TERRE HAUTE — As the racing season rapidly draws to a close, any chance that fans will get one final opportunity to see racing at the Terre Haute Action Track this summer appears to be slipping away with each passing day.
Even one of the few voices that has any say in the track’s future, director of competition Tim Wolfe, is not optimistic we’ll see racing at the Wabash Valley Fairgrounds for the remainder of the season.
He paints a disappointing, bleak picture for the future of racing at the track. He shares the view of many that the longer the track sits idle, the closer it comes to being a victim of commercial development.
“I don’t think it’s any secret that the lack of [racing] activity down there plays into the hands of those who want to make [commercializing] happen,” said the concerned Wolfe.
“Without the proper funding, it doesn’t matter who has the track. It’s just another failure. I don’t want to see that happen.”
Current track promoter Dave Allison has apparently washed his hands of running any more races at the Fairgrounds this year and has put his contract up for sale.
“He [Allison] did offer me the chance to take the place over. I talked to several people in Terre Haute about getting some financial support, but I’ve not got back any response,” confided Wolfe.
”With the way things have gone this season, I’m not sure if one could find any sponsorship support for any type of show. They need to get an event the caliber of a World of Outlaws show, where you can make money for the track and for the city.”
Wolfe addressed speculation that a big-name NASCAR driver might step in and bail out the Action Track, much like Tony Stewart, Ken Schrader and Dale Earnhardt Jr. have done at other premier dirt tracks.
He doesn’t see that playing out here.
“You have to remember those NASCAR drivers don’t lease tracks; they buy them. That can’t and won’t happen here,” he said.
Wolfe says his boss isn’t against subleasing the half-mile dirt oval. Fairgrounds officials are adamant that any such move would have to be cleared through them first.
“I don’t want to speculate. Right now he [Allison] has made up his mind to hold off on things. He still has the contract. He’s done worrying about things.”
That’s something Wolfe hasn’t done and won’t do any time soon. He’s committed to getting the track back up and running.
“Getting the chance to be part of racing at the track has always been a dream of mine. I’m not about to give up on it. Terre Haute should be the centerpiece of USAC racing. It should be the showcase of dirt-track racing anywhere. I won’t stop trying to get it back where it belongs.”
I I I
n Hut Hundred future — While the prospects for the Action Track appear bleak, there appears to be a glimmer of hope that one of its most prestigious events — the Hut Hundred — might still happen in 2007.
Word could come as early as the end of this week that the USAC midget event might find a new home and date for ‘07.
An area track operator who wishes to remain nameless until the final contract is signed has expressed interest and has been in negotiations with USAC to host the event the first weekend in October.
If it happens, look for a Saturday afternoon show with Sunday being reserved as a rain date. Longtime supporters of the event can only wait and hope plans for the Hut materialize.
Joe Buckles can be reached by e-mail at jbuckles@verizon.net.
Sports Columns
Trackside: Sun is setting on Terre Haute Action Track’s season
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RAMBLIN' RECK: Sunday promises to be big day in Indy
Sunday promises to be a super day in Indianapolis.
It’s the 97th running of the Indianapolis 500 followed by Indiana vs. Miami in the third game of the National Basketball Association playoffs. -
TRACKSIDE: Local drivers, owners looking to have strong night at Tony Hulman Classic
In its rich 43-year history, the Tony Hulman Sprint Car Classic has long carried on a strong local racing tradition.
From its early beginnings starting in 1971, the U.S. Auto Club-sanctioned event has been the annual centerpiece of the racing calendar at the Terre Haute Action Track as well as a key stop on the USAC sprint schedule and one of the most sought after wins in big league sprint-car racing. -
Shooters compete to fight cancer
A team of employees at Taghleef, formally A.E.T, would like to give a personal invite for you to join in on a lot of fun while helping save lives.
Cindy and Mark Wilguess are the inspiration behind the Taghleef Team. Cindy herself fought this battle with cancer and won. Last year she led her team to be the No. 1 fundraisers in the Relay for Life. -
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A former Terre Haute North track and cross country standout, Ethan Page is the race director as the race falls under the reign of Page’s new company, Crossroads Events. -
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If you had to pick one word that would describe the 2013 Indiana State baseball season, it would have to be frustration.
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TRACKSIDE: Terre Haute's Carmichael enjoying strong spring in modifieds, stocks
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From Terre Haute to the major leagues: Phegley's play could earn him promotion to Chicago
Josh Phegley's debut in the Major Leagues could be coming to a ballpark near you.
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There's an expert at Parker's Archery
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TRACKSIDE: Rain still a pain for Wabash Valley racing organizers
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RAMBLIN’ RECK: Pacers having a ‘Garden Party’
The Indiana Pacers are back in form and looking good.
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KENNY BAYLESS: Sponsors sought for 'Ladies Only' event at Terre Haute Sporting Clays
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College Report: Lively earned collegiate upgrade with strong play
Hillary Lively signed to play Division II basketball at Maryville (Mo.) during her senior year at North Vermillion, but those plans changed and she would up at nearby Danville Area Community College — where she recently concluded an outstanding two-year career.
Lively was impressive enough to earn a Division I scholarship to Southeast Missouri State of the Ohio Valley Conference, and both her future and past college coaches think she will continue to succeed there.
