Is Knoll done? (2 Viewers)

[Nitrohelper]

When the racers that he still owes 2007 payments get their money,and the crew members get severance pay to help with the lack of notice . Then I will say thanks for the help to the 30+ teams, and all the drag racing that he has supported over the last two years.
If not, well then he's just another rich ego freak that has hurt many small teams & families.
Unfortunately he's not the first ,and probably will not be the last.

 

[meg]

Some of you people just make me sick. Most of you have never spoke 2 words to Evan and you're deciding everything about his life. Leave him alone and allow him to get better. Even if he does never sponsor a driver again, who are you to say anything about it? He gave people the opportunity to do so many amazing things and win a championship. You can't put a price on that. Whether it was for a year, or 10 years, it's still more than you'll ever do. He has helped more people in a year than most of you will ever do in you life. He's an amazing person and I'm truly grateful to call him a friend. He's an incredible person and will make it through this. He believed in so many people and proved that by backing them with everything he could, so don't you think we owe it to him to do the same thing?

And for those of you who think he just writes a check you're sadly mistaken. He's extremely hands on. He puts his whole heart into racing. It's not about just writing a check, he gives it all he has.

 

[twok4hd]

Just remember, one OH!!, CHIT can wipe out a whole mess of ATTABOYS.

I think there are some states that acknowledge a "Handshake" deal just like a signed contract. I think it will get uglier as time goes on, and the fat lady will have that last word.

No matter what, I hope Evan pulls through all this with a full recovery

 

[blackbeard]

Some of you people just make me sick. Most of you have never spoke 2 words to Evan and you're deciding everything about his life. Leave him alone and allow him to get better. Even if he does never sponsor a driv

this is NOT about whether evan is a nice guy, or if he is passionate about racing. this is about a VERY POOR business decision. should all of those teams just say "well, even though evan owes us a boatload of money, and he left us hanging like a wet towel, we'll forget about it because he's a nice guy."

 

[blackbeard]

It seems to me this is a business decision by a CFO who is now in charge of a business instead of the guy who founded the company and loves racing. The timing of this announcement is just plain wrong, too many people effected in a negative way. The stress brought on by causing hardship would be much more than the stress of watching your teams compete.

could'nt have said it better myself. don't forget about the looming recession, also.

 

[Nick Name]

I think any CEO that is thinking about putting any money into drag racing should read this thread and see how some of the racers feel about people who try to help.

I couldn't imagine anyone wanting to put 10 cents into this sport after reading this.

That is one reason these fan based sites are detrimental to the sport.

Jay

 

[davey]

And when any of you guys know anything about closed head injuries you can PM me. I refuse to discuss things on a message board with people who know nothing about a situation and talk out of their ass. I don't know all of the circumstances and neither does anyone else but I do have an inside track on brain injuries and neurosurgery. There are too many variables to even discuss unless you are the man's personal surgeon. If other things come to light, then fine. Until then, everyone should shut up with the unfounded opinions, legal speculation, etc. Give the man a break. He's a huge fan and has been a great benefactor to the sport. There are no guarantees in life. Get used to it.

 

[davey]

I think any CEO that is thinking about putting any money into drag racing should read this thread and see how some of the racers feel about people who try to help.

I couldn't imagine anyone wanting to put 10 cents into this sport after reading this.

That is one reason these fan based sites are detrimental to the sport.

Jay

Ditto. Being a fan doesn't give one the right to be an @$$#0!e and owning a computer doesn't give one the right to know everything that happens in the world.

 

[matt Smith]

this is NOT about whether evan is a nice guy, or if he is passionate about racing. this is about a VERY POOR business decision. should all of those teams just say "well, even though evan owes us a boatload of money, and he left us hanging like a wet towel, we'll forget about it because he's a nice guy."

All the people on here that bash people need to go to another site... If you can't say anything nice then don't say it... I and my dad got all the money in our deals in 2007... And for all you so called guys that know for a fact that Torco did not pay teams in 2007, then post what teams or let the owners of the teams say this....Let's quit speculating and prove stuff rather than what u think u know.... I haven't heard anything from the owners of any teams... Lets pray for Evan to get better and come back out and play in NHRA....

 

[Bobby Bennett]

All the people on here that bash people need to go to another site... If you can't say anything nice then don't say it... I and my dad got all the money in our deals in 2007... And for all you so called guys that know for a fact that Torco did not pay teams in 2007, then post what teams or let the owners of the teams say this....Let's quit speculating and prove stuff rather than what u think u know.... I haven't heard anything from the owners of any teams... Lets pray for Evan to get better and come back out and play in NHRA....

Thank you for saying that Matt. Same with the lawsuits ...

 

[MM]

this is a tough subject....obviously if Evan is sick, we all want him to get better with out question.....i say if because i am not near the subject and don't know the whole story....i'm sure i could find out if i want to but its none of my business....but at the same time....if the stories of Evan not paying some of the teams he sponsored last year for the 4th quarter, what are they supposed to do.....go in to huge debt because an agreement was not honored....but their careers and their livelihoods at stake?? They've got families and have employees that have families....whats the right thing to do in that case?

 

[Nitrohelper]

I haven't heard anything from the owners of any teams....

I've heard from five owners that are still waiting for money, and two parts manufactures that now have product made & orders canceled. No owner wants to post in a pubic forum because they still hope this will be resolved. Torco was slow pay in the past ,but always came through by the end of the year. I am a fan of Evan for helping the smaller teams, and drag racing in general. Hopefully this set-back will get resolved quickly with a happy ending.
Many people knew that Evan was having medical problems last year,so why wait until now to pull the plug? The rumor going around the pits at the end of last year was that Torco was cutting back on the number of teams for 2008 so that Evan could buy IHRA. I guess the cut back part of the story was correct, I hope 2009 will bring him back stronger than even 2007!

