Racing and the Port

If ever we were looking for evidence of California’s anti-business climate we have the perfect example in promoter Chris Pook’s proposed San Diego Grand Prix and the San Diego Unified Port District’s opposition to it.

Pook wants to bring a sports car race to downtown San Diego in August of 1993. He has asked for nothing. No money, security, street closings, or street improvements to put on this event. He’s paying for all of it. The only thing he has asked for is approval of his plan. A sporting event with a potential $14- million response is not good enough. The Port District’s reasons? They have “very real concerns” about the race’s environmental impact to the surrounding area and damage to area landscaping.

Let’s wake up and smell the coffee! The Port District concerns are minute when compared to the benefits. We are in the middle of a full, deep recession. If nothing else, we can’t afford to be turning down $14 million. What about the millions of dollars in free publicity from television? Is the Port District going to compensate us for that? How much damage can one weekend of racing do to steel and concrete buildings and asphalt streets? Pook has already said he’ll replace the landscaping. As one of many hundreds of thousands of southern California racing fans, my ticket money is right here, and I say “Gentlemen, start your engines!”

E. MIGUEL TERRAZAS, San Diego