53 replies to this topic

[podiummotorsports]

To everyone that has posted on this thread.  This is Aaron Downey the person that protested Matt in the race.  First I want to say I never intended for Matt to lose finishing positions.  My intention was to make sure that he was talked to by the stewards for what I would consider rough driving.  Even in my statement to the stewards, I told them that the contact would have had no effect on the outcome of the race and that Matt clearly had the driving skills and car to beat.  

 

I agree that when you watch the video it doesn't look like much of a hit but if you had time to come by and look at both cars you will see that it was larger than a little bump in the rear.  Plus the continued push by Matt through the turn and down the first part of the straightaway was what I was not happy with.  We work all year long, just like Matt has, to get our cars in top shape and to have someone who clearly had a superior car try to take you out in the first lap is uncalled for.  We were clearly no match for Matt.  Also some of you may know but Matt included Jim Daniels as his witness and in Jim's statement he said that he pushed him in to me.  The problem with the comment was that the stewards watched the video and Jim didn't even come in to the picture until after the initial hit so I think there was a loss of credibility.  I would agree as I progressed through the corner Jim may have given Matt some help but clearly from the video it wasn't much.

 

In regards to the last lap bump and run, I would disagree with you guys.  I had watched Greg go in to that corner enough times to know that he wasn't over shooting it.  He was protecting his position and while he was making his turn in he was bumped from the rear.  Now that may or may not be seen as a dirty move based on your personal position but when you go look at the front of Matt's car you will see where the impact punctured a hole.  I know the front's are made of plastic but to create a hole would lead me to believe it was a pretty good hit and not just a little bump.  So my biggest question was why would Matt even put himself in that position.  He clearly didn't have position on Greg and since he had the class of the field car he could have been patient and passed through the carousel or in Canada Corner.  Plus watching the video, both Greg and I were at a clear disadvantage even in the straights which is where we should be pulling other cars based on our "ancient piece of craps" advantage.  So as far as the 1 position penalty, I would agree with the the decision.

 

Also to add to this whole discussion, and it hasn't been brought up, but the SOM's had already filed their own investigation into the on track events by Matt.  So regardless of any of the protest that got filed they were already looking into the issues on the track.  Whether or not that would have affected the final outcome we will never know.

 

I have one more comment to make.  After the race I was approached by two separate drivers that made comments about Matt's aggressive driving.  Now I am not looking to stir the pot but if you look at some of the on track issues that I saw and then to be approached by two separate drivers with the same comments.  I'm not sure if there isn't something here.

 

I don't know where to go from here but the comments above are constructive and I will take them into consideration next time I am in a position to protest someone.  For me, I love racing and have been in a number of altercations on the track in the past but I always came out stronger.  Whether I win or lose, I like that decision to be made on the track.  In this case I was not racing for second place.  I only wanted first place and any other position was not acceptable.  So the comments that I protested because I wanted second are just not true.  

 

"Matt,  I am sorry about the final decision.  You are a hell of a race car driver and your team built a dominating car.  It makes me and my team want to work that much harder to compete next year.  I hope we will have another opportunity to race against each other in the near future."

 

If anybody else has any comments please send them over.

[Bench Racer]

ancient piece of crap

James, this crap ^ is not required. I've enjoyed watching Downey (son and father), Ira (Two friends) and Reynolds (son and father) during all their runs at Road America.

[suck fumes]

The reason Matt's front bumper had a puncture was because the lead car had NO rear bumper cover. If there was a rear cover Matt's car would look untouched. Still a pansy protest that resulted in a paper win. Good Job. Must feel proud!

[Danny Steyn]

Aaron Downey, you have my respect. Thank you for your post

 

Anyone who wanders into our own madness here on this forum, to offer up his side of the story, for us to tear apart, is someone with character and backbone. 

 

I am not taking sides on this, I like Matt personally and I like the way he drives and races everyone in Spec Miata including myself, but I do know that the way we race here in Spec Miata is NOT universally loved NOR respected.

 

Everyone to his own.

 

Thanks again for your post.

