Reasons for the "Showdown @ Etown"
Reasons for the "Showdown @ Etown"
There’s been a lot of talk about the upcoming “Showdown at Etown” so it’s time to set the record straight.
We’ve sponsored a Mitsubishi Day at Englishtown since 2003. We worked with the people from the track and put together the event. We secured the sponsors: AEM, ACT, Fidanza, AGP Turbo, ShepRacing, Hallman Boost controller and Slowboy Racing just to name a few. We gave away the prizes, money and trophies and everyone seemed to have a great time. The turnout was good and even John Shepherd and Marc Hallman made the drive to support us. Everything we collected went the racers and we didn’t profit a dime.
We started planning a bigger event last year after we attended the “Outlaw FWD Shootout” at Englishtown. Brian Ballard from Mobil 1-GM Racing and Englishtown put together an event that took import racing to the level it deserved to be at. The fastest Sport FWD racers from around the country each put up $1000 to race heads up. They had 23 entries and it was a huge success. There were the usual payouts and ones for “first eliminated, first broken driveline parts, first over 170 mph, etc”. The winner alone was estimated to have gone home with $15,000. People came and they paid to see them go head to head much like they do at a “real” NHRA event. It was racing the way it should be and it got us wondering if there was any interest in this type of event for AWD/RWD cars. I talked to Javier Ortega from E-town and he liked the idea but recommended we combine it with the Mitsubishi Day and Evo/WRX Shootout. We asked for racers input and we listened to what they had to say. We came up with a good class structure and it was official.
Some people have criticized me for having it on the same day as the Ohio Shootout. I chose that day because it worked for us and to prove a point to the promoter of the other event. His attitude sucks and people are sick of it. If you take a look at the list of confirmed racers for our event you’ll see that we’re not alone in our feelings about the Ohio Shootout and Dave Buschur. Our sponsor list is growing by the day and, unlike the other promoter we’re not trying to make the day about us. It’s about the racers.
I hear a lot of talk about “the community” these days. I don’t think Dave is as worried about the “community” as he claims. He’s worried that there will be less people at his event, which ultimately means less money for him. If you guys think for one second that the promoter of the other event doesn’t profit from this then you need to wake up. The point is that WE, the racers are the ones that support his event year after year and he doesn’t want to change a thing about it. People have complained over the years but nothing has changed. So, we decided to give the other event a little competition. NJ is farther for some but it’s more convenient for others. Import racing is huge on the east coast and it’s finally time to have a race like this here. Maybe it’s all for the better. I hear that after learning the details of our event he started asking people to give their input on his. He actually started to up the payout amounts instead of just giving a trophy or a hat and a firm handshake.
We’ve been to the Ohio Shootout countless times to support his event but he’s NEVER made it to anything we’ve done. He’ll tell you that it’s because he doesn’t race anymore but you don’t need to race to show your support. It’s all part of the business. Traveling for a race is a big expense for us and it takes us away from the shop but we’ve done it for years. We used to caravan to Ohio with 10-15 guys driving our “race cars”. Those were good times. It was fun back then. At this level it’s not just about making the drive. We have a crew that needs to travel with us, several cars and trailers, fuel, hotel rooms, food…It was so much simpler in the old days. As the years went on the shootout just didn’t seem the same. I don’t know how to describe it but just wasn’t like it used to be. It became all about business and profit.
The biggest problem we’ve had recently was his “shootout review” the day after the event. After spending thousands of dollars and being away from home for days we have the privilege of reading about how we have a “drag only” EVO, how our car is a POS and how we are “unexperts”, etc…lots of childish stuff from a so called professional. The only cars that get positive reviews are all the ones built by him or the ones that run his parts.
At least we were allowed to come. Some weren’t so lucky even though they were part of the “community”: Ken Bacon from Indy Race Cores was told not to come and he banned Marco from Magnus Motorsports because of their argument over the intake manifold testing. I hear he told Marco that he was going to “sink his business”. You can search online for that stuff and more if you’re so inclined. I remember years ago that he banned people from his bonfire if they were affiliated with Extreme Motorsports or were using their parts. It’s obvious that he hates competition.
Here is a quote from Dave Buschur about DSM’s, part of his “community” that he cares for so deeply:
“I don't even feel like I am talking to people I know when it comes to DSM's. I guess I remember nice cars, worth more than $10 and making a living selling parts that worked for them. Sounds to me like most of your projects should be scrapped, scrap metal is bringing good money right now, sounds like more than most of the cars are even worth.”
