At 11:39 AM 9/25/02 -0400, J. Brett Howell wrote:
>John "NNTO" Engstrom wrote:
> >.since the rule states the overall width of an F500 is 55" maximum.
>
>Yep, good catch. Sorry for the misprint.
>
> >.Seems to me that would have been the sporting thing to do. Then
> >again, and this is just speculation on my part, maybe the protestor
> >is more concerned with winning a National Championship by protesting
> >faster drivers instead of setting up his car and out driving them.
>
>Hmm.I missed your smiley, so I assume you are serious.
>
>I don't have time to explain why this insinuation is absurd, but I will
>point out to anyone who missed it that this is a clear example of the
>unfair treatment heaped upon anyone who dares to follow the rules and
>employ the protest process. This one is particularly below the belt
>considering the driving history of the person casting aspersions and the
>driving history of the person at whom I believe this is directed (Clint
>MacMahan).
>
So, let me get this straight, if "Joe" ran at Nationals in 2000 and
finished 12th out of 18 and in 2001 finished 14th out of 21, but finished
4th out of 26 in 2002, he had to have been cheating to do that well? Based
on what you said about his driving history, he should not be able to that
well and trophy. Right? Or, are you saying that only if you finish at or
near the top of a class consistently are you able to protest one, or
several, people and not have your motives questioned? Either way, protests
are a way of making sure a car is legal, I have no problem with that. I
have a problem with someone saying your car is illegal and not telling you
what they see is illegal and then saying that if you don't fix it I will
protest you. That is, IMHO, unsportsmanlike and weenie-like.
If you want everyone to be legal, and for the class to grow, which is what
they kept saying was the driving force behind the protests, talk to the
person with the illegal car and tell him what you see. In some way, you
might have misinterpreted the rule wrong. Or ask him how wide their car
is, help him measure it so you both can see if it is or isn't
illegal. Protests should be the last straw taken if the possible protestee
refuses to answer the question or cooperate.
> >.It is my opinion, however, that competitors should take the time
> >(if it's available) to talk to people about what they think is
> >illegal with their cars and give them a chance to fix it before
> >filing protests - especially if the illegality appears to be either
> >a) an oversight or b) something that provides no competitive
> >advantage.
>
>Who makes the determination as to whether something is an oversight or
>provides no competitive advantage? The protestor felt that the protested
>parties had been given advance notice, and that the items in question
>did provide a competitive advantage. The protest committee agreed with
>the advantage of the exhaust and you yourself agreed with the advantage
>of width. It sounds like reasonable people agree with the protestor.
>Maybe we should stop inferring that he is a weenie or unsportsmanlike?
>
I disagree that there is an advantage of a wider car. Especially in Solo,
and in FM.
>As for giving advance notice, how many times does someone have to be
>told to make their car compliant before it becomes protestable? Does
>each time have to be documented and witnessed? Is videotape of the
>conversation admissible or does the fact that it can be tampered with
>make it suspect? I'm at a loss for how to manage this.
>
> >By the way, we did ask one of the protestors (via email on another
> >list) what it was that was illegal with our cars. We received a
> >reply that stated "I would be happy to talk to anyone. I will not,
> >however, be telling individuals what I think is wrong with their
> >individual cars."
>
>That is Chris' prerogative. I believe notice has been served on the
>class that if one person is going to be held accountable for following
>the rules with zero tolerance than everyone will be, and therefore it
>would behoove someone driving a formula car at the National
>Championships to ensure that their car complies with all the formulas.
>Read the rules (about 2 pages in the GCR) if you don't think you can
>rely on someone to tell you what is wrong with your car. It's your
>responsibility to prep the car properly beforehand, not someone elses.
>
>J. Brett Howell (aspiring to mAs)
>www.PebbleMotorSports.com <http://www.pebblemotorsports.com/>
>
Gary Kramar
133 F440 FM
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