Fan: 'It's still Bristol Motor Speedway, and there's no place like that'

BRISTOL, Tenn. – Hours before the Saturday races at Bristol Motor Speedway, Denise Sinkavich, her husband, Dave, and their handsome shepherd dog Hank were strolling from the nearby All American Campgrounds for a pre-races walk near the track.

Longtime race fans from Pittsburgh, Pa., the couple had set up camp at the All American five days earlier – and have clearly noticed something different about this spring’s race week.

“There weren’t nearly as many campers like there normally are, that’s for sure,” Denise Sinkavich said. “There was plenty of space when we got here, and there’s still a lot.”

But Sinkavich said the couple and their fellow campers “are just as excited and passionate” as usual for the spring races. “We’re happy to be here again,” she said. “We didn’t think twice about coming. It’s always worth the experience.”

That seemed to be the general sentiment among spectators all around the speedway Saturday – among the fans who had found a way, despite a tight economy, to pursue their passion and experience a day of racing at Bristol.

Chris Harmon of Greeneville, Tenn., carrying a cooler full of goodies as he, his wife, Jen, and stepsons Andrew and David walked towards the track.

“We just bring more of our own stuff, that’s probably the only change we’ve made,” Harmon said. “We love being at the races, so it’s not really some kind of sacrifice.”

Ohio couple Dave and Pam Hicks, who rent a Bristol home every March for the race weekend, said the economy hadn’t had a dramatic effect on their experience or the enjoyment.

“We’re old pros at getting around, so we know how to be cost-efficient,” Pam Hicks said, as her husband wheeled around a small luggage bag with sport drinks, crackers and seat cushions.

Added Dave Hicks: “It’s still Bristol Motor Speedway, and there’s no place like that. I would absolutely recommend being here to anyone. It’s good to see the economy hasn’t really hurt that, as far as I can see.”

Meanwhile, outside the speedway, at U.S. Highway 11E in Bluff City, motorists were clearly trying their best to be economical and legal.

They were quickly tapping their brakes as they drove toward Bluff City’s controversial, recently installed speed cameras, which capture photographs of vehicles exceeding the posted 45 mph limit and lead to $90 fines arriving in the mail.

During the nearly three months since the cameras were installed, Bluff City has cited more than 1,600 motorists and drawn $150,000 in fine fees.

Bluff City officials have firmly resisted suggestions, including a few from Bristol Motor Speedway officials, that they turn off the cameras during race weekend – so cited out-of-town race fans aren’t turned off on a return to Bristol for future races.

“Actually, we’ve gotten more calls from people this weekend thanking us for not turning off the cameras, and none complaining about them,” Bluff City City Manager Fredrick Weaver said Saturday.

Weaver laughed when told there had been “word on the street” that Bluff City had quietly turned off the cameras.

“I haven’t heard those rumors, and I can assure you that if you drive down that section of 11E, the cameras are very much on,” Weaver said.

If anything, Weaver said, Bluff City has gone an extra mile during race weekend to keep out-of-town race fans from getting fines. The city has temporarily set up a portable speed monitor well ahead of the cameras, Weaver said, to give motorists another reminder to slow down before entering the detection area.

“My goodness, we’re trying to give people every break in the book,” Weaver said, laughing.

“All they have to do is slow down.”

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