We got a little tired of all of this and decided to create our own event. We decided to get the fastest DSMs and EVOs in the country to come and race at a place they can feel welcome. EVERYONE is welcome at this event.
We’re hearing people say that this event will fail. This is the expected attitude from the other promoter and his associates… bash the competition. This business, like any business is all about competition. We’d all still be running 12’s in our scrap metal 1G’s if not for competition. The Ohio Shootout event has lined his pockets for the last 16 years with little return for the racers. Now that there’s a competing event he has suddenly raised another $6000 for payouts, asked racers for input, etc. Where was this money for the last 16 yrs? Whatever, that’s to be expected. It’s all about getting the racers to show up. The problem I have right now is the fact that he has made phone calls to our confirmed racers trying to persuade them to race in Ohio instead. He offered to pay their gas and entry fees if they come to his event instead of ours. Very nice Dave…
As Dave said himself, “both events are going to take place this year.” Time will tell which one the racers choose to support.
Sincerely,
Keith Loforte
Turbotrix Racing
We’ve sponsored a Mitsubishi Day at Englishtown since 2003. We worked with the people from the track and put together the event. We secured the sponsors: AEM, ACT, Fidanza, AGP Turbo, ShepRacing, Hallman Boost controller and Slowboy Racing just to name a few. We gave away the prizes, money and trophies and everyone seemed to have a great time. The turnout was good and even John Shepherd and Marc Hallman made the drive to support us. Everything we collected went the racers and we didn’t profit a dime.
We started planning a bigger event last year after we attended the “Outlaw FWD Shootout” at Englishtown. Brian Ballard from Mobil 1-GM Racing and Englishtown put together an event that took import racing to the level it deserved to be at. The fastest Sport FWD racers from around the country each put up $1000 to race heads up. They had 23 entries and it was a huge success. There were the usual payouts and ones for “first eliminated, first broken driveline parts, first over 170 mph, etc”. The winner alone was estimated to have gone home with $15,000. People came and they paid to see them go head to head much like they do at a “real” NHRA event. It was racing the way it should be and it got us wondering if there was any interest in this type of event for AWD/RWD cars. I talked to Javier Ortega from E-town and he liked the idea but recommended we combine it with the Mitsubishi Day and Evo/WRX Shootout. We asked for racers input and we listened to what they had to say. We came up with a good class structure and it was official.
Some people have criticized me for having it on the same day as the Ohio Shootout. I chose that day because it worked for us and to prove a point to the promoter of the other event. His attitude sucks and people are sick of it. If you take a look at the list of confirmed racers for our event you’ll see that we’re not alone in our feelings about the Ohio Shootout and Dave Buschur. Our sponsor list is growing by the day and, unlike the other promoter we’re not trying to make the day about us. It’s about the racers.
I hear a lot of talk about “the community” these days. I don’t think Dave is as worried about the “community” as he claims. He’s worried that there will be less people at his event, which ultimately means less money for him. If you guys think for one second that the promoter of the other event doesn’t profit from this then you need to wake up. The point is that WE, the racers are the ones that support his event year after year and he doesn’t want to change a thing about it. People have complained over the years but nothing has changed. So, we decided to give the other event a little competition. NJ is farther for some but it’s more convenient for others. Import racing is huge on the east coast and it’s finally time to have a race like this here. Maybe it’s all for the better. I hear that after learning the details of our event he started asking people to give their input on his. He actually started to up the payout amounts instead of just giving a trophy or a hat and a firm handshake.
We’ve been to the Ohio Shootout countless times to support his event but he’s NEVER made it to anything we’ve done. He’ll tell you that it’s because he doesn’t race anymore but you don’t need to race to show your support. It’s all part of the business. Traveling for a race is a big expense for us and it takes us away from the shop but we’ve done it for years. We used to caravan to Ohio with 10-15 guys driving our “race cars”. Those were good times. It was fun back then. At this level it’s not just about making the drive. We have a crew that needs to travel with us, several cars and trailers, fuel, hotel rooms, food…It was so much simpler in the old days. As the years went on the shootout just didn’t seem the same. I don’t know how to describe it but just wasn’t like it used to be. It became all about business and profit.
