Letting off Steam

[CRallo]

Dunno the details, but this sounds something like what happened to tGA at the Glen a while ago. Kakashi had to write that car off, a totally senseless waste :/ the only one that made out on that deal was Kessler, who was commissioned to build the new car lol

[dj10]

You guys are right a video unit is in the cards. I guess the honor system I've been going by doesn't cut it any more even with SCCA workers. :~( I would think if they weren't 100% sure of what they saw, they wouldn't say anything. I hope there was no bias. K, I should have appealed but i didn't learn about the witnesses until after the 30 min mark.

Wow, I'm still really bummed out about this.

[GKR_17]

Still have time to appeal, just make sure to include evidence not seen by the first court.

edit - or was it a CSA? You'd have to protest that action first at the track to be able to appeal later. I believe any penalty imposed by the SOM's can be appealed within the 7 day limit per the GCR.

[RacerBill]

Dan: As a member of the host region to the IT Spectacular, I am sorry that you had an unpleasant experience. On your behalf, there were multiple incidents in Group 2 all weekend that should not have occurred. On behalf of the corner workers, yes, if they are not 100% certain of an incident, with at least two witnesses, they will not report anything. In your case, it turned out badly.

I missed an opportunity of a lifetime. A friend of mine brought his Dodge Shelby Charger all the way from Pennsylvania to run with my Shelby. He was hoping to get pictures of both of us on the track at the same time. His weekend was ruined on Saturday when an ITR car that was passing him after a point-by, hit his right rear hard enough to bend the axle (remember, the Charger as a beam read axle that has to weigh at least 30 lbs. In Sunday's Race 1, I pointed a couple of ITR cars by on the main straight, and the second on allmost took of my left front fender, moving back over to the right for turn 1. And I was all the way over to the right!

During the opening laps of Sunday Race 2, I entered Turn 14 at speed, no flags out, to find about 75% track blockage, with at least three cars not moving!

So, yes there was some serious lack of respect in group 2.

Again, sorry that your experience was not up to the standards that we strive for with this event.

[RedMisted]

Bill, I'm glad you posted.

Please let me know if I'm one of the offending cars. I always try to take great care to be very sporting out on track.

That said, my beef is with the insanity displayed by many of the drivers qualified behind me, and the decision to do "pro" starts...

Case 1: Sat race. Hit from behind by an ITS Miata on the OPENING LAP between T9 and T10a. I went off into the grass, got going again, and then fought like mad to get back every position lost but two.

Case 2: Sun. qually race. Got sideswiped in a very obvious way somewhere in Madness on the OPENING LAP by an ITB VW. What the hell was that all about? I then had to drive 11 laps w/o a sideview mirror. Middle finger put to good use after passing offending car on main straight, and for good reason...

Case 3: Sun. race. Three-wide going from T12 to Carousel. On the OPENING LAP. I'm on the outside. Inside car hits middle car right into me. I spin out in the middle of the track, lose about 10+ positions. Had to fight like hell (again) to finish in my rightful top-ten spot.

Moral of story: Pros start on long back straight. Everybody else starts on main straight. Right? Why were we, a BUNCH OF AMATEURS, doing "pro" starts? What we had this weekend were many clueless drivers trying to sort out in a series of very complex corners what is normally done on a straight followed by a corner followed by another straight. Pros can start in back of M-O, go from Madness to Carousel with very few incidents, because THEY ARE PRO! IT types try to be like pros and do pro starts, but instead wreck each other out....

Todd, if you're reading this, PLEASE go back to main straight starts. I don't wanna have to pay to fix another mirror, a crunched bumper, destroyed pass. door/rear panel and replace assorted trim pieces and flat-spotted tires. A needless waste of $$$$$$, ya know???? And for anybody, for that matter...

Or, next time we do a pro start at M-O, I'll just start in the back, watch the carnage unfold ahead of me, and then pick my opening thru the smoke and debris...

[Eagle7]

Case 2: Sun. qually race. Got sideswiped in a very obvious way somewhere in Madness on the OPENING LAP by an ITB VW. What the hell was that all about? I then had to drive 11 laps w/o a sideview mirror. Middle finger put to good use after passing offending car on main straight, and for good reason...

I wish you had protested him. I went to the tower to let them know that I had video if someone was interested.

[gran racing]

Everybody else starts on main straight. Right? Why were we, a BUNCH OF AMATEURS, doing "pro" starts?

Sorry, but the location that the flag is being showed has nothing to do with pro vs amateurs. It's merely the location that the start occurs and pro races typically tend to start there. I've done two IT Fests, both of which were on the main straight. I'd much rather start the race on the longer straight - the "pro" starting position for many reasons. The longer straight gives much more of the field an opportunity to see the start and gives more time to get things sorted out. If one is in another class or further back in the field for whatever reason, there's a good chance you'll get the start while still in the turns. There most definately are incidents when getting the start on the "amateur" location.

No matter where the start occurs even if it were on a wide open huge air port, it's up to the drivers to make it happen safely. IMO though, the long pro starting location gives drivers the best opportunity for a safe start.

By the way Chris, Todd and the rest of the region are very in tune to listening what the drivers want. The starts in previous years happened at the other location. I wouldn't be surprised at all if the reason why it was changed to the long straight is because of driver input. If you and other drivers would prefer to start the race on the short straight, ask a few drivers to politely contact Todd offline. They do listen.

[RedMisted]

I wish you had protested him. I went to the tower to let them know that I had video if someone was interested.

It never crossed my mind... I guess I was too busy trying to repair a mirror for the upcoming race. In fact, I wasn't even sure which VW it was. I thought maybe it was the no. 21-- I had been warned about him once two years ago-- but couldn't tell.

Wish I could have seen the video. Does it show the car's number?

Thanks for offering your help to the proper authorities anyway...

[RacerBill]

Chris: No, you were deffinitely not one of the offending drivers I mentioned. You did surprise me stopped in the middle of the track between 14 and 15, perendicular to the track at the start of the afternoon race. My video shows that when I came thru 14, there were NO yellow flags out yet! Whow Nellie! I did see you get going, so I was not surprised when you past me on the front straight. By the way, the FCY did not come out until I was past station two and approaching three.

I think I know who hit you on Saturday. If it is who I think it is, he is a young kid, just starting out. Needs to go back to Driver's School and learn how to race, which is a lot different than knowing how to drive. Probably been watching too much NASCAR.

Sorry I did not get a change to meet you in person. I'll have to look you up at Nelson, or your next race at MO.

Take care! Have fun!

[RedMisted]

I think I know who hit you on Saturday. If it is who I think it is, he is a young kid, just starting out. Needs to go back to Driver's School and learn how to race, which is a lot different than knowing how to drive. Probably been watching too much NASCAR.

Sorry I did not get a change to meet you in person. I'll have to look you up at Nelson, or your next race at MO.

We already met. I was the one passing out the "PLN" stickers two years ago at Mid Ohio.

[dj10]

On behalf of the corner workers, yes, if they are not 100% certain of an incident, with at least two witnesses, they will not report anything.

This wasn't true this weekend.