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THE BANKS COUNTY NEWS PACE 3B WEDNESDAY, JULY 30, 2008 Down the Stretch Indy tire woes reminiscent of 1969 T here’s no way to sugar coat it. Sunday’s NASCAR Sprint Cup race at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway was painful to watch. That was because tire issues on Sunday caused drivers to tip toe around the storied 2.5 mile track, and caused NASCAR to throw several competition caution flags to allow teams to change the quickly worn out tires for new. The problem was that, for some reason, there was never enough initial rubber laid on the track surface to prevent the abrasive asphalt from ripping the tires to shreds. Usually, this is a prob lem that fixes itself as the race weekend wears on. But not this time. The result was a race where drivers had to resist the urge to go fast, crew chiefs had to fight the urge to throttle tire company officials, and fans had to fight the urge to fall asleep. Now in all honesty, it was a situation that, by race day, little could be done about. All indica tions had been that by the time the race was hitting its stride, the problem would have fixed itself. But it didn’t, and NASCAR had to do the best they could in the situation. They did this with the use of competition cautions, choos ing to put safety ahead of ticket sales. For that, they should be commended. So too should the drivers and crews, many of whom decided to run very conservatively. That meant many potential winners never really flexed their muscles, but in doing so, they not only made sure they stayed safe, but also made sure that they did not put their fellow competitors in harm’s way unnecessar ily. The whole situation was, as that great philosopher Yogi Berra once said, “Deja vu all over again” with a similar moment in time back in 1969. The inaugural Talladega 500 was held at the Alabama International Motor Speedway (now called Talladega Superspeedway) in September of that year. Bill France Sr. built the tower ing Alabama track as a sister facility to the 2.5 mile track in Daytona Beach, using the same basic shape. But Talladega was a little wider. It was banked a little steeper. It was a little longer at 2.66 miles. The purpose was simple. It was intended to be the fastest closed course racetrack in the world. The proof was there. Piloting the newly engineered Dodge Daytona Charger, Charlie Glotzbach turned a lap in prac tice at 199.466 mph. By con trast, fellow Dodge driver Buddy Baker had won the pole at Daytona in February at 188.901 mph. But there was a problem. When the drivers took to the track, the high-powered engines spat out so much horsepower that the tires were wearing out in just a few laps. The drivers, in the guise of a newly formed Professional Drivers Association, voiced their concerns angrily to France. They asked that he postpone the event to allow Firestone to fix the problem with the tires. Big Bill disagreed. He felt that the gas pedal went both ways, and that if the drivers would sim ply slow down, they could race safely. He even took to the track himself in a Tiny Lund prepared Ford to try to back it up. The drivers were incensed by this notion. They had come to race, not to be a pretty parade for the Alabama fans. When an agreement couldn’t be reached, members of the PDA loaded up their racecars and went home. France scrambled, and fdled the field with drivers from the previous day’s support event, and ran the race. Richard Brickhouse piloted a new Dodge Daytona Charger to victory. While the record books show 7 cautions in the event, none are recorded to be due to an acci dent. After Sunday’s event at Indy, it’s clear today, just as it was back in 1969, that the technology of the new car has outrun the technology of the current racing tire. This is something NASCAR and Goodyear must address. This is more than just an issue about having a good race. The bottom line is that if the two pieces of technology can’t work in unison, the safety of 43 drivers becomes a risk. That’s a risk nobody wants to take. Brandon Reed is a reporter for Mainstreet Newspapers. E-mail comments about this column to brandon @ mainstreetnews. com. brandon reed Auto Racing BUDGET HEARING The Banks County Commissioners will hold a public hearing on July 31,2008 at 9:00 a.m. and 6:00 p.m. in the conference room of the Banks County Courthouse for all interested citizens. This hearing will be for the purpose of discussion of the proposed FY 2009 budget as shown below. All citizens will have the opportunity to give comments. The budget is available for review in the Commissioners’ office Monday - Friday from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. BANKS COUNTY FY2009 Revenues Exoenditures General Property Taxes $3,400,000 General Government $100,000 Motor Vehicle Taxes 375,000 Governing Body 479,426 Railroad Equipment Tax 7,500 Registrars 60,625 Real Estate Transfer 25,000 Technology/M IS 297,042 Intangible Tax 105,000 Human Resources 216,125 Franchise Tax - Cable TV 2,000 Tax Commissioner 267,485 Local Option Sales Tax 2,700,000 Tax Assessors 371,630 Hotel/Motel Tax - Co 60% 215,000 Courthouse/Buildings 163,429 Hotel/Motel Tax - CVB 40% 140,000 Annex 693,567 Alcoholic Beverage Excise Tax 195,000 Superior Court 266,741 Business & Occupation Tax 50,000 Clerk of Superior Court 217,624 Insurance Premium 580,000 District Attorney 200,417 Beer - Package 4,700 Magistrate Court 130,523 Beer - Consumption 5,500 Probate Court 214,024 Wine - Package 6,000 Probation 38,411 Liquor - Consumption 22,500 Jail Operations 948,708 Building Permits 140,000 Sheriff 1,916,400 Federal payment in lieu of taxes 500 Fire/EMS 2,253,183 Local Government Unit Grants Coroner 27,744 Court Costs - Probation Fee 56,000 Highways and Streets 1,543,017 Election Qualifying Fee 500 Landfill/Solid Waste 14,450 Sale of maps & publications 1,000 Recyclables Program 47,747 Board of Education Coll Fee 171,000 Public Health Admin. 