To all racers and fans this is pretty much the hardest post I've ever had to make.
I am cancelling the Buick vs Ford race scheduled for October 13th.
I know many of you had been wondering what was gonna happen since the track appeared to be having trouble opening for the 2012 race season. Now you know and I am both disgusted, saddened and frustrated for having to cancel this event. In February I signed a contract and paid a sizable chunk of money out of my own pocket to make sure we were gonna have a facility. I made most of the arrangements and I THOUGHT we were set. All I asked was for the race to be "officially" added to the schedule of events so that everyone could rest easy knowing it was "official". In late spring I hadn't seen the notification posted on the track's facebook page nor the track's message board being reinstated. I kept in constant contact with the owner and he assured me repeatedly we were good to go. I continued working towards getting all the promotional stuff ready but I knew we would have nervous racers until it was posted somewhere by the track. I started to get nervous phone calls in July and kept up calling and reassuring people as I was being reassured that it was all good and the track owner was just "bad at the internet" so not to worry. About August it came to a point I had to positively get confirmation that we were still on despite no official track schedule. I called the owner once again and he specifically told me to go ahead and advertise as we were gonna have a track to run on. I then posted what I though to be true because I take a person for their word. Then we come to where we are at today. I tried contacting the owner a few weeks back to once again get reassurances since I was about to place a sizable order for T shirts and it isn't cheap to do so. He answered and sounded sick, said as much but said he would get back to me shortly. He never did. I have tried calling for 3 weeks and get an answering machine every time. No one ever calls me back. I talked to Dick Walker and other racers and came to the conclusion that if I didn't hear from him by the 13th weekend I would cancel as I can't in good conscience tell guys travelling 10 or more hours to show up unless I had a guarantee'd, lockdown, no question, set in stone "We are gonna be open." with proof on a computer screen. I absolutely have no problem with people thinking bad things about me and how this worked out, but I am not gonna add making people drive halfway across the country to find a locked gate and no race. So I have decided to call it so people that have plenty of time to cancel reservations and rearrange their Nationals trip schedule.
I also am reluctant to shove the track owner under the bus as he may very well be sick and cannot do anything about where we are at today. Either way it is a freaking tragedy as I truly love this race and personally will miss the fun I have every year attending. I especially feel saddened as this happened on my watch and feel responsible for letting everyone down. I feel had I not trusted someone's word a little earlier I could have had the option to enact plan B and we would still be having this race.
So once again, It's my responsibility and I apologize for letting you all down.
Thanks, Mark Shackelford(mrstage1).
PS: I would be more than happy to avenge my failure and MAKE SURE we have an event next year even if I have to build a damn track myself. All the sponsors I have talked to plus an undisclosed aftermarket parts manufacturer are still in for me if the racers would support this. If you in good conscience can't support giving me another go at it I understand and I will be there to race for anyone who wants to step up.
Once again Thanks to all who WERE going to attend.
I am cancelling the Buick vs Ford race scheduled for October 13th.
I know many of you had been wondering what was gonna happen since the track appeared to be having trouble opening for the 2012 race season. Now you know and I am both disgusted, saddened and frustrated for having to cancel this event. In February I signed a contract and paid a sizable chunk of money out of my own pocket to make sure we were gonna have a facility. I made most of the arrangements and I THOUGHT we were set. All I asked was for the race to be "officially" added to the schedule of events so that everyone could rest easy knowing it was "official". In late spring I hadn't seen the notification posted on the track's facebook page nor the track's message board being reinstated. I kept in constant contact with the owner and he assured me repeatedly we were good to go. I continued working towards getting all the promotional stuff ready but I knew we would have nervous racers until it was posted somewhere by the track. I started to get nervous phone calls in July and kept up calling and reassuring people as I was being reassured that it was all good and the track owner was just "bad at the internet" so not to worry. About August it came to a point I had to positively get confirmation that we were still on despite no official track schedule. I called the owner once again and he specifically told me to go ahead and advertise as we were gonna have a track to run on. I then posted what I though to be true because I take a person for their word. Then we come to where we are at today. I tried contacting the owner a few weeks back to once again get reassurances since I was about to place a sizable order for T shirts and it isn't cheap to do so. He answered and sounded sick, said as much but said he would get back to me shortly. He never did. I have tried calling for 3 weeks and get an answering machine every time. No one ever calls me back. I talked to Dick Walker and other racers and came to the conclusion that if I didn't hear from him by the 13th weekend I would cancel as I can't in good conscience tell guys travelling 10 or more hours to show up unless I had a guarantee'd, lockdown, no question, set in stone "We are gonna be open." with proof on a computer screen. I absolutely have no problem with people thinking bad things about me and how this worked out, but I am not gonna add making people drive halfway across the country to find a locked gate and no race. So I have decided to call it so people that have plenty of time to cancel reservations and rearrange their Nationals trip schedule.
I also am reluctant to shove the track owner under the bus as he may very well be sick and cannot do anything about where we are at today. Either way it is a freaking tragedy as I truly love this race and personally will miss the fun I have every year attending. I especially feel saddened as this happened on my watch and feel responsible for letting everyone down. I feel had I not trusted someone's word a little earlier I could have had the option to enact plan B and we would still be having this race.
So once again, It's my responsibility and I apologize for letting you all down.
Thanks, Mark Shackelford(mrstage1).
PS: I would be more than happy to avenge my failure and MAKE SURE we have an event next year even if I have to build a damn track myself. All the sponsors I have talked to plus an undisclosed aftermarket parts manufacturer are still in for me if the racers would support this. If you in good conscience can't support giving me another go at it I understand and I will be there to race for anyone who wants to step up.
Once again Thanks to all who WERE going to attend.
Sometimes no matter how hard you try things just don't work out so how about trying to get next year planned before anyone else tries to get a good date.
