Amici...
Starting in the mid-1980s, we used to run the SVRA's Mid-Ohio vintage event
every summer. But we too pulled that plug at one point. For one thing the old
Buck's watering hole had burned down, and the concrete block replacement just
didn't cut it. But a bigger issue was the way the track began treating racers
with early arrival access and in the competition paddock. Mid-Ohio is a
fantastic track, especially for our cars, but Mid-Ohio's new management style
had begun put a damper on things. The way I understand it is that the radical
change occurred when Jim and Barbara Trueman's daughter took over the
management. I suspect her CPAs had encouraged her to tighten things up, which
she did in spades. When Jim Trueman was running things, and wife Barbara too
for that matter, things were much different. Recall at one SVRA meet the
temperature went through the roof, and set all kinds of records. Mid-Ohio
towed trailers through the competition paddock passing out free bags of ice.
Recall at the big 1992 Triumph featured event, Mid-Ohio was caught off guard
when thousands of street Triumphs showed up, and they all stayed for the track
party on Saturday night. It was only beans and hot dogs, but Mid-Ohio made
sure that there was plenty for everyone. Not only that, but when the waiting
line to get into the dinner tent strung out more then a block or so long, they
drove up and down that line and passed out free cold beer. That's the way Jim
and later Barbara ran things. After all, Jim Trueman was a successful business
man (Red Roof Inns), and this was more his hobby than a necessary profit
center. So when the daughter took over and decided it was time to tighten
things up, it was shock to many race teams, and they said, "No thank you." The
reaction to this attitude had serious impact on the business. I understand the
straw that broke the camel's back was when CART in general, and Bobby Rahall in
particular, were given trouble one week end. Bobby was always the favored son
at Mid-Ohio, but they would not let him bring his Ferrari (street car) down to
the competition paddock. The 'Fit hit the Shan'. "We're not coming back!"
The daughter, whose name escapes me right now, got the message and contacted
other tracks, like Road America, Lime Rock, etc., for advice. They had heard
all the bad talk and rumors. They told her what she was doing wrong. She got
the message, and changed her style. A year or so later VSCDA started running a
Fall Finale event there every year. They had no serious trouble whatsoever.
Mid-Ohio was glad to see us, and we were sure glad to be there.
I think Mike Jackson's take that his Tech problems is correct. They were a
SVRA issue. They had not schooled their Tech Inspector's on what constitutes
vintage tech. It was not a Mid-Ohio track issue.
Bill Dentinger
On Mon, Mar 20, 2017 at 3:32 PM, Bill Babcock via Fot <fot at autox.team.net>
wrote:
Oh great, you?ve furthered my aversion to Mid Ohio. I had one of the standard
fascist security schmuck experiences years ago, went and talked to management
who offered to have me arrested. Wasn?t interested in returning. Heard
everything was better. I think there are are plenty of other tracks and other
events. I know this was probably more of an SVRA issue than a Mid Ohio issue,
but still... Besides, if I went there and everything wasn?t peachy I?d hate
myself .
Bill
> On Mar 19, 2017, at 5:53 PM, Mike Jackson via Fot <fot at autox.team.net>
> wrote:
>
> Last year we went to mid Ohio for the first time in nearly a decade, SVRA
> had hired some local tech guys. Probably SCCA. They did not understand
> vintage cars and there did not seem to be any mgmt guidance. After nearly 30
> min of arguing and further dismantling of my car to try and satisfy him, I
> was about ready to load up and leave. Seriously. Just before I did so, some
> one showed up, did not introduce himself but said I could go. I didn't
> bother to ask for anyone to sign my logbook, just took my sticker and went
> back to the good old Triumph tree in the grass paddock. I miss those days
> with Dentinger, Wismer, Karen, Russ Moore and all the rest of the huge crowd
> of TRs that used to go.
>
> Mike Jackson
>
-------------- next part --------------
An HTML attachment was scrubbed...
URL:
<http://autox.team.net/pipermail/fot/attachments/20170321/055a3c49/attachment.html>
|