Column----Toby LaGrange----Apology

This week’s column is going to be a little different, it’s not about any race or any race related news, heck it’s not really even a column, it’s a long overdue apology.  I have been writing racing columns for just about a year now and in that time I have made some poor choices in my writing, I have been a little to opinionated. There is one specific column that I am referring to, “The Toby Awards”. That column, simply put, was a mistake, one in which I regret. The way I worded some of those awards was completely wrong, I should have planned the column out a lot better. What’s been done has been done and all I can do is apologize. I offer my sincere apology to the following people and groups:

 

            First off I have to apologize to Jack Johnson. The way I worded the award I gave him was wrong and not professional. He has his own reasons for making his decision and I as a writer and member of the media should respect them, whether I agree with them or not. It wasn’t meant as a personal attack on him, nor was it meant to diminish what he has accomplished in his legendary career. Mr. Johnson, I hope, if you are reading this, that you accept my apology.

 

            I also feel the need to apologize to Mr. Mitch Gibbs. My “Cherry Picker” award was a little uncalled for. Any driver should be able to choose his or her home track, without the “bashing” from a young writer who has never visited the track in which he is accusing as lacking talent. Believe it or not I am a Mitch Gibbs fan, I was even wearing his t-shirt when I wrote the column. I offer my apologies to not only Mitch but to the Heroux racing team and the staff at the Five Mile Point Speedway. 

 

            I will never win the Eckerd 200 or any other race as a matter of fact because I am not a driver and never will be (medical reasons). There for my criticism of Vic Coffey for winning last October’s annual DIRT Modified classic was unjust and uncalled for. Just because he didn’t pass the whole field doesn’t mean he didn’t deserve to win the race, I had no business saying otherwise. I offer my apologies not only to Mr. Coffey but to the entire Sweetners Plus racing team and to DIRT Motorsports.

 

            I feel I also need to apologize to my home track, the track that I have been a loyal, weekly attendant of for the past 20 plus years, Fonda Speedway. I apologize for casting any negative image on the track; it’s employees, management or fans. I have nothing but the up most respect for everyone involved in the operations of any track. 

 

            The purpose of this “column” was to try and clear the air between myself and those mentioned above. I did this out of my own will, in fact when I send this to be posted it will be a shock to most as only I know about this. No person or group made or pressured me to do this, well there was one, myself. I know some of you will pass this off as “b-s” by me, but I want those above individuals and anyone else who is reading this that these apologies are sincere in nature and totally meant. If there is anyone else whom I have failed to mention, any fellow writers who took offense to that column, any racers or owners who were offended or any readers who were “ticked” by that column, I offer my apologies. I have nothing but respect for those mentioned above. 

 

            I have obviously changed sites in an attempt to start off on a clean slate. My goal is to become a serious media member, not to be known as, well use your own adjectives for that one. I have regrouped my writing efforts for 2003; you will see a different Toby LaGrange from here on out. 

 

            All comments can reach me at tobylagrange@yahoo.com or by AIM, my screen name is TbyLa. I have already decided one award winner for the 2003 version of the “Toby Awards”. The winner of the 2003 “Idiot Move of The Year” will go to….Toby LaGrange.

             



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