Auto racing funds

I want to comment on the Trib’s Sunday editorial [“What matters”] about school finance and the $25 million a year that Texas lawmakers have committed toward Formula One auto racing in Austin.

My son attends Waco High School where he is a member of the National Honor Society. He has excelled in Waco public schools. I am all for school funding and less for continuing tax cuts for the wealthiest Americans and corporations. But subsidizing such a large stage as Formula One Grand Prix only makes good business sense.

The Austin facility will be called Circuit of the Americas and will be the premier racing site in America. This is one of the most prestigious sporting events in the world. There is already in place a 10-year contract with the auto racing governing body. There is also a 10-year contract with Moto GP, the top world class motorcycle racing series, starting in 2013.

Racing is not the only venue. A 25,000 capacity outdoor music arena also is planned, as well as a trauma center for year round training of EMS and medical personnel.

This is going to put Austin and Texas, as a whole, on a world stage and bring an international element to our state.

Don Blount, Waco

Steering was better

How many times have we heard it said about accidents that the driver overcorrected?

Last week on Highway 53 another accident was attributed to the driver overcorrecting. It seems to occur daily.

I believe this began when front-end drive was added to cars. The steering operation had to be built differently for this change. Thus, cars now have rack-and-pinion steering. But this type of steering does not allow for normal reaction time. Just try to tune your radio, install a CD or reach for something while driving, and see what happens — your car will immediately shift out of its lane.

Cars built in the 50s and 60s and some in the 70s had rear-wheel drive and did not have this type of steering. It allowed just enough “play” to compensate for human reflexes in situations that occur with all drivers. This problem needs to be recognized and corrected by officials, because accidents caused by overcorrecting will continue to happen.

Don Jansky, McGregor

Pick up after pets

I live across the street from First United Methodist Church, and I would like to give their groundskeeper a big round of applause for the meticulous care he gives the church campus.

I walk my two Shih Tzu dogs at least twice a day around the church grounds. I enjoy the walks as much, if not more, than my “girls” because the grounds are so beautiful.

Lately, I have noticed that other people must enjoy walking their dogs there also because there is more dog waste that is not being cleaned up.

Come on dog walkers: Be considerate, not only to the church groundskeeper and congregation members but to the other dog walkers, and please clean up after pets.

The same message goes to the couple I see from my terrace walking their dog across the front lawn of Lake Air Tower and not cleaning up after him.

Gary Merritt, Waco