August RA Smack Talk

#81

chumpy36 wrote:

[quote]Ranger wrote:

[quote]Lol, good one Steve.

But back to Miata bashing…how many Miata’s in the SE have been taken out by E30’s?

I had a Miata pull a bonehead pass on me at the entrance to the S curves Saturday but I’d read his mind and was ready for it. I went wide and lifted to get him by in a hurry. If I had held my line I’d a been punted as I went for the apex. Doesn’t that sound familiar.

That’s when I noted that Miata’s aren’t required to put numbers on visible from the rear. That way all we can report is that “it was red”. I mentioned that to Jason the Miata director and his response was “sorry, but that’s what the CCR says”. What, like their CCR is no longer updated every year because it’s reached perfection?[/quote]

Actually, that’s not what I said. I said that the CCR has the requirements for numbers for ALL cars, not just miatas. You can read this in 18.1.1.

What I SAID was, I have no problem putting that in the rules for the SM class (since I write them on a national level for SM) but that I could not force anyone to put them on as they are not required by the CCR.

In addition, I didn’t appreciate how you brought your suggestion up and your implications. I don’t respond well to that stuff and diplomacy and polite behavior will go a long way to helping you get what you want.

Jason Holland[/quote]

Shit. My long and well thought out response got hosed up. What’s with the website lately? It seems to time out while you are writing so when you hit Submit the post is lost and you’re logged out.

Jason, it was not my intent to annoy you nor misquote you. And since I clearly did annoy you, I apologize. But maybe I’m not understanding your response. You say that you “can’t” require SM’s to put rear visible #'s on because you don’t write the CCR. I maintain that you can require it because you write the SM rules. Heck, even if you were only the Regional SM director, you could require it in the region if you wanted to.

Re. diplomacy and polite behavior. I display tremendous diplomacy and polite behavior when I’m on the track. I work to get SMs by and I often will feather the throttle to avoid passing one on a straight if I figure he’s over-all faster then me. All I’m asking is for Miatas to cease sticking their nose 12" in with no prayer of making the pass unless I give way instead of punting myself.

I agree that we need to focus on the couple of hardheads that cause problems. And maybe #s visible in the rear will help with that a bit. Broadbrush disparaging remarks just work people up.

In fairness I note that there’s SE30s that have funny ideas about a # visible from the rear.

#82

I meant being passed in a competive sense, not just being passed by. I’m sure no expert. It looked to me like he dropped to the outside in turn 4 to give room (they were 3 wide at that point), and got hit when the two Miata’s got all over each other on the inside of the turn, like you said.

Jon was sort of an innocent bystander in my opinion (and his if I remember).

I can’t even remember how many wrecks there were in turns 3-5 that weekend (season opener at CMP). I remember none of the directors were real happy and chastised everyone for over agressive driving at early parts of the race.

#83

Copy your longer posts before you submit them so if it times out, you can just hit reply again and paste 'em in.

#84

IndyJim wrote:

[quote]Jason - thanks for taking the time. I know you and Chuck do your best to herd both of these groups of characters and it is appreciated.
[/quote]

Ditto.

IndyJim wrote:

The ones that get big press seem to be inter-class bent metal.

[SOAPBOX ON]
When it is E30 on SE30 (e.g. Jones/Moses at CMP, Taylor/Canterbury at CMP, Levie/Haynie at Barber) there is enough communication and familiarity that the two involved DON’T walk away thinking that the other guy is a d-bag like all the other d-bags in the _____ class.

Take CMP for example. Canterbury thought I spun him, which put him in CHuck’s path. After the race, I went over and found him, showed him the video from my car and we agreed that he was already in a big slide when I tapped him (and thanks to the foot cam you could see how much I tried to brake to avoid him).

Maybe I am naive, but I think combined SE30/SM driver’s meetings will help. Maybe we need to have rookies and out-of-region guys recognized at those meetings.

But as I said in another thread - RUN VIDEO. I got a check from the 944 driver at CMP because my video showed clearly how the incident developed and whose fault it was. Best investment I ever made (other than HANS and helmet).

[SOAPBOX OFF]

I think that a lot of Miata drivers are caught out by how well SE30s can brake compared to how they corner (especially with rookies in ABS cars). You follow one of our wallowing sedans around a couple corners and think “I’ll just pop our in the braking zone and slip by” then realize that despite a 3-400 lb weight penalty on the same contact patch, we’re pretty close.

Steve D.

PS - I have no defense for Robinson’s jab. But the next time I beat him AND his car is actually running ont he last lap? Then the hairdresser jokes come back to haunt him.:laugh:

#85

ctbimmer wrote:

[quote]zul8r wrote:

[quote]contact is gonna happen unfortunately, especially when you have alot of cars in class runnin similar times like spec miata and e30’s.

if your getting hit from behind maybe theres a reason…[/quote]
Shane, you might want to back away slowly from your position. Your perspectives are unsporting, unhelpful, and incorrect by the rules.

Let’s review one section of track over the past 12 months: Turn 3 thru the esses at Road Atl.

