The Atlanta Constitution from Atlanta, Georgia • 85

SUNDAY, MARCH 19, 1972 fjc Atlanta Journal and CONSTITUTION 17.n A. eport: A.I.R. Pole Runs Thursday HEW '72 FIATS IMMFDAT DELIVIRT No Fa Fying for Atlanta 500 Atlanta International Raceway swings open its gates Wednesday morning for technical inspection of entries in next Sunday's 14th annual Atlanta 500 stock car race. The Hznile track will open for practice runs Wednes-l day afternoon. Pole position runs are scheduled Thursday afternoon and more than 60 Grand National racing machines are expected to be in me garage area.

Si' Time trials will continue Friday and Saturday after- noons with the fastest 40 cars earning starting spots in the 1 1" li grit ulUnfrar in turope. GOOD SELECTION Overseas deliveries arranged mm $110,000 event. Sunday's race is scheduled to begin at 2 p.m. Tickets are available at the Raceway ticket of fice in Hampton. They are also available at all Davison's department stores, Old Hickory Houses and Lenox Dodge in metro-Atlanta as well as Eller's News Stand in Forest Park.

JIM HUNTER Hugh Park Takes You "Around Town" tf Hit ih let Qxp3rt ffiscfwm'cs at 4- BOBBY ISAAC (R), HARRY irYDE DISCUSS RACE Now They're Sure There'll be an Atlanta 500 scribes the purpose of a Chapter Ten reorganization in legal description as action designed "to rehabilitate a financially-distressed or insolvent debtor." THE IDEA IS to put the race track on a profitable basis. Signs indicate it can be done. From the two races run thus far under the court-appointed trustees, the raceway shows approximately $188,000 profit. Granted, that is nothing for creditors and stockholders to cheer about for a corporation that showed more than $1,400,000 indebtedness a year ago. And, granted, a real profit picture for the track can only be shown following next Sunday's event since the corporate fiscal year begins on May 1 and ends April 30.

However, prospects for payment of the track's past debts changed considerably as a result of last year's operations. Although none of the debts incurred by the track prior to its Chapter Ten proceedings have been paid, things are looking up. FROM AN operational standpoint, the track made tremendous strides. From a financial standpoint, one year and a profit do not wipe away losses that started accumulating the day ground was broken and kept rising year after year. The Raceway has had one foot in the financial grave since the day it was born.

Insufficient funds were as much a part of ground-breaking ceremonies as a shovel. There have been only four fiscal years of profit in the track's 14-year existence. But Cotton is cautiously optimistic. "Actually, the profit picture as painted by last season's two events is substantially less than the real picture of profit this track could produce." He cites such deterring factors of a year ago as court proceedings, crumbling relations with creditors, poor relations with state, county and local officials, poor weather and the overall image of the track following court-announced reorganization. "A PLAN FOR reorganization is in the works," he says, "and we will do whatever is necessary to stabilize the organization." Cotton's optimism is not guarded when he speaks of next Sunday's race.

"It'll be a great race because it'll be A. J. Foyt running against the regular NASCAR stock car drivers. It's exciting just to think about whether one of them can beat the man who has established himself thus far this season as the greatest driver going." Cotton, the Raceway's creditors and its stockholders are hoping a record crowd is listening when they're talking. By JIM HUNTER Atlanta International Raceway, flirting dangerously with bankruptcy just a year ago, has operational money in the bank, It's true.

The same race track that was scraping the bottom of the barrel! just over a year ago has made a comeback. Thanks largely to a pair of court-appointed trustees, there is no flak flying about whether or not there'll be an Atlanta 500 this season. THERE WILL be an Atlanta 500 stock car race next Sunday. And there's money in the bank. Creditors and stockholders of the financially-distraught speedway need not start knocking down doors Xor dollars due.

Hopefully, there will be a time and place for that later. Plans for reorganization of the Hampton-based stop on the Grand National circuit are still being formualted. Meanwhile, practice gets underway for the 500-mile speed dash Wednesday at the Ha-mile, high-banked, auto racing plant about a half-hour's ride from downtown Atlanta. It was just over a year ago when race fans were wondering if they'd be taking the ride any more. Atlanta International Raceway was in trouble.

Financial trouble. Bad trouble. THINGS WERE getting to the point of no return. The track had no cash on hand. Worse yet, it had none in sight.

Directors of the struggling speedway decided to file for Corporate Reorganization under Chapter Ten of the Federal Bankruptcy Act. The only other alternative was to file for bankruptcy. That's like changing the sign on the door from "Gone to Lunch" to "Going Out of Business." The court appointed R. Neal Batson, a young, energetic Atlanta lawyer, to oversee operations of the track. Batson came on like gangbusters and did everything possible to assure the track of a successful Atlanta 500 last year.

The court later honored Batson's request to turn the case over to Stacey W. Cotton, another young, energetic Atlanta lawyer with an accumulation of experience in such proceedings. The court honored Batson's request and Cotton assumed the duties as trustee. As Cotton looks at Atlanta International Raceway nearly a year after his appointment, he foresees much better days ahead. To properly qualify his opinion, Cotton de FT iiiwi mm am a DID YOU ENJOY YESTERDAY'S RACING AT ATLANTA? Why not become a Member of the National Steeplechase Hunt Annual Dues: $36.00 Other race meetings in the South are: Aiken, S.C.

