CMP season over

[DeMan951]

CMP MEDIA

Lake City, FL (September 30, 2009) Due to hunting season opening soon and some unfortunate turn of affairs, Columbia Motorsports Park has closed their 2009 racing season. Champions for 2009 will be from the points ending on September 19, 2009.

"We hate cutting the racing season short," said Operations and General Manager Don Nerone, "but things have come up beyond our control and with hunting season right around the corner and a lot of our racers are hunters, we have decided to end our year. Champions for this year will be from the September 19 points."

"I would like to thank all the racers, their families and friends, and our great fans for a wonderful 2009 year. It is always sad to see the year come to a close and Sandy and I do thank you all for your support this year."

"The October 3rd, October 17th and the October 31st Crash-A-Rama has been cancelled. We wish you all the best of luck hunting and the holidays fast approaching."

"This has been a tough year for everyone with the economy going up and down, gas prices going beyond the limit and back down, people losing their jobs, their homes. Everyone says things will get better and let's hope they do for all of us. We only wish the best for everyone who has supported Columbia Motorsports Park these past two years. We have had the best drivers, fans, and employees that you could ask for and we appreciate you all."

"And as I have always said and will continue to say - SUPPORT YOUR LOCAL TRACK."

http://www.columbiamotorsportspark.com/

[Boneman]

So now what? Its clear that this must have been an absolutely miserable year for CMP, a track that by all accounts is a fine facility. The car counts have been horrible and I suspect the ticket sales had to reflect that.

I'm blaming no one, this track has struggled for years. I just wonder what the future holds. I wish it could get an "extreme track makeover". Too bad some rich cup driver doesn't buy both CMP and De Soto. Without big changes I'd be surprised to see either reopen in 2010.

Please don't use this thread as an opportunity to bash the management. That has been done for years. I'd settle for a message of hope like a buyer, or someone wanting to lease and run it.

[BJ Cavin]

Funny you mention the management, because the thing I hear over and over is that some guys refuse to race there because of Don Nerone. Honestly I don't know if it is fair to judge the man or not, but is it really worth losing another race track in Florida over a personality conflict? And the same can be said of Desoto as well!

[RSB]

I predict..

that there will be either new management next year or it will be closed. I've heard rumors of a group of people "planning" to buy the place but don't know how true the rumors are. I miss Bert...JM

[Bossmanfan]

I have to respectfully disagree B.J., I'd rather Desoto become a bombing range than have the goon in charge continue running it. It's as good as dead to me now anyway, it is just there in a physical sense.

[Nickel and Dime]

Like no one saw this coming

Last year the money awarded for points was paid by check, most of them rubber. Now with the management gone, will the point’s money be gone as well? I believe this is the best thing that could have happened to CMP. It wasn’t working the way it was so something had to change to make it better. It will open next season, that I’m sure of. There are too many cars around sitting on jack stands with drivers that are wanting to race at CMP for it not to open. But under who’s oversight? I guess we’ll just have to wait and see. I vote RSB as the next track manager for CMP. This should make for an interesting banquet.

[Old Sunshine Fan]

I'm Here

Where can I pick up an application?

I'm ready to move up there and take over the track (first three years on a trial basis). After I see (and others see) how well it runs, and how happy they are to race there - worry free - and with a person who will listen and show results of that listening - I will consider lease/purchase.

Thats a great track, in a great part of this state. Asphalt is for racing, dirt is to get stuck in (or spreading when talking about others, ie, "Boy! Do I Have Some Dirt on XXX")

NOW... once I get the application, I might just need some referals SOOOOooooo who can I count on (and who can paint? Not you EDM, you wait until the paint cans are open and the brushes are out before you make your calls - and JANE waits until her front end is out - does that sound right or what?)

Can you imagine OSF running a race track (I don't have a serious bone in my body - don't get excited again OCALA).

HEY... I'd get all the left over food every week! YAAAAA HOOOOOO

[ALASKA54]

I can remember going to that track while it was being built. Can anyone remember the story of why that track was built so close to the other track? At the time I was working out of town and don't really remember what the story was, if someone had had a spat with Albert Waters or what. Was it something sort of like a church split.

[Edm]

Where can I pick up an application?

Come on Man, I wouldn't let you run the "watching the paint dry committee" let alone a race track.

Now back to the main topic, I don't understand why you would shut the track down completely for the rest of the year. You are starting to get the best weather of the year and I don't understand why you would have 1 or 2 main events and promote the hell out of them. I can't see the track making any money sitting there vacant.

