DAILY BEE

" In response to this statement: " Mudding is not educational, and it serves no useful purpose. The fairgrounds was built for agricultural purposes. If you don't like that, tough, you redneck dolts!" Here's a story, not made up, and perhaps one that no one will care to hear anyways... but an example of how in a small way this last event at the fairgrounds impacted 1 person's life. If you don't agree with me, don't care, or don't like what I'm writing, then everyone's entitled to their opinion. Here's the story: Me and a friend John ran the "Budget Suburban" at a mud race last Saturday. I didnt want to take that Suburban but things just worked out that way. It was a Suburban that we had, a year ago, given John's mom and Dad their first off-road and muddin' experience in. John's dad is limited to a wheelchair and can't get out much, but he had fun riding around shotgun in the Suburban last November. Well anyways back to now, the thing didnt do too well at the mud race this last Saturday, and John was double eliminated in his class. I ran a higher class and at least got 4 runs before I was eliminated. At the end of the race, they called John's name. He somehow still won 3rd place in his class and won 50 dollars and a trophy. We were kinda surprised and couldnt figure how, but hey, they said he got 3rd so we didn't argue. We went back to my place and transferred the video from the day so he could show his dad. Ever since his dad rode with us in that Suburban he was hooked on watching our off-road tapes and mud bogs. John asked me before he went home if I wanted him to come down and give me a hand Sunday working on some of my projects. I told him, no, just stay home and relax with your mom and dad and watch the video. I knew his dad would be happy about the Trophy, he even told him Saturday before we left, to come back with a trophy. I really didn't anticipate we would. I got a call on Monday morning from John. His dad just passed away Sunday night/early Monday morning in his sleep. I knew he was ailing, and wasn't able to do much anymore, but in a way he was finding only a few things in life enjoyable... partially living life through watching our tapes and hearing our off-road and muddin' stories. It kept his mind off his physical problems and illnesses. It made me really think again... why did John win that trophy in the same Suburban his dad rode in? Coincidence? Mis-calculation? Random occurance? Well, I think I know the reason that John brought a trophy home Saturday night, and I'm sure it was one of the things of joy in his dad's thoughts when he went to sleep Sunday night. Maybe I'm nuts... drawing conclusions or trying to write up reasons for random events, or even trying to make random events into a story that could turn up on a TV show on UPN or and ABC movie or something... But thats up for anyone to decide for themselves. Either way, one man left this world quite possibly with 4-wheeling in his dreams and with a proud feeling for his son. Coincidence or not, I think that most everything happens for a reason, and this last trophy meant alot more than just a piece of plastic. Again I'd like to thank those who did put on this last event for doing so. Maybe indirectly impacting one person's last day isn't any reason or right to want to try and keep the fairgrounds open for mud racing use; but if theres one story like this in the world about how a sport like this can affect someone positively, I'm sure theres many more that never get heard. "

" i am a local mud racer. my brother is a mud racer and my mama is a mud racer. so its a real family event.. i have also been a member of pro west, idaho cowboy rodeo assocition, alos was a member of the golden grouse 4-H club.and i see no problem with the motor sport events at the fair grounds. i really like the improvement the event have done to the arena.the mud and demo use the arena 4 times a year cant we just share. "