Aug 2008: Miata clipped a SpecE30 in the esses. Basically identical situation to this weekend’s. Carnage: Destroyed E30 and destroyed 944.

Enduro Aug 2009: Miata punted a SpecE30 in T3, then t-boned for good measure. Oh yeah, the driver AFAIK hasn’t come forward to talk man-to-man to Robinson nor reported himself to NASA.

Aug 2009 the Levie accident. Scratch another SpecE30

These aren’t silly little love taps. These are destroying cars, costing the owners thousands of $ to get back in the game, and judging by the damage to Levie’s car, he is extremely fortunate to have hit the wall from the rear, and not a side impact. This stuff is not a game, and someone is going to get hurt.[/quote]

:unsure: ok…

heres my last race, enjoy! view from the thunder side

http://www.vimeo.com/5793302

#86

Jason, I have alot of respect for you and I trust you implicitly on the track. I also agree that blanket statements/accustations of wrong doing will do nothing but to further allienate our groups. I hope to avoid this at all cost.

The race John references was a freakin crash fest. There were three SM’s bouncing off each other at every turn. Looking in the mirror as they approached me coming out of 8, I literally backed out of the throttle and pulled over the the side of the track to avoid them. They were outright red mist crazy.

#87

Steve D wrote:

[quote]IndyJim wrote:

[quote]
PS - I have no defense for Robinson’s jab. But the next time I beat him AND his car is actually running ont he last lap? Then the hairdresser jokes come back to haunt him.:laugh:[/quote]

I’ll just say you were cheating, which you probably still are just not good enough yet.

#88

You better put one of them winkey things on there so as not to piss him off. :wink:

#89

Ranger wrote:

[quote]chumpy36 wrote:

[quote]Ranger wrote:

[quote]Lol, good one Steve.

But back to Miata bashing…how many Miata’s in the SE have been taken out by E30’s?

I had a Miata pull a bonehead pass on me at the entrance to the S curves Saturday but I’d read his mind and was ready for it. I went wide and lifted to get him by in a hurry. If I had held my line I’d a been punted as I went for the apex. Doesn’t that sound familiar.

That’s when I noted that Miata’s aren’t required to put numbers on visible from the rear. That way all we can report is that “it was red”. I mentioned that to Jason the Miata director and his response was “sorry, but that’s what the CCR says”. What, like their CCR is no longer updated every year because it’s reached perfection?[/quote]

Actually, that’s not what I said. I said that the CCR has the requirements for numbers for ALL cars, not just miatas. You can read this in 18.1.1.

What I SAID was, I have no problem putting that in the rules for the SM class (since I write them on a national level for SM) but that I could not force anyone to put them on as they are not required by the CCR.

In addition, I didn’t appreciate how you brought your suggestion up and your implications. I don’t respond well to that stuff and diplomacy and polite behavior will go a long way to helping you get what you want.

Jason Holland[/quote]

Shit. My long and well thought out response got hosed up. What’s with the website lately? It seems to time out while you are writing so when you hit Submit the post is lost and you’re logged out.

Jason, it was not my intent to annoy you nor misquote you. And since I clearly did annoy you, I apologize. But maybe I’m not understanding your response. You say that you “can’t” require SM’s to put rear visible #'s on because you don’t write the CCR. I maintain that you can require it because you write the SM rules. Heck, even if you were only the Regional SM director, you could require it in the region if you wanted to.

Re. diplomacy and polite behavior. I display tremendous diplomacy and polite behavior when I’m on the track. I work to get SMs by and I often will feather the throttle to avoid passing one on a straight if I figure he’s over-all faster then me. All I’m asking is for Miatas to cease sticking their nose 12" in with no prayer of making the pass unless I give way instead of punting myself.

I agree that we need to focus on the couple of hardheads that cause problems. And maybe #s visible in the rear will help with that a bit. Broadbrush disparaging remarks just work people up.

In fairness I note that there’s SE30s that have funny ideas about a # visible from the rear.[/quote]

Thank you for the apology I think there may have been some miscommunication then and it may be continuing.
My point in the driver’s meeting is that I couldn’t make people put on numbers that weekend because I had no authority to do so. It either has to be in the CCR (which I don’t write) or the SM/SSM rules (which I do write). But it was in neither so not possible to do presently. While we have broad latitude when coming to lots of things, series directors can’t just make rules up on the spot.

I did try (and maybe failed by the looks of your post here earlier) to let you know that I have no issue with your suggestion and even think it’s a good one. I will incorporate it into the rules when I get a chance.

My reference to diplomacy and politeness was in regard to your demeanor at the meeting not your ontrack behavior (I have no idea of that, I assume everyone is innocent until proven stupid). I felt you were pretty confrontational but maybe I misread you. If so, I apologize as well.

Jason

#90

Gasman wrote:

[quote]Jason, I have alot of respect for you and I trust you implicitly on the track. I also agree that blanket statements/accustations of wrong doing will do nothing but to further allienate our groups. I hope to avoid this at all cost.