[WideOpen]

Now back to the main topic, I don't understand why you would shut the track down completely for the rest of the year. You are starting to get the best weather of the year and I don't understand why you would have 1 or 2 main events and promote the hell out of them. I can't see the track making any money sitting there vacant.

Answer: Robert Hart owns the track. He has it back. FASCAR again?

[Nickel and Dime]

From what I've heard, this was a decision made higher up than Don and he had no choice. Maybe someone from FASCAR will give up the real scope. Right now it's just the rumor mill hard at work. I do know that rubber checks will not pay the bills though. I received one of them myself.

[georgep]

Looked into that place YEARS ago. A guy named Bo owned it and it needed to be rebuilt to make it race able. The hold up back then was Brian Norman and I just could not get any type of sponsorship to make a run at it worth our time and money.
I have not been back there since. If you remember this guy BO then you know how long ago, I think around 1978 or 1979.
I am afraid that the cost of pavement vs dirt is the real reason for the low car count.

[Jane]

Ok OSF, what about my front rear-end?? I know my a-arms (one of them) was bad and had to be replaced and now my baby car (with 210,000) miles on it is getting a much needed tune-up but not sure what you mean there sweetie. Oh, and I have come to appreciate dirt and it is not just for slinging but has some pretty good racing on it. In fact, soon, you will see how much I love dirt now.

Anyway sweetie, have a great day. Today is Jennifer Clouser and Rick Warren's birthdays and such a beautiful day and believe it or not, I think you would make an excellent track manager. I remember a time you thought about moving to Bronson and watching over that track and it would be a really nice place to live.

Anyway, I did get a rubber check this week from some scam artist who said cash it, take 10% out and then send the rest in a western union wire to such and such person. Funny thing was the check was drawn on Bank of America which is right in front of my house. Took it to them and they said yes, they have that account but no where near that amount of money. What they wanted me to do was cash the check thru my bank and then wire the rest to someone in England. Little did they know, my account had a total amount of .40 in it. Wrote the guy back and said what are you doing here, the bank said this check is no good. He asked for the routing number and account number, which I sent him, and have not heard one word from him since. And he did have the check overnighted to me by UPS. So I have had my fill of rubber checks this week and scam artists.

[Edm]

Anyway, I did get a rubber check this week from some scam artist who said cash it, take 10% out and then send the rest in a western union wire to such and such person. Funny thing was the check was drawn on Bank of America which is right in front of my house. Took it to them and they said yes, they have that account but no where near that amount of money. What they wanted me to do was cash the check thru my bank and then wire the rest to someone in England. Little did they know, my account had a total amount of .40 in it. Wrote the guy back and said what are you doing here, the bank said this check is no good. He asked for the routing number and account number, which I sent him, and have not heard one word from him since. And he did have the check overnighted to me by UPS. So I have had my fill of rubber checks this week and scam artists.

Its called the Nigerian check scam. Its been around for years and I usually have some fun at their expense and try to keep them hanging on for as long as possible. It happened to me when I tried to sell my 72 Blazer on Craigslist. I had all kinds of scum bags trying some form of ripping me off. One of these jackasses actually came out to my house and offered me a Capital One check for over the amount and give him the rest to make it road worthy. Nice little scam but I did my research and Capital One will make anyone who buys a vehicle with one of their checks get that vehicle inspected AFTER its purchased, if it hasn't been registered within 6 mos. If it is not road worthy then they will cancel the check. It can take weeks for all this too happen. I was lucky and did my homework, but I still had a little fun with him. The FTC says this happens every single day.

[Old Sunshine Fan]

Jane - Stop The Bubble Machine

JANE - STOP THE BUBBLE MACHINE on that check deal..

That scam has been around for some time (hey, who ever is going to work with EDM on current news items - could you include Jane in that effort).

I hope the routing info you gave that clown is the one on HIS check and has nothing to do with your account(s).

Lots of luck... I don't trust anyone anymore... everyone is out offering a free lunch and I FINALLY figured out there is no such thing (I know - I know, I'm not the sharpest knife in the drawer).

OH, Thanks for your vote of confidence regarding OSF running a track... you are DAMN RIGHT.... I could do a super fine job (just keep me out of the food stand until after the race and all will be fine). And yes, the plan was to move to Bronson, paint walls on Mondays, cut grass during the week and wait until the burgers were ready on Sat's, however Mike and Jane moved on to bigger and better things in their lives and I can't see moving to Bronson now (althought thats a great little community and the track is much much better than it was years ago before the Copes got it - Its a class track and one that the area can be proud of). I hope to see it do well under Tony (never met the man).