A few things for all of you to note:
1) There was an organization that tried to do things like this in the past. Their name was US Drift. Maybe you've heard of them. Maybe you notice how they don't run events anymore? It's because they saw the cash cow and decided to haphazardly throw some drift events together. After a full season of horrible events that were terribly mismanaged and given miserable reviews, US Drift announced they were doing a HUGE NATION WIDE COMPETITION SERIES WITH BIG PRIZES. Well, when everyone who hated these guys for running poo-poo events decided not to participate, the sponsors all freaked, US Drift started cancelling events, sponsors pulled out, and US Drift is now no-longer.
If you don't see a similar path being developed here, you are walking around blind. You guys are involved in a movement that is putting the cart before the horse. You are helping to build a stadium for teams that do not exist and do not have the skill, the flash, or the entertainment value to fill said stadium, and you will end up with a half constructed shanty which does no one any good.
2) Insurance companies are involved in a crack-down regarding drifting. They finally realize that they don't fully understand what it is or what it is about, and several organizations have had their insurance *PULLED*. Tony is one of those people that is definitely on the road to having his insurance pulled, and I feel that he is utilizing the track's insurance. I would really hate to see Hialeah Speedway, in its 50th year, lose its insurance because some total inconsiderate prick who basically said "Tampa Sucks, Orlando Sucks, everything but Miami Sucks!" wants to have some kids slide around so he can pocket some cash. He made several thousand dollars on that first "exhinonsense", and DG walked away with almost nothing and a burned up demo car.
If you take the time to read my letter about Tony AGAIN you will notice that I clearly state it behooves event promoters and organizers to choose venues that are as safe as possible. It is our duty (DGTrials, Drift Association, whomever) to remove all of the danger factors from you, the drivers, so that we can have safe and fun events. NO KNOWLEDGE IS IMPARTED BY IMPACT. If you think you learn something from crashing, you are obviously destined to drive in demolition derby, and Hialeah Speedway has plenty of those you can get involved in without Tony's assistance.
Tony is the type of guy who is going to get drifting in the United States SHUT DOWN because he is putting profit and entertainment ahead of development of the sport. Drifting is in an extremely precarious position right now, and if certain people keep giving this attitude problem instead of actually opening eyes and looking at the big picture -- the sport as a whole and where it is heading -- then you should get out of drifting right now, because you're not doing anything to further it, and, if anything, you are helping to kill it.
Having a sponsor helps your car. It might even help your pocketbook. It does nothing for drifting. Do not confuse a sponsor's eagerness to help you out and his or her generosity as their interest in drifting or promotion of the sport. No matter what they say, they are still your sponsor, and expect to receive a return on their investment, whether it is immediately or down the road. I'm not saying that all sponsors are spineless and soul-less and that they don't care, but there are plenty out there that are doing what they do solely because they think there are big dollar signs in that pot at the end of the drifting rainbow.
The rainbow is about to be cut. I suggest that you help tackle the guys with the scissors, for your own good.