Forum: Oklahomatidbits.com General Forum (go)
Moderators:  /  David Smith Jr

I think a clearer picture, like the ones that use to grace one of the years programs back in the 80's when programs were programs, would look good on the front or back. If it didn't cost an arm and a leg to do, maybe do the photo copy of what Mike Howard took and posted above and put "Rememmber Fairgrounds Speedway." That would be on the front. On the back put "Boycott Oklahoma State Fairgrounds" with however it is you want. It the money went back to the people who done the shirts, maybe it wouldn't cost as much.

Just as long as the money sold on the t-shirts don't go to Save Fair Speedway or any other personal use.

FRIDAY, AUGUST 20, A.M.: I couldn't bring myself to write about this last night.

Others have reported that all of the prominent features (other than the exterior fence, the pit pavement and the photography towers) of Our Speedway have been reduced to rubble.

I stood there alone at sundown . . . the first sunset in generations without the Grandstand. The first sunset of my entire life without it. And the hurt, the rage, and the emptiness consumed me.

I watched a flock of helpless pigeons swooping back and forth. They were desperately searching for their home.

And I realized that I don't really have any more insight or place to be than those confused pigeons.

By this morning, the pigeons had gone. But in the morning light, the vast rubble pile looked even more bleak and lifeless. Loading semi-trailer loads of debris was the order of the day.

And for some reason I thought about an old Pretenders song, "My City is Gone" (kids who grew up in the rap generation might recognize this tune as Rush Limbaugh's opening theme) Chrissie Hynde wrote it about how she felt when the Ohio of her youth had been "paved over."

And with apologies to Ms. Hynde, I've rewritten it:

MY SPEEDWAY IS GONE (by Hynde and Boycott)

I went back to OK City

But my Speedway was gone

There was no Grandstand

There’s no racin’ going on

The half-mile had disappeared

All my favorite places

My Speedway had been pulled down

Reduced to parking spaces

Pew, wee, way to be, OK City

Well I went back to OKCity

But my family was gone

I stood at the pit gate

There was nobody home

I was stunned and amazed

My childhood memories

Slowly swirled past

Like the dust blowing in the breeze

Pew, wee, way to be, OK City

I went back to OK City

But my pretty track site

Had been paved down the middle

By a government that had no pride

The Fairgrounds of OK City

Had been replaced by horse stalls

And lies filled the air

From May Avenue to City Hall

Pew, wee, way to be, OK City

Sign me up for the Boycott page!

If Greg's contract has as many escape clauses as the one Lanny had, he's probably already got a half-dozen ways out. Of couse all those escape clauses in Lanny's contract probably favored the greedy, egg-sucking jerks at OSF and the City (while putting it to the little guys).

Sadly, someone had stolen the Save State Fair Speedway shirt by this morning. I guess somebody wanted an autograph. Just don't try to wear it anywhere, because I've got a photo of it from yesterday!

Some came from hard times,

some from a silver spoon.

Towbars and trailers,

just to pay their dues.

Dealers, sportsmen, and lads with a need to prove,

and make the noise with all the boys on May Avenue.

Halibrand magnesium,

next to a stolen spare,

wheel to wheel and dirty,

elbows in the air.

One more shot at glory ,

and maybe the racin' news,

and make it known that they had shown on May Avenue.

Cloud of dust goes skyward,

bright lights shinin' down,

several dozen cowboys,

look to make their rounds.

One trip to the window,

into the night they flew,

and for one week more they were lookin' for May Avenue.

Ya know it's always been there,

hoped it always would,

every generation wants to do some good,

sacrifice the easy life until their time is through,

so they can say they had their day on May Avenue..........

So, God bless the boys who made the noise.........on May Avenue.

What we need are some new T-shirts along the lines of "Remember Fairgrounds Speedway" and "Boycott the Oklahoma State Fair." I'd buy some. Anybody with me?

My Speedway is Gone!!! Thanks. I've cried a lot of tears but this made me bawl out loud like a big baby. Well done!!

The song that comes to my mind is "They paved paradise to put a parking lot".

UGH!!!

There are rumors out there that there is a sign where the grandstand was stating what the area will become. Anyone seen this sign?