And so it begins.....Torco

[Thrill]

"someone forged my signature" bit on the jet is right up there with the dog ate my homework line. surely they could have come up with something better than that???

i don't think it will be hard for the feds to uncover who's at fault.

in the end, he did a lot of people good, let a lot of people race at a level they had never experienced. he'll always be remembered for that. regardless whatever happens in the investigation, if he had pulled out in november, he would be a drag race hero forever. it's like the saying one aww $h!t can ruin a bunch of attaboy's. he caused some people some serious financial troubles, jobs, etc., handling the deal the way they did.

 

[Angelo]

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' ??

Mike,

I'm not sure how to take your comment, however, I would like to remind you that it was Evan's money that helped you out a few times last year. None of us here on the Mater were involved with this part of Torco's business, so nobody really knows what the truth is nor is it anyone's business but theirs. That being said;

Evan, Latrell, Torco, etc. always treated me and my team very well on and off the track. People continue to express their (for the most part, uneducated) opinions. We didn't love losing our sponsorship in January, but it didn't affect our memory and we remember everything they did for our team. The fact of the matter is that Evan's business and how he chooses to run it is just that... HIS BUSINESS!

Evan and Latrell are both my friends and as a friend I wish them all the best and the strength to get through this situation. No matter what the outcome, we will continue to be friends, because I base friendship on the person, not what they can do for me.

 

[Paul]

Has anyone seen Evan lately? This kind of reminds me of the Sopranos when the boss goes into hiding when there is a hit out on them. Will Evan end up like Tony or Phil? Is there any truth that Evan has run south of the border?

 

[Muddy]

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.

AMEN BROTHER!
Some opinions expressed seem a bit one sided like He was helping teams out and was a great guy while he was but he quit and now he's a SOB! Why should I care what his problems are? HOW DARE HIM QUIT GIVING HIS MONEY?

He did what he could as long as he could and then he stopped..SHAME ON HIM!!!

 

[Paul]

AMEN BROTHER!
Some opinions expressed seem a bit one sided like He was helping teams out and was a great guy while he was but he quit and now he's a SOB! Why should I care what his problems are? HOW DARE HIM QUIT GIVING HIS MONEY?

He did what he could as long as he could and then he stopped..SHAME ON HIM!!!

He had a commitment to give the money!!!!!! If he couldn't give the money then don't have the commitment to do so. To let the teams know 2 weeks before they have to be in Pomona is wrong on so many levels and knowing the $$$ some teams invested because they were preparing fulfill their part of the commitment makes it even more wrong. I don't know who was responsible for driving the company into the crapper, but I hope they are held accountable for their actions. My fear is that the teams who are due money from Torco will never get their money because there will be nothing left after the IRS is done. Remember, he will be back better then ever in 2009. At least that is what he said.

 

[Toejam]

And Foley SHOULD be pissed, and reimbursed.

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.

What makes this different than WWF Bailing out on Toliver 3 years short of his 5 year deal, or Schick for that matter? NHRA racers have been getting dicked by sponsors bailing out on contracts more than I can count! I'm not totally defending EK, but sponsors bailing out is nothing new here!

 

["Dr. Dirt"]

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.

Now you've done it Aaron. You've gone and thrown common sense in an emotional discussion. I suspect much of the calling for Evan supporters is being aimed at me as I take the "innocent until proven guilty" road. I too, chose to thank Evan for all he did as opposed to fault him for what someone else said he promised to do. I'm just a bit more optimistic, I guess. I also learned a very valuable lesson as a child that some who were supposedly hurt by Evan might not have -- that is not to spend money until I have it. I'm just funny that way. Seems logical to me but obviously, I'm the odd man out here.

I think what amazes me most in this entire deal is the pleasure that comes to so many from another man's problems. As I read, it appears many here are actually relishing in the trials and tribulations of another. As I did in the other threads I'll choose to thank the man for the good he's done rather than hate him for what he didn't do. Again, I'm funny that way.

 

[None]

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.

I'll put you on the OJ didn't do it list. Now there are two of you.

 

[Don-mon]

Now you've done it Aaron. You've gone and thrown common sense in an emotional discussion. I suspect much of the calling for Evan supporters is being aimed at me as I take the "innocent until proven guilty" road. I too, chose to thank Evan for all he did as opposed to fault him for what someone else said he promised to do. I'm just a bit more optimistic, I guess. I also learned a very valuable lesson as a child that some who were supposedly hurt by Evan might not have -- that is not to spend money until I have it. I'm just funny that way. Seems logical to me but obviously, I'm the odd man out here.

I think what amazes me most in this entire deal is the pleasure that comes to so many from another man's problems. As I read, it appears many here are actually relishing in the trials and tribulations of another. As I did in the other threads I'll choose to thank the man for the good he's done rather than hate him for what he didn't do. Again, I'm funny that way.

I mean no disrespect to any long time mater contributors, but I have first hand experience with this company since I was an employee.
Yes I am bitter, yes I am owed monies like many other people.
The problem I have is all talk about what Evan did for our sport, I love drag racing- but the fact of the mater is Evan stole our tax $$ to fund all of this, I like the fact that many small teams got a shot at the big time, but he did it with our money!
HE DID IT WITH OUR MONEY!
As a tax paying American, I elect people to spend my tax money, I dont want some guy with a "Robbin Hood" complex running around spending it.
Lets get to the root!

 

[nick name]

The Importance of a Single Word

Verbatim excerpt from an article on competitionplus.com:

"Knoll reportedly suffered a head injury in a single-car accident in 2004 and recurring medical complications forced him to step aside from the day-to-day operations of Torco in January of this year."

