183 replies to this topic

[trimless]

This was my 7th NASA Chanpionship event. I think this was most enjoyable for a variety of reasons. Great hospitality from the Florida guys and gals. Hell, Mark Gibons even let me twist his tits for good luck.

Unfortunately my bad luck at these events continues and started at the back for the big race past three years. Thanks to x-factor and Gashead crew for putting my car back together this weekend. Thought my weekend was over after that mess from Saturdays race start.

Big congratulations to Michael, Selin and Trevor for your well earned finish. Texas was well represented this weekend!

[tferranti]

Huge congrats to Ross, Trevor and the X-Factor team!  Glad to see they are rolling free!  Most importantly, glad to see everyone make it out of the big wreck ok!

[Danica Davison]

This was my 7th NASA Chanpionship event. I think this was most enjoyable for a variety of reasons. Great hospitality from the Florida guys and gals. Hell, Mark Gibons even let me twist his tits for good luck.

 

You are lucky he didn't offer anything else ... there is nothing he will say no to

[Danica Davison]

Chris H had an interesting interview...in which he made a reference to Toyo stepping up to pay the full contingencies?
28 cars started today...exact same car count as the Western Champs! If in fact the payouts will be as if 30 started(as required for the full contingencies)that will be very cool of Toyo!!

 

In the Sunday Morning Driver's meeting, we were all talking about getting in other drivers to do a start and park to get to 30 cars. That is when the Toyo Manager stepped up and said (paraphrasing here) "With all of the carnage that has gone on, you guys still put on the best show in motorsports, so don't worry about getting to 30 cars ... we will honor it anyways."

 

Even though I still think we got to 30 cars with Papa Selin entering the final race (and unfortunately wrecking) ... it was pretty cool on Toyo to do that for us!!

[Todd Lamb]

That's pretty nice of Toyo.  Congrats to Ross on a great race....it certainly was interesting watching timing and seeing Buras, Haldeman, and #peopleschamp marching through the field. A yellow would have made it one heck of a wild finish. I think NASA is doing the right thing combining the championships again...COTA will be well attended next year.

[LarryKing]

Will Toyo retroactively provide full contingency for the Western Champs too? Just curious.

[Danica Davison]

Will Toyo retroactively provide full contingency for the Western Champs too? Just curious.

 

I think that would be the right thing to do? But I have no idea

[dbrad]

We had 30 in the race. Pretty sure I crossed the starting line as #30. Also 30 cars listed in the official results (not race hero but the NASA championship website).

[Johnny D]

http://timingscoring... Spec Miata.pdf

 

J~

[sentercut]

Congrats to Ross, Selin, and Trevor. When I saw that Ross won i thought that it must have been huge for him personally with all he has gone through in Houston the past couple months, and made me smile. Well done. Following the racing here, FB, and race hero was very entertaining, and appeared as though the racing was intense.  Glad everyone got out of there physically in one piece. Cars can be fixed, repainted etc...

[MPR22]

Wow, where to begin?  I think I have an inkling of what those Oscar winners might feel like when they get called to the stage.  All I can think about is how many people have helped me achieve this amazing goal. 

 

Dad and I got in to this hoping we might be able to race together but a few things kept that from happening.  Although he has been unable to race he has supported me for the last 7 years, sharing my successes and failures.  Hopefully he is as thrilled as I am with our efforts.  Thank you dad.  Mom lets us both go racing and takes care of things when dads away.  Thank you, mom. 

 

December 2009, at driver school this friendly guy starts chatting me up and wants to know what I am driving.  That awesome, green, silver and hot pink Spec Miata.  He smiles and says me too, but mine is blue. Our instructors liked our first session and were bored and told us to go at it and race each other.  We spent the next two days chasing each other around and we have been ever since.  Almost always I am P2.  Chris Haldeman is the best racing buddy you could ever have.  Not because he is an awesome, mechanic, engine builder, car hauler or painter, but because he is always encouraging me to be better.  From that first day to this last weekend he has been there for me.  Thank you, Chris.

 

My wife and kids have been supportive and when I am just too rung out from work and life my wife is always the first to say, why don’t you go racing.  Wish she could have been there for the week but she has responsibilities that keep her from following me around.   As you may know our house flooded in August and our Runoffs were ended by the hurricane.  When we got a plan together on rebuilding the house and we were on the path to recovery, she once again said, why don’t you go racing.  Thank you my love.

 

Thanks to you all for the congratulations and well wishes.  It is sincerely appreciated. 

 

If anyone wants a weekend recap let me know.  I am back to work on the house and playing catch on my other responsibilities so if you want the long version it may be a few days. 

 

If you want the short version, I went to Sebring and won the biggest race of my life, what a thrill  . 

[Todd Lamb]

Hell yeah man we all want the play by play!

[Ron Alan]

Will Toyo retroactively provide full contingency for the Western Champs too? Just curious.

