Randy
Nitro Member
Where did you hear that?
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And so it begins.....Torco
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Where did you hear that?
I went in to our local CSK to purchase some Lucas Fuel treatment, and the guy there said that Lucas Oil Products sell pretty well there.
You!
Nitro Member
Yeah I thought Boyd had heart problems
that number came from people inside a drag racing organization. I don't have a clue what number is accurate, just going off of what I was told. 1 billion seemed like a huge number to me but based upon what they spend on sponsorships it kind of made sense.
Boyd had Diabietes and was hurt at home from a fall. He never fully recovered and past due to both issues. Got that from Boyds "American Hot Rod" Forum back a few months ago.
BlueStangGT
Nitro Member
Being a privately held company, I doubt you'll find anything terribly accurate in the public domain in regards to Lucas' actual sales.
DragFan2
Nitro Member
George (& Jim Young),
Sorry if you (or others) mistakenly thought I was comparing Evan Knoll to Forrest Lucas or the Lucas family. I was in NO WAY making that comparison between the two. I fully realize who Forrest & Charlotte Lucas are as well as their son Morgan. They are quite a success story, and thanks for the additional facts that I was not completely aware of. YES, I did know they owned the naming rights to the Indianapolis Colt's new football stadium, and if I'm not mistaken they have created some sort of cool automotive related restaurant/souvenir facility inside the stadium too. Evan Knoll's "out-of-nowhere" buying binge or better stated "sponsorship binge" was obviously not reality based, hence the current situation. But, one thing to consider here in regards to the many many Lucas Oil sponsorships is, what would happen if Forrest and Charlotte went down in plane crash and they were gone tomorrow? Would everything carry on as it is? Would Morgan take over the reins and keep the Lucas Oil company involved as it is today? Would the management in place be the same benevolent givers to the sport of Drag Racing as they are? Not to be sounding fatalistic, but stuff happens.
Anyway, I apologize to the Lucas Family if I in any way made anyone think that I was in any way putting them and their successful business ventures in the same light as EK and the Torco debacle.
Randy
Nitro Member
He had surgery about a decade ago which allowed him to lose a significant amount of weight. After the surgery he developed complications (that I won't go in to) which adversly effected his health in a major way. In time, those complications along with what you posted here are what cost him his life.
I've seen one post in 8 pages of this topic that actually touches on what happened. Like I said, it's going to get ugly.
RG
rocketman
Nitro Member
I'm going to do a 180 here and say that we really should be more sympathetic to Mr. Knoll. Lets think of all the good he did for drag racing.
This is a man that loved the sport like no other. This is a man that got into big time drag racing with good intentions by rescuing Dave Connelly who abruptly lost his ride. And I think we have all forgotten that. As people here correctly point out he has helped out a lot of racers not just in the pro classes but Top Alcohol and Pro Mod too. It was a great couple of years until it all took it's toll and he was bled dry by his big heart.
Right now he's out there some place feeling pretty low. He's probably read these posts. So are we going to enjoy all the good times and benefits to the sport at his expense while the money was there, and now scorn him since he's hit rock bottom and he has no money left to dole out? We all saw it coming last year and so should he but rather than continue to criticize we should celebrate the help he did give some racers that wouldn't have gotten help otherwise. We need to reach out to him in his time of need as he did for so many others in recent years. Yes, I've been a critic of the whole Torco operation but I've certainly made many mistakes too.
Let's hope that Mr. Knoll escapes any jail time with the Feds and is able to put this behind him down the road. Let's also hope he comes clean real soon. The quicker he does that, the sooner he and everyone else can put this discouraging chapter in the sport's history behind them.
This is a man that loved the sport like no other. This is a man that got into big time drag racing with good intentions by rescuing Dave Connelly who abruptly lost his ride. And I think we have all forgotten that. As people here correctly point out he has helped out a lot of racers not just in the pro classes but Top Alcohol and Pro Mod too. It was a great couple of years until it all took it's toll and he was bled dry by his big heart.
Right now he's out there some place feeling pretty low. He's probably read these posts. So are we going to enjoy all the good times and benefits to the sport at his expense while the money was there, and now scorn him since he's hit rock bottom and he has no money left to dole out? We all saw it coming last year and so should he but rather than continue to criticize we should celebrate the help he did give some racers that wouldn't have gotten help otherwise. We need to reach out to him in his time of need as he did for so many others in recent years. Yes, I've been a critic of the whole Torco operation but I've certainly made many mistakes too.
Let's hope that Mr. Knoll escapes any jail time with the Feds and is able to put this behind him down the road. Let's also hope he comes clean real soon. The quicker he does that, the sooner he and everyone else can put this discouraging chapter in the sport's history behind them.
"Dr. Dirt"
Nitro Member
Careful there Rich,
Such comments could label you an Evan Knoll supporter and that will bring some pretty vicious name calling, finger pointing and many derogatory comments your way. Trust me, I know two guys that read every post I put up lying in wait to pounce with negativity.
