I get asked a lot about my home track of Onondaga Dragway, in Onondaga Michigan. I have personally avoided any discussions about Onondaga Dragway because I have strong ties with the track, but after reading and hearing some of the comments on their Facebook page and around other tracks, I feel like I wanted help clear some things up if I could. Let me start with a little background for those that may not know the past and/or current situation and then move right in to where we are at, including some of my opinion. It is important to note that I do not have any inside information, I am not a lawyer or have any education on law; I barely have enough education to put words together and form sentences.
Re-using an abandoned airstrip, Onondaga Dragway first opened their gates in 1961 and was open until 1978. During that time it became one of Michigan’s most famous dragways. Don Garlits, E.J. Potter, Dick LaHaie, Connie Kalitta, Shirley Muldowney, Don Prudhomme… the list goes on and on of World famous drag racing legends that have raced this track, creating a rich and proud history for the community.
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In 1978, the economy was struggling and the effects resulted in the track closing.
In 1985, an attempt to re-open fizzled before it really even started.
In 2007, Dan Pranshka was given permission by Ray Comer (land owner) to clean up and use what was left of the track to make some test hits with his prostreet Chevelle. Dan and some friends cleaned up what they could of the old blacktop and the fun began! People came out of the woodwork to watch him and his buddies having fun on this legendary track. The community’s presence was so strong that it became a problem to find parking for everyone that just wanted to watch and Dan had to turn 
people away. It is important to take note, at this point Dan could have continued to tune on his own car, by himself, using this abandoned dragstrip while keeping out any outsiders, but instead he took the weight of the community and the racer’s desire on his shoulders to move forward with a potential opening for business. Dan fought the Township to obtain a special use permit for a couple years. With the approval and support of the Township, Dan and Ray formed the New Onondaga Dragway. Over $300,000 was invested in rebuilding the track that opened again in June of 2013. The community showed up by the truck loads to support the New Onondaga Dragway.
It was also in 2013 when an injunction to close the track permanently was filed by a group of residents claiming the noise was a nuisance. This is where a lot of people say, “Who moves next to a drag strip and then complains about the noise”? Well, technically, this is the other way around-the track re-opened after people were already residing in the area. Although it is not common, the Judge placed the injunction on the track and it was forced to close until the case was ruled on. The case was then assigned to another Judge who felt the injunction was unfair for the track and required a bond from the Plaintiffs for over $300,000. This bond would be given to the track for lost income IF the case was ruled in favor of the track. I have NO IDEA how a case like this lasts 4 years, but it did.
In mid-2017, (Note: This is my Interpretation, but please see the court documents attached below) the Judge ruled that the track was indeed a private nuisance, however, it also found that the plaintiff used methods referred to as “unclean hands” while attempting to provide information for their case. This resulted in no winner and no loser of the case. Since the track technically did not win, it was not granted the bond money. The injunction was lifted and a couple weeks later the track re-opened again for business. At this point, the lawyer’s bill was near $340,000. The community saw this ruling as a win because they were able to open again.
In early 2018, Dan was diagnosed with cancer and in January of 2019, sadly, Dan passed away. At this point, the only person who took the weight of the community and the weight of the racers on his shoulders was no longer with us. At the worst possible time in their lives, this left behind family and friends struggling to find a solution for the future of Onondaga Dragway. Although Ray was a partner and now the sole owner of the track, he did not have an active role in operating the track. Dan had taken on this role. Ray found himself $340,000 in debt to a lawyer and a track that had no one to run it. The person who stepped in as track manager while Dan was fighting cancer in 2018, offered to continue with the role if it would help keep the track open.
It is my understanding that the plaintiff had a year to file an appeal of the ruling, and that during 2018, he filed that appeal. The plaintiff won his appeal in early 2019 sending the case back in front of the ruling Judge. It is also my understanding that this is exactly where we are now in the court processes.
So, it’s back to court right? Being owed a significant amount of money, the lawyer demanded $10,000 before he would consider continued work on the case. It is also my belief that the lawyer placed a lien on the track’s property for the amount owed. $10,000 was more than anyone could come up with and the additional upcoming lawyer fees were also out of question.
