Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: TUESDAY, September 7, 1993 TAG: 9310150343
SECTION: EDITORIAL PAGE: A6 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE:
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
Speedway operator Whitey Taylor admits he had to give on this one - and rightly so. Faced with the threat of being shut down as a public nuisance, he agreed recently to separate the spectator area from the parking lot with a fence and to hire more, and tougher, security, both efforts to keep down the open drinking at the race track.
The track has no liquor license, so drinking is strictly B.Y.O.B. The theory is that without uncontrolled access to their vehicles throughout the long afternoon and evening, race fans won't be able to haul in as much of the stuff - at least not as openly. A controlled entrance, combined with a security staff serious about curbing the alcohol being brought in, could pretty effectively cut off the supply line.
The staff must be serious about it, though, and for the staff to be serious, Taylor must be serious. It will take a good-faith effort on his part to see a meaningful change in the crowd's behavior.
Taylor is right when he says drinking at these events is almost inevitable and virtually unstoppable, just as it is at college football games. But there is a difference between discreet, moderate drinking at public events, and open, rowdy drunkenness - and the tone set by an event's sponsor has much to do with which of these becomes the accepted norm.
In the past, Taylor has set a defiant tone. The verbal sparring between him and Sheriff W.Q. Overton, though entertaining, was getting just a little too heated. Both can be accused of a certain amount of public posturing. But, as Taylor learned, there really is no winning an open battle with the law - and that is how it must be.
Taylor may find that losing this one can work to his advantage in the long run. Along with the measures designed to bring drinking at the speedway under control, Taylor agreed to come up with a plan to improve the food service, ensuring that it will comply with Health Department regulations.
All of these steps sound like good business practices that ought to make Franklin County Speedway a better-run operation. And that just might translate into more fans than ever showing up for an inexpensive evening of family entertainment. That shouldn't be too hard for Taylor to swallow.
Keywords:
AUTO RACING
by CNB