The biggest problem we’ve had recently was his “shootout review” the day after the event. After spending thousands of dollars and being away from home for days we have the privilege of reading about how we have a “drag only” EVO, how our car is a POS and how we are “unexperts”, etc…lots of childish stuff from a so called professional. The only cars that get positive reviews are all the ones built by him or the ones that run his parts.
At least we were allowed to come. Some weren’t so lucky even though they were part of the “community”: Ken Bacon from Indy Race Cores was told not to come and he banned Marco from Magnus Motorsports because of their argument over the intake manifold testing. I hear he told Marco that he was going to “sink his business”. You can search online for that stuff and more if you’re so inclined. I remember years ago that he banned people from his bonfire if they were affiliated with Extreme Motorsports or were using their parts. It’s obvious that he hates competition.
Here is a quote from Dave Buschur about DSM’s, part of his “community” that he cares for so deeply:
“I don't even feel like I am talking to people I know when it comes to DSM's. I guess I remember nice cars, worth more than $10 and making a living selling parts that worked for them. Sounds to me like most of your projects should be scrapped, scrap metal is bringing good money right now, sounds like more than most of the cars are even worth.”
We got a little tired of all of this and decided to create our own event. We decided to get the fastest DSMs and EVOs in the country to come and race at a place they can feel welcome. EVERYONE is welcome at this event.
We’re hearing people say that this event will fail. This is the expected attitude from the other promoter and his associates… bash the competition. This business, like any business is all about competition. We’d all still be running 12’s in our scrap metal 1G’s if not for competition. The Ohio Shootout event has lined his pockets for the last 16 years with little return for the racers. Now that there’s a competing event he has suddenly raised another $6000 for payouts, asked racers for input, etc. Where was this money for the last 16 yrs? Whatever, that’s to be expected. It’s all about getting the racers to show up. The problem I have right now is the fact that he has made phone calls to our confirmed racers trying to persuade them to race in Ohio instead. He offered to pay their gas and entry fees if they come to his event instead of ours. Very nice Dave…
As Dave said himself, “both events are going to take place this year.” Time will tell which one the racers choose to support.
Sincerely,
Keith Loforte
Turbotrix Racing
Evolving Member
Joined: Apr 2008
Posts: 169
Likes: 0
From: Chicago
I know it is still extremely early but are they always going to be on the same date in the years to come? I along with many other members from the community would love to attend both events in the future.
It's BS that your vendetta to prove a point hurts not only your intended target but those who would enjoy attending both events. People will now remember not only those who you think to be childish but you being childish as well....Shame.
Trending Topics
I feel like this debate is getting a little too personal for people that are not involved whatsoever.
The way I see it sometimes people just don't get along. Now whether that be just 2 people or 2 shops it happens. In this case there is a problem between the 2 shops for whatever reason. I would just let them do what they need to do when it comes to this.
And I don't think anyone is losing anything. Not being able to go to 2 different race days is not the end of the world. If you have to choose just one that will fit you best...well that's life. You can't always have the best of both worlds.
The way I see it sometimes people just don't get along. Now whether that be just 2 people or 2 shops it happens. In this case there is a problem between the 2 shops for whatever reason. I would just let them do what they need to do when it comes to this.
And I don't think anyone is losing anything. Not being able to go to 2 different race days is not the end of the world. If you have to choose just one that will fit you best...well that's life. You can't always have the best of both worlds.
It would be nice to see different dates in the future and I am sure both events will a blast to attend this year whichever one you attend.
I think we are lucky to have 2 events like this in the Evo world....(not to mention all the shops/tuners we are so lucky to have) could you imagine how much of a turnout there would be with 2 separate events, maybe one in the start of the season and one near the end of the season.
I think we are lucky to have 2 events like this in the Evo world....(not to mention all the shops/tuners we are so lucky to have) could you imagine how much of a turnout there would be with 2 separate events, maybe one in the start of the season and one near the end of the season.
Last edited by IEXCELR8; Mar 10, 2009 at 09:47 AM.
I guess after it was quiet for a week I thought both events were going to just take place and that was it. Since quite a bit of your information is absolutely incorrect I guess as much as I don't want to, I have to address some of it.
