"David vs. Goliath" - CRX vs 1.8 Miata story from ARRC

[Gregg]

if the appeal on the CAI / wiper / headlight is lost and this one for the yellow is won, that would seem a bit like sour grapes imo.

I hear you, Tom, but the standing yellow was out at the flag stand right before the bridge and was out. Just because an ITC car that's not front-running is at a much slower pace than the race-leading ITA car does not mean that a P.U.Y. is acceptable. As soon as Brian got out of the car he told us about the P.U.Y. and we started looking for witnesses/video, to no avail. We knew that one car that might have it wasn't going to offer up a loss in position or DQ.

As to whether its sour grapes or not, the only reason that protest was filed was because the corner station did not call it in. In my short racing career I have seen some very stupid things happen out on track when drivers ignore flags. Most of them put volunteers in harms way. You know as well as I do that quiz drivers at schools about flags for a reason and corer stations wave flags for a reason. And even with that, given the width of the track, given the fact that it was a straight, and given that the "incident" was a car off-track on driver's right does not eliminate the fact that the CRX also gained a competitive advantage but not correctly timing his pass on the ITC car, but instead kept up his race pace. What happened in the tech shed afterwards should be immaterial.

Just like cars/drivers can lose in the tech shed if they run astray of the rules, one can and perhaps should if they run afoul while on the race surface.

That's my point. Perhaps Mr. Laughlin would have been more vigilant if he had known. ;-)

[Andy Bettencourt]

That's my point. Perhaps Mr. Laughlin would have been more vigilant if he had known. ;-)

I doubt it. I wouldn't want to win like that if I was out of touch with the leaders. These two ran away from everyone. A mechanical protest is one thing - but a PUY penalty that had zero affect on my position in class is another.

Not downplaying your fundamental stance on the issue, just commenting on whether or not a 3rd place driver who wasn't even in the same timezone as the top 2, would want to take a win like that.

[Blaughlin]

This is a little late, better late than never. I would have been more persistant about the issue if I would have had more evidence(video, witnesses). I understand winning in the tech shed isn't exactly the way to go, however, if someone brakes the rules, non compliant, or being hazardous to other people. I don't stand for that. Cutting to the chase, sometimes you have to take it anyway you can get it. with in reason

Looking forward to seeing everyone again at the ARRC in 2011

Brian