Why can't Latrell immediately make all the payments for services rendered?

 

[Von Halen]

I've heard from five owners that are still waiting for money, and two parts manufactures that now have product made & orders canceled. No owner wants to post in a pubic forum because they still hope this will be resolved. Torco was slow pay in the past ,but always came through by the end of the year. I am a fan of Evan for helping the smaller teams, and drag racing in general. Hopefully this set-back will get resolved quickly with a happy ending.
Many people knew that Evan was having medical problems last year,so why wait until now to pull the plug? The rumor going around the pits at the end of last year was that Torco was cutting back on the number of teams for 2008 so that Evan could buy IHRA. I guess the cut back part of the story was correct, I hope 2009 will bring him back stronger than even 2007!

Why can't Latrell immediately make all the payments for services rendered?

I didn't know this was considered a "pubic" forum.

 

[TooTall999]

And when any of you guys know anything about closed head injuries you can PM me. I refuse to discuss things on a message board with people who know nothing about a situation and talk out of their ass. I don't know all of the circumstances and neither does anyone else but I do have an inside track on brain injuries and neurosurgery. There are too many variables to even discuss unless you are the man's personal surgeon. If other things come to light, then fine. Until then, everyone should shut up with the unfounded opinions, legal speculation, etc. Give the man a break. He's a huge fan and has been a great benefactor to the sport. There are no guarantees in life. Get used to it.

Nobody seems to be disputing Evan's injuries.What seems to be bothering everyone is the way all this was done at the last minute.We all wish Evan the best and hopefully a full and speedy recovery.

 

["Dr. Dirt"]

Can this thread be renamed "Blindsiding?"
Depending upon each poster's point of view, most here seem to be either doing it or claiming it has been done to a number of teams? I still haven't read the ever-important post that states "I'm the one who was burned." Everything has been second hand (or much further down the line) knowledge.
My favorites are the ones who wish Evan great health and quick recovery then say but . . .

 

[superman]

ok guys enough this thread just needs to be dropped all of you arent doing anything except harming our sport i mean come on guys evan knoll helped alot of people get into this sport and helped alot of lower funded teams he gave a lot of teams a chance they may never have again and alot of people wish they would have been givin but in the end hes hurt right now let this whole thing play its role lets help evan and encourage him to get better dont bring him down hes a great guy regardless of what this decision has done like he said hell be back in 2009 stronger and better then ever just wait it out and unless you know the true story behind all of this shut up and let it rest again let me say thank you evan for all you have done and get better buddy we want you back there at the track

 

[Meeks]

I didnt read through the entire thread because I've seen that its gone back and forth from encouragement to being mad at Evan for all of this.
I am not an owner and will be the first person to admit that I dont know what all goes on behind the scenes but do have a question...

Evan Knoll is one of the most respected people in the drag racing industry, from NHRA to IHRA, everyone has always spoken highly of the guy. He has helped the sport and the racers tremendously throughout. If he is such a nice guy helping people out then why cant he just take the year off to heal and let the rest of the business continue on? It just doesnt make sense to me, or alot of people for that matter why he'd just come out and say okay we're taking 08 off but we'll be back in 09. Its understandable that he wants to be apart of everything but why make everyone else that he has sponsored suffer?? John Force didnt shut down his entire operation when he was hurt...he kept going the best he could and put other people in charge that could get the job done.

 

[MM]

My favorites are the ones who wish Evan great health and quick recovery then say but . . .

why is that not okay Bobby??? hmmm?? why is it not okay for people to want Evan to get back to health, but also to feel for the people that have had to go into crunch mode after their sponsor bailed out a month before the season starts?? At what point is it okay to wish the best for people on both sides of the equation??? It's no secret that top notch teams are going into a type of panic mode before the Winternationals because they don't have a sponsor for the upcoming season and now their plans have changed. Jerry Newman and Berserko Bob...two guys that have been around the sport for forever and a day....why does there word mean nothing? There are two sides to every story...why can't people respect both and wish the best for all parties involved???

 

[George.]

I am a 49 year old businessman who knows NOTHING about this situation but I have done plenty of business contracts and real estate deals..

One thing I can say for sure, business is business.
Black and white.
"Personal matters" or "gray areas" are not wild cards to be played. Any potential wavers must be explained in the language totally and completely. If not, then there is a breach of contract.

If you make a deal, sickness, health, cash flow has nothing to do with it.
You better have prepared to honor the deal fully and completely.

I smell some very poor excuses here, so expect and understand that any law suits here may have merit.

 

[Butch]

I am a 49 year old businessman who knows NOTHING about this situation but I have done plenty of business contracts and real estate deals..

One thing I can say for sure, business is business.
Black and white.
"Personal matters" or "gray areas" are not wild cards to be played. Any potential wavers must be explained in the language totally and completely. If not, then there is a breach of contract.

If you make a deal, sickness, health, cash flow has nothing to do with it.
You better have prepared to honor the deal fully and completely.

I smell some very poor excuses here, so expect and understand that any law suits here may have merit.

I feel the same.
On Saturday I went to the Supercross race in Phoenix. Team Honda has Torco oil on half of the trailer. I asked one of the Team Honda guys if they were affected with the events at Torco? He said not to his knowledge, and he just herd about it that morning.