[Jim Drago]

Aaron Downey, you have my respect. Thank you for your post
 
Anyone who wanders into our own madness here on this forum, to offer up his side of the story, for us to tear apart, is someone with character and backbone. 
 
Thanks again for your post.

Aaron
Been on both sides of these situations, neither is "fun". If the contact was called in, the Stewards were going to speak to Matt regardless. There was no need for you to protest, all that did was insure that Ira would win. With two protests against Matt, both collaborating each others stories, he was done. IMO a fellow Mazda racer and carbotech customer cost both Mazda and Carbotech a National Chmpionship.

You obviously don't know Matt that well, here is my very informed opinion after racing him since 2006. There is no way that Matt hit you or Ira intentionally and certainly not maliciously. Short of my teamates, there is NO ONE in SM that I trust more racing side by side than Matt. I would go two wide in the kink on the outside with Matt on the inside and never blink. He has more than earned my respect through years of racin against me. That is not something you can fake. IMO, He races hard, but very clean. I have hit him, he has hit me, but never anything but unintentional racing contact. Maybe that is just not acceptable in production, never ran there. At the Runoffs, I want everyones best game and will tolerate a few bumps and touches. I expect the competition to be ratcheted up and all to be closer than normal, more aggressive than normal etc. I am not expecting PCA or vintage racing, nor do I want it.

Here is a link of what I feel was probably one of the best races I have ever been in, a loss to Matt at Hallett.

After Matt wins 4-5 National Championships in EP,( and he will) hopefully the prod community will lookat him in the same light as we do here in the SM community. I'm sure he wishes the contact never happened as well. BTW, the same Matt was robbed of a SM podium by two guys passing him completely under the yellow. He didnt protest as that is just not Matt. he wants to achieve on track, not by throwing paper.

I appreciate your post,not many would come into hostile territory like you did
Best of luck next year.
Jim

[Waterboy]

The contact in turn 3 should have been a non issue. After passing him back you pulled back drivers left and got on the brakes immediately in front of him with him having nowhere to go.

The contact on the last lap. Did he misjudge, yup. Did it warrant a protest for a national championship, nope. If he had spun him out sure but he obviously did what he could to not spin him.

[suck fumes]

Matt Reynolds EP People's champion!

[Cnj]

To everyone that has posted on this thread.  This is Aaron Downey the person that protested Matt in the race......
 
 
I have one more comment to make.  After the race I was approached by two separate drivers that made comments about Matt's aggressive driving.  Now I am not looking to stir the pot but if you look at some of the on track issues that I saw and then to be approached by two separate drivers with the same comments.  I'm not sure if there isn't something here.
 
.......
 
If anybody else has any comments please send them over.

Aaron,

Credit to you for coming on a "Matt friendly" site to present your position. Not for me to tell you that your perception of the events should be different. I was not there and apparently the stewards agreed with your position. However - as others have - I'm going to step into the breach and speak to Matts driving style and character so that we can put to bed some idea that Matt is a rogue driver. Simply not true.

I have raced with Matt for 6-7 years in probably over 50 races. Annoyingly he is faster than me, however I have qualified and raced enough near him to see how he drives. He is incredibly calm, consistent and controlled both off and on track. In a closely contested class (SM) of almost identical cars, things can get tight. Matt is absolutely one of the coolest and most controlled drivers in the class, I never worry when he is near me.

CNJ

[Jim Daniels - FIG]

Look, I had 28s in the car and was pacing Matt......  Had the shifter not broke with 2.5 laps to go (I was up 16 seconds cruising in the 29s and leading, TV did not show that) none of this would be news, trust me......  That said, I had less contact in 2004 and they pushed me back to P2.  Its the Runoffs.  Matt, Arron, Ira, all the top guys are good folks and this was just racing.... 

[Jim Daniels - FIG]

Aaron,

Credit to you for coming on a "Matt friendly" site to present your position. Not for me to tell you that your perception of the events should be different. I was not there and apparently the stewards agreed with your position. However - as others have - I'm going to step into the breach and speak to Matts driving style and character so that we can put to bed some idea that Matt is a rogue driver. Simply not true.

