ColumnistHP

There are people who have known me for a long time that are going to think I've stepped off the ledge and am tumbling through space on my way to splattering at the bottom of a crazy pit. Then, there will be those who will be of the opinion that I'm trying to smooze up to the promoters now that things are different this year. Then, add to that the far left radical wing of ATV racing who are attempting to make their micro-presence known by any means possible so that they can become legitimate forces in the sport who will have all sorts of foul things to say about me for saying what I'm about to say because they say foul things regardless of what you do. (They get a long sentence.)...Then, pile on top of that the fact that I'm not doing anything different than I've ever done before and you have the classic duck story. If it walks like a duck and quacks like a duck. It must be a duck. Put plainly, I'm simply saying what's on my mind just as I have for years. So, with little further to do...

Ladies and gentlemen and ATV racers, for this installment of Buford's Back Page, via the internet, I'm not going to attack a tiny group of people who really need more than just an editorial lashing, I'm going to thank two groups of promoters who fall into the category of giving credit where credit is due. Yes, you heard me right. I'm going to thank two groups of promoters. Like it or not, promoters are blessed sometimes with seeing the light and...this year...promoters have seen the light. That is...In my humble opinion.

First off, I would like to thank the officers and staff of the WPSA and their PowerSports ATV Tour. Although their sudden departure after two years threw some wrenches in some peoples plans, mine included, they did, and no one can argue this point to the contrary, bring much needed exposure to the sport of ATV racing along with elevating the promotional bar of ATV racing. I know there will be those who can't seem to grasp what the WPSA did in two short years, but they did more good for the sport than anyone of us ever really expected them to do. Sure, they had their issues, but without their involvement in the sport over the last two years we could still be back at square one. I want to thank them, all of them, for doing what they did. To put it in corn field philosophy terms...They done good...And, I thank them.

Second off, I would like to commend and thank the ATV Promoter's Group (ATVPG) for stepping up to the plate in grand slam style this year. Never before in the last six or seven years that I've been involved in national ATV racing have I seen a group of promoters take stock of where they stood and go out and do something about it. Ever since their new PR guy got in touch with me back around the first of the year and we came to terms where each party knew where the other party stood, I have witnessed first hand the evolution of a promoter's group that was stuck in a rut for years into a promoter's group that has their eye on the future of the sport and the means, and a viable plan of implementation, to get there. That place being a highly accepted main stream presence for ATV racing.

I credit not only the ATVPG as a whole for what they'd done for the sport so far this year, but I commend Racer Productions and the Coombs family for realizing past mistakes and oversights and correcting them in such a positive way that one would have to have a real bad attitude toward the sport not to recognize the good they're doing today and the apparent vision they have for the future. Their efforts have not gone unnoticed by the media and others who do what they do for one reason and one reason only....the good of the sport.

In closing, I would like to say I'm sorry to those of you who have come to expect me to be your sounding voice of dissent toward promoters and, seemingly, my turn around of opinion concerning promoters. But, for those of you who still like to live in a skeptical, non-progressive world, I have this to say. If you don't have the intellect and maturity to see your wrongs...you'll never have the intellect and maturity to recognize your rights.

Columnist

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Editor's Note: The following is a reprint of an article by Buford B. McQuadden which will appear in the June issue of ATV Racin' Extra.

We wanted to release it early at ATV Pro Racing due to the fact that

Buford B. has rarely in the past thrown out "THANKS" to anyone at

any time for any reason...He has now!

THANKS & CREDIT DUE