Drag strip proposed to spark area economy

[Pam]

Bad idea. We don't need drunk driving around Oscoda. We also don't need teens on US 23 pretending to be "on the drag stip". We don't want to attract those kind of people and/or make the teen deliquency even worse in Oscoda - it's bad enough. Also, the noise and air polution are reason enough not to do it. I'm sure there are a million other ideas the town can come up with to improve the business flow and employment outlook in Oscoda than a "drag strip". If nothing else, it will deter families from buying cottages and visiting the area let alone living in it. They don't want their kids or grandkids around booze, prostitutes, and "trash". Hopefully, the stupid town council will see past this stupid idea that was brought about trashy drunk people.

[the guy who moved away]

So explain to us how a drag strip will promote drunk driving. Also, please tell us how having a drag strip will make kids street race in Oscoda. If anything it will happen less because they will have a legal place to run their cars. And polution my ass, one day of racing at a drag strip makes less polution than half the cars that drive through town every day (which isn't a lot to begin with).

"Please tell me where I can find a dragstrip that gives you a free prostitute with every admission, because that would be just awsome! Oh wait, drag strips don't offer hookers? There must be some mistake, because this one lady on the internet told me that I could find prostitutes at drag strips. She must be wrong then."

Besides, Oscoda doesn't have prostitutes. Just slutty teenagers and middle aged women who live in Jordanville.

[Pam]

Jordanville? Well, I didn't want to use the word slut so I used prostitute; made a money mistake. The teens will drag when the place is shut down to "practice" and show off. And yes, there will be many drunks on the road coming from and possibly to each event - don't try and deny that. I realize there are drunks regardless of whether there is drag strip around or not, but the strip will make it much worse. And the biggest polution I'm talking about is NOISE! Bottom line: it's just not something people want to be a part of the town. we need to be more high-quality not excessive or trashy just more business brought in that will create perm jobs and more year-round residents and also do things to bring the tourism through. I may not be the majority on this forum, but believe me, through out the town a lot of people share my thoughts.

[the guy who moved away]

Drag racing on the streets has been happening in Oscoda for years. I doubt it will get any worse. If anything it might get better. The noise polution won't be bad at all. The town did just fine whe the base was open, and a drag strip wouldn't be half as loud as the jets used to be. If they locate the drag strip in the back of the airstip away from 41 then the noise polution will be vurtualy non-existent.

[Pam]

Well, I'll give you that, it may not be too bad, but they would have to do a test run to prove it I think. I still don't think it's going to bring in a bunch of business. We need year round solutions that create jobs that people can live on.

[the guy who moved away]

Just look at the SCCA Solo I events that are held on the base every year. Dozens of cars from all over the country hold races for two days. No drunks, no noise polution, no problem.

Everyone keeps putting down short term solutions and ranting and raving about long term solutions to the failing economy in Oscoda. But no one ever does anything. Keep preaching about long term solutions. But let the short term solutions keep the town afloat until then.

[FHC2008]

gwma...okay, enough is quite enough when you start calling others names. If you want to make a point; great, but leave it at that. Don't make yourself sound so unintelligent as to call teens who live in poverty slutty as well as disrespecting any person who happens to be older than you. Your immaturity is showing! You may have some valid points but then you mess it up by namecalling. If you believe that "no one ever does anything" then why keep preaching? Just leave all us "do nothings" alone?

[the guy who moved away]

Show me where I called every female that lives in Jordanville a slut. I simply mentioned that they can be found there. You know it, I know it, and the whole town knows it. Jordanville's had a reputation since my mom was in school over 30 years ago. A few rotten apples spoil the whole batch.

What pisses me off is that every time I make a comment about Oscoda (and I'm not the only one), people get an attitude and say that I don't have a right to give my opinion.

I have every damn right to make an opinion just as much as you do. So don't give me this "Just leave us "do nothings" alone BS. I was born and raised in that town, I went to all the schools, including that run down POS building Oscoda Elementary, and my immediate and extended family still lives in Oscoda. Even though I've "moved away" I still have enough pride in "my" hometown to have concern for what's happening in it.

I'm also not blind to the fact that it's become a run down tourist attraction with only a hope and a prayer of getting off it's ass. If you don't like the way I get my point across, fine, that's your problem. But don't you dare sit there and say I don't have an opinion and to just "leave you alone".

[Pam]

He's right; My family has had a summer cottage in Oscoda on Lake Huron for going on 60 years. I'm not that old (yet)but Oscoda has been a part of my life for all of my 45 years. The place is in my blood and I get to missing the area around January when I feel I have been away too long. I miss the old Tony Deckers and the good ol' IGA that was by the Dairy Queen. I miss a lot of things about the town back in the day when it had a way of supporting itself. We have a bunch of lazy sorry asses for the town council or whatever you call them in a small town. There have been many good ideas brought before them and the same guy turns it down. Everyone needs to stop voting for the same idiots. I would like to run for a position, but I'd have to find out what the criteria is first (of course).