First two paragraphs of your post are fine. Paragraph three you are confused. You come right out and say that the reason for putting the event on the same day of the DSM/EVO Shootout in Ohio was: "I chose that day because it worked for us and to prove a point to the promoter of the other event. His attitude sucks and people are sick of it." Then in the same paragraph say this: "unlike the other promoter we’re not trying to make the day about us. It’s about the racers." Very sorry Keith but it can't be both. The race was done on the same day, as you said, to attempt to prove a point to me and show you hate, that's fine. Just be a man and leave it at that, you already said it. Don't back pedal and say, "It's about the racers" That's bull****. The DSM/EVO Shootout is and always has been about bringing the DSM/EVO community together, that's a fact. Good attitude or bad attitude on my part that IS what the event was founded on and what it is still about today. I didn't make the DSM/EVO Shootout to "prove a point" such as you stated you did.
You then go onto how I don't want to change a thing about the DSM/EVO Shootout. It's very obvious you are living in a fantasy world and have no idea the restrictions and choices that have to be made to run a race that size. First off, I have continued to change the rules and class structures for the DSM/EVO Shootout for the last 18 years. That's just plain fact. When I get suggestions I listed to them and if the majority of the people running in the particular class want the changes made then I implement them. It's just fact, so how you can talk about how I refuse to change is reduculous and shows your ignorance of the event. I get VERY few complaints on how the event is run. It's usually huge thanks for putting it on and all positive. Listening to one or two guys out of 2,000 complain about something doesn't make it the majority and it is over looked. The cool down times that some have complained about are short. The reason for this is the track schedule. The track runs a race until typically 3-4 am on Saturday. They are then back there to open the gates for us (in the past years) at 8 am. The event has 200+ racers and nearly 2,000 people come to it each year. That is a lot of cars to get through by 5 pm when the track closes. Oil downs, broken cars, qualifying etc., all have to be taken into consideration to get all the cars down the track during the day. I also take into consideration all the people who come here for this and MANY want to get on the road and headed home when the race is over on Sunday. So we do our best to put on a good show, run the cars and be done by 5 pm. Hell, if NHRA/NOPI had 200 racers to run in one day they'd have a 2 day event to get it done. I do not have that luxury for this race. We typically have one of the quickest/fastest cars at the Shootout every year, atleast towards the top of the list. I have NEVER had a problem making the next round with one of our cars, never. I guess that makes it hard for me to understand needing hours between rounds. I raced my Pro car for years, I HATED, HATED, HATED the super long waits in between rounds. I go to race, not sit in the pits. This year I have spoken to the track about running later in the evening if it is required so we can have longer "cool down" periods between rounds. Seems pointless to me but obviously other people need it.
One thing that really pisses me off was your statement that says I "give a trophy, hat and a firm handshake." I guess since Turbo Trix has never won at the Shootout I can understand that thought process. The fact is last year we gave out trophies, product and $6600 in CASH, the year before it rained out and the turn out was low in October but still paid out about the same amount. So you are full of **** Keith. The even bigger money being offered this year is because you pissed off a few other people and some sponsors have stepped up to raise the prize money even higher.
I believe the shootout didn't feel the same for you because of your hate. Ever since Jeff stepped down in running Turbo Trix you and Mark have had a problem with me. Just like last year, before the shootout there was a TON of talk about how you guys were coming here to show us an 8 second bracket car, that's all I heard from you guys. Well if you go to a race with that much hate and only one thing on your mind, "We are going to show that ****er Buschur how to run 8's every pass." then it is a little tough to feel like having a good time and enjoying yourself. This is even more so when you fail miserably at proving your point and neither car running even a single 8 second pass all weekend. As you can see, if you take a step back and a deep breath, your hate has blinded you to reality.
In 18 years I have banned two guys from the Shootout. Ken Bacon was a crook, which you will admit. He flat out copied our FMIC's and other parts and then attempted to sell them at a lower price. He eventually accepted payment from a lot of people for product and disapeared with their money............hmmmm. As for Marco, neither of us handled ourselves well and him and I have spoken. He is not banned from the race and has been welcomed back.
You are also being lied to or lieing to everyone here about me calling up racers. I have not called one racer or offered to pay for anyone's travel or any other expenses, that is a flat out lie. I sent a PM to Kevin Jewer and Kiggly and asked them both why they were going NJ, told them there was no hard feelings but was curious. BOTH of them responded because of the gamblers race. After two sponsors added a great deal of money to the Q16 class I sent them both PM's again and told them about the new payouts for the Q16 and told them I hoped they would consider coming to Ohio. That is it, no other contacts or offers. I like both those guys and that's the only reason I contacted them at all.
