SCCA National Convention

[RacerBill]

Check out the SCCA Website - IT's own Kevin Ruck is awarded the Jim Fitzgerald Award for the Top National Racing Rookie for 2009!!!!!!!!

[lateapex911]

HUGE congrats to tKR!!

[924Guy]

Awesome - pic and all!

[Eagle7]

[Ed Funk]

Cool!

[IPRESS]

Congrats Kevin.

[R2 Racing]

Thanks a lot guys! Sitting in the Vegas airport about to head back to frigid Ohio. This has been an incredibly fun and very educational weekend for me, so to also win this award during it too, is a pretty huge honor. Just to see the names of the guys who have previously won this award, is kind of mind blowing. Got to meet an amazing array of people, and really get to know many of the "powers that be" in this club. You really have no realization of the scope of this club, how many people it touches, and just how much it takes to make it run until you come out to something like this.

Plus, after the banquets yesterday, I couldn't miss at blackjack last night - haha!

[924Guy]

Cross-posting from the other thread:

I got a nice reply to my BOD letter from Jerry Wannarka, Chairman of the BOD.

In short summary, he assured me they (BOD and CRB, in a joint meeting) discussed the "IT situation" last week at the Convention. We can expect a post from Mr. Dowie, CRB Chairman, on the SCCA Forums sometime this week addressing the situation.

Stay tuned...

[R2 Racing]

We can expect a post from Mr. Dowie, CRB Chairman, on the SCCA Forums sometime this week addressing the situation.

Stay tuned...

Bob told me he was thinking about doing that. They (the CR are well aware of the talk going on about this on the internet, and quite frankly kind of wish it wasn't. But, they recignize that this is 2010 and this is going to happen, no matter how much they wish it wouldn't. Just don't expect this means there's then going to be an open discussion and debate on the SCCA forum! There will not! They all also knew that by the time they got home from the convention, they were probably going to be swamped with emails/letters about this. I just said "Uhh, yeah, just a few...."

[lateapex911]

Bob told me he was thinking about doing that. They (the CR are well aware of the talk going on about this on the internet, and quite frankly kind of wish it wasn't. But, they recignize that this is 2010 and this is going to happen, no matter how much they wish it wouldn't. Just don't expect this means there's then going to be an open discussion and debate on the SCCA forum! There will not! They all also knew that by the time they got home from the convention, they were probably going to be swamped with emails/letters about this. I just said "Uhh, yeah, just a few...."

See, that's where the train falls off the tracks.

Private back channel communications and emails etc allow people to push their positions, and those can be 'customized" to make the receiving party more partial to acceptance. But public statements are read by all, and can be forwarded to any. They have to stand up. So, I am pleased that they will make a public statement.

(Although the SCCA forum isn't as 'public' as it could be, LOL. I see the logic, and it's workable)

But, without actual debate, those statements can't be vetted.

This is a situation where there are opposing viewpoints.

Debate and discussion are part of the transparency that is being called for in, I bet, every letter they get on the subject.

[gran racing]

If they are going to post it and run, why choose that media to post the information? Doesn't make sense to me. An article in Sportscar (ooooh, that might let other people in categories know IT racers are annoyed), an e-mail using that group thing they developed, fastrack... Just find it interesting but at least it's a step towards actually communicating. Oh the irony. They complain about people discussing it on chat forums and that's where they'll post their response.

[jhooten]

Kevin beat me to the mic and I'm glad he did because he did a much better job with the subject than I ever could have.

Thanks and Congrats to Kevin.

[Bill Miller]

If they are going to post it and run, why choose that media to post the information? Doesn't make sense to me. An article in Sportscar (ooooh, that might let other people in categories know IT racers are annoyed), an e-mail using that group thing they developed, fastrack... Just find it interesting but at least it's a step towards actually communicating. Oh the irony. They complain about people discussing it on chat forums and that's where they'll post their response.

Believe me Dave, that irony was not lost on me!

I also find it funny that they have such disdain for these message boards, but seem to forget that these message boards played a pretty large part in getting the ITR thing put together.

Jeff (Lawton),

While I love that quote, and it gave me a chuckle as well, I think a more poignant one is:

"Seven years of college down the drain"

[924Guy]

As I said on the sandbox, don't be disappointed if we don't get everything we wanted and hoped for first time 'round. Persistence and focus will win. If at first you don't succeed - Club Racing may not be for you.

