A oh so special news report.  We have been waiting for the right time to reveal this information to the "local" public.   We would like to extend a special thank you to Mr. Jeff Byrd for his comments on the radio.  We could not have asked for a better opening to present this information to the citizens of Bristol

Jeff' Byrd spoke on the Marc Bernier Radio show on Monday October 13, 2003.  For all the "other" comments Mr. Byrd made on this show, see Byrd Babbles on Bernier.   But, we wanted a special page to talk about Bruton's education....

Jeff Byrd discussed the August 22, 2003 secret meeting between Bruton Smith, himself, the Mayor, Vice Mayor, City Manager, the Bristol Housing Authority Chairman and the BHA Director.   According to city Manager, Anthony "Tony"  Massey, "The purpose of the meeting was to discuss utilization of the Housing Authority's development abilities to acquire properties in the vicinity of BMS for redevelopment". See EXTRA EXTRA: Find out who was at the secret meeting between BMS and the city

He said the purpose of the meeting was to educate Bruton Smith about the redevelopment process. 

So Bruton needed a land grab tutorial.  This eminent domain thing was new to him?  Now, being ignorant is not a bad thing.  Everyone is ignorant of something.  Ask us to build a submarine, we will say we are ignorant; we just do not know how to build a submarine.   Educating Bruton does sound like a noble endeavor as education is the cure for any individual ignorance.  

However, if Mr. Byrd had stated that they were at that meeting to teach Burton how to build a submarine, we would find that more plausible.  Do not get us wrong, I am sure Bruton learned something new at this meeting, like a specific Tennessee code, city ordinance or the mayor's favorite color.  As such, Mr. Byrd did not, in fact, make a false statement.  But the unspoken implication that "land grabbing" is new to Mr. Smith is a ruse.

We may be ignorant about how to build a submarine, but not about eminent domain.  We were educated by reading about Bruton's activities in other cities. 

Perhaps Bruton just forgot his previous education?
So lets play a quick game of This is your Life.

We bet the fog is lifting now!  Deep in the heart of Texas, Bruton used eminent domain to land grab 370 acres including 31 homes of an entire mobile home park with 107 homes and used the local government in many other special & unique ways.  (Hey isn't there some mobile homes near the Bristol Race Track?  Future Expansion?)

See the following Stories to see learn more about Bruton's "Education"

March 20, 2003
Greasing the Wheels, How Texas Motor Speedway got Denton County to pay for a freeway exit to nowhere—except, that is, to the speedway   Dallas Observer News Feature   So the greasing of wheels happens out side of pit row.  Does anyone in Bristol need their tires checked?

November 15, 2001
Texas Motor Speedway needed property to build a road. Someone forgot to tell the landowner Dallas Observer News Feature  No kidding!  In Bristol they do not bother to buy, they just go straight for the land grab.  In Texas, they just walked on and started building.

This next group of stories about how Bruton Smith booted families from their homes comes from the Fort Worth Star-Telegram newspaper  These stories are not available for linking where the public can read them.  (They are available to purchase from their archives for $2.95 each or a little cheaper if you buy multiples)  Even if we buy them, we can not display them here without their permission under copyright law.  See Copyright Notice

While we are awaiting permission to reproduce here, we are allowed to display their archive search results.  The following comes from a search of their archive for 1995-1997 using the search phrase "Country Lane Estates"  These are presented in reverse order, newest to oldest.

Even without the full article text, you get the drift of what happened. If you live near the Bristol Motor Speedway in a mobile home park, you might one day have to look for somewhere else to live!

Awaiting condemnation, family copes with campers

Source: DIANE SMITHStar-Telegram Writer
Ray Jenkins and his family are stranded but not alone. The last residents of Country Lane Estates, a housing development next to Texas Motor Speedway, they have played hosts to many campers staying on the raceway grounds. People have knocked on their door looking for water, shovels and even a clean shower. Jenkins lent the shovel, but the fear of crowds prompted a "no" to the other requests. "I was expecting it because there were so many people around us,"

Published on April 5, 1997, Page 6, Fort Worth Star-Telegram

Couple win time in speedway dispute

Source: Star-Telegram
DENTON COUNTY - David and Becky Robinson and their five children have two weeks to find a new home before they lose their property in the Country Lane Estates mobile home development near Justin. The Robinsons' property was condemned Jan. 20 as the Fort Worth Sports Authority exercised its power of eminent domain to make way for parking lots and roads for the $110 million Texas Motor Speedway.A three-member panel of the probate court's commissioners had told the authority to

