[News] 2009 Banquet Decision

[2010 ARP Mailing List]

To the 2009 racers and their fans and teams:

As all of you know the 2009 season has been filed with many set-backs. We
are dealing with a very unstable economy which has filtered down to our
sports level in many ways.

We have exhausted every ounce of strength we could in trying to come up
with a solution to the funding problem we face concerning the annual year
end awards celebration.

It would be very unfair to our 2009 points champions and many others who
participated in the 2009 season at Atoka who also deserve recognition, if
we can not adequately provide the recognition they so deserve.

It is with utmost regret I announce that the 2009 Awards Banquet has been
cancelled due to a lack of funds and adequate support from many
directions.

I ask everyone to keep the faith that in time there will be the
recognition these 2009 racers so very much deserve. When it will come, I
have no idea right now.

I also ask everyone not to place blame on anyone specifically for this
decision, or for the events leading up to this decision.

As someone who has been an integral part of every Banquet since 1999, I am
affected most deeply by the end results of this decision. At the same
time, I do know how much money it takes to put on a good awards
celebration. In the past we collectively have spent over $5000, just in
awards alone. We looked at cutting down the number of awards and at a bare
minimum, the funding for a bare bones celebration still was in the $3000
price range. Our available funds are in the low hundreds.

This past season we have had a definite split in support from our family
of racers. Poor decisions and choices on many fronts have contributed to
this. In post season queries, we have had very little response from the
racers who have raced with us. It seems almost like some out there are
afraid to speak up and state or show their support. I hope in the future,
this soaps-like drama will end, allow us all to come back together and
help Atoka, and karting in our area, grow to what it once was. We will not
survive with out your support, and if that's our destiny, so be it. But we
pledge to continue to do our best in giving our family of racers a safe
and competitive place to enjoy kart racing.

To the champions and proposed award winners; keep your face pointing
upwards showing the pride you have in yourselves. You deserve all the
accolades I could state here and much more. You are our 2009 champions and
we thank you for you dedication to be the best you can be. I am very proud
of each and every one of you for your hard work, and your sportsmanship
both on and off the track.

I promise each and every one of you, I will do my best to see you get the 
deserved time in the spotlight you have coming to you. We are very proud
of each and every one of you. I am sorry the awards celebration has to be
cancelled like this.

There will be further announcements made very soon concerning the upcoming
race season and happenings at the track we call home.

A Very Proud Staff Member,

-Danny Davis