Help me get started!

#21

ctbimmer wrote:

[quote]vmwerks wrote:

[quote]
Fact is, Mike Mills and Carter Hunt were the guys who got together and created the SpecE30 ruleset and brought in NASA, and there were early competitors like Steve Krshul and others who helped spread the word and show what the cars/series could be.

Plenty of people had a hand in getting NorCal up to critical mass, right?[/quote]

I don’t think Walter was trying to re-write history here as you stated; I don’t see that, where do you? What I think he is saying is that he is instrumental in getting SpecE30 off the ground here on the west coast. I don’t see where anyone would doubt that. Perhaps he was saying this for a new person joining in here to get some background from his point of view.

Mike Mills is on the west coast, and as I understand it with NASA he is the core in its institution and creation along with Carter Hunt. Don’t see any debate there going on here, much to their credit as well. However I have yet to meet Mike Mills or Carter Hunt in the SpecE30 pits at any of our races this year, nor do they show up at every race giving material help to all the racers and drawing more people to build cars and grow it. And not that they need to be either. However I think if people were down on the “streets” per se, that would be seen more; I am sure it isn’t easy from way over on the other coast there where you hail from. I think that’s fair to give Walter and Valley Motorwerks their due. Yeah, I might be biased being a team driver - but anyone can see this.

Obviously since Valley Motorwerks does not own every car in the series, it is EVERYONE’s efforts to make it a successful series. I am reminded every time how good this series is with seeing the dedication of all the owner\drivers who haul in every race and make it happen. I am elated to be a part of this series.

By the way I was not driving then, but I do recall seeing Steve Krshul’s car (now sold) on the rack several times at Walter’s shop. Don’t see why there needs to be DRAMA here; no one is de-throning others and no need for sidebar aggravation.

#22

ctbimmer wrote:

[quote]vmwerks wrote:

Walter, I know you’re a big supporter out there, and have built and supported many of the cars, and deserve a tremendous amount of credit for the growth in NorCal, but hey, please don’t go rewriting history.

Fact is, Mike Mills and Carter Hunt were the guys who got together and created the SpecE30 ruleset and brought in NASA, and there were early competitors like Steve Krshul and others who helped spread the word and show what the cars/series could be.

Plenty of people had a hand in getting NorCal up to critical mass, right?[/quote]

I beg to differ, there was no series before I began pounding the drum and rounding up people to get them interested. I NEVER SAID that I invented SpecE30 those are your words not mine. We all know that Mike and Carter are to blame for that! :wink:
This was their baby and their idea, how can ANYONE dispute that with a straight face?
The series was going nowhere out here. What I did was to pick up the baton when there was no one entering races other than a one off every once in a while. Look at the NASA website and who was entering a SpecE30 in Norcal events. Infineon May 5th and 6th 2007 who was there? We were there by ourselves. June 2007 at Thunderhill who was there? It wasn’t until July 2007 that Steve came out to play. In the meantime we were working in the background to build the series with Donny Edwards as our mentor and lead driver. At Steve’s request Donny Edwards, Steve Krshul, Eric Uhrenholt and Ryan Johnson stopped by the shop to see what I was up to. (all would be SpecE30 guys drug into it by Steve Krshul). Donny called me the day after the meeting and asked if I would work with him to build the series. He saw at that time early in 2007, around February or March what I had committed to both in money and time. I stocked enough parts to build 10 cars complete, up to and including collecting good donor cars and getting them into the hands of guys that needed them. Carl C can attest to the fact that I was beating doors down late in 2006 in an attempt to get the series going. I found a good cage builder, Evil Genius Racing, and had him commit to building cost effective and safe cages. When people building cars got into financial trouble I BOUGHT THEIR cars to keep them in the series. I sold one to a friend of mine who I coaxed into getting his NASA license, he is a long time BMWCCA driver. Gil will be at Thunderhill on the 3rd and 4th.

ctbimmer I did not take offense with your comments, it is obvious you do not know what happens behind the scenes out here. Am I rewriting history? I don’t think so, I do give credit where it is due. Credit is due for the guys that jumped on board and believed that this plane had wings and could fly. Steve Krshul is definately one of them. Steve convinced Eric, Ryan and a few others to give it a shot with him. At the time Steve was the ONLY OTHER CAR out on track in the 2007 season. He also took it upon himslef to become the SpecE30 leader within NASA and helps to promote the series. Steve and I have our differences of opinion and style but we do want the same thing. Once again I have stepped up in money and materials to insure the series success, I want the series to live beyond my involvement, I won’t be around forever. With Steve working to get more sponsors onboard I will be able to take a back seat at some point and DRIVE a car once in a while. For now I enjoy watching the series grow, seeing all the smiles after a race session makes it all worth while.