" THERES ALOT OF US THAT TAKE ALOT OF TIME AND EFFORT INTO BUILDING THESE CUSTOM TRUCKS AND IF WERE NOT ALLOWED ATLEASE A FEW SANCTIONED PLACES TO GO PLAY WITH THEM WERE JUST GUNNA GO DESTROY LAND UP IN THE WOODS OR ELSE WERE....HONESTLY WOULD HORSE PEAPLE RATHER SEE US TRAILORING OUR RIGS TO THE FAIRGROUNDS TWO WEEKENDS A YEAR OR SNEAKING INTO A CREEK ON THERE LAND AND THRASHING IT...I PERSONALY GOT INTO TRUCKS/MUD RACING TO STAY OUTA THE LOCAL BARS AND STAY OUTA TROUBLE AND SINCE THEN I HAVE MET ALOT OF GREAT PEOPLE AND THAT HOLD THE SAME INTERESTS AND I HAVENT GOT IN TROUBLE ONCE HAULING MY TRUCK TO A SANCTIONED OFF ROAD/MUD RACING EVENT....THOSE OF US THAT ARENT HORSE PEAPLE DONT COMPLAIN ABOUT RODEOS WE JUST WANT A FEW WEEKENDS A SUMMER TO ALOW THE LOCALS COME OUT AND SEE THE TRUCKS IN ACTION THAT WE SPENT SO MANY HOURS AND SO MANY HARD EARNED DOLLARS BUILDING..CURENTLY BECAUSE OF THESE EVENTS WE HAVE BUILT A TRUCK FOR MY GIRLFRIND AND HER MOM AND DAD HAVE A TRUCK ITS A WHOLE FAMILY EVENT EVERY TIME WE GO TO A MUD DRAG..AND I HAVE EVEN CREATED A 4X4 CLUB ALL BECAUSE I GOTTA PLAY IN THE MUD INFRONT OF A CROWD IN A LIT UP ARENA..THANKS "

" The Mud Brothers and all other racers of the mud genre are a very diverse group to say the least. Just like any other "demographic" there are the good folk and there are the dirtbags. Yeah, there are some redneck idiots that give us mudders a bad name but with all the friends I have made in the past 5 years racing I have met some very very good people. I could rattle off 40 names of well mannered decent people if needed. The point is, mud boggers are just like anyone else who enjoys a hobby as a group. I meet up with people 20 years older than me and 20 years younger than me and we are all drawn together in a good positive experience. Look around and you will see that the majority of us are all decent people... we don't drive drunk, we hold jobs, we own homes, we spend time with our kids building and racing our toys,etc etc. I fully support Al and Stacie Ramsay and wish them the best of luck in turn out for their race, for good times, and thank them for doing all the work for us so all we have to do is pay them a little money and they take care of all the behind the scenes work. Also kudos to all of those who help out the Mud Brothers- you know who you are! "

" To whom it may concern . My name is Sam Thomas event corodinater,racer and most of all family man. I too have had my struggles with the on going delima between non-motorized events and mototorized in the same arena.I have seen the economic and political results when the majority public is not recognized but the folks that tend to be non-motorized (minority public)and also a little higher income bracket are listened to. I have some advice.Think about how many votes you elected officials won by? Now think of all the folks and their familys that would go out who may not normaly vote! Now think of all the non-motorized folks that own bussiness' that benifit from all the out of town money's brought in? Now I can see keeping a small town charm that we all appreciate but to staffle community's growth in prosparity is simply leading to resentment in the community to all involved. Thanks for your time. Sam Thomas "

" It is very discouraging to read all of the negativity from the local Fair goers. I have lived in Sandpoint my entire life and have not been to the fair in years! I am however, always anticipating not only the Mud Drags but the Demolition Derbys as well. I dont know why these fair people think that they are the only ones who get access to the fairgrounds...because I certainly know that I pay taxes. There are very few things for teens in this area to do other than drink and do drugs. So, if there is a place for them to be where they are active in something functional rather than "disfunctional" I think it must be a good thing. I've personally participated in the events and know that there are several different walks of life that like to either spectate or participate in them. And as for the "Redneck Dolt" comment..I'm not sure if your refering to the mud involved but I've lived on and worked a ranch and thats not the cleanest of things. So if playing in the mud makes you a redneck then what does playing in horse dung make you??? If your too narrow minded to look at the bigger picture then so be it...its unfortunate for you. "