It is time to throw in the towel? If you are $340,000 in debt, looking at spending another significant amount of money on an outcome that is uncertain, and unable to operate the business yourself even if it is allowed to open; then I believe the smart business person licks his wounds and moves on (I have heard rumors of this being the situation). Unwilling to accept that as an answer and as a last resort, some friends of Dan and his family put together a GoFundMe page set up to directly pay the lawyer and then asked the community for help. The GoFundMe fundraiser is currently at just over $74,000 of the $500,000 it is asking for, but it has been stalled at this amount for just over a month. The good news is, as far as I know, the lawyer is moving forward with the court proceedings.
Cue the frustration, the anger, the misinformation, the accusations, the rude comments, the lack of patience, and mostly the confusion. Here is where things get personal to me. Dan and his family were/are my friends. I was there from the beginning in 2007 to help with getting the track set up, and also helped some with its operations. I stood next to Dan when he received the call in 2017 when he was informed that the court documents granted his ability to open the track. I am invested physically, financially, and mostly, emotionally. Every employee and friend at the track are in the same position. After the GoFundMe fundraiser, many other people are financially invested now too. This was/is the community’s track, it was run by racers for racers to provide a place in the community where everyone would be safe and welcomed. Onondaga Dragway’s proud history and recent memories are on the line but please don’t lose focus of the reality. Dan spent a ton of money, a ton of time, and a ton of sweat so that the community would have a place to call home and claim ownership of. Dan’s dream was not exactly to revive the old track, it was building a place where he was able to spend the weekends with his buddies and make new friends that shared in the same passion he had for racing. He wanted to bring people together, not tear them apart. We need to stand together, even through the confusion and ride this out together regardless of the outcome.
I have seen a lot of questions, maybe I can help with some answers. I would be lying if I said I did not have questions too.
Here are some things I know, moving forward, that may help with the spread of misinformation:
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There is currently no injunction on the track keeping it from opening, but the advice from the track’s lawyer is to remain closed until … until I am not sure when. I do not know why he advises this, but it was his advice and it looks like we are putting all our hopes and Dan’s dream on him like we did before.
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There have not been any court dates announced by the track and I was unable to find any information online.
- Signing or creating a petition will not make any difference. This is not about if the community wants the track or not. This is a legal matter. The community has already spoken loud and clear!
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People want answers to what their money has done or is doing… it appears to be paying off the existing debt to the lawyer so that he will move forward with the court proceedings. I came to this conclusion because at one point, his name was the recipient on the GoFundMe page.
Here are some things that I feel should stop:
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Stop any negative comments towards or about the track. It is a slap in the face to anyone who invested their money, their sweat and their emotions to get it opened in the first place. You would not have anything to be negative about if they had not gone through what they did to get the track opened originally. Find me a dragstrip that has reopened after its been closed for 30+ years. I will wait.
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Stop suggesting what you think the track, the lawyer, or the people supporting should do. It is clear to me the track has decided that its future is placed solely on the shoulders of this lawyer, and the outcome will be what it is. We do not have to agree with that, but we must accept it.
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Those speaking on behalf of the track are not withholding any information from you, they just have no answers for you even when you demand them. They are people just like you and I, attempting a last-ditch effort to fight for Dan’s Dream and his legacy, the community’s track, and the longevity of the proud history and memories this track holds.
Drag Racers are competitors, but Drag Racers are also the biggest family I have ever seen or been a part of. This crazy passion we have unifies us, draws us together and allows us opportunities to help each other when it is needed. The way the community has come together during every fight Dan has taken along the way has been inspiring. I would hate for any of that to fall apart because you think you deserve answers when there are not currently any to give. If any updates are available, you can find them on the track’s Facebook page. I will also keep you up to date if I find anything out.
Here are the court documents, the GoFundMe page if you wanted to help, and the Track’s Facebook Page.
Public Court Documents – Mark_Cooper_vs_Raymond_D_Comer
www.gofundme.com/fight-for-our-community-dragway
The New Onondaga Dragway Facebook Page
