Lowe's Dragway, Bruton's a Strongarm Tyrant?

Gmachine

Well-Known Member
Joined
Apr 26, 2005
So I've been following the building of this new dragstip, which I'm all for in the local area, but the way it's gone down confuses me.

Bruton is smart enough to know the proper procedures for building something, but started without a building permit anyhow. Then when the city put the stops on his project he throws a tantrum like a 2 year old and threatens to move the whole track.

In the end he walks away with an $80 million tax incentive to refurbish the track, Speedway Blvd. renamed after him.

Since when did local citizens not have a say? Why does big $$$ give you the right to do as you please?
 
I was under the impression the area was zoned for the future track construction & that nothing (homes or otherwise) were in the area when the speedway was built.

The about face on the zoning was what set him off.......

Just my two worthless coins.....
 
My interpretation was that the sudden zoning change was a major catalyst.

I think the fact that they renamed Speedway blvd after him was one of the largest crocks of crap ive ever heard of.
 
jeepinmatt said:
I think the fact that they renamed Speedway blvd after him was one of the largest crocks of crap ive ever heard of.
Click to expand...

X's2:lol: I have never in my life seen a city bow down to one man as they did. Granted, if he moved that speedway concord would have went to :poop:quick. But damn, they threw all their pride out the window on this one.

Money and Power at its greatest. I agree he handled it like a big baby, it could have and should have been handled alot differently. On one hand I'm glad I have a 1/4 near the house now, on the other I'm thinking-there's another blow to Rockingham.

The dude is a prick anyway you look at it. This makes me think of Wal-Fart for some reason.
 
Bruton is a genius business mind.
he needed support of the biz community and giving them time to consider alternatives, probably wasnt best for his wants.

So he intentionally went about it wrong so he could raise a big stick and paint a gov vs us scenario.

It worked perfectly.

I have a friend whose father was heavily involved int he process and he swears that Bruton had "plants" create the entire shit storm...

BTW the Chester county land he purchased anyway, is prime deer hunting property, FWIW...
 
I agree, you don't get ahead like that without knowing how to play the game. I knew the second that hit the news it was all BS... Having the $ to do something is one thing but 'truly' wanting to is another.

Plus who's to say in 20 years Cashcar will have dried up and some new sport like ROCKCRAWLING will need a new facility...
 
I think he set it up to end up this way. If he had gotten the permits properly, then he pays a lot out of pocket, things go on as normal, etc...
but he intentionally forces the county to confront him, he then throws his tantrum, and look how he ends up. Kinda sucks, but that's how things work out...look at the concessions Google got, and others...
I did think it was funny how the day he announced he was looking at moving, Rowan County (where I'm from) as well as a few others sent out letters IMMEDIATELY telling him they'd be happy to have him, wipe his butt, kiss wherever he wanted kissing, etc...
that's called working the system, kids...
:(
 
doc said:
I was under the impression the area was zoned for the future track construction & that nothing (homes or otherwise) were in the area when the speedway was built.
The about face on the zoning was what set him off.......
Just my two worthless coins.....
Click to expand...

That was the argument made by the city/residents for a while...and it was the locals who began the bitching about all the extra noise/traffic etc. IMHO...when they moved in there they knew what they had to deal with. If not they are oblivious to the fact that there is a NASCAR track nearby and what that venue will create. Its like buying a home near Charlotte-Douglas or any other large Intl. airport then complaining about how noisy it is. Those people chose to live near such a venue...either move or STFU.

SkyHiK5 said:
Bruton is a genius business mind.
he needed support of the biz community and giving them time to consider alternatives, probably wasnt best for his wants.

So he intentionally went about it wrong so he could raise a big stick and paint a gov vs us scenario.

It worked perfectly.
Click to expand...

x2...he knew exactly what would happen. With the revenue generated by his tracks (LMS and the Dirt Track @ LMS) the city would be insane to let him walk.
 
doing some research he did the same thing when Bristol, TN decided to raise the taxes on the speedway. He threatened to move. In the end he ended up not only keeping the taxes away, but they gave him $$ to keep the track.

What happen to the America Philanthrapists?? Do we have any of those other than what Bill Gates has done for education?
 
My taxes went up 120% on the recent tax property increase. I know who's getting the shaft over this! Bruton and the Mayor played the whole city and county, they say money is from state and "hotel tax" but guess who's paying, us. Better be tickets for life for cabarrus county citizens in the mail right now!

Those people who bought near it, it's there own stupid fault. DUH, you bought a house within eyesight of a race track, an open functioning quarry, an airport and I85 - not to bright.

Cabarrus County now even has a "Vistors Center" with about 10 people on staff and the President making 120K plus. For what? A race track that's already been there for 40 something years, more of our dollars wasted! People come here for the races and speedway events - nothing else - this ain't New York, Orlando, Miami, Washington or the Florida Keys.

I used to like that the racing community usually payed its own way for tracks unlike what the NFL/NBA does for it's stadiums - not anymore. People with money always get the free stuff and incentives, what's up with that? To many brown nosers in local goverment now, looking out for big business and developers.

It's "elected by the people, to serve big business, to screw the bluecollar man"
 
The NHRA and all its assets are now up for sale as well. I'd put good money down on the fact Bruton will end up buying it. The NHRA has a lot more money making potential in the right hands, and as much as I don't like how Bruton acts are does his business, he does know how to make money.
 
Another mysterious element is the citizens/neighborhood group that brought up the original protest of the Zoning change. Obviously they were opinionated and the Zoning Commission and Council agreed with them. But then Bruton threatens to move the whole she-bang and the Council/Mayor does a complete reversal. But also those neighbors are suddenly placated....by what? Even saw one lady on the news saying she really wanted it to stay and didn't mind the drag strip because it would be so important to the local economy.


First they were raising a stink in the normal fashion: traffic will increase, noise will increase, my children will die, waaahh! And then they're cool with it. Either Bruton or the Mayor had an inside track on that hood.


Either way, Concord deserves to be embarrassed after their ploy to steal water from the Catawba River basin. :rolleyes:
 
Oh boy, here's another hot topic of mine! Why does Concord have the right to keep building beyond what their natural services can provide?

This whole area has a lot of influx of new residents that it simply cannot support. Zoning comissions really need to be made up of more ecologically friendly people that are willing to say no more instead of bankers and growth planners. :shaking:

s
 
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