Published on February 13, 1997, Page 7, Fort Worth Star-Telegram

Panel condemns land sought by Texas Motor Speedway

Source: SUSAN GILL VARDONStar-Telegram Writer
William and Mary Lou Van Buren still own their property in the Country Lane Estates mobile home development. At least for now. A three-member Denton County Commissioners Court panel condemned the couple's five-eighth-acre lot Monday to pave the way for parking lots and roads for the $110 million Texas Motor Speedway. The panel also ordered the Fort Worth Sports Authority to pay the Van Burens $43,200 for their property. But $12,000 of that amount is for the Van Burens'

Published on December 18, 1996, Page 4, Fort Worth Star-Telegram

Mobile home is first to be condemned for speedway

Source: SUSAN GILL VARDONStar-Telegram Writer
When William Van Buren left a hospital Sunday after receiving a hip replacement, he hoped that a little peace and quiet at home would help him recuperate. But Van Buren's peace was shattered Wednesday. He received legal papers stating that his property will be condemned - the first in the Country Lane Estates mobile home development to make way for parking lots and roads for the $110 million Texas Motor Speedway. "This was supposed to be the place we retired," Van Buren

Published on December 6, 1996, Page 1, Fort Worth Star-Telegram

Council votes to take land for track Condemnation action authorized

Source: JACK Z. SMITHStar-Telegram Writer
FORT WORTH - The City Council, in a 6-3 vote yesterday, authorized the Fort Worth Sports Authority to begin condemnation proceedings to acquire approximately 370 acres for the Texas International Raceway. The properties include 31 of the more than 100 lots in the Country Lane Estates mobile home development, where residents have complained about the encroachment of the speedway under construction in southern Denton County. Three large tracts make up the majority of the acreage being

Published on October 30, 1996, Page 1, Fort Worth Star-Telegram

Speedway hires two companies to appraise properties near track

Source: Jack Z. SmithStar-Telegram Writer
FORT WORTH - In what could be the first step toward condemnation proceedings against a mobile home community on property coveted by Texas Motor Speedway officials, the Fort Worth Sports Authority yesterday approved hiring two real estate appraisal firms. Speedway General Manager Eddie Gossage said approximately 100 acres encompassed by the Country Lane Estates development is needed for the $110 million racetrack being constructed two miles north of Alliance Airport at a site being annexed

Published on May 1, 1996, Page 19, Fort Worth Star-Telegram

Homeowners say speedway officials are not buying

Source: Jack Z. SmithStar-Telegram Writer
FORT WORTH - Nearly three months ago, a Texas Motor Speedway official pledged that a strong, renewed effort would be made to buy the properties of disgruntled residents of a mobile home development bordering the speedway construction site. But residents of Country Lane Estates told Fort Worth Sports Authority directors yesterday that little progress has been made in negotiations since then."We feel our expectations have been raised and then they've been lowered," said

Published on February 2, 1996, Page 19, Fort Worth Star-Telegram

Raceway to renew talks to buy mobile-home land
Negotiations will start this month with the nearly 100 property owners, a speedway official says.

Source: Jack Z. SmithStar-Telegram Writer
FORT WORTH - A Texas Motor Speedway official pledged yesterday to make a "fresh, good-faith effort" to buy the properties of embittered residents of a mobile-home development bordering the speedway construction site. "We want to cut a deal with these folks. . . . I think we'll be able to come to terms with the majority of them, and I hope an overwhelming majority," speedway General Manager Eddie Gossage said yesterday in an interview.Gossage made the comments

Published on November 10, 1995, Page 27, Fort Worth Star-Telegram

Residents protest plans for 24-hour speedway work

Source: JACK Z. SMITHStar-Telegram Writer
FORT WORTH - Twenty residents of a mobile home development bordering the Texas Motor Speedway construction site protested plans yesterday by speedway developer Bruton Smith to step up construction work to virtually 24 hours a day. Country Lane Estates residents, speaking at a Fort Worth Sports Authority session, said their children would lose sleep as a result of noisy, round-the-clock construction work. They also complained of dust and diesel fumes from the 950-acre construction site in

