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the Type R squabble

To: autox@autox.team.net
Subject: the Type R squabble
From: John Eagan <johneagan@toltbbs.com>
Date: Sun, 07 Feb 1999 11:22:33 -0800
What, this again? Cabin fever must be setting in.

The term "stock" in its literal, normal, usage means "as made by the
manufacturer". (not counting absurdities like the concept of "stock
cars"  as tubeframe racecars that are sort of shaped like family
sedans). If a car manufacturer builds it and sells it to the public, and
you don't modify it, it's stock. In solo2 rules it should go in a stock
class. Squawk and squabble and whine and moan about which class if you
want, but it's a stock category car. The evaluation of performance level
is not relevant to the issue of placing it in a category. We're not
talking about a third party aftermarket shop "tuner car" like a RUF
Porsche or Saleen Mustang. Acura made it and sold it through their
dealers to whoever coughed up the money.

I couldn't say it better than Mr. Sipe:
> If you don't believe you have the car to win then go
> get it.  If that's not within your means then do your best with what you have
> and be proud of what you can accomplish.  I stand by my selection of the word
> "whining"; there's too many whining excuse makers in this sport.
> 
> M Sipe

I've said the following before, but I'll repeat it in this context. I
drive a 70hp funky old Sentra XE on cheap street tires in HS. I'm the
TLS poster boy. This past year for about half the season I had the
experience of being completely trounced by a four time national champion
(and current champ). He has what is apparently the best car for the
class and drives it extremely well. He's way ahead of me. 

I don't bitch and moan and campaign to move everything out of HS except
underpowered wobbleboxes. I show up, drive my best, and see what
happens. I don't actually do all that badly considering what I drive,
and I'm sure I have a more healthy attitude about this silly little
sport, and have a lot more fun, than a few of you guys. 

If you're A Serious Competitor, great. Hats off to you. Just shut up and
go get the equipment that's best for the job and learn how to get its
maximum. If that's too expensive or too much trouble, then maybe you're
not as Serious as you thought you were, and should just go out and do
your best and be happy if you get 100% out of yourself and the car, and
applaud and respect the people who have gotten it together well enough
to beat everybody else. Er, wait. Mark already said that.

JLE


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