I was stunned to see the word "reportedly" in the sentence. I can't find it in any previous compplus coverage of Evan's medical problems.

Many veteran web-watchers know that Knoll was the catalyst for Bobby's website gaining critical mass. After the money appeared, the race coverage became onsite and regular -- in addition to some notable editorial positions being filled. With that in mind, few were surprised that Bennett and his website were staunch supporters of everything Knoll.

So, here it's 08/08 and we see a word inserted which, according to all rules of grammar, allows a certain degree of doubt as to the existence of an injury.

Very interesting indeed, and perhaps the start of another chapter in the tangled story of Evan Knoll.

 

[rocketman]

Will, you are absolutely right. If he would have pulled out in November then he would have walked away a hero. The problem Mr. Knoll had was he's like a thirsty politician trying to satisfy everyone and can't say NO regardless of whether or not the money is there. Promise the world now and worry about the bill later...much later! I also, wonder how many venders also never got paid? And where is Mr. Knoll?

 

[PJ]

I take no joy in the fall of Evan or his company.

He helped alot of people chase their dream, how he did that may now be suspect, but I suppose it'll all come out in the trials.

 

[Randy]

I also learned a very valuable lesson as a child that some who were supposedly hurt by Evan might not have -- that is not to spend money until I have it. I'm just funny that way. Seems logical to me but obviously, I'm the odd man out here.

Bobby:

In my deal I managed the TORCO $$ the way you described due to the fact that the quarterly payments typically came in late and I didn't want to be without a chair if the music ever stopped.

When 2008 arrived, we spent only what we had in hand, not on what we hoped to get. When the call came from Latrell I was not upside down and I did not have a new tractor trailer rig on order with money yet to be seen.

While my deal wasn't $1.5 million it was still one of the better, if not one of the best, top alcohol sponsor deals out there.

So that makes two of us who are "odd."

RG

 

[Randy]

Will, you are absolutely right. If he would have pulled out in November then he would have walked away a hero. The problem Mr. Knoll had was he's like a thirsty politician trying to satisfy everyone and can't say NO regardless of whether or not the money is there. Promise the world now and worry about the bill later...much later! I also, wonder how many venders also never got paid? And where is Mr. Knoll?

You sure know a lot.

Anyone getting money from TORCO for more than one season knew their payment track record going in to 2008. While I'm not the smartest guy in the world, I can tell you anyone who was signed up for 2008 had to know something was up and shouldn't have spent or done any more than they could afford to do sans the TORCO money.

While there is a lot left to come out (and some of it is going to be very ugly) all I can say is this whole situation is very sad.

I can tell you this. I knew Evan before his wreck...and after. Maybe I'm all screwed up, but the man changed. He sponsored Jeff Wilson and I (and maybe one or two other smaller deals). Then he had his wreck, and suddenly his wallet fell out of his back pocket like a person on a misguided mission, sponsoring everything in sight including DSR, Connolly's deal and everyone else with a race car. He would walk into peoples pit areas and write them a sizable check. People he had never met before but just wanted to help, like Gary Densham. Ask him the story.

Now he's in trouble, so lets get on the bandwagon and beat him up. Do you think his actions over the last few years were that of a rational person? If not, do you think his sudden departure should be any more rational?

I, for one, was negatively impacted by the 2008 exodus. However, using Bobby Miller's "odd man out" thinking from the get go on my deal (which never made a lot of sense to me or anyone else in the first place) I was very carefull to keep myself within my own financial means. As bizaar as we saw this whole TORCO team thing get I guess I fully expected that any minute now the curtain could drop, and it did.

RG

 

[willy]

Thanks for your personal insight, Randy.

I guess I'm more sad than anything..and maybe baffled. I hope it all works out.

 

[Meeks]

Will, you are absolutely right. If he would have pulled out in November then he would have walked away a hero. The problem Mr. Knoll had was he's like a thirsty politician trying to satisfy everyone and can't say NO regardless of whether or not the money is there. Promise the world now and worry about the bill later...much later! I also, wonder how many venders also never got paid? And where is Mr. Knoll?

Mr. Knoll is posting away on myspace...he made sure to post this in a bulletin.
Drag Racing Internet Magazine - Competition Plus.com - KNOLL LAWYER “THIS WAS A BLESSING”

I don't know about anybody else but it really pisses me off that they are blaming Latrell for all of this. Yeah maybe he may not be completely innocent in all of this but this is ridiculous...Evan just keeps digging himself in a bigger hole. I'd prefer he spend some quality time in a jail cell to think about all his stupid actions because even though this is supposed to be his company, its everybody else's fault of course.

 

[FABMAN]

I'll put you on the OJ didn't do it list. Now there are two of you.

Bobby, looks like the far left bashers are creeping out of the woodwork.

 

[Jim]

Re: And so it begins.....

Sure it's possible he had NO idea what was going on with his company, it's finances and business dealings.

It is also possible that I will be discovered and become the next big, Hollywood movie star.

Jim

 

[Jim]

Too bad, he did a lot for the sport for awhile. I guess if it is to good to be true..........

My concern is that the short-term benefit that some people in the sport received is far outweighed by the long-term damage.

Jim

 

[Jim]

I think what amazes me most in this entire deal is the pleasure that comes to so many from another man's problems.

There is a difference between problems and self-inflicted problems. I think nearly everyone here would have sympathy for someone who is facing problems that are not of their own making. However, when someone causes problems for themselves by defrauding others, it is hard to feel much sympathy for them.

Jim