Oh, for the record, and to insure I remain in the line of fire, I agree with your post.
Bowtie
Nitro Member
Add me to the list of agreeing. I don't think he ever intended to screw anyone, I don't think he got up one morning and said I think i am going to F with someones race team. I do think that he spread himself to thin and it got away from him because he loves this sport just as much as the rest of us. Hopefully he will come out of this with out to many scars.
Nitrohaulic
Nitro Member
I thought it was said that none of us would dare post here! Are we all accounted for?
Where are THEY after making such comments? Not exactly jumping to admit that they're wrong, huh? I've certainly admitted to being wrong here more than once. Some people just can't do that.
Did any of us say that Mr. Knoll couldn't possibly be guilty of any wrongdoing? People can say what things looked like all they want but, I've been in too many situations that weren't what they appeared to know that you don't do that.
As has already been explained, the man might not have even been in his right mind.
rocketman
Nitro Member
Well guys, like a lot of you I'm kind of torn because on one hand he poured millions into the sport and helped a lot of guys out that needed it to keep racing. But on the other, his irresponsibility left people holding the bag and that's where the problem is with me. I'm not a supporter of his but I do agree that he was very generous while the money was rolling in. We tend to eat our own and here we're all picking at the guy that has probably done the most of any backer in the history of the sport. But that's also why he's in trouble!
There are lots of red flags though and one thing I don't agree with is his lawyer pinning this on Preston. I'm sure Preston was only doing what his boss Mr. Knoll has asked him to do. Also, it's my understanding that he's on the run. This also doesn't make him look real good right now either. Regardless of all the good he's done, Mr. Knoll needs to come home and get his house in order.
There are lots of red flags though and one thing I don't agree with is his lawyer pinning this on Preston. I'm sure Preston was only doing what his boss Mr. Knoll has asked him to do. Also, it's my understanding that he's on the run. This also doesn't make him look real good right now either. Regardless of all the good he's done, Mr. Knoll needs to come home and get his house in order.
luxexpress
Nitro Member
I also choose to side with those who would like to remember the good Torco did for drag racing and those he helped, rather than focus only on the mistakes that were made. I feel for those who were hurt, however, many would not have been racing without Torco's money in the first place. And for those who think Evan did what he did merely to stroke his own ego, you should remember that the majority of their dollars went to smaller, underfinanced teams. He threw a ton of money into the IHRA, which obviously gets a fraction of the attention the NHRA does. No matter what results from the latest developments, I will always believe that Evan Knoll was drag racing's biggest fan and wanted nothing more than to help support the sport he loved, regardless of his own personal gain. Why so many are determined to bash him over this, I don't think I will ever understand.
Von Halen
Nitro Member
Good post Rich.
Wouldn't it be interesting if Evan Knoll somehow reached down, yanked on his boot straps, and rebounded from this in a positive manner?
What if a year, two years, five years from now, this guy finds himself back on top and decides to get back into the game? Wiser, but nonetheless back in the game. It could happen. And if it does, there will be plenty of racers willing to take a chance on his money. They'll gladly take it to pursue their dream of racing.
Yep, Evan obviously made mistakes. He just has to admit them and try to move forward.
I'd like to know if any of the teams Evan sponsored, thought he was such a bad guy before the money ran out.
rocketman
Nitro Member
I don't think he will ever be on top again. I'm not sure where that initial source of money came from and I've heard it all from inheirtance to winning a lawsuit to propane sales. It appears that the bank will get Torco and perhaps some of that sponsor money was borrowed money (otherwise why would the business go into receivership? oh yeah the jet) and wouldn't that be a shame. This story has legs and was even picked up by the Washington Post and several others around the country.
Everybody makes mistakes.
My problems with the man lay with his "post collapse" responses, tirades and lies after leaving hundreds of good men and women in undeserved financial trouble, while still not taking responsibility for his actions and commitments.
Nothing in this world disappoints more than a person not taking responsibility for their own actions.
Why did he take that route? I don't know.
If he would have simply announced that he could no longer support his racing addiction because of his poor judgement, and apologized to all of those affected, I think everybody would have cut him some major slack, and he would have still enjoyed some positive aspects to his legecy in the sport..
I believe he would have enjoyed some support from those he affected as well. He might have enjoyed some help from the racing world to right the ship.
Now, look where that ego, fingerpointing selfish mindset has brought him..
My problems with the man lay with his "post collapse" responses, tirades and lies after leaving hundreds of good men and women in undeserved financial trouble, while still not taking responsibility for his actions and commitments.
Nothing in this world disappoints more than a person not taking responsibility for their own actions.
Why did he take that route? I don't know.
If he would have simply announced that he could no longer support his racing addiction because of his poor judgement, and apologized to all of those affected, I think everybody would have cut him some major slack, and he would have still enjoyed some positive aspects to his legecy in the sport..
I believe he would have enjoyed some support from those he affected as well. He might have enjoyed some help from the racing world to right the ship.
Now, look where that ego, fingerpointing selfish mindset has brought him..
