So, who's goin'?

[erlrich]

For those of you who were there last year, I wanted to get your reaction to a comment that came back from one of our MARRS racers who had attended events at Mid-Ohio in the past. This was in response to Gregg's informal survey of some of the MARRS drivers: Except, the people who run Mid Ohio treat you like crap. My last two visits there convinced I would never go back. No paddock camping, no pets, and I heard of security guards going through racers belongings when they were gone. One driver wishing to repair his Honda and wanted to work late was arrested when he refused to leave, all he wanted to do was make it to morning hardship.

Have things changed since he was last there?

[TAC]

For those of you who were there last year, I wanted to get your reaction to a comment that came back from one of our MARRS racers who had attended events at Mid-Ohio in the past. This was in response to Gregg's informal survey of some of the MARRS drivers: Except, the people who run Mid Ohio treat you like crap. My last two visits there convinced I would never go back. No paddock camping, no pets, and I heard of security guards going through racers belongings when they were gone. One driver wishing to repair his Honda and wanted to work late was arrested when he refused to leave, all he wanted to do was make it to morning hardship.

Have things changed since he was last there?
[/b]

Hmm... I wonder how long ago these events happened? No pets is true. Private and Mark clubs rent the track for daytime purposes only which means you have to leave at 6:30 pm daily. Keeping the track open at night is extra but is covered under all SCCA and NASA contracts. So that could be where all the rotten experiences with security came from. Security is pretty laid back at SCCA and NASA weekends. Well..except when Matt Downing throws a party and gets "Barney fife" excited. I still think you guys should have just duct taped him to the catch fence

Todd C.
Cincinnati SCCA

[tom91ita]

For those of you who were there last year, I wanted to get your reaction to a comment that came back from one of our MARRS racers who had attended events at Mid-Ohio in the past. This was in response to Gregg's informal survey of some of the MARRS drivers: Except, the people who run Mid Ohio treat you like crap. My last two visits there convinced I would never go back. No paddock camping, no pets, and I heard of security guards going through racers belongings when they were gone. One driver wishing to repair his Honda and wanted to work late was arrested when he refused to leave, all he wanted to do was make it to morning hardship.

Have things changed since he was last there?
[/b]

i have always stayed in the paddock in either my enclosed trailer or my tent. the grassy knolls that is. not sure about the paved pit areas. i do think that spectators must stay in the camping area west of the keyhole but i have always seen racers stay in the grassy upper paddock areas (up in the general area of where the showers are).

i have no pets so i don't care about this and frankly i do not care for the "surprises" that many pet owners have left at other venues. as far as i am concerned, this is a plus.

i have seen folks work well into the night but i think there is an exception to running to race engines after some time. and since i sleep in the paddock, that is fine with me as well. and i don't mind generators for emergency lighting but simulated dyno runs at 2:00 a.m. piss me off.. i have heard others comment that there power is not available as other tracks where they race.

the only times i have heard of folks being asked to leave was due to bad behavior and typically alcohol was a factor.

one night i got up and helped the guy in the paddock next to me change his clutch at 2:00 a.m. when he said thanks the next day, i was embarassed that i did not do it to be nice but to get back to sleep.

i have never heard about the guards going through stuff. i have heard about them giving bike riders a bad time but it was in the supps that no bicycles were allowed. i am no longer as casual as i used to be in the paddock and lock up when not there since there are many more posers hanging around.

i have no idea when an incident as described above might have happened. it just has not been my experiences and it is still one of my favorite tracks.

and as far as i was concerned, the IT Festival was hands down a better racing event than the NASA Nationals. less money, good format, bigger fields (ITB vs. H5) and depth of competition.

thus, no Honda Challenge for me in 2008 and it will be IT only.

i would strongly urge your friend to come back.

we'll put some on ice for them but will not leave a light on, the campers in the paddock don't like it.