I am glad to hear that you were able to explain your side. In our
system, rules interpretation is a challenge at best, and until it gets
better, protests seem to be the only way.
Larry...I greatly respect both persons in this situation, and hope the
"spectators" will be more careful the next time and not define a "bad
guy" so quickly.
Kevin McCormick wrote:
>
> First and foremost let me say that Ms. Kelly drove exceptionally well and is
> to be commended and congratulated for her performance. She has improved
> greatly this year and her 5th place showing in a very tough class
> demonstrates that.
>
> Onwards to my side of the story... (lynching line forms to the right,
> mugging to the left.)
>
> Background - As myself and others have seen on the three groove rear Miata
> Koni's, the middle groove for the Bilstein equiped cars is low in many cases
> (I have two sets of rears that measure over 1/8th too low when NEW.) I
> won't implicate the others who have also seen this - might as well only get
> _one_ person blacklisted...
>
> So, I think this response is best servered in an Q&A type of fashion - I'll
> respond to those that I remember.
>
> Q: What was the purpose of the protest?
> A: To have the perch heights (rear in particular) checked on Ms. Kelly's
> car. No, I was not protesting ride height. Her car is setup use the above
> mentioned middle grove. That's the specifics of the protest - the effect
> that I'd hoped to accomplish was to get a clarification on using an
> aftermarket manufacturer's 'word' (Koni's) that their setting is correct. I
> know, write a letter - been down that path for another issue with less than
> satisfactory results.
>
> Q: Why the three items on the protest?
> A: Basically to do the general list on the Miata - did I think that timing
> or spring freelength were out of spec? Nope. Note that those were dropped.
> In a sense, I'm glad those were there - they provided some 'bargining' power
> with the PC (protest committee.) I had asked them to focus on the perch
> height, since that the real reason for being there. I am happy with the
> clarification that they provided - they 'got' my reasoning (I think). Oh,
> yeah, the perches were .050 low - in the noise of the measurement technique
> used.
>
> Q: Why a region member, and why at nationals?
> A: Because I knew her car, and that the only way that this would surface
> beyond our region was to do so either at a tour or Nationals. And this
> topic has come up regionally (Craig B.'s car) and mentioned on this list.
>
> Q: Did I really just want the sixth place trophy (overheard) (or not get
> beat by a girl, etc...)
> A: Nope - not at all. This was my fourth year in the Miata, with 5th, 4th,
> and 2nd place trophies - sixth or seventh made not a lick of difference.
> Also please note that the form was filled out before the start of the event
> - regardless of mine or Ms. Kelly's placing, the protest would have been
> submitted. Also note - I file the protest with the explict instructions
> that the competitor NOT be notified until after her last run - a mind game
> was not a goal.
>
> Q: Why did I not protest the first place car?
> A: Easy answer here - it was a '99 Miata which uses different springs and
> perches.
>
> To close with, I know that many are disappointed in my actions - and I
> understand that. What disappoints me are those that I considered friends
> who did not ask for my side and made assumptions.
>
> Let the lynching begin (yes, I knew this was likely a no-win scenario at the
> start.)
>
> Kevin 'never to appear in the Pylon (at least in a good light) again'
> McCormick
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