Let me say as I post this letter, Mr. Sears did call and we worked out a time and place in which I was able to deliver the Pioneer Plaque and the poster boards from the early years of the Hall of Fame. What is a shame is the continued discrimination and manipulation by some in the Hall of Fame and Museum organization, but that is part of life and we all will someday be judged by our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. This life is a journey, a test to return home.

October 15, 2015
Randy Sears
P O Box 270385
Kansas City, MO 64127

Dear Mr. Sears and the Central Auto Racing Boosters Hall of Fame and Museum Board of Directors,

Well at 9:32 a.m. on October 19, 2015 I called you to set up a meeting to deliver the Pioneer Award plaque and the poster boards of the early years of the induction ceremony. A day later and I have not heard a reply to the message I left on your voice mail. I had planned to hand you this letter in person. Please understand we still support the Hall of Fame and Museum, we could have easily just pitched these items, but after years of service to this organization, the Hall of Fame being the brain child of myself in 2003, appointing a committee to make it happen, after 12 years we then helped create the 501c3 Hall of Fame and Museum organization, and after guiding this organization for so many years we wanted these items which were found in cleaning our basement to go to the organization. Rick and Karen Darling were at our home 2 years ago and loaded their vehicle with other Hall of Fame items and said they would be back for these items. Well that never happened but that is now water under the bridge.

I was unable to attend the 2014 annual Hall of Fame and Museum meeting so I cannot validate or deny the data was there, was presented, and was available for members to review. Again thank you for the financial account I was provided, I was surprised it was hand written but none the less it was provided. I was given a copy of and told the only thing presented at the annual meeting was the 2015 budget. I would suggest if members are having trouble in distinguishing the budget versus the financial condition of the corporation report more work should be completed on the presentation to ensure everyone understands what is budget and what the financial accounting is.

Concerning the Hall of Fame and Museum trailer, I believe the point has been missed and I could have caused the miscommunication by not fully reading the annual financial report before responding. The trailer must be accounted for in value when it was transferred from the 501c7 to the 501c3, I do not see this on the report. Also I understand now the Board and Officers sold the trailer, why, is my first question since the organization was formed “to operate a museum that collects, preserves, exhibit, and develops the growth of racing through its library and archives as well as its educational programs”. Wouldn’t the trailer have been a part of C.A.R.B.’s history, something that should have been preserved, exhibited, and shown how this organization started and how it has become a museum? Finally, why was the trailer not offered to all the membership in a bidding process? Maybe someone would have purchased it for more money to maintain it as the historical history it was – purchased from Rick Beebe in 2005 with funds donated by 2004 inductee, the Bill Roberts family, and then utilized as the Hall of Fame and Museum mobile home for the next 12 years.

Concerning my being a member of the media, I guess several have forgotten I was a monthly writer for the Kansas City Star’s All Speed News in 2003 and 2004. Additionally, I now write a blog for RacingKC.com a local website. I know some members of the organization our upset with what I write but please understand as a blogger I am protected by the first amendment to the United States Constitution. This was further decided by the Federal District Court of Appeals, Ninth Circuit in January 2014 when they wrote (court decision):

“The protections of the First Amendment do not turn on whether the defendant was a trained journalist, formally affiliated with traditional news entities, engaged in conflict-of-interest disclosure, went beyond just assembling others’ writings, or tried to get both sides of a story. As the Supreme Court has accurately warned, a First Amendment distinction between the institutional press and other speakers is unworkable: ‘With the advent of the Internet and the decline of print and broadcast media . . . the line between the media and others who wish to comment on political and social issues becomes far more blurred.’

Furthermore, concerning press credentials, please understand the following:

It is important to realize that you do not need a press “credential” to take pictures or cover events in public places (streets, parks, sidewalks that are not closed off to public access). You do not need government approval to work as a journalist, although it may be beneficial to obtain a “Press ID” or an official government-issued press credential for other reasons. Press credentials related to news coverage are usually issued by law enforcement agencies. Requirements for the issuance of credentials are established by those agencies and vary by department. One agency may not recognize the privileges granted by the credentials from another department. Event specific press credentials are usually provided by the organizers of the event, i.e. major league sports, concerts, festivals, press conferences, corporate meetings.

By visiting Racingkc.com you will see I write weekly race recaps for I-35 Speedway, I write articles about my annual Daytona Speedway trip, I write opinion articles, historical articles, and religious articles. Thanks to the Racinboys I began writing a blog for them, then transferred to writing a blog for inthepits.net, and now I write for Racingkc.com. Now whether you consider that media or not that is your discretion but I do know I have quite a following whenever I write and wherever I publish.

Concerning the 2013 financial data. The 2014 Treasurer wanted a fresh start so the Bank Midwest account, which was utilized for the 2013 financial data was closed, all funds were given to and all treasury data was turned over to 2014 Treasurer Carla Layne. This was completed at the request of the new treasurer and the president. The 501c7 records are audited each year, shouldn’t the 501c3, with its’ more stringent tax laws, also be audited?

Finally, since this is correspondence and should be read to the membership, let me finish with it is high time for both organizations to work together the 501c7 and the 501c3. Neither can survive without the other. There would not be a Hall of Fame and Museum if there had not been the Central Auto Racing Boosters formed in 1952. At one point in time the Central Auto Racing Boosters had over 1,000 members, today it is below half that amount. At one point in time the organization had seven C.A.R.B. supported tracks, now tracks are no longer wanting to work with C.A.R.B. and/or hold their banquet(s) with C.A.R.B. Working together to promote racing created that high membership and led to the 50+ pint blood bank donations, a 20+ year bowlathon, a 20+ year golf tournament, two Rides for Victory, a 50 Years of the Central Auto Racing Boosters Book, and ultimately the Hall of Fame. We were one as the Central Auto Racing Boosters, shouldn’t we be one in our sport and return to supporting our sport and let bygones be bygones? The choice is ours, where do we go from here?

Warm regards,

J. D. Green
816-668-8609