Editor, Times-Union:
    Good-bye old friend. Rumor has it you must go. I won't pretend to understand the reasons why you must leave nor will I ever understand why after nearly 50 years in the same place you are suddenly looked upon as the intruder.
    Over the course of your life you have entertained hundreds-of-thousands of people. Every Saturday night from late spring to early fall, you would thrill us with an exciting show. Men like: Chuck Saner, who's red number "8" looked like it was held together with baler twine, but could and often did run circles around the competition. Arden Leiter, who's bright purple car sounded like a giant bumble bee. (I guess that was so the other drivers knew who had passed them!) And who will ever forget the wheel-to-wheel battles between Jim Elliott and Don Walker? Battles that brought race fans to the edge of their seats....and sometimes beyond.
    We've seen fathers and sons test their skills on the same track, like the Bucher's and the Johnson's. We've seen second generation drivers pick up where their father's left off, such as with Tony Elliott. On special nights you would invite your friends from all over the country. On those nights we could watch as "the Wolf" stalked his prey and enjoy the chase as the Pennsylvania Posse tried to catch the Kinser gang. You introduced us to people who are famous from coast-to-coast: The Kinser's (Sheldon, Steve, Mark, Randy), Doug Wolfgang, Jack Hewitt, Bobby Allen, Sammy Swindell, Steve Butler, Rich Vogler and Brad Doty.
    But soon, after nearly 50 years in the business of entertainment, you will be gone. I'm sure your property won't sit idle for long. The houses, condos, or parks that will take your place are probably on the drawing boards already. But what of the hundreds of people you entertained on Saturday nights - what will they do? Maybe those people who have silenced you will ask us to come to their homes on Saturday night and show us what they do for entertainment.
    Maybe they will invite us to their houses on the 4th of July to celebrate our country's independence, as they were invited to the Speedway to watch the fireworks...even as they were seeking the track's demise. Maybe, but somehow I think those invitations will never be extended.
    I guess it's all over but the shouting and I'm sure that will go on for years to come. After Aug. 11, you will be silent, but in my mind your engines will always roar and there will always be time for another lap.
    Warsaw Speedway....my old friend....you will be missed.

    Sincerely,
    Mike Petrosky



Editor, Times-Union:
    Last Saturday night my fiancee and I attended the races at the Warsaw Speedway. I thought I had better take her before it was too late. As we sat enjoying an evening at the races, I couldn't help but feel a sad, empty feeling inside. I began telling her of precious memories of my childhood at the raceway.
    Memories of my family spending time together were discussed, whether they were of cheering, driving or working on the car. Many of my earliest memories are of the raceway, sitting with my mother, cheering for my father.
    I told her how excited I was the first time I was allowed into the pits. It may not mean a lot to most, but to a young man, it meant a great deal. It was fun if I was getting water, changing tires, cleaning mud off of the car or writing down the starting order for our next race. Yes, I said our next race. After all it was a family affair. I especially remember the pride I felt, strapping my father in the race car. I felt proud to be a part of it all.
    It was nice having a track so close to home. I didn't always get to go when we raced out of town.
    I don't know whether to be mad, sad or both. I do know that it is a crying shame that nine people with money are able to abolish something so precious to so many. I wonder what they will destroy next. Family picnics in the park? The fair? Or whatever they dislike?

    With regret,
    Kevin Fitzpatrick



My Letter that ran on August 13, 1990

Editor, Times-Union:
    The faint smell of exhaust fumes, the dirt sticking to your face on a warm summer night, and the checkered flag waving in victory are gone now as we say good-bye to our dear friend, the Warsaw Speedway.
    For the speedway, her smell will still remain, her memories will linger over the dirt surface they now plan to use for other "fund raising" activities. For many, there will never be another experience like she has given us. If only the concrete walls and bleachers could talk.
    I feel sorry for the nine lakeside residents and the 15 or so fair board members involved in the closing of our speedway. Men and women who would not compromise nor communicate for more than 10 years. Now we, the ones who love this place and what it stands for, must now suffer the consequences. This situation was not inevitable, it could have been settled years ago to where everyone would benefit from the existence. Now we are all losers, from the nine "Bad Boys of Boomtown" to the fair board trying to keep their head above "Winona" water.
    I grew up with Saturday nights at the racetrack and for the past seven years, I have been fortunate enough to have a closer involvement with the racing activity at the track. My thanks to the promoters, Monty Miller, Dee Chapman and Don Prater for this opportunity to work at a job that was a joy and to meet hundreds of fans, drivers, and media personalities.
    So as the dust settles over the most scenic track in the Midwest, I will feel a deep sickness in the pit of my stomach for what this city has allowed to happen. I am sure that somehow, somewhere, the dirty dealings that closed this wonderful institution will be justly rendered.
    They can take our facility and our fun away from us, but they can never take the friendships that have developed over the last 42 years.
    I wish good luck to all the drivers as they continue their racing careers elsewhere and to all of the fans as they try to find another racing home.

    Kim Gregory Baney
    Warsaw Speedway Public Relations

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