Indy racing proponent still expects green light in Baltimore

Indy racing proponent still expects green light in Baltimore (access required)

Posted: 9:19 pm Fri, January 22, 2010
By Liz Farmer
Daily Record Business Writer

The head of a group trying to bring a street race to downtown Baltimore believes the city is well on its way to being placed on the IndyCar Racing League circuit next summer. “I’m pretty certain it’s going to happen,” said Jay Davidson, chief operating officer of Baltimore Racing Development LLC. “I’d say we’re at ...

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Comments

Eloc Lib says:

Jay Davidson is not “the head” of BRD.

Steven Wehner is the president of Baltimore Racing Development, LLC.

“Wee-wee” played lax at Boys Latin and Hokpins (for a year).

Davidson works for Steven Wehner.

It’s Wehner’s project, and that’s the story. Davidson is the pretty face of it.

Posted on 01/22/10 at 11:52 pm

Rob Miller says:

Similar street races in Houston, Cleveland, San Jose and others have proved to have an economic impact of around $30 Million — not $100 million. Organizers are either flat out lying or cooking the books in order to gain the City’s support in pouring millions into the costly street renovations and repairs.

Plus, MANY of the projected attendees from the race will be locals — so where does the alleged $100 million in economic impact come from?

Posted on 01/24/10 at 12:49 pm

Concerned Citizen says:

Will this project really generate $100 million in revenues for the City? How much are they asking the City to kick in?

If Wehner is the head of the deal why isn’t he in the picture? Seems odd. Does he have the $20 million or so that it costs to put this on each year?

Posted on 01/26/10 at 3:07 pm

RedFaced says:

I don’t think this Wehner (He) guy is the real deal.
I hope that the City will at a minimum require this group to put up a performance or surety bond just in case they are not everything that they claim to be.
Word at the courthouse is that he/BRD are apparently already behind on some bills and that he/BRD are also being sued for the same. How can we (the taxpayers) be expected to underwrite ANY of the expense when the very people who are trying to put this together are merely hedging their bets that this will all pay off in the end and that there will be a huge windfall?
As much as our City could use a windfall this is nothing more than reckless gambling with the taxpayers money at the worst time possible.
What if this group does not follow through or something happens to the project? What if it rains both of the weekends in question? What if attendance (in this terrible economy) is not nearly as high as projected?
This seems like a terrible risk by our politicians using our taxpayer money.
Maybe the newspapers will take a better look into Mr. Wehner’s background as well as any previous or existing litigation against himself or BRD……Might save face for some anxious politicos as well as lots of money for our fair City!!

Posted on 01/26/10 at 3:36 pm

Concerned Citizen says:

Great points you make. I would think that in this day and age everyone would do their homework to make sure that all risks are weighed and that there is true transparency. Our great City cannot afford to make any mistakes that will damage our reputation or financial status. We should definitely require a guaranty that the City cannot lose even if the developer does.

Posted on 01/26/10 at 10:51 pm

Eloc Lib says:

Jay Davidson is not “the head” of BRD.

Steven Wehner is the president of Baltimore Racing Development, LLC.

“Wee-wee” played lax at Boys Latin and Hokpins (for a year).

Davidson works for Steven Wehner.

It’s Wehner’s project, and that’s the story. Davidson is the pretty face of it.

Posted on 01/22/10 at 11:52 pm
Rob Miller says:

Similar street races in Houston, Cleveland, San Jose and others have proved to have an economic impact of around $30 Million — not $100 million. Organizers are either flat out lying or cooking the books in order to gain the City’s support in pouring millions into the costly street renovations and repairs.

Plus, MANY of the projected attendees from the race will be locals — so where does the alleged $100 million in economic impact come from?

Posted on 01/24/10 at 12:49 pm
Concerned Citizen says:

Will this project really generate $100 million in revenues for the City? How much are they asking the City to kick in?

If Wehner is the head of the deal why isn’t he in the picture? Seems odd. Does he have the $20 million or so that it costs to put this on each year?

Posted on 01/26/10 at 3:07 pm
RedFaced says:

I don’t think this Wehner (He) guy is the real deal.
I hope that the City will at a minimum require this group to put up a performance or surety bond just in case they are not everything that they claim to be.
Word at the courthouse is that he/BRD are apparently already behind on some bills and that he/BRD are also being sued for the same. How can we (the taxpayers) be expected to underwrite ANY of the expense when the very people who are trying to put this together are merely hedging their bets that this will all pay off in the end and that there will be a huge windfall?
As much as our City could use a windfall this is nothing more than reckless gambling with the taxpayers money at the worst time possible.
What if this group does not follow through or something happens to the project? What if it rains both of the weekends in question? What if attendance (in this terrible economy) is not nearly as high as projected?
This seems like a terrible risk by our politicians using our taxpayer money.
Maybe the newspapers will take a better look into Mr. Wehner’s background as well as any previous or existing litigation against himself or BRD……Might save face for some anxious politicos as well as lots of money for our fair City!!

Posted on 01/26/10 at 3:36 pm
Concerned Citizen says:

Great points you make. I would think that in this day and age everyone would do their homework to make sure that all risks are weighed and that there is true transparency. Our great City cannot afford to make any mistakes that will damage our reputation or financial status. We should definitely require a guaranty that the City cannot lose even if the developer does.

Posted on 01/26/10 at 10:51 pm