 

I think that would be the right thing to do? But I have no idea

Clearly the Toyo Contingency sheet says 30 starters. It would seem both the East and the West had 28 starters based on official results. If in fact Toyo steps up for the East then no reason they wouldn't extend that to the West correct? Did I see someone also give away tires for the hard charger? I dont remember anything like that on the west coast unless I missed it while in tech? 

[chris haldeman]

East champs had multiple special circumstances. Beyond that we had 30 starters. The hard charger award was made up solely because toyo had heard of the adversity I was dealing with and felt compelled to contribute to me. The guys from toyo are awesome! Add to that the competitors at the east rallied together and funded additional drivers out of our pockets so that we made the cut. I personally contributed 400$ to papi rollan so he would enter solely to make the cut!!! I was refunded by jim Drago and promised 100 from Todd Buras. NASA lowered papi's fees and he quickly refunded me 200$. Did anybody at the west do anything to help there fellow competitors?

[Danica Davison]

East champs had multiple special circumstances. Beyond that we had 30 starters. The hard charger award was made up solely because toyo had heard of the adversity I was dealing with and felt compelled to contribute to me. The guys from toyo are awesome!

 

Chris ... I didn't realize until I watched the broadcast last night that they awarded you the hard charger because of that. I thought it was just whoever got it on race hero/passed more cars. I felt bad after watching your interview on the broadcast and still feel bad now as I know I said "hey ... I passed more cars than you!"  after everyone looked at me saying I won it, after they announced your name. I sincerely apologize and didn't mean to take any credit or steal any spotlight from you at all, as I certainly didn't know the circumstances that happened beforehand in your interview. I thought they just got it wrong, but I didn't know. I am sure that was very difficult to drive as hard as we were together given the pain you might have been in. I could not have moved that far up without you bud, thank you for working with me the whole race to one of the best races of my life! You are a real stand up guy and I couldn't be happier that you were able to get your car back together and keep racing. The Texans are definitely welcome back to Florida any time and hope y'all come back soon!

[Danica Davison]

^And knowing that beforehand ... I would not have said anything. But knowing all that now, the cool part is ... Chris came all the way over to me said "Let's share it" and we went up on podium together for the pictures and everything and then he told me to keep the tires. Just proves what a great guy and friend that Chris is!

[Xav]

What can't be seen from online forums was the comradery and tenacity of what I feel, Spec Miata should be. Each night, teams were together drinking, laughing, and working together for a common goal of supporting each other. It's too easy to forget that we're trying have fun out there but I'd like to think at some point, we all did. I'm proud to have been a part of it all and look forward to COTA in 2018.

[Danica Davison]

What can't be seen from online forums was the comradery and tenacity of what I feel, Spec Miata should be. Each night, teams were together drinking, laughing, and working together for a common goal of supporting each other. It's too easy to forget that we're trying have fun out there but I'd like to think at some point, we all did. I'm proud to have been a part of it all and look forward to COTA in 2018.

 

I had the most fun out of everyone ... especially with the speaker phone 

[Jim Drago]

Hell yeah man we all want the play by play!

+1

[Ron Alan]

East champs had multiple special circumstances. Beyond that we had 30 starters. The hard charger award was made up solely because toyo had heard of the adversity I was dealing with and felt compelled to contribute to me. The guys from toyo are awesome! Add to that the competitors at the east rallied together and funded additional drivers out of our pockets so that we made the cut. I personally contributed 400$ to papi rollan so he would enter solely to make the cut!!! I was refunded by jim Drago and promised 100 from Todd Buras. NASA lowered papi's fees and he quickly refunded me 200$. Did anybody at the west do anything to help there fellow competitors?

Please dont misunderstand my question to TOYO. Not my intention to turn this into an East vs West pissing contest. Their contingency simply states "30 or more starters". It says nothing about entries, who was there, who helped who, or who put up money! 

But for what it's worth, though the West coast doesnt have the "teams" you guys do...there is no lack of help from fellow competitors when someone needs help. Johnny D lost a motor and a whole group of people spent the night putting in a junkyard donor(which also popped before the main race...1 entry gone). Though there was some discussion just prior to the race between myself and a few others...I'm not sure if any of the top competitors actually recognized the difference between 28 vs 30 starters. Certainly after the fact there was discussions but it was to late...which is why I came on here and INFORMED the East coasts guys to make sure you had 30 starters!! Though i'm sure I didn't need to do this it's obvious the situation arose and you guys did what it took to put 30 names on the list. Just curious...did Preston and Mr Rollan do a lap?

 

Bottom line is TOYO made the call and said dont worry about it...we will step up! Toyo is a NASA partner/sponsor...if they are going to make exceptions and step up...I would hope it is for ALL of NASA! Granted, the West coast didnt ball up any cars and competitors weren't smart enough to pony up for the last entries...if TOYO says tough shit so be it. But I would like to see that official!!

 

Not sure why I'm going to bat for the competitors but....