The Murfreesboro Post from Murfreesboro, Tennessee • 11

The Murfreesboro fat SmdayJM. 20,2013 11 Community voices Kecertfi uroowoes leave audiences womideirDira These days, as is the case with many others, I very seldom go to a theater to watch a movie on the big screen. A few months back, however, a friend and I did go to a public theater to see the movie Aigo, starring Ben Affleck. Affleck also directed this cinematic gem, as well as being co-producer with Hollywood star and friend George Clooney. The movie is based on a true story and centers on a CIA-led mission to go into Iran and save six American diplomats who are in a life-threatening situation, resultant of the 1979 Iran hostage crisis.

Minus any reserve, I will state that Argo is the best movie Ive seen in quite some time. While being easy to follow and understand, it also keeps the audience on the edge of our seats. Though I dont claim to be Siskel or Ebert, my personal critique of Argo must be on the mark because it won the 20 13 Golden Globe award for best drama and Ben Affleck received the best director award for his work. Still, it is up for best picture with the prestigious Academy Awards, to be presented Sunday, Feb. 24.

Though I have not seen them, I do plan to make a solid effort to also watch Lincoln, Steven Spielbergs epic about President Abraham Lincoln, which features a litany of well-known actors. I also want to see Django Unchained, directed by Quentin Tarantino, about a gritty, black slave attempting to rescue his wife, starring Jamie Foxx and Leonardo DiCaprio. Tarantino is a man I greatly admire because he marches to his own beat and doesnt give the time of day to a bunch of movie critics who have nary a clue. And, of course, both movies have been nominated in several categories regarding the upcoming Academy Awards. OK, weve addressed some quality movies dealing with worthy subject matter, but heres the true impetus for this column.

A couple months back, I was inside North- MIKE side Video in McMinnville talking to the owner, Dave Williams. At that particular point in time, Lincoln had not been released to the public, however, there was considerable hype surrounding it. I commented to Dave I planned to see Lincoln when it was released. Dave then said that I should first watch Abraham Lincoln; Vampire Hunter. I chuckled and said, Well, given the state of todays society, I wouldnt doubt that someone will eventually try something off the wall like that.

Dave chuckled back with, Will try? Its already out on DVD. Just check it out on the wall over there. And when you finish checking out thal one, just walk down the aisle a few rows, and youll fmd Abraham Lincoln vs. Zombies. So, I adhered to Daves instructions, and surely enough, 1 found both movies.

Dave MEAT potatoes VINSON Post Columnist went on to tell me that both had rented fairly well. Because I am not that well versed on a thorough, accurate history of Lincoln and have seen neither of those movies. Ill reserve making a comment. What floored me, though, was the mere idea of a Spielberg-made movie about Lincoln mixed in the same conversation with movies about him going up against vampires and zombies. On that night, I finally managed to get past the issue of a wide variety of movies about Lincoln.

I browsed the shelves a bit more, and I discovered yet two more masterpieces, Nude Nuns with Big Guns and Strippers vs. Werewolves, neither of which were in the adult category. When it comes to making movies in the year 2013, Im emotionally tom. I dont know whether to clap my hands or shake my head.Mp Mike Vinson can be contacted at mikevin-son56 yahoo jcom. toofttaii Mom forecast! fir raduM When I talk about what the economy has done to racing, I speak from experience.

Baker last year was forced to close the Nashville-based Baker Curb Rac- OF WRY WOODY Post Columnist It wont be easy," said Gary Baker, who once operated Nashville and Bristol speedways and had a piece of Atlanta Speedway. Part of the problem is the de LARRY sign of the superspeedway. Dover tried to ing team he founded with partner Mike Curb. would accommodate The team lost its hardt, Cale Yarborough, Bobby Allison, Bill Elliott, Darrell Waltrip and other legends raced there. That golden era died in 1984 when Fairgrounds Speedway, the Wrigley Field of racetracks, lost its two annual Winston Cup races.

It has no chance of ever getting them back. The track is too old, too small, too landlocked, too hamstrung by mismanagement to ever again host big-league races. The areas racing hopes rested squarely on the superspeedway. It would hold Indy Car races and second- and third-tier NASCAR races while Dover lobbied for a magical Cup race somewhere down the road. But Indy bailed out, fans failed to support NASCARs minor league races, and gradually the turnstiles rusted.

And so it sits. A racetrack is supposed to be a place of sound and fury, vibrating with thundering engines and roaring with rambunctious fans. But at the superspeedway, meadowlarks whistle forlornly in the weedy infield and wind moans through vacant grandstands. At least it's an impressive tombstone. Mp Larry Woody can be contacted at Nashville Superspeedway is destined for another season of silence, a somber symbol of the state of auto racing in Middle Tennessee.

No area has a richer heritage cars were racing in Nashville before they were racing at Indianapolis or Daytona but that era appears gone forever. The superspeedway, located on the Wilson County and Rutherford County line, was supposed to be the bridge between the old and the new, ushering Middle Tennessee into a bright modem age of motor-sports. But the bridge collapsed. The track was closed following the 201 1 season. It ran no races last year, and owner Dover Motorspoits has no plans to run any this season.

Dover would sell the track if it could, but who wants to buy a used racetrack that doesn't work? The superspeedway opened with high hopes in 2001 but warning lights immediately flickered when the inaugural race failed to sell out. Dover dismantled some of the 50J000 seats not a good omen but even with a reduced capacity the track couldn't sell out. After a decade of anemic attendance Dover finally pulled the plug. The question now is, will anyone ever plug it back in? sponsor, and with the cost of running a NASCAR Nationwide Series season hovering at around $3 million, they couldnt keep going. Meanwhile Bakers old build a track that open-wheel racing and stock car racing, and ended up with a track that wasnt particularly good for either.

If he had the track, Dover said NAStmif the first thing this undated photo, net car driven zip around the track at track Fr he would do Nashville Supmpeedway in MkklcTmnessM.PtxtoaxirtKy of racer.coni grounds is redesign it. Speedway, which would be a huge investment on top continues to wobble along, running on of the reported $100 million Dover has al- fumes and prayers. Promoter Tony Formosa ready sunk into the project. Jr. plans to run a handful of local races this With the economy in the shape its in, season a somber shadow of the tracks that would be hard to do, Baker said, glory days when Richard Petty, Dale Earn.