I wrote this below to the local Texas Spokes Sports Car Club list and was
encouraged to post to the big list, so here ya go. Note that I have not yet
seen most of the postings on the topic since I read the digest and do so
sporatically. --Andy
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Hollis, Andy
> Sent: Monday, September 20, 1999 9:41 AM
> To: spokes
> Subject: RE: Spokes: Re: protests and chicken feathers
>
> Given my background (2 years serving on Nats Protest Committees, 1 year in
> front of Nats protest committee) and my strong feelings on this subject, I
> just gotta weigh in:
>
> 1) Indeed our sport is self-policed, yet some measure of "sportsmanship"
> should be involved in that policing. Unfortunately, what is considered
> appropriate interactions in some circles and some parts of the country, is
> considered differently in others. I am keenly aware of this having lived
> and autocrossed in different parts of the country. This flows also to
> rules interpretations. And while the Internet is serving to bring us all
> together, those differences still exist. And its truly amazing how
> geographic separation creates suspicion. This geographic diversity is
> very real and is, IMHO, a big cause of hard feelings but also a big cause
> of the difference in rules interpretation.
>
> 2) Only at Nats can a protest be truly resolved in a way that sets
> precedent and is "final". Anything else during the year is only good for
> that event. This includes Pros, NT's, "asking Howard", etc. That's why
> some protests get saved for Nats.
>
> 3) Though we are all pretty open about our speed prep secrets,
> occasionally we will stumble on something that we feel strongly is legal,
> but we do not want to give away to other competitors because it is a clear
> advantage. That's racing. Given that, when we go faster as a result,
> folks will be suspicious maybe to the point of protest. For example, Mark
> Chiles has been at the forefront of shock development on Neons for years
> (courtesy of Dean Dodge @ Koni). He only let on his secrets (and they
> were usually legal) as he was protested. That's racing. Mark Daddio has
> carried that development a step further, but has taken a different tack.
> He is faster because of his shocks, but you can buy his shocks (through
> Koni). As a result, he hasn't been protested. And he'll tell you exactly
> what he's done. But then, Daddio is probably a better driver than Chiles
> (IMHO). Both are legitimate paths.
>
> 4) Given this, we MUST be able to protest without it feeling like a stab
> in the back, or some kind of bad thing. In a situation where people do
> not see each other until Nats (e.g. East vs West), you have to be able to
> settle it there, with no hard feelings. But in a case where there's
> concern and you see each other regularly, I believe the right way to
> handle it is to talk to the individual first. Many times they'll let you
> check it out yourself without a protest! Or if it involves some kind of
> grey thing that needs clarification, write a letter to the SEB and get it
> ruled on! That does set a precedent that persists (I have a whole
> notebook of these).
>
> Now, a comment on the Kelley/McCormick situation:
>
> IMHO, the grey issue on the shock mount could have been settled via
> requesting a clarification from the SEB before Nats. I've done exactly
> that before. If no response from the SEB, do the protest. Perhaps this
> is what happened. The timing issue could have been settled by just
> asking, again before Nats. But, if Kevin thought the timng had been
> changed just for Nats, then he should have every right to ask it to be
> checked without personal attack. Either way, my recommendation is that
> the protestor talk directly to the protestee, especially if they know each
> other. That way, the true intent of the protest can be conveyed. Its
> hard to judge intent from protest forms...
>
> --Andy
>
PS: I think the perch issue is even worse than just the actual height, since
the stock perch is spiralled and the Koni perch is flat. It does make a
difference in the ride height and even the spring rate due to the amount of
spring that becomes active. Since my plan is to run one of these cars next
year, I'll be writing my letters this winter so we'll all know for sure.
|