For once and for all let’s get this behind us and move forward!!!

#23

motormuncher wrote:

[quote]grydemon wrote:

[quote]Age wrote:

[quote]vmwerks wrote:

I am so there…[/quote]

+1

Lets stop the drama…:ohmy:[/quote]
Hay I finally got some credit for what I have done. You start your own drama somewhere else.B)[/quote]

Okay beef jerky for everyone… (old Eddie Murphy reference)

Steve the problem with what it took to get the series off the ground is that all the hard work was done behind the scenes by you, myself and Scott Neville. What irks me is when someone says hey this really popped up overnight. There are no overnight success’s…

When I wrote my response to ctbimmers post I had to think back to the very beginning when you brought Donny, Eric and Ryan by the shop. That was a very crucial meeting and it resulted in a huge acceleration in timeline for the series and I thank you for having the foresight in bringing us all together. As a matter of fact Igor bears some fault, he called me and told me about you and the car you were building.

I want it on record that I deeply appreciate your involvement in the series AND it would not be where it is without you. We have our differences. But we have the series best interest in mind.

#24

vmwerks wrote:

[quote]ctbimmer wrote:

[quote]vmwerks wrote:

Walter, I know you’re a big supporter out there, and have built and supported many of the cars, and deserve a tremendous amount of credit for the growth in NorCal, but hey, please don’t go rewriting history.

Fact is, Mike Mills and Carter Hunt were the guys who got together and created the SpecE30 ruleset and brought in NASA, and there were early competitors like Steve Krshul and others who helped spread the word and show what the cars/series could be.

Plenty of people had a hand in getting NorCal up to critical mass, right?[/quote]

It wasn’t until July 2007 that Steve came out to play. !![/quote]Actually I was the second Spece30 ever to compete in Norcal. Austin Harris drove mike mills car in 06. I first raced in march 07 by myself.
http://norcalspece30.com/news/news_March_07.html

#25

I don’t count someone renting a car and driving around the track… :slight_smile:

On your other point I stand corrected…

#26

vmwerks wrote:

[quote]I don’t count someone renting a car and driving around the track… :slight_smile:
…[/quote]

That sounds like me!

Walter, are any more SpecE30 cars becoming available from your shop?

#27

We’re finishing up one right now… This one may be a bit expensive as the donor car was trashed BADLY, the car is almost entirely new. There is a partially finished car that I know is up for sale. The owner wants too much for it IMO. Email me at walter.ford@vmwerks.com if you’re interested. I also think that Mike Mills has a 318i available.

#28

vmwerks wrote:

Mike Mills 318 showed up at Buttonwillow with a fast driver in it…

#29

The guy’s name is Mackenzie, seemed like a good guy. Talked to his dad, he’s been kart racing for a while and wants to do enduros. He was turning consistent 2:10s in the enduro in a 318. They are local to SoCal, not sure about their plans to go to Thunderhill or Sears, or whether they are even going to run sprints but certainly a talented driver that would be an addition to the series.

#30

Age wrote:

I was wondering who drove the E30 in the enduro. I was part of the pit crew for the blue #44 Spec Focus car. Despite losing our power steering after the 1-hour mark and losing some of our braking toward the end, we came in 5th place (out of 11) in the E2 class. That was a LOT of fun!

#31

I had a long talk with Mackenzie’s father last week. I told him you guys were coming down to play. Mackenzie is an accomplished Kart racer and did some Formula racing in the far east. I had Scott add him to the email list and they might come out to run at Infineon the next time we’re there.

We signed up a few more guys to get cars built so we have at least 3 more cars in the works for the series…

#32

uh60fixer wrote:

[quote]Age wrote:
I was wondering who drove the E30 in the enduro. I was part of the pit crew for the blue #44 Spec Focus car. Despite losing our power steering after the 1-hour mark and losing some of our braking toward the end, we came in 5th place (out of 11) in the E2 class. That was a LOT of fun![/quote]

Mike, didn’t realize you were there. I was crewing for the #98 black E36 in E0 Tim and Dean took 3rd in class and overall, and I’m pretty sure that my ability to clean windows and hold a fire extinguisher was a big enabler. I’ve worked for them in a few enduro races, it’s a lot of fun and you can also learn a lot about enduros and racing in general as there is a lot of time to just talk racing.