Post by easton on Apr 19, 2010 11:16:31 GMT -4
IMPORTANT MESSAGE
As many people involved in the sport of lawnmower racing are aware, Rod Easton, the founder of OELTRA, has been battling terminal brain cancer since July 2007. As the disease has progressed, a decision had to be made as to how OELTRA could continue without his energy, input, creativity and sometimes quirky personality. After struggling throughout the 2008 season to continue to present the sport with the help of many volunteers, especially the Smith Family and the Murphy Family, I can no longer devote the time required.
While weighing my options for the 2010 season, I considered the following factors:
1) Dedication to the sport of lawnmower racing
2) Professionalism
3) Focus on safety, fair competition and affordable family fun.
4) That Rods dream of the sport continuing to grow in Eastern Ontario be realized
5) That OELTRAs sponsors, MTD Canada, Troy-Bilt and Canadian Tire continue to receive the exposure and professionalism they have received through their sponsorship
After considering the above, and more, I realized the answer was literally staring me in the face.
On behalf of OELTRA, I was in contact with Grasshogs Racing executive and a meeting was held. The passion which Rod brought to the message board, the track, the fairboards and our sponsor, MTD Canada Troy-Bilt and Canadian Tire and the devotion to the sport itself has also been exhibited without question by the Grasshogs Racing family from its' beginning (2) years ago.
At the Grasshogs Racing meeting on todays date, the results of our meeting were announced. OELTRA and Grasshogs Racing are uniting, so to speak, for the 2010 race season. OELTRA has completely endorsed the Grasshogs Racing organization with MTD Canada, Troy-Bilt and Canadian Tire and will be signing off the sponsorship at the end of the season.
Although some may question my motives on this decision, I can assure you that my role in lawnmower racing will now simply consist of that of a spectator/bystander/occasional volunteer.
OELTRA will exist only in name for the purposes of 2010 and following the final race of this season will maintain its website for the sole purpose of promoting the sport and race dates for all clubs wishing free advertising of their information.
Although you will still see the OELTRA logo and name at some of the races this year, it is Grasshogs Racing who have stepped up to the plate to ensure that the sponsor, the racers, the spectators and the venues will have the best lawnmower racing season ever in eastern ontario.
I encourage everyone who has been or is thinking of becoming involved in lawnmower racing in Eastern Ontario to join me in supporting Grasshogs Racing. You will not be disappointed.
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On a more personal note, it has become painfully obvious to myself that my trying to continue to run OELTRA without Rods energy, input and guidance is only going to cause the sport which he has been so passionately involved to suffer. Although I appreciate your support and loyalty to both OELTRA and Rod
and I, it is now time for me to think about what is in the best interest of our Sponsor, the fairboards and the individuals who devote so much time and money into crowd pleasing events, such as yourselves.
I remain a staunch supporter of the sport and will continue to attend races as circumstances allow and volunteer where needed. With a lot of luck and the grace of God, it is hoped that Rod will be in attendance at the first race of the year.
It is my hope that the sport will continue to grow and that more individuals and families will take advantage of such a great opportunity for children and adults of all ages to be involved in such a fun affordable activity which families can participate in together.
It seems like yesterday that a small little meeting took place at the Tim Hortons in Tweed which saw the formation of the first organized lawnmower racing organization in Eastern Ontario. With Rod Easton developing the concept, Rob Tebworth, Rod Conley, Dave Postma and myself each took on a role in the first season of the Ontario East Lawn Tractor Racing Association. The formation of an organized club ensured that safety criteria and fair competitive racing would be showcased in this part of the Province.
The sport quickly grew in this area and the speeds of the machines grew quickly as well. Ultimately, it was decided to transform the acronym OELTRA to mean Ontario Extreme Lawn Tractor Association which seemed to cause a dramatic surge in interest from weekend sod warriors everywhere.
As the sport has grown, differences of opinion within clubs have created the market for additional organizations to be formed, Western Ontario Outlaws and Grasshogs Racing, both of whom had no difficulty in gaining the respect of other racing organizations, even though it didn't appear that way.
Sometimes people just can't say the right thing because it's easier on the ego to say the wrong thing.
Both Rod and myself have immensely enjoyed our involvement with the sport and with the many different and unique personalities we have come into contact with over the past 8 years. We wish continued success to racers everywhere and especially to the club executives and volunteers, for these are the individuals whose season starts January 1st and ends December 31st .
I could continue writing forever and never get in everything I want to say, so I will end with the following favorite quotes of Rod Easton (I believe George Herrin had a hand in these).
Keep the rubber side down and when all is said and done we can all say, “It was a Hell of a Ride!!!”
