All this back and forth on Sportsmanship and Protests has finally ruffled my
southern feathers.
To quote two previous emails on the subject...
>> I think that by not talking to the protestees before competition
and explicitly warning them of a protest if they didn't remove
their mufflers the protestor behaved in an unsportsmanlike
manner.<<
and
>>Protests should be the last straw taken if the possible protestee
refuses to answer the question or cooperate<<
There are two groups of people that go to Nationals. Those that go to win,
and those that go "to be with 1000 of your closest friends". For the second
group, I agree that talking to them ahead of time is probably the right
thing to do. It's the right thing to do at Local Events, and Divisionals.
But... If you expect to trophy and perhaps win Nationals, you are playing a
whole different game. Why on earth am I going to go up to someone and tell
them that I think X, Y, Z and H is wrong with their car, before we have
completed or even started competition runs? They might be gracious, they
might get mad, upset, pissed off you name it. I should not have to create a
confrontation, just to be a sportsman. Something about that tells me it's
not sportsmanship. There have been people pissed off enough about a
potential protestor that they vandalized their car. Why should I have to
take on that potential burden just to appease those that believe in this
almighty sportsmanship is the way.
If you are going to play this game to win, you better be prepared to play
all the way through the impound shed. That is the game. If you don't like
it, find another game, change the rules, or quit bitching about the process.
We don't write specific rules for sportsmanship only vehicle eligibility and
preparation.
Sportsmanship is shaking the hand of the winner at the end of the game. Not
telling him how or why he might lose before it starts. We are also taught
early on that it's not if you win or lose, its how you play the game
(sportsmanship). Since the game is not over until impound is over, those
that complain about the procedures laid out in the book are the real poor
sports.
So how do you file a protest and be a good sport?
1) Make sure you are the person that tells the protested party about the
protest. I would not want to hear about a protest from some guy with a
radio, golf cart and clip board saying we have to impound your car.
2) Be friendly and polite. I can't stress this enough. Through my entire
protest of the Priebe/Eckert/Elder car this year, the level of 'friendship'
for lack of better word actually went up. Hell, We cut a deal at the end of
the protest when it was obvious that nothing was going to be found and I
helped them put the car back together. Last year after protesting Robert
Carpenters car, and it looked like he might not get it back together for the
second day of the prosolo, I offered him my car. How many people protest
someone, and offer them their car? That's sportsmanship.
So those of you that show up at Nationals expecting to win or trophy, and
want someone to tell them first of illegalities in/on their car....... IMHO,
you are trying to use 'Sportsmanship' to cover your poor vehicle
preparation. Now who is the real sportsman?
Rick Cone
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