Some of the other comments and your memories of things in the past are so clouded on your part I'm not even going to bother with. I just wanted to clear up the blatant lies you have posted.
As far as I am concerned, we can both be done with this. You had your say, I had mine. You are having your race and I am having mine. Neither of us is changing it. No sense in argueing about it.
Good luck with yours.
First two paragraphs of your post are fine. Paragraph three you are confused. You come right out and say that the reason for putting the event on the same day of the DSM/EVO Shootout in Ohio was: "I chose that day because it worked for us and to prove a point to the promoter of the other event. His attitude sucks and people are sick of it." Then in the same paragraph say this: "unlike the other promoter we’re not trying to make the day about us. It’s about the racers." Very sorry Keith but it can't be both. The race was done on the same day, as you said, to attempt to prove a point to me and show you hate, that's fine. Just be a man and leave it at that, you already said it. Don't back pedal and say, "It's about the racers" That's bull****. The DSM/EVO Shootout is and always has been about bringing the DSM/EVO community together, that's a fact. Good attitude or bad attitude on my part that IS what the event was founded on and what it is still about today. I didn't make the DSM/EVO Shootout to "prove a point" such as you stated you did.
You then go onto how I don't want to change a thing about the DSM/EVO Shootout. It's very obvious you are living in a fantasy world and have no idea the restrictions and choices that have to be made to run a race that size. First off, I have continued to change the rules and class structures for the DSM/EVO Shootout for the last 18 years. That's just plain fact. When I get suggestions I listed to them and if the majority of the people running in the particular class want the changes made then I implement them. It's just fact, so how you can talk about how I refuse to change is reduculous and shows your ignorance of the event. I get VERY few complaints on how the event is run. It's usually huge thanks for putting it on and all positive. Listening to one or two guys out of 2,000 complain about something doesn't make it the majority and it is over looked. The cool down times that some have complained about are short. The reason for this is the track schedule. The track runs a race until typically 3-4 am on Saturday. They are then back there to open the gates for us (in the past years) at 8 am. The event has 200+ racers and nearly 2,000 people come to it each year. That is a lot of cars to get through by 5 pm when the track closes. Oil downs, broken cars, qualifying etc., all have to be taken into consideration to get all the cars down the track during the day. I also take into consideration all the people who come here for this and MANY want to get on the road and headed home when the race is over on Sunday. So we do our best to put on a good show, run the cars and be done by 5 pm. Hell, if NHRA/NOPI had 200 racers to run in one day they'd have a 2 day event to get it done. I do not have that luxury for this race. We typically have one of the quickest/fastest cars at the Shootout every year, atleast towards the top of the list. I have NEVER had a problem making the next round with one of our cars, never. I guess that makes it hard for me to understand needing hours between rounds. I raced my Pro car for years, I HATED, HATED, HATED the super long waits in between rounds. I go to race, not sit in the pits. This year I have spoken to the track about running later in the evening if it is required so we can have longer "cool down" periods between rounds. Seems pointless to me but obviously other people need it.
One thing that really pisses me off was your statement that says I "give a trophy, hat and a firm handshake." I guess since Turbo Trix has never won at the Shootout I can understand that thought process. The fact is last year we gave out trophies, product and $6600 in CASH, the year before it rained out and the turn out was low in October but still paid out about the same amount. So you are full of **** Keith. The even bigger money being offered this year is because you pissed off a few other people and some sponsors have stepped up to raise the prize money even higher.
I believe the shootout didn't feel the same for you because of your hate. Ever since Jeff stepped down in running Turbo Trix you and Mark have had a problem with me. Just like last year, before the shootout there was a TON of talk about how you guys were coming here to show us an 8 second bracket car, that's all I heard from you guys. Well if you go to a race with that much hate and only one thing on your mind, "We are going to show that ****er Buschur how to run 8's every pass." then it is a little tough to feel like having a good time and enjoying yourself. This is even more so when you fail miserably at proving your point and neither car running even a single 8 second pass all weekend. As you can see, if you take a step back and a deep breath, your hate has blinded you to reality.
