Birmingham International Raceway operators call it quits
Birmingham International Raceway operators call it quits by Doug Demmons -- The Birmingham News The operators of Birmingham International Raceway -- one of the oldest race tracks in the country -- are calling it quits. There will be no 2009 season of racing at the historic 5/8ths-mile asphalt oval at Fair Park in western Birmingham. Joey Sims, general manager of the group that leases the track from the city, sent a letter to Chris Hartsell, the city's operations manager, outlining numerous complaints. Sims said in the letter that: 1. The city has failed to follow through on promises to help develop a new track to replace the aging existing facility 2. The city threw up obstacles for race fans to park at the track last weekend on the season's final race weekend, including charging $5 to park on Sunday and not allowing some race teams access to the site on Saturday night. 3. Four gunshots were fired from nearby into the grandstands late Saturday after the race ended while track workers were in the stands. 4. That the race track is no longer welcomed at Five Points West by the city or the surrounding community. Asked to respond, Hartsell said: "I can tell you that we have worked with them to identify a new location for BIR as we have moved forward with renovations for the Fair Park complex. "We will continue to move forward with plans for BIR to be part of the economic growth in Birmingham. We have interest from different groups that are excited about the opportunity to be part of a new BIR at a new location. "The shooting is under investigation and there is a possibility someone in attendance fired shots. "As for the parking charge, we would have to verify the history of parking arrangements preceding our administration. "The City Council passed a resolution that for this year only there would be no charge for parking or riding the shuttle for the Magic City Classic. This was to encourage people to ride the buses after the previous years problems with the buses. There was no conspiracy against BIR fans." Sims said, "There will be no 2009 racing season at BIR run by the current management. The city of Birmingham has done nothing but cost us money and put up road blocks for us this year, we can afford to operate there anymore. The safety issue is another big problem. We are looking at other avenues and feel if we start construction of a new facility, it will take a majority of our time and don't need to be distracted by having to operate a show at the fairgrounds." Sims' letter to Hartsell is reprinted below in the extended entry box:
October 29, 2008 Chris Hartsell, Chief of Operations c/o City Hall 710 North 20th Street Birmingham, Alabama 35203
Chris, We have just this finished our 2008 racing season and wanted to let you in on a couple of things. The season was viewed as a success overall and the 200 lap World Classic race had a finish that will be remembered from now on. Justin South edged out Ken McFarland at the finish line while both of them were wrecking. Both skidded across, with Justin's rear quarter-panel crossing first, beating Ken out by about two feet. The two had been banging each other for 20 laps. Immediately, the two got out, glared at each other, and shook hands. THAT is what racing is all about. If you get a chance, watch the replay on Charter Cable (WOTM Sports) or also on Bright House Cable. We did have some issues this weekend. The Birmingham Police Dept. would not let our fans and additional cars to race into the Fair Park Complex after the Magic City Classic football game was over. They were trying to get the cars that had parked for free out that were in attendance at Legion Field watching the football game. They would not let paying customers in. We lost a lot of revenue that would have been generated from those folks in more ways than one. Our event was a three-day spectacular. However, after having so much trouble, many crews and fans alike went home, who were from out-of-state. After having to fight the traffic on the interstates and roads leading to Fair Park and then be turned away from entering, we do not blame them. We know this, because so many had purchased 3-day packages with hotel rooms and wanted refunds. Many hotel rooms were canceled within the Birmingham area due to the chaos. Our phone has rang with complaints non-stop. Parking was also mishandled and may be a larger problem than the city wants to admit. On Saturday, the football fans used Fair Park to park their cars for FREE and ride a FREE shuttle to a venue at Legion Field, not Fair Park. On Sunday along with our race, the Bama Cheer and Dance Classic gymnastic meet was held in W.F. Harris Arena, located at Fair Park. Both sets of fans on Sunday were charged $5.00 per car. This is wrong. Oh by the way, race fans at any track across the United States NEVER pay for parking provided by the track. Our fans know this, and when they informed the parking attendants, everyone was ridiculed and told by the both the police and attendants either pay or leave the property. Why would you want to charge one set of fans one day and not the next? There has also been a police report filed on an incident that occurred Saturday night when we were closing. As we were walking upstairs in the Grandstand area, four shots were fired into the stands. One shot barely missed an employee, Ray Tennyson. The sound of a bullet zipping by is something you will never forget. Thank God everyone is safe. It makes me sick to my stomach thinking of a little kid taking a bullet while sitting with their parents enjoying a race sitting in the grandstands. For this reason, we will never ask a family to support BIR and bring their loved ones into such a danger zone. Not on our watch. Losing lives is simply not worth it. BIR at its current location is a fish out of water. The community has changed, and has shown through the actions of the Fair Park director, the City of Birmingham and the neighborhood that racing is no longer welcome in 5 Points West. We have defended the area repeatedly, but will no longer. It is a shame that Councilor Steven Hoyt is also determined to destroy BIR, a business within the community for 95 years. Especially when he has an Economic Development Conference planned November 11-13. One of the topics is "Tourism to the Local Community." He has been invited to a race at BIR on numerous occasions, but has never been in attendance. Even after the Mayor announced the $90 million dollar renovation plans for Fair Park, he chose not to see what was happening in his district. To go along with the many problems the staff at BIR encountered this year, and after not hearing back on the details concerning the new property for BIR, it is evident that the City of Birmingham chooses to not support stock car automobile racing. And who knows, race fans may choose to not support the City of Birmingham in the future. We had investors waiting on standby to find out details on both the ownership of the proposed site and specifics of the land. We asked for details before the economy crunch, as well as asking for details after the crunch and never received any information. We are currently in the process of a feasibility study to determine if within the Birmingham City Limits would be the proper place for relocation of a racetrack. Determining the proper place is what we owe to the people who support us. Chris, we wish to thank you for the excitement you have provided the fans. They have followed BIR more closely this year than any other, with the hopes of having a dream. BIR has been dilapidating for the last 30 years, and has been neglected year after year by the folks at City Hall. The fans of BIR deserve better treatment than what they have gotten. The race fan is truly a unique person who is as genuine as it gets. If a racer or fan tells you they are going to do something, they do it. No failed promises or lack of commitment will be shown. There is a reason that racing is the number one spectator sport in the nation. It is called loyalty.
Sincerely,
Brian Crocker Joey Sims BIR Marketing Director BIR General Manager
