***Ventura Raceway Update***

[PKRWUD]

From todays newspaper...

Raceway contract gets fair's green flag

Despite complaints about noise, board renews agreement

By John Scheibe,
November 27, 2002

The Ventura Raceway won a reprieve Tuesday as the Ventura County Fair Board unanimously agreed to renew its contract for another year.

Renewal of the contract would have been almost automatic in years past, but the raceway has come under increased scrutiny in recent months, in part because of all the noise it generates. Some say the time has come for the 25-year-old raceway to find a new home away from Ventura.

But most of those who showed up at the fairgrounds on Tuesday came there to show their support.

Former Ventura Mayor Jack Tingstrom reminded the board of the raceway's historical role in Ventura and of the important part that automobiles and car racing have played in the development of Southern California, especially since World War II.

"Car culture is as much a part of Southern California as skiing and surf-boarding," Tingstrom said. And while the Ventura Raceway might appear to some as an out-of-the-way backwater track, Tingstrom said, it has served as a training ground and springboard for some big-name racers.

Some on the board, including President Greg Carson and Vice President Ginger Gherardi, have questioned whether the 25-year-old raceway still belongs in Ventura, especially given the downtown renewal and city efforts to encourage more people to live and shop there.

City officials say they receive hundreds of calls a year from residents around the city distraught by noise from the raceway.

But raceway supporters say the noise is a small price to pay for the clean, family fun and entertainment brought by the raceway.

"It's something that everyone can enjoy," supporter Jim Crawford said, noting raceway fans gathered the signatures of more than 15,000 people as part of their campaign to keep the raceway open. Signers included racing legends Mario Andretti and Tony Stewart.

Raceway promoter Jim Naylor agreed to do everything possible to decrease the noise as part of getting the raceway's contract renewed.

Naylor told the board the raceway would continue to work hard to be a good neighbor to Ventura.

"We have a ton to do still," he said. "This is the beginning and not the end."

Copyright 2002, Ventura County Star. All Rights Reserved.



I want to thank everyone here that helped out!!! You are all invited to come to a race next year, where I guarantee you'll have a great time!

Thanks again!

Take care,
~Chris