This is absurd, Jerry.
Could somebody come up with a list of drivers who didn't go through the
rookie program, yet have somehow managed to remain happy and productive
people? I never said, nor will I EVER say, that first timers or rookies are
detrimental to this sport. I will say that segregation IS.
We've spent far too long on this topic, and have totally neglected the real
issue:
The End of Malibu Mike
I saw it with my own eyes. I pulled into the Malibu Grand Prix in Redwood
City at approximately 8:20. There were many celebrities there, including
Andy McKee, Derek Butts, and Teresa Neidel, all to watch this premiere
event. Apparently, there was supposed to be some talk about nationals, but I
didn't year any.
When I arrived at the pits, Josh Sirota was just beginning his preliminary
runs. He got down to a 53.3, I believe.
Peter Thana followed in the same car. He was extremely close, but not fast
enough.
Lella was the fastest in his car. He, Scot Zediker (I think??), Josh Sirota
and Barry Goldine would advanced to the final round.
The atmosphere was tense. As Sirota demonstrated his MGP expertise, Lella
stood on the side lines with his clip board, as Sirota set the fastest time.
"Oh, it's all relative. It's all relative," he mumbled nervously to himself.
With each run, Sirota shoved his fist into the air.
Peter Thana, who narrowly missed being the fastest driver in his car, showed
a fierceness that would frankly frighten me if I saw it at an autocross.
Later, he was caught on film playing video games still wearing his helmet.
http://www.unsteady.net/malibu/images/malibu-3.jpg
Thank you, Vitaly, for this footage.
The final round began with Lella. Three runs for each driver. Curbs mean
you're a big cheater.
Lella was never joking when he said he was a master of MGP. At each turn,
his eyes were well ahead of the car. He was smooth and precise, on the power
early. However, he made one tragic error with each run: he kept running over
the curb, the same curb, at the SHOW CASE TURN.
"Cheater! Curb! Cheater!" the crowd yelled, and booed, all giving him the
big thumbs down sign.
Lella maintained this tactic, and turned in a 53.0 on his final run.
Given that no time can be added for curbs, and this whole curb rule was made
up pretty much right then and there, nothing could be done.
It was Sirota's turn. First run: not so good. Slow, to be precise. But no
curbs.
Next run: a little better. Smooth, precise, no curbs, but a second off the
pace. Could it be the only way to beat Malibu Mike would be to jump the
curbs?
Sirota is a moral man. He stuck to his guns. Third run: smooth but early
acceleration.
"The curbs, Josh! Run over the curbs!" the crowd yelled.
There were no curbs on Sirota's final run: 53.1.
Barry Goldine started off with a slow 56.0 on this first run, then a 54.5 on
his second run, and then the manager kicked him out before his third. We
were over our time limit.
"But I dropped a second and half! All I needed was a second and a half
more!" demanded Goldine.
We shall never know if that could have been the run.
It was never decided who the real winner was, as now the attention turned to
the video games inside.
This is your friendly Ace Reporter, signing off.
Katie
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Jerry Mouton [mailto:jerry@moutons.org]
> Sent: Friday, September 01, 2000 4:47 PM
> To: Bay_Area_Autocross_List
> Subject: Success of the Rookie Program
>
>
> Let's see -- the rookie program has brought us Derek, Andy,
> Boris, Pete, Vernon, Jesse, Tony Colicchio, Darren Madams,
> Don Campbell,
> Don Lew, Dietrich Schultz, Jim Ochi, Tony Ozzello, Durk Edwards,
> James Creasy, Jim Zalesny, Barry Chafin, Kit Wetzeler, Rob Luis,
> Kevin Lahey, Keith Hearn, Scot Zediker, Dennis Armstrong,
> Chris Herring,
> Peter Thana, Carl Merritt, Tim Madams, Navid Kahangi, Corey Smith,
> Gino Cosculluela, Steve Sherwood, Mert Solis, Peter Allendorfer,
> Sharon Levy, Patrick Jones, Jerry Brown, and more who compete
> regularly and improve constantly.
>
> If all these folks were taken away, how strong would our region be?
>
> Jerry
>
> Jerry Mouton mailto:jerry@moutons.org Laissez les bons temps
> rouler!
>
>
|
