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February 2001 This is The Racers Network ™ Monthly Newsletter. We hope that you enjoy the following articles. Contents: We hope that you find this issue to be informative. If you have any suggestions for Future issues, or have an article or story you would like to contribute Please send e-Mail To the following address fwallace@racer-net.com ************************************************** Being in Daytona for Speedweeks has always made me feel like one of the lucky people who have the opportunity of witnessing the 500 live. At the end of the race there was, of course, the accident in turn 4 involving Dale Earnhardt. At that time, that was all that I thought about it. We have all seen racers hit the wall and be back to race again next week, and it really did not look to be that hard of a hit. So, thinking that everyone had a safe race I left the Speedway and headed for Orlando International Airport. After checking my luggage in, it was off to the gate to obtain my seating assignment. Standing in line for my turn, a fan wearing a #3 cap got into line behind me. A friend of his came over to get in with his friend and said that some guy had just told him that Dale was dead. We all talked about it for a few minutes dismissing that idea as just some cruel joke. After I received my seating assignment, I turned to the guys and told them that the batteries in my cell phone were used up but I would go down the hall and make a call on a pay phone to get his status. To my complete shock and disbelief, I was informed that the report was true. It took several minutes to gain my composure and understand the report. I went looking for the Earnhardt fans and found them half way back to the gate. The Airport had changed channels on the ceiling mounted TV's and about 50 people were huddled around watching the report about his passing. Nobody was saying anything, and the look on everyone's face was total shock. The mood on the flight was very somber. People on the plane were sharing stories about Earnhardt, but they were filled more with pride than joy. Passengers who were not race fans, knew of him and were listening intently to the stories We had a connecting flight in Cincinnati, and we landed there at about 10:30 PM. People were gathered around talking about the events, and passengers from other flights who had still not heard the news were beginning to mourn. Everywhere that I had been, from Florida to Ohio, people were sharing the great tragedy and loss of the days events. From this humble experience, I know what he meant to so many people from around the world. Our prayers and thoughts go to Teresa and the Earnhardt family. Send us e-Mail with where you were on February 18, and we'll include as many as we can in the next newsletter. Please send e-Mail To the following address fwallace@racer-net.com The Earnhardt family has asked that in lieu of flowers, that donations be sent to the Foundation for the Carolinas, a nonprofit philanthropic organization. The Address is: Foundation for the Carolinas In Honor of Dale Earnhardt P.O. Box 34769 Charlotte, NC. 28234-4769 ************************************************** Effective Jan. 22, 2001, The Racers Network has placed a charge for Classified Advertisements. Our site generates an enormous amount of traffic on a monthly basis. As the number of advertisements grow, so do our monthly visitors. While this is an ideal situation for our classified advertisers, it places financial burdens on The Racers Network. We have been able to make this site the #1 ranked site, on the Internet, for Motorsports classified advertisements. The #1 status was achieved in November 1999, and we have been able to maintain this position. We offer high quality ads that Produce Results. We have classified ads from completely around the world, and we have sold items to buyers worldwide. It has always been our intention to offer the classifieds Free-of-Charge, and we have been able to accomplish this for the last 35 months. Our costs skyrocket on a monthly basis. With the increase in traffic using the site, our bandwidth usage charges increase on a monthly basis. As the total number of classified advertisements continue to grow, our server storage costs increase as do our need for additional staff. As some of you may know, internet advertising revenues have fallen to extremely low levels over the past several months. The Racers Network needs to activate our long promised Motorsports Auctions, and an On-Line Parts Store. We have been putting off these additional features due to the costs associated with them. It is important to move forward with these features as soon as possible. $24.95 per advertisement is the fee that we have arrived at. The ads will continue to run until the item is Sold. The tickets section and the cars and trailers wanted sections will remain Free-of-Charge. ************************************************** In October 1999, we began offering free e-Mail accounts to the users of The Racers Network. We had contracted this service through an e-Mail company for a 5 year period of time. In October 2000, the e-Mail company abruptly closed it's doors. This happened without any prior notification, and left many of our e-Mail users high and dry. For this we apologize, but we had nothing to do with the circumstances. We have been shopping around for another service to pick this feature up, and make it operational again. We have entered into negotiations with a few companies, but have retracted once their stability was in question. When the feature is re-introduced, we want no further outages. We will keep everyone posted concerning our hunt for new e-Mail services. ************************************************** The Racers Network has been using a Message Board company to provide our users this service since 1998. We offer 5 message boards: - Stock Car Racing - Drag Racing - Sports Car Racing - Sprint Car Racing - Vintage Car Racing These can be accessed by going to http://www.racer-net.com/forum.htm On February 19, 2001 we were notified that this company will be closing it's doors on March 5, 2001. We have already entered into an agreement with a new company, and will be converting to the new Message Boards before the cutoff date. The new service company will provide us better service and an improved product. The new Boards will be easier to use, and provide new features. The next newsletter will contain a complete breakdown of the new service. ************************************************** In the year of 2000 The Racers Network was visited by over 1,370,000 "unique" visitors, and produced in excess of 13,401,000 hits. Not only are these statistics outstanding, but more importantly we produce results. Below is the response from a current The Racers Network user, who recently sold his car. Thanks to you and your great site I have sold the 87 Chevy 1 Ton Crew Cab Dually. I was asking $6,500.00 and truck was located in NY. A fellow racer has purchased it. THANKS AGAIN and please mark it as sold or REMOVE from your site. THANKS Michael O'Connor Note *** The price was changed on this ad on 02/05/2001 and was marked as SOLD on 02/12/2001 ************************************************** How about a Drag Racing related business to own and operate. The Racers Network has it. It's classified advertisement is as follows: Complete Blower & Supercharger Manufacturing Business. Asset Sale. All components of previously well known & well established blower manufacturer - Waterman Racing Components. All assets for sale including: - Molds - Patterns - Tooling - Blue-prints - Parts inventory - Machined castings - Raw castings - Fixtures - Equipment - BLOWER DYNO and more. Ability to manufacturer mag and aluminum in sizes 8-71 to 14-71. Includes 1 new fully assembled and dyno tested mag case 14-71 with billet rotors. Complete vendor and sub-contractor listing with purchase. No machining ability is necessary, everything is sub-contracted. Business is ready to re-start and the market is waiting! Everything is on pallets and ready to ship. Additional money making service business of re-stripping (rebuilding) blowers is included. Offered for sale at less than half of the asset value at cost. Huge opportunity! $38,000.00 Phone: (847) 304-9069 e-Mail: twiegman@mc.net The Advertisement can be seen at: http://www.racer-net.com/busns002.htm ************************************************** We are striving to make The Racers Network the best place on the internet to buy or sell race cars, trailers, transporters, parts, and tickets. We believe that we are presenting the classified advertisements the way that you want to see them. But, we also realize that there is always room for improvement. We value your input and ask that you let us know about ways in which we can improve. Send e-Mail to fwallace@racer-net.com ************************************************** The Racers Network is the #1 ranked InterNet site for MotorSports classified advertisements. We offer affordable advertising opportunities. With over 13,401,000 hits in 2000, we are the perfect place to have your company seen by racers worldwide. We are trying hard to be the best source on the Internet for racing related classified advertisements, and we are succeeding. We need your support. For information about advertising your company on The Racers Network go to: http://www.racer-net.com/adinfo.htm ************************************************** See You Next Month !!! |
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