Donna Easton
President OELTRA
As many people involved in the sport of lawnmower racing are aware, Rod Easton, the founder of OELTRA, has been battling terminal brain cancer since July 2007. As the disease has progressed, a decision had to be made as to how OELTRA could continue without his energy, input, creativity and sometimes quirky personality. After struggling throughout the 2008 season to continue to present the sport with the help of many volunteers, especially the Smith Family and the Murphy Family, I can no longer devote the time required.
While weighing my options for the 2010 season, I considered the following factors:
1) Dedication to the sport of lawnmower racing
2) Professionalism
3) Focus on safety, fair competition and affordable family fun.
4) That Rods dream of the sport continuing to grow in Eastern Ontario be realized
5) That OELTRAs sponsors, MTD Canada, Troy-Bilt and Canadian Tire continue to receive the exposure and professionalism they have received through their sponsorship
After considering the above, and more, I realized the answer was literally staring me in the face.
On behalf of OELTRA, I was in contact with Grasshogs Racing executive and a meeting was held. The passion which Rod brought to the message board, the track, the fairboards and our sponsor, MTD Canada Troy-Bilt and Canadian Tire and the devotion to the sport itself has also been exhibited without question by the Grasshogs Racing family from its' beginning (2) years ago.
At the Grasshogs Racing meeting on todays date, the results of our meeting were announced. OELTRA and Grasshogs Racing are uniting, so to speak, for the 2010 race season. OELTRA has completely endorsed the Grasshogs Racing organization with MTD Canada, Troy-Bilt and Canadian Tire and will be signing off the sponsorship at the end of the season.
Although some may question my motives on this decision, I can assure you that my role in lawnmower racing will now simply consist of that of a spectator/bystander/occasional volunteer.
OELTRA will exist only in name for the purposes of 2010 and following the final race of this season will maintain its website for the sole purpose of promoting the sport and race dates for all clubs wishing free advertising of their information.
Although you will still see the OELTRA logo and name at some of the races this year, it is Grasshogs Racing who have stepped up to the plate to ensure that the sponsor, the racers, the spectators and the venues will have the best lawnmower racing season ever in eastern ontario.
I encourage everyone who has been or is thinking of becoming involved in lawnmower racing in Eastern Ontario to join me in supporting Grasshogs Racing. You will not be disappointed.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
On a more personal note, it has become painfully obvious to myself that my trying to continue to run OELTRA without Rods energy, input and guidance is only going to cause the sport which he has been so passionately involved to suffer. Although I appreciate your support and loyalty to both OELTRA and Rod
and I, it is now time for me to think about what is in the best interest of our Sponsor, the fairboards and the individuals who devote so much time and money into crowd pleasing events, such as yourselves.
I remain a staunch supporter of the sport and will continue to attend races as circumstances allow and volunteer where needed. With a lot of luck and the grace of God, it is hoped that Rod will be in attendance at the first race of the year.
It is my hope that the sport will continue to grow and that more individuals and families will take advantage of such a great opportunity for children and adults of all ages to be involved in such a fun affordable activity which families can participate in together.
It seems like yesterday that a small little meeting took place at the Tim Hortons in Tweed which saw the formation of the first organized lawnmower racing organization in Eastern Ontario. With Rod Easton developing the concept, Rob Tebworth, Rod Conley, Dave Postma and myself each took on a role in the first season of the Ontario East Lawn Tractor Racing Association. The formation of an organized club ensured that safety criteria and fair competitive racing would be showcased in this part of the Province.
The sport quickly grew in this area and the speeds of the machines grew quickly as well. Ultimately, it was decided to transform the acronym OELTRA to mean Ontario Extreme Lawn Tractor Association which seemed to cause a dramatic surge in interest from weekend sod warriors everywhere.
As the sport has grown, differences of opinion within clubs have created the market for additional organizations to be formed, Western Ontario Outlaws and Grasshogs Racing, both of whom had no difficulty in gaining the respect of other racing organizations, even though it didn't appear that way.
Sometimes people just can't say the right thing because it's easier on the ego to say the wrong thing.
Both Rod and myself have immensely enjoyed our involvement with the sport and with the many different and unique personalities we have come into contact with over the past 8 years. We wish continued success to racers everywhere and especially to the club executives and volunteers, for these are the individuals whose season starts January 1st and ends December 31st .
I could continue writing forever and never get in everything I want to say, so I will end with the following favorite quotes of Rod Easton (I believe George Herrin had a hand in these).
Keep the rubber side down and when all is said and done we can all say, “It was a Hell of a Ride!!!”
Donna Easton
President OELTRA