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

DATE: TUESDAY, March 30, 1993                   TAG: 9303300330
SECTION: VIRGINIA                    PAGE: C-4   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: JOEL TURNER STAFF WRITER
DATELINE:                                 LENGTH: Medium

RACING PROMOTER WANTS 3RD SEASON AT VICTORY STADIUM

Despite sparse attendance during the first two years of stock-car racing at Victory Stadium, Taylor said Monday he wants to return for a third season of racing.

He hopes it will be more profitable than the previous two years.

Taylor said he will ask Roanoke City Council for permission to race on 15 Friday nights this summer.

He wants the racing to begin in May.

But some council members who voted for the first two years of racing said Monday they aren't so sure they will vote for a third season.

"We will have to take a look at it. It hasn't been too successful so far, and I thought it was a dead issue," said Councilman Howard Musser.

"I think we've got to re-evaluate the situation. I want to take a new look at it," Councilman William White said.

Despite council members' reservations, Taylor said he hopes city officials will be more cooperative on racing now that Gary Fenton, parks and recreation manager, has left to take a similar job in Columbus, Ohio.

"Gary was opposed to racing and I hope the city will be easier to work with now," Taylor said.

"He was the one who wanted us to take down and put up the guardrail and fences every time.

City Attorney Wilburn Dibling said Taylor will have to sign a new contract with the city if he wants racing again.

White said the low attendance is an issue that council will have to consider. He said he's not sure there is a heavy demand for racing.

Councilman Delvis "Mac" McCadden said that if the races don't damage the stadium, he doesn't object to them.

McCadden said Taylor will have to settle legal issues dealing with the money he owes the city from last year's racing before he can have races again.

But Dibling said the city has received all that it was owed, although some of Taylor's other debtors weren't paid in full.

When the racing started, Taylor predicted it could generate $50,000 to $75,000 a year for the city. But he said it would take three or four years to build up the crowds.

The racing generated $11,769 for the city last year.

The city's income for the first year was $7,675.

Taylor requested 20 nights of racing last year, but council authorized eight and there were only six held.

One race was canceled because of the weather and another was moved to Franklin County Speedway, another track owned by Taylor.

Thar race, on Labor Day, was shifted partly because Taylor wanted to avoid the cost of putting up and taking down safety fences for only one race.

Keywords:
AUTO RACING