TAYLOR SAYS HE'LL SETTLE FOR 8 RACES

                         Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: WEDNESDAY, February 12, 1992                   TAG: 9202120320
SECTION: VIRGINIA                    PAGE: B3   EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY 
SOURCE: JOEL TURNER MUNICIPAL WRITER
DATELINE:                                 LENGTH: Short
TAYLOR SAYS HE'LL SETTLE FOR 8 RACES
Promoter Whitey Taylor is not happy, but he'll take what he can get.
Taylor said Tuesday that he would accept Roanoke City Council's decision to allow stock-car racing in Victory Stadium on eight dates this year.
"This will be almost three times the number we had last year. I view it as a positive decision," he said.
Council allowed him to use the stadium for three trial races last summer despite the opposition from some South Roanoke residents.
Taylor had asked to use the stadium for racing on 20 Friday mights this spring and summer, but City Manager Bob Herbert said the stadium is available on only nine Fridays because other events are booked.
Late last week, Taylor said he would ask council to reject Herbert's recommendation for eight race dates.
"We want to use it for 20 racing dates, but we will settle for 15," Taylor said then. "I don't know whether it will be worthwhile if we can use it only eight times."
But he didn't attend council's meeting Monday night because he is in Florida for the Daytona 500 race this weekend.
"I maybe could have gotten a few more dates if I had been there, but we'll go with eight dates," Taylor said Tuesday.
Herbert has recommended that races be permitted on May 1; June 12; July 10, 17 and 24; Aug. 7 and 21; and Labor Day.
Taylor has said that weekly races are needed to attract larger crowds and generate more interest among spectators. Paid attendance declined for the three races last summer.
Keywords:
AUTO RACING
Memo: shorter version ran in the Metro edition.

by Bhavesh Jinadra by CNB