Published on October 27, 1995, Page 22, Fort Worth Star-Telegram

Council to study annexing speedway
City is committed to improvements

Source: KRISTIN N. SULLIVANStar-Telegram Writer
FORT WORTH - The annexation of the Texas Motor Speedway racetrack complex site, covering more than 1,500 acres in Denton County, will be considered by City Council members today. Fort Worth must formally annex the land before public funds may be used to build roads, water and sewer lines for the project, city officials said. The city has committed up to $11 million for those improvements. "Part of the agreement with SMI (Speedway Motorsports Inc.) is that the city would annex the

Published on September 19, 1995, Page 9, Fort Worth Star-Telegram

Suit seeks to stop work on speedway

Source: Jack Z. Smith;Lisa BlackStar-Telegram Writer
A couple living in a mobile home subdivision in southern Denton County is suing to halt construction of the $100 million Texas Motor Speedway. Robert and Sherri Achuff filed suit yesterday against the city of Fort Worth, the Fort Worth Sports Authority and Speedway Motorsports Inc., the company building the track, contending that auto racing impresario Bruton Smith has not made good-faith efforts to acquire their property in the Country Lane Estates development. The development borders

Published on August 19, 1995, Page 27, Fort Worth Star-Telegram

Construction begins at site of Texas Motor Speedway
Most residences near site still unacquired

Source: Jack Z. SmithStar-Telegram Writer
FORT WORTH - For months, officials of the proposed Texas Motor Speedway had been promising they soon would have "dirt flying" as they kicked off construction of the mammoth racetrack. At last, the dirt is moving at the site in southern Denton County, where North Carolina auto racing magnate Bruton Smith has said he plans to build "the finest speedway in the world. "Yesterday, a dozen earth-moving machines - some adorned with checkered racing flags - were engaged in

Published on August 17, 1995, Page 19, Fort Worth Star-Telegram

Won't you be my neighbor? At least until the track is built

Source: MELISSA WILLIAMSStar-Telegram Writer
We see that Eddie Gossage, longtime confrere of racetrack developer Bruton Smith, will be moving Aug. 7 into temporary offices at the site of the planned Texas Motor Speedway. This as a result of his anointment as executive vice president and general manager of the track-to-be. Does "temporary offices" mean "construction trailer"? If so, Gossage will fit right in with the mobile lifestyle of the neighborhood. Next door is Country Lane Estates, the mobile home community

Published on July 9, 1995, Page 3, Fort Worth Star-Telegram

Speedway developer offers a swap
Smith wants to move homeowners to new development near Justin

Source: Kristin N. SullivanStar-Telegram Writer
DENTON COUNTY - Racetrack developer Bruton Smith has purchased 200 acres near Justin to relocate mobile home residents living adjacent to his Texas Motor Speedway site, but several said they don't plan to swap land with Smith. A Denton County Probate Court judge approved the land sale last week, allowing Smith to purchase the tract for $700,000. But the sale is being appealed as part of a Justin family's dispute, and owners of mobile homes in Country Lake Estates said they are

Published on June 27, 1995, Page 11, Fort Worth Star-Telegram

Market Value

Source: Star-Telegram
The market value of a home and its value to the person who owns it and lives in it do not always correspond. Some of the residents of Country Lane Estates who do not want to be displaced by North Carolina developer Bruton Smith's proposed $75 million NASCAR racetrack may have derived little comfort from Fort Worth City Council assurances that they will get fair market value for their property if it is condemned for the speedway.One speaker invoked "the most sacred of

Published on May 27, 1995, Page 28, Fort Worth Star-Telegram

Residents ask council to save subdivision

Source: JACK Z. SMITHStar-Telegram Writer
FORT WORTH - Although residents of a mobile home development pleaded with City Council members yesterday to spare their properties from being devoured by a $75 million auto speedway, city officials said the properties are likely to be taken through condemnation proceedings. "To me, it looks like it's headed in that direction," Mayor Kay Granger said. Granger and other city officials said the 107 property owners in Country Lane Estates will be treated fairly if their

Published on May 24, 1995, Page 19, Fort Worth Star-Telegram

Racetrack developer begins making offers to nearby homeowners

Source: Barbara PowellStar-Telegram Writer
DENTON COUNTY - Representatives of Texas Motor Speedway developer Bruton Smith have begun making offers to homeowners in Country Lane Estates, the mobile home community Smith wants to acquire for his $100 million racing complex. According to residents, Smith officials have offered six residents $20,000 each for their lots, exclusive of homes. Lot sizes in the 107-family development range from a half-acre to more than 3 acres. Some residents say Smith's offers aren't adequate.