The subject of the lack of discussion/debate expected or allowed on the official SCCA forums is a good one. A few points, from my point of view...

1) It's appropriate to have any such communication occur there, since those are the official forums. Almost like it's a legal or club rules requirement. That's OK.

2) Board members have already shown up on these forums sharing input, officially or not. They have shown they're willing to share viewpoints here. I would say it's safe to expect a continued presence, now that they know we're here and talking about 'em.

3) If they don't like discussion there, and won't accept any further input... then what, we're done??? Is that what we said when the Germans bombed Pearl Harbor?!?

Really, like we're that disingenious? Of course not! We will, by our very nature, continue to talk about them, behind or in front of their backs! They will have every opportunity, like it or not, to participate in those discussions!

If they choose not to participate, and pursue a policy path that is not in line with what we like - well, then, we have to get their attention again, no? Letters seem to work pretty well, based on the response so far! Why not continue to correspond with them?

If we turn around and walk away after the first period, do we have anyone else than ourselves to blame??

Final note: If we're concerned that the board members will not be interested in joining us in discussion about the future of IT - should we not do everything we can to make them welcome in the discussions??? I think the first step towards that is to be open-minded, considerate, and respectful. Name calling, slander, abuse, etc - fine, do those all you want, just don't expect anything more than a response in kind (if at all). Remember, you catch more flies with honey...

[gran racing]

This is far from being the first period, unless people haven't been following things and didn't communicate with the CRB / BOD previously. End of the fourth, tied and ready for a coin toss? Maybe. lol The use, implimentation, and member feedback has been going on for quite some time. There's also a point in time where people will become fed up with things (such as happened with several ITAC members). Doesn't mean people don't care, but choose to put their time, energy, and maybe $$$ elsewhere.

[924Guy]

This is far from being the first period, unless people haven't been following things and didn't communicate with the CRB / BOD previously. End of the fourth, tied and ready for a coin toss? Maybe. lol The use, implimentation, and member feedback has been going on for quite some time. There's also a point in time where people will become fed up with things (such as happened with several ITAC members). Doesn't mean people don't care, but choose to put their time, energy, and maybe $$$ elsewhere.

Good point, fair enough.

I'm of course coming from a slightly different angle here, myself; while I am interested in the future of IT, and am active online, I'm not quite as into it as some of the really obtuse daily discussions that happen here and elsewhere.

Maybe the best reply is, it's time for you guys who have been shouldering that burden to do exactly as you have - communicate the situation to the rest of us, and let this raucous minority become a wave of overwhelming support to carry you along, when you've lost momentum.

Like I say - I think that is what you guys have done effectively, even if you don't realize it, and I think we are starting now to get noticed. You may think it's too late, because you personally can't stand being the only ones who care anymore, but maybe it's just time for the rest of us who've been standing around in back to pick up that bullhorn and start making noise.

Seems to me like the noise level to the CRB and BOD is growing, not diminishing...

[JLawton]

Is that what we said when the Germans bombed Pearl Harbor?!?

Nice reference!!!! Yup, you had me laughin' with that one!!!



OK, back to our serious discussion...........



.

[IPRESS]

Jake I understand where you are coming from...I really do. The part I was trying to bring out is, some of the ITAC & the CRB became at odds. Some of the ITAC involved the message boards to bring a portion of public opinion into the fray. Might be the biggest portion I don't know.... but that said, I can see where the CRB could get just as frustrated get fed up with ITAC actions. It became a no win on both sides as far as I can tell, because the CRB doubts the validity of what you guys consider one of the core aspects (stock HP). I don't know if that can be worked out or not, but it would be good for IT if it can be. hopefully both sides of the issue will keep working at it.

[jhooten]

"We don't like the word process" when use in the classification of IT cars.
"We don't want to publish a formula" because years later someone will plug in a set of numbers and say SEE YOU GOT MY CAR WRONG.

They made it clear they did not want sunshine on the non-process of classing cars in IT.

On making a smoother transition from IT to Prod the implied response was it wasn't needed, if you want to run national races you can run your IT car in STU. I told them the plans were in the works to the IT/STU ghetto paddock area and IT would do its best to make STU the biggest class at the runoffs. You guys have to help me make it happen

[R2 Racing]

Damn, this turned into another one of "those" threads.