Hmmm, sounds like he has enough experience to determine "motive"... The
thing you must remember about this, as mentioned in several of the previous
messages, is that we are talking about HSR, an organization that has a
separate race for early "two-litre" Porsches that are permitted to run full
carbon fiber bodywork. The Predator, as described earlier, is another
carbon-fiber bodied car with selected running gear and wheels wider that
ever ran on any E-type you've seen. There are "brand new" Chevron B-16(s)
running which are stronger, lighter and way more advanced than the "real"
ones. The cut-off year is somewhere in the late 90's... HSR has always
been a "run what you brung" organization and has been successful in that
effort - more power to them! So it makes no sense to me why suddenly they
would be rejecting cars, at the track, because they didn't have the "right"
tires. (They have classes for cars running race slicks as well as treaded
tires so there should be a group to move them to if this was really an
issue...) I think what we're dealing with here is a problem with the
individual official - or at least his demeaner. I certainly don't
understand
why a car with verifiable history would be barred from competing in future
events. BTW, I am a Porsche driver myself and hold no grudge against
the marque - we just happen to have a lot of drivers interested in racing!
The suggestions we've received from our brothers "abroad" about appealing to
the SOMs, etc. are unaware of the dictatorial nature of HSR events and,
while good advice at events run by SCCA and some of the other Vintage
organizers, do not apply in this case. I would hope that someone from HSR
is monitoring this thread and takes the comments/opinions expressed back to
their organization for review and further consideration. HSR puts on good
events but attitudes like this can spoil it for a lot of people. If they
are taking that tempting path toward catering only to the "semi-tractor
trailer" crowd then I wish them well. If you want to race at some of the
"big name" events like this weekend's 12 hours of Sebring then you have to
take your chances; if you just want to race at some of the same tracks with
others who enjoy racing in the same spirit then there are other
alternatives...
*8o)
website: http://www.netcom.com./~nobozos/
----- Original Message -----
From: "Hugh Barber" <tr6nut@sbcglobal.net>
To: "Derek" <dereklola@yahoo.com>; <vintage-race@autox.team.net>
Sent: Thursday, March 13, 2003 1:01 AM
Subject: RE: Question on HSR
> Derek,
>
> You see, I have this thing called a "job". They really frown on me if I
> spend their time screwing around on the internet email lists during the
day.
> Therefore, I generally have to wait until I get home and the kids are in
> bed, etc before I get online to check my email. Additionally, if you
really
> read the original post, you would know that I live in CALIFORNIA. So, if
> you live on the east coast, you're probably in bed by the time I read my
> mail. I answered your questions pretty much point-by-point in a previous
> email. Oh, and by the way, I'm not some babe in the woods when it comes
to
> racing. I have been going to races since I was 5, crewing and working
since
> I was 12 (I remember when Paul Newman was running regionals in a B Sedan
> Datsun 510 that his wife gave him as a birthday present). I'm 45 now, so
> you can do the math. I don't have any problem with legitimate re-checking
> of safety items. I raced AMA Superbikes as a privateer in the 80's, stuff
> was re-checked (for legitimate reasons) all the time. But I'm also old
> enough to know when a race official is just looking for a reason not to
let
> me race and is f**king with me. Like you, I'd love to hear the Comp
> Director's side of the story, but I'v never seen him on this list. You
see,
> he runs a successful business preparing Porsches to race in HSR (gee, can
> anyone say "conflict of interest") and is a somewhat successful semi-pro
> driver himself, so he's probably much too busy to deal with us mere
mortals.
>
> Hugh Barber
> Hollister, California
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: owner-vintage-race@autox.team.net
> [mailto:owner-vintage-race@autox.team.net]On Behalf Of Derek
> Sent: Wednesday, March 12, 2003 8:48 PM
> To: vintage-race@autox.team.net
> Subject: Re: Question on HSR
>
>
> And so the debate goes on.
>
> We've had one guy make a complaint to the wide, wide world
> (AKA this forum) that he and his father were "dumped on".
> It may or may not be legitimate. We don't know the other
> side of the story. We don't know if he complained to HSR.
> In fact we don't really know very much at all but we seem
> to want to support him.
>
> Have you noticed the complainer isn't joining in?
>
> I suggest we cease even thinking about the whole thing
> until he does - or until we know what really happened.
>
> If they really were dumped on I sympathize with them. If
> he, the son, is simply an unjustified whiner then I
> sympathize with HSR for the crap we've dumped on them the
> last few days. Even if you don't like HSR for other reasons
> there has been nothing in this debate that has justified
> such rancour.
>
> Sort of like party politics - doesn't matter what the
> subject is just vote the party line - that way you don't
> have to think.
>
> Rant over.
/// unsubscribe/change address requests to majordomo@autox.team.net or try
/// http://www.team.net/mailman/listinfo
/// Archives at http://www.team.net/archive/vintage-race
|