I have raced with Matt for 6-7 years in probably over 50 races. Annoyingly he is faster than me, however I have qualified and raced enough near him to see how he drives. He is incredibly calm, consistent and controlled both off and on track. In a closely contested class (SM) of almost identical cars, things can get tight. Matt is absolutely one of the coolest and most controlled drivers in the class, I never worry when he is near me.

CNJ

Matt is a good dude, bud even.... but your rendition is not the same across all SMers or EPers.....  at the end of the day the 260 Nissan cost Mazda an EP win (and a $60 u-joint on my car) and not Arron.  Um, I was sort of there albeit my video was corrupt    

[jwr]

 

James, this crap ^ is not required. I've enjoyed watching Downey (son and father), Ira (Two friends) and Reynolds (son and father) during all their runs at Road America.

 

I own new and old cars. 1972-1978 technology, especially brakes, is old crap. And dangerous crap at that.

James

[GMIV]

Gentlemen,

 

My name is Guy Marvin. I was the entrant on the 260z involved. I filed the protest and would like to address some incorrect and incomplete information contained in this post. First let me say, I agree Matt wheeled and incredible race and his consistent lap times under the track record are a testament to both his ability and Jesse's awesome prep work. I think everyone should be impressed with the performance. I beleive the Miata is the car to have. Greg and I considered buying the car from Terry Jesk prior to Matt acquiring it. We realize some of these older cars are getting long in the tooth and change is upon us, but as racers you guys know it is not easy to cast asside a competative car to start developing something different. Having prepped the Datsun myself, I can assure you it was prepped as well as any car in the field.

 

The differences between a spec class and a production classes has created an incorrect bias amoung some of the folks on this board. In spec classes it the SCCA's comp board is tasked with creating rule for a single or very limited number of different vehicle types to insure parity. Whereas in production racing they are tasked with creating parity over many different vehicles with many different configurations of the same car. For example we chose to run a 2.6 engine this year and took 100 additional pounds of balast for doing so.  Most production cars run lightened bodywork, including carbon fiber and fiberglass.  As such, contact usually causes substantial damage and is therefore frowned upon by all production racers.

 

This is the first time Greg and I have been called an old men in the context of what we bring to the track.  I can just say we don't feel as if it is time for us to retreat to the wine and cheese affairs hosted by vintage guys.  Greg and I began racing go carts straight out of college, towing our carts around in a homemade trailer, behind a 67 VW. Greg progressed through FV, then ITS (in the competative days) and finally through the EP ranks. In every class we have enjoyed wheel to wheel racing and been champions. Greg is a Kimberly Cup recipient.  We would love for you guys to come production car racing with us in SEDIV and keep us honest.

 

In the race there is no denying Matt's superiority and he would have won in a cakewalk had he and Daniel's races according to their plan. Then again that is why races are run and sometimes an underdog finds himself with an opportunity to win, such as we did last Sunday. I am not sure about Jim Drago's (another excellent driver) report from inpound. The fact is in addition to Downey,Kevin Leigh and Rick Kavitsky also reported contact. The contact in 8 was unfortunate, but was much harder than it appears on the feed.  In car video and a solid steel tow hook crushed flat against our rear valance attest to this.  As I stated earlier Production cars generally go about making their lap times in different manners. In this instance the Miata handles and stops slightly better and our old battle wagon gets off of the corners better and carries perhaps a little better top end.  Prior to my protest, Greg and I carefully considered the outcome had we led exiting the carousel and judged our top end and ability to climb the hill to the flag probably would have permitted us to hange on.

 

I met with two driver advocates following the race.  They informed me there was already a RFA initiated by the cheif steward and advised both me and Downey to protest so we would have standing should we disagree with the outcome of the RFA. The stewards then decided to hear protests first. They made their decision and informed Matt.  He then had the opportunity to appeal. I am not sure if he appealed Downey's protest, but he did not appeal ours.  I suspect the stewards were prepared to address the RFA and encouraged him to drop it.  Matt clearly had the best race and was caught out in oil.  We wish the outcome was the result of a straight race and had not come to this, but these old men with an old car were there to win as well.  I am sure Matt will win many championships and wish him well.