“She fits what we need,” SEMO coach Ty Margenthaler said. “She has college experience, she is strong and physical and plays well around the basket and moves well.
“Her strength, rebounding and touch around the basket will be a big help. On the defensive end, she’ll be able to guard a true center.” -
RAMBLIN' RECK: It’s May … a time for horses and horsepower
It’s the first day of May, a great month for sports.
It begins with the Kentucky Derby on Saturday. My Old Kentucky Home is played before the start of the race on which hundreds of bets will be placed by folks who ordinarily don’t bet on thoroughbred horse racing.
A week later, practice begins for the Indianapolis 500.
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Terre Haute runner sets up race to help Boston
Having competed in the Boston Marathon once before in 2003, 35-year-old Majel Wells of Terre Haute thought she should give it another try in 2013.
“My goal was just to finish and enjoy Boston,” she reflected this week. “I had an injury [runner’s knee] beforehand, so I wasn’t too worried about beating my time from 2003 [4 hours, 10.20 seconds].
“But nobody cares about what your time is at Boston anyway.”
From what I’ve heard over the years, she’s right. Unless you’re a super-serious runner, the Boston Marathon has been more about taking in the atmosphere and having fun than placing in the top 50, although Wells was pleased that she beat her previous time by finishing in 3:55.19 on April 15.
Obviously, her race time wasn’t the most vivid memory that Wells took away from her 2013 Boston experience. -
Amey Takes Aim: NHL playoffs to put TVs to good use
If Jenny had known, she probably wouldn’t have bought that TV.
But four or five years ago, my Fathers Day present — for those unfamiliar with Amey family traditions, the Fathers Day one is “let’s get something we all really want and pretend it’s a gift for Dad” — was a 42-inch Vizio. It’s been used even more than the cell phone I never would have bought for myself, or the TomTom that disappeared since Jenny’s smartphone arrived.
And it came with high-def.
I’m not going to insult you by telling you how great high-def is, because to do so would be to imply that you are even farther behind the technological curve than I am. I’m guessing, however, that not all of you have yet discovered what it does for hockey. -
Foot Notes: ISU track athletes looking to keep improving at Drake Relays
Indiana State’s track schedule has helped its men’s and women’s teams escape the glacial Wabash Valley weather and enjoy warm days in Auburn, Ala., and Knoxville, Tenn.
With the Sycamores’ track facility basically laid to rest for competition and construction on a new one planned near the Wabash River to begin in 2014, major kudos go to everyone involved for continuing to produce athletes that are NCAA contenders who race with some of the world’s best.
Some of ISU’s current athletes are hoping for season-best performances this weekend against strong competition in the Drake Relays.
Former Sycamore NCAA pole-vault champion Kylie Hutson, who competes professionally for Nike and trains in her hometown of Terre Haute, also has been in Des Moines, Iowa, to compete in the Pole Vault in the Mall on Wednesday night. -
REDNECK QUAKER: Variety of birds to search for in turkey hunting
My father-in-law, Donnell Dunn of Jacksonville, Fla., is a retired engineer from J.I. Case and an avid reader and loves information on anything he takes interest in. He has five patents under his belt during his career.
Donnell took great interest in the Turkey World Slam display at Gander Mountain and thought each bird needed some info to help people understand more about them. -
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Ramblin’ Reck: Sato first Foyt winner since 2002
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Former South players to play in Saylor benefit game
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The former Terre Haute South High School boys basketball coach, who’s been battling cancer this year, has been traveling back and forth to the MD Anderson Cancer Center in Houston for chemotherapy treatments. -
COLLEGE REPORT: Valley prep athletes getting ready for next level
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RAMBLIN’ RECK: Pacers closing out a nice season
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Amey Takes Aim: Can’t bottle the joy of Amey vacations
The first bad sign was the Gatorade bottle.
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And the person stuck in the same traffic jam with us, the one with the existential license plate YMIHR4, couldn’t have asked a more pertinent question.
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You would be wrong. -
Redneck Quaker: Mascari gets thrills from turkey hunting
Annie Mascari is a beautiful, vibrant, 26-year-old lady that loves the outdoors.
She comes from a large family of four brothers and a sister and lives the teachings of good family values.
Olivia Rightly let me know that I “should talk to my teacher at St. Pats School, Ms. Mascari, because she’s taken a turkey.”
As I shook Annie’s hand, I could feel the energy she has for life. As proof, the first time she went up in an airplane, she jumped out of it!
She’s also quite the hunter. Mascari picked up a used PSE bow for $30, one for a left-hander because her left eye is dominate for shooting. The Page Arrows are her choice for broadheads. -
RAMBLIN’ RECK: Louisville gets two shots at NCAA title
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REDNECK QUAKER: Learning to shoot clays a great experience
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RAMBLIN’ RECK: Out with the hoops, in with the bats
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COLLEGE REPORT: Conferences honor Valley softball players
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FROM THE PRESSBOX: Content McKenna has enjoyed seeing ISU's progress
It all happened so fast in June 2010.
One minute, Kevin McKenna was head coach of the Indiana State men’s basketball program. Then — poof! — he was gone.
McKenna resigned from his head coaching position at ISU on June 13, 2010 to take an assistant coach position on Dana Altman’s then-burgeoning University of Oregon staff. - More Sports Columns Headlines
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