116,500 Special Police Services 21,000 Public Welfare Admin. 76,000 Ambulance Fees 250,000 Extension Service 107,594 Solid Waste Disposal Fees 1,000,000 Senior Citizens Program 255,673 Public Trans. - State Reimb. 15,000 Public Transportion 43,187 Public Trans. - Passenger Fares 12,500 Recreation Program 385,907 Recreation Fees 40,000 Historic Bldg. Maint. 15,200 Senior Center Receipts 80,000 Natural Resource Cons. 3,589 Recreation Vending Receipts 100 Library Admin. 98,000 Courts Bldg. Inspection 102,625 Superior 325,000 Planning & Zoning 153,531 Magistrate 25,000 Economic Development 37,500 Probate 350,000 Chamber of Commerce 35,000 VSVRD 15,000 CVB/Motel 40% 140,000 Interest Revenues 200,000 Emergency Communications 869,713 Other 500 Public Utilities Interfund Transfers S ewag e/Wastewate r 210,6842 Jail Operations Reimb. 250,000 Administration 308,523 Victims Assistance 33,879 Pumping & Purification 610,730 Public Utilities Operations Reimb 855,000 Distribution 529,502 E911 Operations Reimb 200,000 Prior Year Reserve 2,637,402 Surplus Property Sale 5,000 Capital Lease Proceeds 50,153 Total Revenues $14,567,734 Total Expenses $14,567,734 Gladiators ... continued from page IB TIRE CARRY Sophomore Riley Nicholson takes part in the Gladiator Wars at Banks County High School last week. Photo by Lyn Sengupta The fourth place team just missed third place by three points. BCHS coaches noted captains Chris Porter and Billy Dunn also had their team in contention until the end finishing just three points out of fourth place. Team mem bers included Bill Redmon, Cody Gowder, Cody Evans, Homer Carver and Blake Cotton. The team won first in the barrel roll. Friday's event was also attended by the Junior Leopard Helmet Buddies, young players from Banks County Primary School and Banks County Elementary School. The young play ers also competed in three Gladiator War events while being encouraged by their older counterparts. “It was incredible to see the great effort by these 7, 8, 9, 10 and 11-year-olds,” BCHS football coaches said. “We will be increas ing the number of events for these young players next summer.” The young players competed in the seated sled pull, the running sled pull and tire jumps. In the 7 and 8-year-old catego ry with the top totals between all three events, Easton Staton took third while Cale Compton and Blake Segars tied for second. Lex Mason won first although only one point separated the top three finishers. The competition was just as tough for the 9-year-olds. Kelly Mize and Kelan Dalton tied for third while Stetson Boswell was second. Mitchell Patton was first for the age group. In the 10-year-old division, Jamie Wood, Cody Stanley and Jody Poole tied for second place with Austin Holland and Brock Ivey tying for first. Michael Patton was third in the 11-year-old division with Noah Trebech finishing as runner-up and Jake Franklin earning first. BCHS athletic director and head football coach Blair Armstrong said he wanted to thank all the families who came out to offer support and help. “Everyone is alreay talking about how they can't wait until next summer when we start up again,” Armstrong said. First and Ten ... continued from page JB After the practice session ended, the young 4-Hers decided they wanted to try and get autographs from some of the players. They weren't going to be available until after they ate so we all ventured to the famous “McDonald's on the hill” and tried to cool off from the sweltering Georgia heat. Eventually a few players began emerging and fans, including the ones I had made the trip with, were able to get a few autographs. The funniest thing was one youngster (not with our group) asked me for an autograph. With a stunned look on my face, I said, “I’m not a player.” One of the members of my group then said, “You should have given him one anyway!” There would be another practice session later in the afternoon but it was time for our local 4-H group to return home. While I know the young people had fun on the trip, it was also an experience for me, being a lifelong Falcon fan. Much has changed for me since the summer of 1992.1 haven't been to the small town where I interned at in I don’t know when. All those kids whom I was a “chaperone” for are grown now. Many are probably married with families of their own. Who knows how many are football fans today. None of the Falcons practicing that summer day are still playing. The Falcons' homebase is even in a different city. Still, it's fun to remember back to a time when things were different and when a carefree summer morn ing meant seeing your favorite pro football team practice. Chris Bridges is sports editor of The Banks County News. E-mail comments to him at chris@main- streetnews.com. We're pleased to announce our recent engagements Athens Regional Medical Center is now accepting patients covered by CIGNA, Kaiser Permanente and Humana. Beginning August 1st, we will also accept patients covered by Blue Cross Blue Shield HMO/POS. Athens Regional, here for you always ... in sickness and in healthl Athens Regional MEDICAL CENTER WE ALSO ACCEPT MEMBERS OF: 1st Medical Network, Beechstreet, Blue Cross Blue Shield PPO St indemnity, Coventry National Health Network, First Health, Health Plan Select, and Tries re/C hampus among others. For a complete listing of carriers call 706-475-5921 1199 Prince Avenue * Athens, Georgia 30606 » 706-475-7000 www.armc.org