I defended him initially because everything initially was speculation. I also did not belittle anyone who thought the worst about him. I just like to see the facts first rather than speculate. That being said, it doesn't exactly look good but it also isn't resolved. No one has been charged with anything yet and no one has been prosecuted. All we know is that they raided his offices. A lot of people have been negatively affected by whatever went on and the situation sucks for everyone involved. I'm curious to see how it all shakes out.
Nitromater
This is a sample guest message. Register a free account today to become a member! Once signed in, you'll be able to participate on this site by adding your own topics and posts, as well as connect with other members through your own private inbox!
And so it begins.....Torco
- Thread starter none
- Start date
One thing I find interesting (and has not been mentioned here) is Foley's lawsuit for 1.2 mil, that was promised, but never paid.
To me, this adds some credence to the rumor that teams have not been paid in the past for agreements that were made. Granted, purely speculation, but, with this lawsuit, it does make one wonder.
To me, this adds some credence to the rumor that teams have not been paid in the past for agreements that were made. Granted, purely speculation, but, with this lawsuit, it does make one wonder.
Funny you mentioned that. I just read about it. It does add more fuel doesn't it? (Sorry about that last sentence
)
jackass
Nitro Member
There is a second installment of this on Comp Plus.. and the Knoll Lawyer..states things that lead to believe embezzelment may be part of the picture....
Not defending him or anyone else.....but...
if the storys told on Evans health issues are true then that might be the case...for his sake i hope its a case of too much trust in one or more people taking him for a ride... saw that happen to a very good friend that owned a AB Dist. HE got cancer and turned it over to his second in charge.... 3 million missing later his wife found out and called AB and the feds in....
i got no dog in this hunt so i usualy avoid posting on this subject.
Billy
Not defending him or anyone else.....but...
if the storys told on Evans health issues are true then that might be the case...for his sake i hope its a case of too much trust in one or more people taking him for a ride... saw that happen to a very good friend that owned a AB Dist. HE got cancer and turned it over to his second in charge.... 3 million missing later his wife found out and called AB and the feds in....
i got no dog in this hunt so i usualy avoid posting on this subject.
Billy
kd
Nitro Member
Foleys suit was based on his '08 deal w/ Torco...He's especially pissed as he spent a TON of loot in the off season.
EVAN WAS A NITRO SANTA for a bunch of people...people who would have parked or gone without...without him. I have never heard of anybody "Turning Down" a deal in the past so they could keep their EVAN BUCKS....
EVERYBODY should read todays 'BURKS BLAST"...and think for a second...
And Foley SHOULD be pissed, and reimbursed.Foleys suit was based on his '08 deal w/ Torco...He's especially pissed as he spent a TON of loot in the off season.
EVAN WAS A NITRO SANTA for a bunch of people...people who would have parked or gone without...without him. I have never heard of anybody "Turning Down" a deal in the past so they could keep their EVAN BUCKS....
EVERYBODY should read todays 'BURKS BLAST"...and think for a second...
And a lot of his formerly sponsored rides got parked, but drivers found other rides.
JR Todd (didn't they continue to run the car under the torco banner w/o money, recognize Knolls former support?)
Foley
Melanie Troxel
Bobby Lagana
Gary Densham
Dave Connolly
Matt Smith and his 2nd bike
Clay Millican
Jesse Harris
Who else?
Hell, entire race sponsorships were pulled.
Burkes Blast is a good read, but has nothing to do with this particular situation, but rather the liability of what happens in the pits (or on the street) when ignorance meets race cars. And the ramifications. Everyone hates a lawyer, till you need one, and then you want the best.
Sponsorship deals, and the lack of payment for them, are a much different discussion than Burkes discussion.
Last edited:
nedannouncer
Nitro Member
His lawyer is going to be a good source of comedy in this situation.
The whole "It's a blessing these nice federal agents came here to help us get this sorted out" rap is classic.
Getting Latrell Preston's name wrong through the entire statement is even better.
He sounds like the type of lawyer that runs television ads. Judging by the story in the Kalamazoo paper, Evan cooks through lawyers about as quick as he accrues unpaid interest on his private jet...oh wait, he knew nothing about that.
I wonder what the runners up for the Ernst and Young year are up to these days. I'm guessing they are probably not getting blessed with visits from the Federal Government.
