So, How Do We Do It!
Henry Jones
Sunday September 13 2009, 9:51 PM
Great times were had during the Motorsports "hat trick" known as Columbia, Hillsborough and Augusta.So how do we, as motorsport fans, help Jeff and Racers Reunion tie all of this together and get this movement to the next level?
Johnny Mallonee
@johnny-mallonee   15 years ago
Tim you shouldnt feel that way about where you do or do not belong you got to look at it this way --if you didnt belong do you think you would have been allowed to stand proud like you did?? Think about that--there were people that just said wow and then there were the ones that asked for a hug,big or small Tim you were a hero that day to one two or maybe a hundred or more.I dont think you need to go to home depot to get close to the fans because they were there for you saturday And I saw one fan that was especially beaming out there in the crowd,there was one special lady in the crowd that was prouder of you than any speckled pup in the pet shop window so now my friend I am very proud to have been able to stand with you among those great people we admire and that my friend makes you a Racers Reunion celebrity and an Augusta International Raceway celebrity and in our eyes you will be the "Legend"
Johnny Mallonee
@johnny-mallonee   15 years ago
and that mr leeming is what dreams are started out of and memories are fed on so close your eyes,smile and let the Lady in Black rub that castrol and burnt tire perfume on you because then --you will have-------------------------------------------------------memories shhhhhhh listen -- be quiet -- hear that?? 383 or - - - 413
Henry Jones
@henry-jones   15 years ago
One of the things we focus on during the annual Augusta event are the gladiators of Motorsports, those that are not as well known as the former Stars of the sport. Those Stars have certainly helped the sport prosper for seven decades, but the gladiators like Tim and Johnny and the thousands more like you and someone like Bob Moore are the reasons we do what we do.Take a look at the Augusta Hall of Fame inductions from just this year: Herman McTier, Bill Howell, Buddy Gormley, Lester Durham and Ty Powell. None were Stars but all were someone's hero!We presented Mr. Powell's award several months ago in his home because of terminal illness. He passed away recently. Mr. Durham has been planning all year, while fighting Cancer, to attend his ceremony. He had a bad day on Saturday and could not make the event. One inductee almost did not make it though the event because of balance issues. Those are what this is all about.So lets say thanks to the Stars, most who are still very busy to this day, and lets give thanks to the gladiators whom we are loosing every year without the credt they so deserve.Can we figure out the "Formula for Success" and pack 1000 or several thousand of these gladiators into an event somewhere in 2010 before more of these gentlemen and ladies pass on.? Then perhaps the next year we use another location to gather those gladiators from that region. This is one of the things we need to figure out so Mr. Gilder can continue to expand the base for Historic/Vintage Motorsports future growth. He is but one man, this site is producting thousands of interested individuals who would love to gather. WE just need to figure out how and where to have this monumental gathering.Tim/Johnny...................how large are your backyards?
George Pavlisko2
@george-pavlisko2   15 years ago
YOU did GREAT. I was SHOCKED when I was asked for an autograph. I am a Yankee Transplant who ran up North and a VERY little in Florida.I spoke with Jeff about maybe uping the deal in 2010. Will inform Jeff SOON when I get the info back to me.The GROWTH of this type of event is mostley becuase us Baby Boomers refuse to get old. I never had the $$$ to own my own stuff so my dad footed the bills. Well now I can afford to go play thanks to my dads business.I will do what I can when I can to help make this grow. It is more fun than the exotics but we need to get the real boss out to see what is up, the wife's. Mine has not been near a track since 1999 and will go to all the INDOOR shows or where we can take the motor coach so she has A/C. Allergy!Anyway, a little off track but you did a great job just need more RACE CARS to attend. I think some did not come due to Richmond but that is another can of worms.
Jeff Gilder
@jeff-gilder   15 years ago
Thanks to all for the support. As you can see Henry...I am not alone...there are MANY who work to make RR happen. We could not have progressed to where we are today alone. Every time we host or participate in an event we gain more support from passionate volunteers who believe in what we are doing and want to be part of it. That my friends is the formula for success we need...other than $$$$...which will eventually come. I wish money was not an issue, but it is. As we near the $200k mark in expenses in less than 2 years, we have to consider the the money factor and continue to look for potential sponsorships. I could boost membership to unbelievable numbers by advertising to the masses...I've tried it ...and we attracted the wrong folks. With massive web traffic we would be a candidate for corporate advertisers....but I don't want to jeopardize the quality of the membership here for quantity. I want this web site be be made up of folks who know what we stand for and want to be here because of who we are and what we do....just like the folks who attend our events...passionate race fans who do not want to let the great history of our sport die. Just remember, we are stronger united than individually. It is not our wish to "take over" anything....but rather to use our united efforts to make all the groups we support stronger. If we could duplicate what Tim Leeming and the TSCM folks are doing with other chapters around the country...we could move at a much greater pace toward our goals. Just think of the impact they will make in a year's time...that my friends is a "grass roots" effort not unlike how our sport was popularized. And think for a moment the impact this TSCM team will have on the next Love Chevrolet Columbia Speedway RacersReunion. I want our progress to be steady but sound. We need a good foundation to be successfull...and "grass roots" are very strong and make a great foundation. Speaking of "grass roots" pray for the roots of the 12,000 dollars worth of celebration bermuda grass that is now sprouting at the Historic Columbia Speedway..."A Cayce Events Facility".
Henry Jones
@henry-jones   15 years ago
Jeff,I totally agree on the movement of the Cayce track to Event status and the group here in Augusta will move full steam toward making that a reality.More on that during the coming months!
Captn Jack
@captn-jack   15 years ago
How do I get some of those cards ?