[tom from Alpena]

Does anyone have any reasons why this promising endeavor has been held up or stopped? I sure hope it's not the actions of myopic few who can't see the good in having a dragstrip in Oscoda would do for the region.

tom

[The guy who moved away]

It's been held up because the local elders of the Oscoda clan have deemed it an obomination and an insult to the water gods of lake Huron.

[masart]

The guy who moved away wrote:

It's been held up because the local elders of the Oscoda clan have deemed it an obomination and an insult to the water gods of lake Huron.

People like PAM:(

[The guy who moved away]

The town board, or city councel, or whatever the hell they're calling themselves these days.

[tom from Alpena]

So presumably these local elder idiots have better ideas to get tourist and others to actually stay and spend money in Oscoda rather than just driving through and maybe grabbing a bite at McDonalds?

If there was a dragstrip located where it was proposed in Oscoda, MANY people from this region, myself included, would beat a path to Oscoda to participate or spectate there. All this garbage about how these kind of people would somehow be "undesirable" is excreable. Painting drag racing enthusiasts as drunks and litterers belies an obvious bias and ignorance by those who make such statements. By the same criteria, would one say that all retirees in the Oscoda area are doddering old fools who spend more time worrying about their next bowel movement and how it may be affected by someone drag racing legally in the county? I don't think so,

It is a shame that a few with so little vision, imagination, and common sense can screw up things for an entire community.

I would not be surprised if the leader of this gang of fools was named Hugh Jass.

tom

[Time On My Hands]

I too think the township elders are a friend of Hugh Jass but to be fair, there is a large contingent of residents ( mostly retirees in the Villages of Oscoda) who oppose the dragstrip. Remember these are the residents that vote, look at the statistics, who votes? So if you were looking out for your job who would you lean towards, the people that get out and vote and could affect your position or those that bitch but can't find the time to vote. A huge turn out in Oscoda for the primary elections in August may open some eyes. show your elected officials you intend to keep an eye out and VOTE

[tom from Alpena]

Good point about the large contingent of retirees. I really would hate to think that a majority of these people are as myopic and close-minded as Hugh and his friends are. I drag-raced in Oscoda on the base in the late seventies and it was always a good time and there were never any problems.

There are quite a few guys from Alpena that drive THROUGH Oscoda every weekend to go to Ubly or Edmore to spend a weekend at their respective drag racing facilities. I wonder how much money is not being spent in Oscoda by these folks alone, not to mention those who would come from all directions (except for East) if the drag strip was allowed to develop.

Motels, gas stations, auto parts stores, resorts, campgrounds, and other businesses would be sure to benefit from this draw.

I wonder how much money Hugh and his friends spend in these places?

Just where DOES Hugh spend his money, besides taxes?

Which these businesses also pay!

tom

[Time on My Hands]

The Villages Of Oscoda was marketed as a quiet retirement community downstate and affordable housing in the Urban areas and country living in the city anything to get people to move here and buy these homes. Mostly the retirees were the ones that could afford to purchase and live here(One grocery store making record profits, is another story). They want the drag-strip idea to die. They don't want Oscoda to grow, they have done the rat race that is why they moved here. Oscoda is the old Indian word for ghost town and will probably live up to the name

[The Watcher]

Why are there "quite a few guys from Alpena that drive THROUGH Oscoda every weekend to go to Ubly or Edmore to spend a weekend at their respective drag racing facilities? How few are you talking about and why don't they stay home and build a drag strip in Alpena? Don't you want to buy a house within earshot of a drag strip? The retirees and other homeowners in the Villages Of Oscoda are concerned with property values. There hasn't been a house re-sold there in almost a year and the last one was sold far below what the seller paid for it. Many Villages homeowners put much money into the local economy building onto their condos and continue to contribut to that economy with their property taxes. And let's not forget the 7.5 million dollars the local economy captures from the Villages as cited by the Oscoda Community Newsletter a year ago. They don't want to live within earshot of a drag strip. Do you?

[tom from Alpena]

The number of guys from Alpena varies. It also depends on whether or not you count the guys (and girls) from Rogers City, Harrisville, Hillman, and other nearby areas. We have the same problem with myopic city fathers who turn a jaundiced, rheumy, blind eye to activities that those under 50 may enjoy. But Oscoda has a great advantage over most communities looking to build drag strip. Oscoda already HAS a perfect area to locate one. And don't try the lame line of "who wants to live near a dragstrip?" Kalitta air and others make enough noise to make a dragstrip inconsequential. Pesonally, I would have no problems living near one, especially if I knew that it would add to the local economy and provide a safe outlet for local youths to pursue motorsports, as well as allowing older enthusiasts to enjoy what for many is a life-long hobby. And you can't use the suffering economy for dis-allowing a dragstrip. That's just blowing smoke to hide a lack of valid reasons to oppose one.

[The Watcher]

The answer for all the drag strip enthusiasts "from Alpena, Rogers City, Harrisville, Hillman and other nearby areas" is to permanently relocate to Oscoda. Buy a house, pay taxes, and vote your preferences. Look at all the gas money you'll save by having the drag strip in YOUR back yard. Really, the perfect place for a dragstrip is Whittemore. Look what 60 years of racing has already done for that town. Move there and you'll be that much closer to Ubly and Edmore too.