" I see here that someone wrote that mudding serves no useful purpose. I do have to say that one should have to think of all those things that humans do overall that don't serve useful purposes. There's a whole lot of them that seem to be widely accepted by society, yet this sport or hobby of mud racing and building trucks seems to be condemned by so many. It's sad since I see many other hobbies out there where I see no useful purpose to, yet I never condemn them nor say they are useless. What you do or are involved in and it's usefullness depends on what you put into it and get out of it. I've seen first hand that in this particular case of "mud racing" that a group of people have become like a "family" of sorts; people who work together sharing the same interests, supporting community, and things that are positive. Those that think sports like this are all about destruction or anything are mistaken. I'm sure mud races arent for everyone... to everyone their own interest. Just like I may not be one who would collect stamps or engage in debate competitions... I say those hobbies may not be for me but I'd never say anything bad about the people who do that as a hobby. It seems very acceptable that the fairgrounds should be used by all taxpayers, especially if done in a responsible manner as demonstrated by the Mud Brothers who have already in the past held several of these events in an organized manner and made the extended efforts to return the fairgrounds to their original if not better condition afterwards. "

" This so called stupid redneck sport has brought me and my family closer together. Before I had got into the whole mud dragging thing I spent 90% of my time down by the railroad tracks tearing up my truck and getting in trouble and not spending any time with my family. Now that we have a safe, fun and sponsored event I’ve become closer to my family and learned a lot more about how to work on my truck and I can play without getting in trouble. Do you have any idea how many teenagers are out there tearing up property in their parent’s rigs? You can say that this is an un-educational sport but it depends on how you look at it. Do you think that a stepdad helping his son and two stepsons completely build trucks from the frame up is a waste of time or un-educational? Do you think that me making a website for a school project about our mud events is un-educational? Do you think that the quality time I spend with my family fixing trucks is a waste of time? If so, you are completely wrong. If you think that there is no purpose for this sport you should think again. If it were not for this sport and all the time and preparation we put into it as a family I would not be as close to them as I am. "

" While I do show up and support local horse events at the fairgrounds, I'm not so much a fan of horses and while I am not a fan of horses, I have never thought that it was my place to question how educational horse events are and never would I, a "redneck dolt" think to call names. Maybe those calling names and questioning the education value of different sports should take a look at the real reason they are getting so upset. I think that those in support of the motor sports events being held at the fairgrounds have done well in backing up their reason's in their comments and I applaud them for doing so without stooping to the level of others and putting down the other events that go on at the fairgrounds. I would like to know, as a tax payer, and while my hard earned tax dollars are going to support the fair grounds, if I can't enjoy my hobbies in a place that I help pay for, and if I a "mud motor sports fan" do end up having to find a new place to have those events elsewhere, are you agricultural people going to help pay for that place with your tax dollars? "

" Hmmm... I am pretty sure that these "redneck dolts" as you call them, brought in almost $10,000 for improvements to the fairgrounds, and offered to sponsor 4-H kids at horse camp that couldn't afford to go. I guess that doesn't matter to you though. As for me and my redneck friends we are proud to bring culture to the community other then just agriculture. And we are proud that we are able to bring improvements to the fairgrounds and help less fortunate kids do something at the fairgrounds that they may not have the chance to do otherwise. We may be rednecks but we support our community, we love our families, and we love spending time with friends and family working together to bring the community this event. Obviously there are a few closed minded people who can't think far enough outside the box to see the good that this event does. Fortunatly, there are far more open minded people who can because they are the ones that come to the events, they are the ones that paid the admission fee's that made that alomst $10,000 possible. So please, if your close minded, continue to throw out insults, we find them amusing. If your open minded, come to the races and be a part of a great event that brings in money for the community. "

