Hello Gents,
I very rarely post here but I think you all need the facts of what transpired this weekend. For over a year, the 2001 + cars have been making huge gains through the field and winding up on every podium in the S.E. I thought is a great thing for the SM series until I was at my home track at Road Atlanta getting passed by a 2001 car on the back straight like it had a turbo in it. Many SM racers started noticing a pattern and they too were getting skunked on straights by people who have never ran up front in their entire careers. This last year has helped make my final decisions after racing these type cars in other tracks. Where there is smoke you will find the fire. I did some investigating, talked to engine builders, asked valid questions, checked track times, track records, input from others and have come to one conclusion. Before I say what it is, I wanted to be clear and totally unbiased in my decision before I made it as they have consequences. One thing everyone wants in this class is fairness, honesty, integrity and for everyone to be on the same playing field with no direct, malice or the absolute intention to cheat. If anyone ever suspected my car to be non compliant, I will be the first to offer them to go through my entire engine and see for themselves that I am indeed following the rules. I don't EVER want anyone thinking that I have cheated in anyway. Every engine builder I have ever used knows that. I Ask only for taking it to the very edge, but never crossing it. I also would not be offended as it is NOT personal. Knock yourself out. That said, there are too many coincidences this year that have returned from last year that could not be left unchallenged. This past Sunday at 12:05 pm, I protested the top qualifying cars that were 2001 VVT cars. I filed the papers, the SCCA staff took the funds and began making arrangements. I specifically asked that the cars be checked for compression and that the cars be checked with the valve covers off. This is the most accurate way to measure compression without CC' them. To be clear, this protest was not directed at the drivers but the engine builders. Initially, all 3 failed but Drago's engine was within the margin of error of .1 or 10.1 was the actual per the Tech Staff. Tilley's were 10.3 and 10.4. I do not know which or who had what. Once these findings were made, the Officials stated that they were going to disqualify the times of Machaven and Topping and allow Burus to keep his times. Then Colum, Balonos and sabastian were protested. So, the top 6 qualifiers were tested. I do not have concrete facts to state what happened there so I will not comment.I only know of my protest and what the results were from it. Later, out of nowhere a reversal of the decision was made. I do not have concrete facts to assume why. They said I could protest their decision and it would go to KS. I have 10 days to protest. So, I went to the Stewards and told them I wanted all of the engines broken down and CC'd. This would clearly show what the actual compression would be. The Chief Steward stated that is was too late to do a mechanical protest. I am not aware who made that decision to allow clearly non compliant cars to race. Needless to say, the SM community was dealt a severe blow in trusting our leaders in the SCCA to do the right thing. Before I digress, I want to say that the local Florida SCCA staff , Chief Stewards, Stewards and other officials involved busted their butts getting the paperwork ready, forgoing lunch and dinner, putting up with grade A Butt holes ( Myself included) and going non stop from 12 to 7 PM. However I have zero faith that SCCA Corporate will do the right thing, follow up or anything else for that matter. So, what do we do as SM racers who want compliance and to right the wrongs we have been dealt? We have to take matters into our own hands and break out the check book. What we have is clear outright NON Compliance of engine building. (In the Marines we call that cheating!) We now have over 20 SM racers with engines who now know that they have cars that are clearly cheated ,are doing nothing about it and refuse to correct it or we have an engine builder (S) that is telling the racers that their engine is within spec KNOWING that person is parsing words and clearly have 2-6 more horse power than other car builders who have integrity and abide by the rules. It is with great reluctance to have to say that This is the most dispicable, spit in you face, screw all the other drivers who comply with the regulations and rules I have ever seen. I understand accidents, one time mistakes, caught one and corrected but his is blatant and will not be tolerated. Are there any SM racers who will stand with me and put this to bed or are you all going to continue talk Smack, hide and do nothing about YOUR sport and YOUR series? Don't count on the SCCA! They just want you to send more money and not ruffle any feathers when we need them the most. Since the SCCA will not do their job and show any leadership, I am accepting donations for the ARRC, RunOFFS and every major event this year and next until we weed out EVERY engine that is not within the rules. I will not release your names but I will be at every race to protest. Last, to be fair, I am going to tear down ALL of them including my own engine. Remember, don't be offended, you should be relieved we are cleaning up this sport and series.If you have this engine, you have been duly warned.
Sign In
Create Account
Back to top
Report
