211 replies to this topic

[Caveman-kwebb99]

Searched the CCR (2012.2) for both "confront" and "blame" and nothing showed up (i.e. those words are not in the document.) Skimmed the protest and driver conduct sections and couldn't see anything. Could you cite the rule please?

Good thing, I will still be able to tell Frank after the race Its his fault, that the beers arent cold enough! I was getting a bit worried that he might protest me.

[Caveman-kwebb99]

Must be a regional rule.

_{When in florida its not legal for you to go confront, so just send Mickey Mouse or Pluto over to do it...}

[Jim Drago]

Probably a waste of time... But I will try anyway..

Both sides of this south Florida mafia need to a have a meeting on neutral territory and sit down and have a talk. All of you obviously enjoy racing, from the looks of things, you will be sharing the track for some time to come. Bullshit like this, ( the games, the blame, intimidation etc) ALL TAKE AWAY from the fun we should be having and are certainly PAYING for.

My advice is on sale today, you get my for free today.

I suggest Jr, Sr, Alex, Andrew and Nick all sit down, try to put the past in the past. Make appropriate apologies and or explanations and air it all out, from that meeting forward everyone starts with a clean slate! Just an idea, hell if Charlie Sheen gets 24 chances, surely you guys can give Breathless another try. Hopefully the Breathless guys want to take the opportunity.

Despite popular opinions, racing is far more fun when everyone gets along. That doesn't mean that you race any easier etc. I have had some of the best and hardest fought races with many of the Auto Technique guys, we are friendly and all race each other hard,. All of us have made mistakes, we have always shook hands after the race and any problems on track have always been resolved within 5 minutes of the race. We are always out to dinner and screwing around a few hours later. To me, that is what racing should be, not this bullshit! But it would take effort from BOTH sides. I will be honest, I actually Don't enjoy the racing all that much, unfortunately, many of you idiots have become some of my better friends and I enjoy the camaraderie and hanging out far more than I do anything on track. Truthfully, i have said this many times before, if you could quit racing and still "be one of the guys" , I would likely just come and watch and hang out. Unfortunately, the racing is the bond we share, when you stop racing, that bond isn't as strong for whatever reason. I really do enjoy the few races a year that I just go and watch.

Jim

[Lin]

Well to add a little more fuel to the fire, this was not the only contact Jr had over the weekend at Sebring. Jr had contact with other cars on Saturday where the weather was not nearly as bad as it was on Sunday. This NASA group in Florida was supposed to be a no contact alternative to SCCA where we expect contact. So like in SCCA where you can't bump draft in certain regions, NASA FL is NO CONTACT. In my opinion, the bump I got (cracked the rear finisher in 2 places, pushed the bumper in and bent the frame rail support for the trunk) was intentional out of frustration. I was too breathless to look for an apology. He thought it was funny and waived to me after passing me. I chose to go to the officials about intentional contact, let them deal with this nonsense. When I was upstairs reporting this incident, there was another driver reporting an issue with Jr in the same race on Saturday. So, multiple contacts in multiple races...too aggressive? Supposedly Jr got a slap on the wrist action from the race director but I did not see any commentary on that. At least in SCCA people talk it over in impound and we all laugh about how much fun we had racing close.

NASA != FUN

[Lin]

While we are on the topic of Sunday's race, how's that B-spec Grand-Am machine doing?

[Doug007]

Here is the video of Nick trying to take me out as payback.
Note how he holds continuous contact and does not break it till I start to got sideways.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Lp1UqqnB-ss

He's doing the takeout wrong. Here is how it's done...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L7Am7MCesDI&feature=youtube_gdata_player

[Lin]

^^^^^^ ROFL...I can't wait for October!

[Doug007]

This is what the NASA Florida website says about the subject:
"CONDUCT EXPECTATIONS:
NASA Florida Region Racing program is intended to be a fun, safe and competitive race venue where driver skill is the most important ingredient for being successful. Good sportsmanship will be valued more than "where" a driver finishes in the race. Clean, well executed passing is required. Punting or leaning into a competitor's car for race position advantage is unacceptable. Metal to metal contact will result in investigation and possible sanctions. Race stewards have the responsibility and authority to monitor over-aggressive driving in practice, qualifying and race sessions and to remove offending driver from the track if said driver is viewed as a threat to the safety of other drivers. Good sportsmanship both on and off the track is required. "

[Jim Drago]

SCCA where we expect contact.

Not sure where your racing? I race a lot of SCCA races and certainly don't expect contact? Really ?

[Lin]

Not sure where your racing? I race a lot of SCCA races and certainly don't expect contact? Really ?

Let me clarify... At NASA FL, you hear all of these stories about the SCCA and you are told SCCA is where your car will get wrecked. So you go to SCCA expecting contact. In reality, I have seen a little contact at the SCCA but none of it was intentional like Jr's decision to move me out of the way at T7. Plus, the fields at SSCA are much larger than the 20 or 30 cars we had on Sebring this past weekend.