" As the president of Mud Brothers Racing I want to stop the rumors and answer questions regarding the event that we bring to the fairgrounds. I realize that people are still going to peck back and forth on here, which is great, but I don't want anyone to have mis-information. We are a local group of families that put on the mud drags. We do are best to make the arena as good if not better when we are done with the events. Like “I was there” said, we did rewire the speaker system in the arena and we moved and repaired the main water line through the middle of the arena, both of these upgrades were done at our own expense. We spent many nights after our regular work hours, with our teenage sons and young daughters picking rocks out of the arena to make sure that there were no hazards for horses or their riders. We spend countless hours planning and putting together this event for local fans as well as fans from as far away as Western Washington, Oregon, California, Montana and British Columbia. Mud Racing is a national event and we have had the great honor to meet new friends from all over the Northwest, many of which bring money into our community when they come to the mud drags at the Bonner County Fairgrounds. We don’t get out there and crash into each other, most of the drivers put a lot of time and money into their rigs and they do everything in their power to keep them from breaking. Please, if you have any questions, feel free to ask, I would be more then happy to tell you anything you want to know about our group and what we do. The mud drags will be held on Oct. 26th & 27th we invite anyone that has not been to an event like this to come out and watch before you pass judgement,it is a great family event!! Thank you, Al Ramsay "

" Whatever.....Then I suppose the football field should not be used for anything other then football? I dont hear people bitchin about the festival at sandpoint using the field...Oh thats right, the people bitchin about the mud bogs attend the festival, so thats ok...shaking head, get a grip people on something other then yourselves. If the arena is left in better condition then when they start what the heck is the problem? "

" Mudding is not educational, and it serves no useful purpose. The fairgrounds was built for agricultural purposes. If you don't like that, tough, you redneck dolts! "

" mudding is educational, I've learned a lot about auto maintanance and what each part does. As I see it we all pay our taxes so why should a few people think that its for their use only. So lets play nice and share. I have been to mud races in several towns and states and they all use there fairground for that purpose. Ive been to the muddrags at the fair grounds and have been impressed by how many familys mud race together. Seems to me anything that keeps a family doing things as a family is a good thing. "

" well what were the fairgrounds built for? only the events that you and those like you decide? I thought the fairgrounds were for events that interested the people of bonner county, and not for those who think they own it, the fairgrounds belong to everyone, we pay greatly in taxes, so if an event pulls in money and people go to them and the people putting them on repair what they have done then WHY not let them use it? They dont seem to have any problems with this issue in bonners ferry or Cda/spokane, just because a few here don't like the event then everyone should "

" The Drag and Mud motor sports fans should get their own place to have events- the Fairgrounds were not built for that purpose and it really is out of place there. "

" To BBC, At the first mud drags held at the fairgrounds, I was standing at the enterance of the Pit area (paying to get in) when a man and woman came up to the enterance and began telling everyone they were from the draft horse and no one gave permission for a motor sport to be held at the fairgrounds, and that they were calling the police for trespassing if one car started up they would have them arrested! I couldn't believe what I was hearing.. so I started asking around and found out that the Mudd Brothers had set this up with the fairground board of directors and did have permission with the understanding that the grounds would be put back in order after the event, so I showed up the next day and watched these guys not only clean up the mess, but re-wired the arena and re piped the water lines so that they wouldn't damage them the next time! then bring in top soil and level it all out and I am sure it was out of their pockets not the fairgrounds, so hats off to all of you who did it right!!! and shame on those who tried to throw around their weight around "

" To Mud Drags? first of all mud drags does not involve tons of metal slamming into one another, that is a demolition derby, mud drags are trucks or cars built by hard working everyday joes looking for a place to meet others with the same interest, give their friend and family a place to get together and have fun as they "drag" down a muddy lane, the fairground is both big enough and wide enough to handle this event, beside the fact that it has generated money for improvement to the fairgrounds both events the demolition and the drags brought in a LOT of money for the fairgrounds, so why are turn away an events that bring in MONEY needed to help the maintance and improvements to our fairgrounds??? Bonner County Fairgrounds is for everyone to use. "

" I grew up riding horses at the fairgrounds and I don't think I've ever been to a non-horse event there. What are the reasons that people are coming up with for not having motor sports events there? I'd like to hear both sides. "

" In an arena? That's sounds too dangerous to have speeding tons of metal slamming into one another and mud drags? Please, can't we get something more educational around here? "