. Gun Clubs are spread throughout Long Island.
Every community has tennis courts, ball fields, and soccer
fields."
"Now we have an opportunity to
build a facility which caters to all."
"Not to build this facility
would be a mistake. Please help keep our families and the
disposable income of our families here on Long Island, in
Suffolk County."
"We work here...Let's play
here as well!"
This was greeted with thunderous applause by the crowd. Others
spoke in favor of the proposal as well, with Cindy Johnson also
giving a very profound speech about why this facility is needed,
and wanted, by racers of all types. Thomas Isles, Suffolk's
Planning Commissioner, and moderator of this discussion group,
asked at one point if anyone wanted to speak in opposition. No
one raised their hand, but we must remember that at this point,
people had been directed to other meetings about differnet
proposals, in other rooms, and there are those who would see
this land used in other ways totally opposed to this facility.
That is why it is important to attend the meetings, write to the
County Executive and your local Legislator and let them know
that this is important to YOU.
I will be unable to attend
these next 2 meetings due to a previous commitment, which has me
out of state on both dates. But is is very important that all
racers and race fans attend in large numbers to let this
committee know just how much we are behind this particular use
of the land in question. Those in attendance last night did
show, for the most part, that the racing community as a whole is
made up of citizens of all walks of life, and that we are a very
polite, yet impassioned group, who believe in our hobby and
sport. Let's not tarnish this with argumentative outbursts at
future meetings. Image is everything here. I watched the faces
of the committee members last night as people spoke, and while a
few were visibly impressed with the behavior of the speakers,
some seemed to have skeptical looks on their faces when loud
outbursts (of partisan support) were displayed by those in
attendance. We must stand firm in our belief that his should
happen, but we must also remember that we need to positively
impress these people, and dispel the long held theory that
racers and race fans are a fringe group. We are everyday people,
with diverse backgrounds, and we need to convey that to them in
a polite manner, so they will remember it when the time comes.
I believe this proposal is
stronger than any we know of so far, so I think it has a better
chance of happening than past race track ideas. Let's band
together in a positive way and make it happen.
Source: Only on LongIslandJam.com
Posted:
November 15, 2005