March 25 Camden, S.C. April 1 Tryon, N.C. April 8 Southern Pines, N.C. April 15 Winston-Salem, N.C. April 22 (Tanglewood) JlDAYOIILY I MOIIDAY Kdl One of the privileges of Membership is free General Admission for Member and one Guest at all Hunt Race Meetings sanctioned by the N.S.H.A.

For information, call or write: John Wayt, Seven Branches Farm or N.S.H.A. Box 308 Elmont, N.Y. (516)437-6666 dimming, Ga. (404)874-9197 FINANCIAL HISTORY OF A.I.R. Beginning I': inline Earned Ueliiit Surplus Deficit coiviirucunn is 30,443.261 Precision If your front wheels are out of alignment your car won 't ride or handle properly, and your tires will wear out rapidly.

Net Profit (Loan) For Year Track under 64,825.91) 81,291.81) 340,637.63) 176,134.51 39.973.45) I 158,805.70) 278.73) 29,966.24 123,767.15 92,191.87) 295,063.00) J-'iscal year Yrar Ending April 30 1959 1960 19H1 1962 1963 1964 VtS 1966 19H7 1968 Nov. 30, 1968 1969 1970 1571 Pnreiilheses indicate losses 30,443.26) 130,437.43) 211,729.24) 552,366.87) 376,232.36) 416,205.811 575,011.51) 575,290.24) 545,324.00) 421,556.85) 421,556.85) 95,269.17) 211,729.24) 552,366.87) 376.232.36) 416.205.81) 575.011.51) 575,290.24) 545,324.00) 421,556.85) 513,748.72) 315.281.00) 610,344.00) does not end uniil April 30 m1 City Pentathlon Championships To Be Held at Downtown YMCA The two returning champions are Al Cass and Will Wallace. Cass is a former National caliber gymnast and Wallace ran the mile in college. Both are in top physical condition and will make it difficult for anyone to win over them in their respective The second annual City Pentathlon Championship will be held at the Downtown YMCA March 24 and 25. The competition will include a military press, two-hand chins, push-ups followed by a three mile run and a quarter of a mile swim.

The individual must complete all five events within one hour. CAR A mr! I Our popular low-priced, quality-built full 4-ply nylon cord tire. 6.0013 blackwall Plus S1.61 Fed. Ex. tax and tire off your car.

1 imMmm as CARLSHELFER Whitewall $4.00 more If we should sell out of your size, a "raincheck" will be issued assuring future delivery at the advertised price. OTHER SIZES SIMILARLY LOW PRICED! Boomcrshinc Technician of the Month! f)rion KheEI mm 4 WAYS TO CHARGE Safety MotorVehide Inspection Station In Your Own Recreational Vehicle Escape the pressures of daily life. Take some time off from your busy routine. Pick out a restf ill spot for your vacation. Then, decide what type of recreational vehicle you need to get you there.

Browse through the Classification 515 of The Journal and Constitution Classified Ads. Select the travel trailer, motor home, truck camper or camping trailer that suits your needs. And you're on the road to relaxation. Want to sell a recreational vehicle? Now is the time. Dial 523-3636 for a fast-action ad.

-KBuford-Clairmont South Cobb 436-5177 2034 So. Cobb Dr. Lenox 262-8628 3369 Lenox Rd. West End 753-4112 662 Lee St. Downtown 522-862S Spring Baker Sts.

633-4527 4150Butord Hwy. Stewart-Lakewood Peachtreeatllth Decatur 377-1746 E. Ponce de Leon at Church St. Marietta 427-3724 1401RoswIIRd. East Point 766-3644 109 East Point Ave.

755-6630 1197 Stewart Ave. 892-8310 1052 P' tree St. Carl's primary responsibility is the fine pre-de-livery preparation of the new Pontiac or Datsun you purchase at Boomershine. His desire to achieve the ultimate in customer satisfaction by excelling in the performance of his important assignment earned him this honor for February. If the inspection report on your new Boomershine Pontiac or Datsun bears the signature of one of Boom-ershine's Pre-delivery Technicians you can bet it received "the full treatment" at the hands of a skilled mechanic striving to further your driving enjoyment.

Our congratulations to Carl Shelfer. Again, he has set a fine example for the others in his department to meet and attempt to surpass! Sandy Spring 252-1603 SS61RoswellRd. Lawrenceville 963-5282 Forest Park 366-7390 4916 Jonesboro Rd. Belvedere 289-8390 3S1S Memorial Or. Newnan 253-5847 Buckhead 233-9424 3070 Piedmont Ave.

Northeast 636-0333 2810 Clairmont Rd. KChamblee Plaza 451-3881 S5t7P'treelnd. Morningside 878-2931 1539 Piedmont Ave. Rome 234-3331 Griffin 227-4018 330 Solomon St. EIjeManJaSournal Covers Dixie Like the Dew AND THE ATLANTA CONSTITUTION tt The Suuth's Albany 436-0576 BOOMERSHINE PONTIAGDATSUN Soufh's largest Automobile Service Center 390 SPRING ST.

N.W. Macon 743-1571 Augusta 722-4583 LaGrange 882-0002 Columbus 323-3606.