[Danny Steyn]

Guy

 

thanks for posting this. There are always at least two sides to every story, and hearing all sides helps all of us make more informed opinions of what happened. Thanks to both you and Aaron posting here

[DrDomm]

I don't know anyone involved in that race, but watched it again today.  I saw some contact from Matt on the opening lap, and again on the last.  None of it looked intentional, and it didn't cause anyone to suffer significant damage.

 

The best car/driver combination on September 22, 2013 at Road America crossed the finish line first...that's the important part.  It's understandable to be upset to lose on the last lap after there was contact.  But the "official results" don't change who won that race. 

 

I'm sure everyone involved is a great person, and has a wonderful story.  It doesn't change the fact that the winner didn't keep the medal.  Sad.

[chris haldeman]

Drdomm this is the best post you have made!!!the Nissan was losing and he knew it. Went too deep and got in the way!! Some are saying Matt caused contact all I see is guys blocking and blowing corners in a futile effort too hold back the fastest and best racer in the class!! I try my best too not get involved in forum talk but it is clear some people have a guilty conscience for how they finished!! Contact happens most is caused by the lead car doing something stupid. 2013 will always be the year of the paper champ. Truely sad

[Waterboy]

Look, I had 28s in the car and was pacing Matt......  Had the shifter not broke with 2.5 laps to go (I was up 16 seconds cruising in the 29s and leading, TV did not show that) none of this would be news, trust me......

 
And had Matt not spun in someone else's oil none of this would be news either. What's the point?

Matt was 2 seconds or more per lap faster than anyone, you included. He probably would not have caught you after his spin, but you broke (that's racing) and he did, then had the win taken away on a weenie protest.

The title of the thread is "Matt Reynolds EP drive of the week", which it was, not "I am Jim Daniels the fastest racer that ever walked the face of the earth".

No disrespect meant.

Thanks DD

[Bench Racer]

   

I own new and old cars. 1972-1978 technology, especially brakes, is old crap. And dangerous crap at that.

James

Being I'm not a texter, I don'thave a clue what,   means, help.
 
Being that you spend time on the prodracing site and you believe the older technology is crap post your above statement there and defend your a$$.
 

I would have put a little smiley face but for some reason they were not working.

 
 At the top left of the tool bar, there is a square item that looks like a toggle switch, click it and the imoticons light up and work.

 

[Ron Alan]

 

 
 At the top left of the tool bar, there is a square item that looks like a toggle switch, click it and the imoticons light up and work.

 

They dont work on my ipad for whatever reason 

[Jim Daniels - FIG]

There are a ton "if i would not haves..." in this race.  I wrote the witness report FOR Matt, he knows my support and Arron knows my position on that.  While leading we all went off BTW, not just Matt.  It was a crazy race.  I jumped the hill out of T9 going four off drivers left to give him the lead back.  Do you know what "pacing" means?  EP / GT racing at the front in the Runoffs (unlike a spec class) is about not only winning but keeping the lead trophy at bay for the nest year.  Thanks for the lesson on what a thread topic means lol.....     

[Jim Drago]

While in tech, I overheard one of the drivers.. Not sure which one he was say " Matt thinks he is going to take that Spec Miata $#% into prodcution and it aint going to happen.  I had all I could do not to say what?

After reading Guys post, I feel I need to clarify my post.

I did not mean to imply that either Greg or Aaron was the driver that I was referring to in my post. I said "driver" as the perosn in question was in a drivers suit, but i can see that could be interpretted in many different ways. At the time, I could not point out Greg Ira or Aaron Downey in a crowd of three people. I have since watched the broadcast, seen the interviews and can confirm that is was neither Greg or Aaron.

I also appreciate Aaron and Guy coming in here and giving their side of the story knowing full well they would change very few opinions.
Jim