In 18 years I have banned two guys from the Shootout. Ken Bacon was a crook, which you will admit. He flat out copied our FMIC's and other parts and then attempted to sell them at a lower price. He eventually accepted payment from a lot of people for product and disapeared with their money............hmmmm. As for Marco, neither of us handled ourselves well and him and I have spoken. He is not banned from the race and has been welcomed back.
You are also being lied to or lieing to everyone here about me calling up racers. I have not called one racer or offered to pay for anyone's travel or any other expenses, that is a flat out lie. I sent a PM to Kevin Jewer and Kiggly and asked them both why they were going NJ, told them there was no hard feelings but was curious. BOTH of them responded because of the gamblers race. After two sponsors added a great deal of money to the Q16 class I sent them both PM's again and told them about the new payouts for the Q16 and told them I hoped they would consider coming to Ohio. That is it, no other contacts or offers. I like both those guys and that's the only reason I contacted them at all.
Some of the other comments and your memories of things in the past are so clouded on your part I'm not even going to bother with. I just wanted to clear up the blatant lies you have posted.
As far as I am concerned, we can both be done with this. You had your say, I had mine. You are having your race and I am having mine. Neither of us is changing it. No sense in argueing about it.
Good luck with yours.
Being new to the evo/ dsm world and these events, I find it extremely childish to schedule your event on the same weekend as buschurs thats been going on for years. I would of really liked to attend both, but i'll definetely be in ohio after reading all this bs. im going for the cars and to meet fellow evom guys, not to take place in this bs drama.
Dave,
You and Al asked about 6 times in your post why we had the event on the same day. I just wrote that entire post to give you the answer. I did not beat around the bush. I came out and said it. I did it to prove a point. Quote me on it, cut and paste it, do a you tube video, do whatever you want with it. Let me clear it up for you since you are having trouble understanding it.
What this means is that I chose to have the event on the same day to prove a point. If this event was just about us it would be call the "Turbotrix Shootout" or the "Turbotrix Q16" but its not. When we say its "all about the racers" we mean that the rules, prize money, etc are all for the racers. We are not making a dollar on this event. Everything is going to the racers. We have A LOT of sponsors already and the list keeps growing by the day.
Just an FYI, Jeff won the first shootout. He beat Bill Lawrence in the finals. I believe he still has the hat if you want it back.
Some sponsors are now stepping up and upping the payout's? Thats great news as it will make it your shootout even better. I should have pissed them off years ago.
Did Ken Bacon rip some people off? Yes he did. Was that the reason he was banned from the shootout? Absolutely not. He was banned from the shootout because he sold the same FMIC kit as you but for a lot less money. I didn't know you owned the rights to Spearco's 2-178 core? Interesting.
I was unaware that you contacted Kevin Jewer and Kiggly. I did hear however, that you called Rolo from CFT to try to get him to come to your event. Is there anyone on the list you didn't call?
As you said before. Both events will go on as planned so there is no need to argue about it. Good luck with your event.
Keith
You and Al asked about 6 times in your post why we had the event on the same day. I just wrote that entire post to give you the answer. I did not beat around the bush. I came out and said it. I did it to prove a point. Quote me on it, cut and paste it, do a you tube video, do whatever you want with it. Let me clear it up for you since you are having trouble understanding it.
I chose that day because it worked for us and to prove a point to the promoter of the other event. His attitude sucks and people are sick of it. If you take a look at the list of confirmed racers for our event you’ll see that we’re not alone in our feelings about the Ohio Shootout and Dave Buschur. Our sponsor list is growing by the day and, unlike the other promoter we’re not trying to make the day about us. It’s about the racers.
Just an FYI, Jeff won the first shootout. He beat Bill Lawrence in the finals. I believe he still has the hat if you want it back.
Some sponsors are now stepping up and upping the payout's? Thats great news as it will make it your shootout even better. I should have pissed them off years ago.
Did Ken Bacon rip some people off? Yes he did. Was that the reason he was banned from the shootout? Absolutely not. He was banned from the shootout because he sold the same FMIC kit as you but for a lot less money. I didn't know you owned the rights to Spearco's 2-178 core? Interesting.
I was unaware that you contacted Kevin Jewer and Kiggly. I did hear however, that you called Rolo from CFT to try to get him to come to your event. Is there anyone on the list you didn't call?
As you said before. Both events will go on as planned so there is no need to argue about it. Good luck with your event.
Keith