Kevin, you're 100% right on with the Santa comment. They have one big thing in common....neither one is real.
Brian
The whole "It's a blessing these nice federal agents came here to help us get this sorted out" rap is classic.
Getting Latrell Preston's name wrong through the entire statement is even better.
He sounds like the type of lawyer that runs television ads. Judging by the story in the Kalamazoo paper, Evan cooks through lawyers about as quick as he accrues unpaid interest on his private jet...oh wait, he knew nothing about that.
I wonder what the runners up for the Ernst and Young year are up to these days. I'm guessing they are probably not getting blessed with visits from the Federal Government.
Kevin, you're 100% right on with the Santa comment. They have one big thing in common....neither one is real.
Brian
The Counterfeiter
Nitro Member
Foleys suit was based on his '08 deal w/ Torco...He's especially pissed as he spent a TON of loot in the off season.
EVERYBODY should read todays 'BURKS BLAST"...and think for a second...
Kevin - you are exactly correct about Doug's situation. Unfortunately, if he wins the lawsuit he will have . . . a judgement. Winning a lawsuit and collecting money are two completely different things.
Jeff's article brings up some very real and sobering issues. His thoughts on sponsors leaving are probably not overstated. I have to agree that NHRA drag racing may be very different next year.
Thank you Karl. That, I had not seen. But it does offer credence to what a lot of people have been saying.
Do a search, and go back and read his last couple of posts. I have been around sponsors in the past, and got paid (and sometimes not) and I have learned that those that talk the most BS are the ones who never come thru.
This seems to be a classic case of the latter. And, it never passed the smell test with me.
Go read this post, it will open your eyes a bit. Obviously, after the fact.
Not only to what happened, but those who blindly followed and supported a con man if everything shakes out the way it looks as though it is headed.
He duped organizations, pro race teams, sportsman teams, lenders, vendors, and fans.
Because there are a lot more greedy @$$holes here than in other countries. LOL!
mike
Nitro Member
Spot on Drew and Paul,
Remember if we just had our opinion on it, and it wasn't 'pro Evan Knoll' we got thrown under the bus.
So where you at 'Pro Knollers' ??
Not posting, thats for sure.
Why, one 10th grade dropout found his rant "as encouraging and inspirational"
Last edited:
kd
Nitro Member
Thanks for the link up Evans old response....THATS what I was thinking of when I mentioned the dallas episode!
Randy
Nitro Member
Unfortunately, most of the elected officials are lawyers. And the judges are or were lawyers. And every time someone brings up tort reform to limit liability and lawsuits, the elected officials (lawyers) all line up against it in order to protect themselves and their buddies who are also lawyers.
Pretty screwed up.
My team was almost a casualty of the plug being pulled for 2008.
TORCO, Evan and Latrell gave us the means to race from 2004 as one of the first teams to fly the TORCO banner along with Jeff Wilson long before DSR or anybody else did, until the end of 2007. Larry Miner did a good job for us behind the wheel and we had fun.
But, we've moved on.
RG
Last edited:
luxexpress
Nitro Member
Please let me know what sponsors these racers have before Torco came along and sent them some money to allow them to continue, or start, racing. I am sorry Torco ended up pulling their dollars, for whatever reason, however, most of these racers were on the sidelines or running out of their own pocket before Evan came in a helped them. I am not aware of any opportunities or other sponsorships that they passed up to stay with Torco. I do not know all the details about what is going on, though I believe there is a lot more to it than what it presently appears, but I do know Evan Knoll loves drag racing and tried to help as many as he could. If, as some are saying, he spent himself and his companies into oblivion doing it, then I am not sure why some seem to enjoying his demise so much. I personally hope things work out for Evan and Torco and hope they will be back in drag racing. However, with some of the reactions and negativity I see towards him and his companies when they are obviously going through some very difficult times I would have to think about that long and hard. In addition to putting the above drivers on the track, Torco has sponsored races, several series, shoot outs, brought nitro funny cars back to the IHRA, and a host of other benefits to drag racing. I am sorry to see them gone, I am sorry that some were hurt when they left, I hope that they will return someday, but most of all, I am glad they did what they did for the short time they were involved in drag racing. My opinion on this will not change until someone shows me how Torco is guilty of anything but trying to help too many and that Evan put too much trust in those around him to do the right things.
