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Statement from Craig Gore |
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Monday, 24 March 2008 |
The following is a statement in total from
Team Australia’s Craig Gore following on-going statements and accusations in the
media from his former partner Derrick Walker.
This statement, while long, is a detailed list of events in chronological order
regarding the history of the Team Australia program.
With Walker
threatening future legal proceedings, this will be the final comment Gore will
be making on this issue.
“Team Australia was created by Kevin
Kalkhoven and myself in San Francisco
in late 2004 as a result of wanting to run
David Besnard’s single Champ Car race in Surfers Paradise that year. Not by
Derrick Walker as he has publicly stated,” said Gore.
“We ran the 2004
Surfers Paradise race with Walker Racing at the request of Kevin Kalkhoven.
Kevin’s generosity continued when he requested I form a JV agreement with
Derrick Walker because he was about to shut his doors. Kevin felt it best for
the series and Walker Racing if we formed a partnership. Kevin Kalkhoven
contributed on that basis alone. It must be Team Australia. I discussed this
with Derrick Walker and he agreed. We created GORE FISH WALKER LLC.
”All
sponsorship, funding and acquisition costs, development funding and marketing of
the Team Australia brand and team during our entire tenor has been borne by
myself, sponsors I provided, CCWS owners’ companies and Kevin Kalkhoven.
“Not at any time did Derrick Walker and or Walker Racing or anyone
associated with him provide any permanent funding to the team, the branding of
Team Australia or any other form of funding required for the team. This amounts
to more than $US20 Million over a three-year period.
“Derrick Walker and
Walker Racing used, to its sole benefit, the Branding of Team Australia to
develop funding for the Champ Car Atlantics’ program. I received no benefit from
this and I am currently owed $US500,000 for cars and equipment bought by myself
to establish this team the previous year. I have never called on or asked for
this to be repaid.
“There have been numerous anomalies in accounts over
the period amounting to more than $US500,000. I have never called on these to be
repaid. I will now call on the funds to be repaid immediately. I will also cause
for all accounts to be forensically investigated to ensure there has been no
misappropriation of funds provided to the team.
“After three years there
is less than $US300,000 owing in the accounts, save for Mr Walker himself, up to
and prior to the date I advised him to cease operation. I have paid all budget
over runs including $US950,000 in 2006 which were incurred without my express
agreement or prior knowledge.
“At present there is $US1.1 million
outstanding in the GFW accounts. Of which I have provided Derrick several
undertakings to pay. These have been obviously unacceptable and now withdrawn.
However, when taking into consideration Mr Walker is the largest creditor (His
contribution to our partnership) it was agreed to work harmoniously to resolve
these matters in an orderly and appropriate manner.
“I would like to
point out all drivers during our tenor were provided to the team by myself, CCWS
and Kevin Kalkhoven. Contracts for Marcus Marshall, Alex Tagliani, Simon
Pagenaud and Will Power were negotiated firstly by myself, Kevin Kalkhoven and
CCWS and then offered to Derrick after the fact. Not at any time did Derrick
Walker and or Walker Racing have any say or involvement in the driver
arrangements, allocation of funding for those drivers or any other aspect of
their agreements other than to operate them in accordance with the agreement
between the JV parties and the funding provided.
”Not at any point did I
have a direct or indirect role in funding allocation. My involvement was to
provide funds, which were the shortfall to the team after sponsor contributions.
I meet and will continue to meet these requirements. Derrick Walker has been
offered a resolution to all outstandings, none of which are acceptable to him.
“The heads of agreement which we (Walker and Gore) operated under for
three years was deemed by Derrick Walker as unacceptable and unworkable in
January of this year. Given this, and the uncertain future direction of the
sport at that time, I meet with Derrick Walker in late January in Los Angeles to
discuss the future of both and it was agreed both the series and GFW could not
continue as it was. There was no confusion. Either we effected change or we
closed the doors.
“There needed to be change. I subsequently meet with
Kevin Kalkhoven and Gerry Forsythe in Las Vegas and in accordance with my
agreement with Derrick, explained to both Men in no uncertain terms our lack of
desire to continue in the series as it was. There needed to be change.
Significant change for GFW to continue to operate and or participate in the
CCWS. There were many topics discussed at this meeting including my further
involvement in the series independently as a Team Owner.
”At the
conclusion of this meeting I meet again the following day with Kevin Kalkhoven
for several hours to discuss the future of the sport and that of CCWS. At the
conclusion of that meeting I telephoned Derrick Walker and told him to cease all
expenditure on the program. I provided Derrick Walker with many opportunities
during the next month or so to walk from both GFW and CCWS. It was my
understanding after meeting Kevin Kalkhoven there was change afoot and from that
point on we should seriously consider all our options moving forward.
”Unfortunately, Derrick was not able to contribute anything other than
management skills and moving forward there was a requirement for real cash to be
contributed. Derrick advised in mid February even if he were to finalize matters
with GFW satisfactorily to his requirements. He was in no position to contribute
capital, nor did he have any sponsors which could come on board to underwrite
his desires.
”I have not mislead Derrick Walker and or Walker Racing in
any form. Derrick provided me with an unacceptable budget and costings with
nefarious funding schedules to continue in 2008 and he has constantly advised he
was moving on with other sponsors if I didn't agree.
”I have not at
anytime attempted to disband the company or steal drivers or staff. I have never
directly or in directly had any conversations or engagement with staff of GFW.
Even during the period where the staff were employed directly by me.
”In
fact, Derrick signed Will Power in mid-February without my knowledge or consent
to operate independently to GFW. A breach of his duty to both GFW, myself and
the parties he was purporting to deal with. (This was a short term contract in
which Derrick failed to fulfil certain criteria – Will was automatically
released after the required deadline and then signed to race with Team Australia
and KV Racing Technology).
“Once this was disclosed to me I severed all
ties with Derrick Walker. I did try to involve him in the new team, but he was
not prepared to work for others, or with others and wanted to continue operating
as Walker Racing. He was not prepared to sell his factory, shut down his team
and merge. He was insistent on operating the team from Walker Racing premises
and his conditions of funding were ludicrous, fanciful and self-serving to say
the least.
“I did not provide Derrick Walker or Walker Racing any
commitment moving forward other than to do my best to contribute towards the
merging of both series as I thought this was the best outcome for all involved.
I believe I have contributed to this process positively and uncompromisingly. I
make no apology for this.
”More over, during this period Derrick has
been constantly in the media during the most sensitive negotiations in the
sport’s history. Telling the world he had moved on and was going racing in the
IRL regardless of what the outcome of merger negotiations were. His continuous
outburst against the CCWS, his colleagues and partners have left them confused
and disappointed after providing him so much support over the past three years.
His actions have taken a lot away from his great contribution to the sport over
many decades.
”I look forward to any court action Derrick Walker may
take. I relish the opportunity to have my day in court.
”My focus now is
on open wheel racing in the Untied States. The development of the new combined
series and the development of Will Power as a talented Australian Driver.
”There was always going to be attrition once a merger took place. I am
not responsible for the failures Derrick now faces. He was given every
opportunity to participate. And he took every opportunity to steal from the
hands that feed him via the media. This spiteful and vexatious behaviour does
nothing but demonstrate the fragile nature of his team and a desire to
manipulate a small section of the media for self-serving purposes. You can't
threaten to leave the sport and move on from your partnerships via the media,
then expect the world to take you seriously when the same people decide they are
better off without you.
“I will be making no further comment on this
matter.”
Craig Gore
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