Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: SATURDAY, April 6, 1991                   TAG: 9104060245
SECTION: VIRGINIA                    PAGE: A-3   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: JOEL TURNER MUNICIPAL WRITER
DATELINE:                                 LENGTH: Medium

CAMPAIGN TO REVERSE RACING VOTE IS FAILING

The four council members who agreed to allow the races said Friday that they have not heard anything to cause them to change their minds.

Opponents have launched a phone campaign to try to persuade council to rescind its 4-3 vote to allow promoter Whitey Taylor to hold races three days this year.

Although the issue was approved this week, ordinances must go through two readings. The second will come Monday night, so opponents are trying to get a large crowd at council's meeting.

"At this point, I haven't changed my mind. No one knows what it will be like until we have a trial [race]," Vice Mayor Howard Musser said.

"I don't see why reasonable people would be upset with a one-time trial under the tight conditions and restrictions that we have set," Councilman James Harvey said.

Councilmen William White and David Bowers, who also favored a trial race for Taylor, said they believe the restrictions will protect the city, Roanoke Memorial Hospital and nearby residents.

White said he has received more than 30 calls on the issue since council voted Monday.

"The city manager, city attorney and city staff spent a month working out an agreement to deal with the concerns," White said.

Racing fans have responded to the opponents' phone campaign with one of their own, calling the council members who supported the promoter's request and urging them to stand firm.

Bowers said he believes there may be a misunderstanding about council's action. Council agreed to allow Taylor to hold races three days this year - May 27, July 5 and Sept. 2. Some residents mistakenly believe council approved weekly races, he said.

The city will have the right to cancel the final two days if the first race causes too many problems.

Harvey said he will visit the hospital and Cancer Treatment Center of Southwest Virginia on May 27 during the first race and check to see if the noise disturbs patients.

"I will be the first one to say the rest of the races will be canceled if there are any problems during the first trial," Harvey said.

South Roanoke residents are trying to forge a coalition with leaders in other neighborhoods to persuade council to rescind its action.

"We're aligning ourselves with neighborhoods who don't think there should be racing next to residential areas," said Charlie Coulter, vice chairman of Neighbors in South Roanoke.

"This is not just a South Roanoke issue. We've spoken to some civic leaders for other neighborhoods, and they agree that residential areas are not the place for racing," Coulter said. "We are trying to break the myth that it is just South Roanoke against racing."

Fliers have been distributed urging residents to call council members and to attend Monday night's meeting. They give the phone numbers of council members.

Keywords:
AUTO RACING