BTW, congratulations to the other 14 year old who was racing with us (Alex) who managed not to crash into anyone.

[MPR22]

Probably a waste of time... But I will try anyway..

Both sides of this south Florida mafia need to a have a meeting on neutral territory and sit down and have a talk. All of you obviously enjoy racing, from the looks of things, you will be sharing the track for some time to come. Bullshit like this, ( the games, the blame, intimidation etc) ALL TAKE AWAY from the fun we should be having and are certainly PAYING for.

My advice is on sale today, you get my for free today.

I suggest Jr, Sr, Alex, Andrew and Nick all sit down, try to put the past in the past. Make appropriate apologies and or explanations and air it all out, from that meeting forward everyone starts with a clean slate! Just an idea, hale if Charlie Sheen gets 24 chances, surely you guys can give Breathless another try. Hopefully the Breathless guys want to take the opportunity.

Despite popular opinions, racing is far more fun when everyone gets along. That doesn't mean that you race any easier etc. I have had some of the best and hardest fought races with many of the Auto Technique guys, we are friendly and all race each other hard,. All of us have made mistakes, we have always shook hands after the race and any problems on track have always been resolved within 5 minutes of the race. We are always out to dinner and screwing around a few hours later. To me, that is what racing should be, not this bullshit! But it would take effort from BOTH sides. I will be honest, I actually Don't enjoy the racing all that much, unfortunately, many of you idiots have become some of my better friends and I enjoy the camaraderie and hanging out far more than I do anything on track. Truthfully, i have said this many times before, if you could quit racing and still "be one of the guys" , I would likely just come and watch and hang out. Unfortunately, the racing is the bond we share, when you stop racing, that bond isn't as strong for whatever reason. I really do enjoy the few races a year that I just go and watch.

Jim

Nice write up Danny, did that leave you out of breath?

[getfast]

Must be a regional rule.

It isn't.

Jon Felton
(Director, NASA FL)

[Doug007]

When we go to the impound the first thing I do is get out and walk over to Nick. I tell him, I am sorry, it was a racing incident, the track was slippery and we got together. By the way we were clean the entire rest of the race. He tells me it was MY fault completely, I agree I am not innocent, but I am not taking the entire blame. He also said I should not have tried to pass him and it was low percentage. That was not right, I tried to apologize and this is what I get.

I don't think you correctly understand the meaning of an apology. An apology does not make you right or remove your responsibility.

Who else shares the blame with you? The wet track? It was your pass to make cleanly.

[getfast]

Supposedly Jr got a slap on the wrist action from the race director but I did not see any commentary on that.

Incorrect. Ask him what the action was.

SOME NASA FL SM RACERS!= FUN

^fixed that for you. And, we're trying to improve this for everyone.

Jon Felton
(Director, NASA FL)

[getfast]

This is what the NASA Florida website says about the subject:
"CONDUCT EXPECTATIONS:
NASA Florida Region Racing program is intended to be a fun, safe and competitive race venue where driver skill is the most important ingredient for being successful. Good sportsmanship will be valued more than "where" a driver finishes in the race. Clean, well executed passing is required. Punting or leaning into a competitor's car for race position advantage is unacceptable. Metal to metal contact will result in investigation and possible sanctions. Race stewards have the responsibility and authority to monitor over-aggressive driving in practice, qualifying and race sessions and to remove offending driver from the track if said driver is viewed as a threat to the safety of other drivers. Good sportsmanship both on and off the track is required. "

We're about to have a new website which may or may not have the exact language above on it. But everything in the CCR applies regardless. Including but not limited to section 23.1 in this case.

As always we are trying to make NASA FL the best it can be for everyone who chooses to come out and play. We dealt with all situations mentioned in this thread and issued penalties accordingly. That will continue for the next event and beyond. Those who don't understand our rules and their importance... are encouraged to go drive elsewhere, and may soon find themselves with no other choice.

Thank you,

Jon Felton
(Director, NASA FL)

[Rob Burgoon]

It isn't.

Jon Felton
(Director, NASA FL)

If it's not a regional rule, quote the relevant section in the CCR then, if you can.

[Lin]

Incorrect. Ask him what the action was.

Jon Felton
(Director, NASA FL)

Well he was still racing on Sunday and having more contact with cars, so what's to ask? To the other drivers it looks like there were no ramifications for such driving.

[getfast]

If it's not a regional rule, quote the relevant section in the CCR then, if you can.

I'm still waiting for that section to be quoted as well.

[getfast]

Well he was still racing on Sunday and having more contact with cars, so what's to ask? To the other drivers it looks like there were no ramifications for such driving.

He was dealt with, and there were ramifications. He's the one to tell you about it, not me.

[Doug007]

If it's not a regional rule, quote the relevant section in the CCR then, if you can.

There is no such rule.

It only exists in the mind of young Ernie...