buckaroo
Here kitty, kitty, kitty
Okay folks, for all you that live in the area, there is going to be racing at the track on May 30 (Saturday) with two different types of cars. Super Late Models and late models. Here's the story from one of our local reporters who checked out the story...
Story by: Corey Latham -- [email protected]
North Wilkesboro, NC(May 21, 2009) -- Well, we've all heard the stories before. A potential buyer for the once great North Wilkesboro Speedway.
Every time the people involved have backed out or were never really as interested as we were to believe. A few years ago it went as far as having an actual schedule put out with over 25 events featuring touring series from all across the country. But it too fizzled when the investors backed out.
Since then, when rumors arise about the track, people just shake their head knowing it's not to be. But now Charles Collins(pictured at left in the center between Mike Robertson(left) and Ryan Robertson(right) in top photo), a Georgia business man with big plans for the speedway. And those plans include racing...........within the next two weeks. I had the pleasure of sitting down with Mr. Collins to find out exactly what is going on at the track and as a bonus we had the first Late Model on the track in over 15 years to boot.
Corey Latham(CL): First off who is Charles Collins?
Charles Collins(CC): I'm a contractor from Georgia, I've been building shopping centers and what not, and now I reside here in North Wilkesboro.
CL: How did you end up here?
CC: I've had this plan in the making for over 10 years. Not so much North Wilkesboro Speedway, but a resort, so now I've incorporated the Speedway into those plans. I had an investor a few years back, but he took his own route and moved on and is doing the same thing I'm doing down in Alabama. But I'm going to make this work right here.
CL: How did you get in touch with Bruton Smith, and are you buying the track outright?
CC: I've been in contact with Bruton before and we came to an agreement on a 3 month lease. I have the option to extend the lease or just buy it and that's what I intend to do, I'm buying the track. I have every intention to put a resort here. Water Park, Amusement Park, condos, all sorts of stuff.
CL: About the track, have any cars been on it and how is the track condition?
CC: We have not had any cars on the track at all, we are getting ready to make history in just a little while. I've had the president from another racing series here earlier today, and he was very impressed, he said the track looked better than some tracks they race on now. I had planned to put sealer on it, but the Goodyear man was out here today and said we just need to get some rubber on it. The rest of the track is good, the walls are fine, the catch fence is good, and the aluminum bleachers are just like the day after the last race in 1996. I'm working on building new bathrooms, but if they aren't ready in time for the race I'll bring in Port-a-Johns, it will be ready to go. A few coats of paint will be put on in the next few days and it will be ready.
CL: The race coming up is a Super-Late 200 lapper and a 100 lap Late-Model race. Being that this is one of the most historical tracks ever, why such short notice on the race, 2 weeks Isn't very long to promote it.
CC: I was going to have a tractor pull event here a few weeks ago, and the tractor pull people called me up just a few days before it saying that all the competitors were going to another event somewhere else. I had already spent quite a bit in advertising for the event and I needed to do something to calm the nay-sayers. So were going to have a race, and they will see we are for real.
CL: Alright, we have a had a couple of fiasco's in the past year about drivers getting paid for races. Is the purse your advertising guaranteed?
CC: It is. $7500 for the winner of the Super-Lates, and $4000 to the winner of the Late-Models. And of course it will pay on back through the field, I'll have that sheet for you Saturday.
CL: The date this race is on, is conflicting with every series and weekly track around, how are you going to get cars here?
CC: There are a lot Late-Model and Super-Late drivers around. You know It's an option to them. I'm already getting a lot of feedback on it, and have tons of drivers already calling. Even drivers from right here at the local tracks in the vicinity, some can't run every week anymore and they are coming to run at North Wilkesboro. Lot's of drivers are playing "pick-and-choose" where they race this year, and the track is localized so It's not a long haul for them. I've got some drivers that have called that are bringing both types of cars with them. If I get 20 cars in each race it will be a good race, and I'm expecting the crowd turnout to be good also.
CL: How about advertising, how is anyone going to know that there is a race on such short notice?
CC: It is being advertised on the radio right now, and starting next week it will be advertised heavily on cable TV. Word is getting around trust me, we are about to have our phones burst into flames. With the purse we're advertising coming straight out of the box, word is spreading fast.
CL: How about officials, who is running that aspect of it?
CC: I've got a meeting tomorrow with a bunch of officials, ones that have done it before from other local tracks. I'm not going to name them now until they have signed on, but they will handle everything that weekend inside the infield, it will be done right. We have already got the deal done with Goodyear, tires will be here, and fuel will be available at the track also.
CL: What kind of rules are they going to follow?
CC: The Supers will go by the PASS series rules, and the Late Models Stocks will follow the UARA rulebook. We are going to have the meeting and make a few changes that are things that could help everyone run without changing a lot, we'll have that info out on Saturday. The entry fee is $150, and that includes the driver and one crew member, all others in the pits will be $20.
CL: What about the future, are you going to schedule anymore races this year?
CC: My plan when I buy the track here shortly is to add the safer barriers, and to repave it. I have already talked with the paving company and they are ready to go when I tell them. As far as this year, we are going to see how it goes after the first race and then decide what we want to do, like I said I've already had other series here looking at it and they are ready, so for sure you will see more racing here.
As our conversation continued for the next hour or so, I was still wanting to know that this all was real. Mr. Collins proceeded to show me all the necessary permits related to having the event, and all the paperwork involved, it was for real. There are still things to be ironed out on the procedure of the event, but we'll have all of that first thing Saturday. As of right now, practice and qualifying will be held on Friday, with the main events rolling off at 12 noon Saturday, May 30th. I was harping hard on Mr. Collins about having the event on Sunday, as I had heard lots of interest from drivers who would run that day, but as of right now they are sticking to the original schedule.
We walked out to the track so I could have a closer look, I had been up to the track numerous times since it had closed, but not in the past year, I was expecting the worst. But the worst was no where to be found, the track looked the same as I remembered it that last day in 1996, when Jeff Gordon took home the final checkered flag. The pavement was my main concern, I figured with years of weather and no rubber to protect it the texture would be close to gravel. It was just fine, matter of fact a lot better than some tracks that have weekly racing now. Everything was good with the track and with a little paint and elbow grease, a race could be had today.
It did get even better, as we had to open up the back gate to let a car hauler in. Ryan Robertson was there in his brand new car, and he became the first driver to circle the track in a Late Model since the early 90's. The first few laps were rather dusty, as 14 years of dirt settling was getting quite a stirring up. But as the laps clicked off, the dust went away and it was just like ole' times, the roar of a race car at North Wilkesboro, as Robertson turned up the wick lap after lap. I encourage all fans to come out and enjoy the show, it's been 14 years in the making with lots of broken promises, but now it is going to happen.
More info on this event will be coming over the weekend here on RACE22.com ... For any questions regarding the race, Mr. Collins can be reached at the speedway at 336-818-0832.