Published on May 20, 1995, Page 30, Fort Worth Star-Telegram

Racetrack developer purchases property

Source: ROLAND S. MARTINStar-Telegram Writer
FORT WORTH - Racetrack developer Bruton Smith has purchased several pieces of property from residents of a subdivision near his planned Texas Motor Speedway in southern Denton County, and he plans to buy others, a Smith representative said yesterday. However, several residents of Country Lane Estates said the North Carolinian has only bought vacant lots. "If he's smart, he'll make an offer that is reasonable to everybody, and we'll get out of his hair and on with

Published on May 5, 1995, Page 23, Fort Worth Star-Telegram

Racing complex will require more land, official says

Source: BARBARA POWELLStar-Telegram Writer
DENTON COUNTY - Two weeks after a ceremonial groundbreaking at the Texas Motor Speedway site north of Alliance Airport, a representative of track developer Bruton Smith says more land is needed to build the $100 million racing complex. A Smith representative said he hopes a deal can be struck with homeowners in nearby Country Lane Estates to buy the 98-acre development. Failing that, he said, Smith will buy other nearby property and build around the mobile home community. As a last

Published on April 28, 1995, Page 35, Fort Worth Star-Telegram

Residents near speedway site protest inadequate answers

Source: BARBARA POWELLStar-Telegram Writer
DENTON COUNTY - One small group among the 1,000 racing fans at yesterday's groundbreaking of Texas Motor Speedway wasn't cheering as developer Bruton Smith broke ground by pushing a detonator. As a huge cloud of smoke rose behind Smith - creating a blinding, momentary solar eclipse - about a dozen residents of a nearby mobile home community paced the road behind the crowd, wearing red shirts and carrying protest signs. "Have 3 acres, will strip mall. Find me a

Published on April 12, 1995, Page 1, Fort Worth Star-Telegram

Smith's first impressions not neighborly

Source: Dave LieberStar-Telegram Writer
Hey, Bruton Smith. Welcome to the neighborhood. Good meeting you yesterday at the groundbreaking for Texas Motor Speedway. "The perfect speedway," you promised. "I'm going to build the Coliseum here!" And of that, we have no doubt. We prize the thousands of new jobs, the needed tax dollars and, most of all, the shrine to modern race car driving you promise to bring us. But another thing Texans prize is neighborliness, and you didn't pass

Published on April 12, 1995, Page 17, Fort Worth Star-Telegram

Speedway meeting tense Residents angered by lack of answers

Source: Barbara PowellStar-Telegram Writer
JUSTIN - Many residents of Country Lane Estates stalked out of a private meeting with representatives of developer Bruton Smith after they were told that no one would answer their questions about how the Texas Motor Speedway would affect their homes. Some of the 200 residents who attended said the meeting, on the eve of the groundbreaking for the $75 million-plus speedway just north of Alliance Airport, was a waste of their time." They flew all the way down here from North

Published on April 11, 1995, Page 1, Fort Worth Star-Telegram

Raceway meeting tonight
Mobile home park residents invited.
Source: BARBARA POWELL

JACK Z. SMITHStar-Telegram Writer
Officials representing speedway developer Bruton Smith, Fort Worth and Denton County will meet tonight with residents of a mobile home park near the site of the planned Texas Motor Speedway. A letter sent last week to residents of Country Lane Estates said the meeting is to discuss the development of the speedway near Alliance Airport and its effects on the area. Smith's representatives have said the meeting is closed to the public, and the letter says only Country Lane Estates

Published on April 10, 1995, Page 9, Fort Worth Star-Telegram

Residents near track site will meet with developer

Source: Barbara PowellStar-Telegram Writer
ROANOKE - Representatives of racing magnate Bruton Smith, who will build Texas Motor Speedway near Alliance, are to meet privately Monday night with residents of an adjacent mobile home park whose land may be needed for the racing complex. Smith spokesman Eddie Gossage declined to say if Smith needed to buy Country Lane Estates for his race track. But Gossage also said, "Their community there is in a key spot. They can stay and have parking on three sides or consider other options

Published on April 7, 1995, Page 27, Fort Worth Star-Telegram