The race John references was a freakin crash fest. There were three SM’s bouncing off each other at every turn. Looking in the mirror as they approached me coming out of 8, I literally backed out of the throttle and pulled over the the side of the track to avoid them. They were outright red mist crazy.[/quote]

I know of the situation you speak. Unfortunately I was not able to attend that event and apply the brakes like I usually do.

Jason

#91

chumpy36 wrote:

[quote]
My reference to diplomacy and politeness was in regard to your demeanor at the meeting not your ontrack behavior (I have no idea of that, I assume everyone is innocent until proven stupid). I felt you were pretty confrontational but maybe I misread you. If so, I apologize as well.
Jason[/quote]

I was pissed in a resigned “here we go again” sort of way. But it was at some red SM that almost punted me at the entrance to the S curves, but I couldn’t figure out later who it was because there were several red SMs.

But when I brought the numbering issue suggestion to you, I thought that I hid that frustration behind my normal happy-go-lucky demeanor. Not a hard thing to do since you are the solution guy, not the problem guy. And I must have chosen my words poorly if I seemed to be hoping for immediate action. So I apologize for being annoying during our conversation.

#92

chumpy36 wrote:

[quote]Gasman wrote:

[quote]Jason, I have alot of respect for you and I trust you implicitly on the track. I also agree that blanket statements/accustations of wrong doing will do nothing but to further allienate our groups. I hope to avoid this at all cost.

The race John references was a freakin crash fest. There were three SM’s bouncing off each other at every turn. Looking in the mirror as they approached me coming out of 8, I literally backed out of the throttle and pulled over the the side of the track to avoid them. They were outright red mist crazy.[/quote]

I know of the situation you speak. Unfortunately I was not able to attend that event and apply the brakes like I usually do.

Jason[/quote]

You shouldn’t need to be, that is why we have NASA CCR’s.

#93

Ranger wrote:

[quote]chumpy36 wrote:

[quote]
My reference to diplomacy and politeness was in regard to your demeanor at the meeting not your ontrack behavior (I have no idea of that, I assume everyone is innocent until proven stupid). I felt you were pretty confrontational but maybe I misread you. If so, I apologize as well.
Jason[/quote]

I was pissed in a resigned “here we go again” sort of way. But it was at some red SM that almost punted me at the entrance to the S curves, but I couldn’t figure out later who it was because there were several red SMs.

But when I brought the numbering issue suggestion to you, I thought that I hid that frustration behind my normal happy-go-lucky demeanor. Not a hard thing to do since you are the solution guy, not the problem guy. And I must have chosen my words poorly if I seemed to be hoping for immediate action. So I apologize for being annoying during our conversation.[/quote]

No sweat.

By the way, for those that don’t know, I am no longer in my normal yellow SM. I’m running SSM now in a red miata (no, I don’t think it was me Scott! :slight_smile:

So if you want to come find me, I’m #28 Red (It says “Ask me about SSM” on the back of my car). I welcome any input as long as it’s constructive. I hate getting yelled at.

:slight_smile:

J

#94

Gasman wrote:

[quote]chumpy36 wrote:

[quote]Gasman wrote:

[quote]Jason, I have alot of respect for you and I trust you implicitly on the track. I also agree that blanket statements/accustations of wrong doing will do nothing but to further allienate our groups. I hope to avoid this at all cost.

The race John references was a freakin crash fest. There were three SM’s bouncing off each other at every turn. Looking in the mirror as they approached me coming out of 8, I literally backed out of the throttle and pulled over the the side of the track to avoid them. They were outright red mist crazy.[/quote]

I know of the situation you speak. Unfortunately I was not able to attend that event and apply the brakes like I usually do.

Jason[/quote]

You shouldn’t need to be, that is why we have NASA CCR’s.[/quote]

I wish it were that simple…

#95

anyone need any cheese with there wine :laugh:

#96

Steve D wrote:

[quote]FARTBREF wrote:

[quote]Damn, one time a Spec Miata guy stole my woman! talk about sucking…

Al[/quote]

Here she is. I’ll mail her back in the morning.

[/quote]

Ahh…reminds me of a story…one time way back, I was running a prelim race at a grand am weekend. I was pulling into a very crowded paddock about 2am with my big rig, there is security everywhere and at one gate they want to see my credentials, the guy hands them back to me and then asks to see my companion’s. I tell him that she is Annie the CPR doll and she doesn’t need credentials, he shines his light up into the cab and say’s he’s been out there too long. I am sure there was a lot of radio chatter about that one.

Al

#97

87isMan wrote:

That is funny as shit.

Al
owner of 5 miata’s…

#98

87isMan wrote:

Hey, I’ve got a buddy in Chemistry. He’s the one who found out that pickles will glow if you run 120 volts through them (true story!) But I’m not sure how that would help here. :silly:

#99

Fred42 wrote:

[quote]
Hey, I’ve got a buddy in Chemistry. He’s the one who found out that pickles will glow if you run 120 volts through them (true story!) :silly:[/quote]

Government grant?

#100

Fred42 wrote:

Maybe he can make e30s glow when miatas get too close to them???