Absurd?
As I said, the rookie program even with segregation into separate
classes has gotten a lot of great people into the sport and into the
region. Noting was said or implied about your position on this.
I just thought that people should be reminded what good the rookie
program has done for SFR, even segregated.
Or is there a former rookie who has a complaint, or wants the
rookie program abolished?
Jerry
PS, you're right, the Lella story is a lot more important ;-)
Jerry Mouton mailto:jerry@moutons.org Laissez les bons temps
rouler!
----- Original Message -----
From: "Kelly, Katie" <kkelly@spss.com>
To: "Bay_Area_Autocross_List" <ba-autox@autox.team.net>
Sent: Friday, September 01, 2000 5:32 PM
Subject: RE: Success of the Rookie Program
> This is absurd, Jerry.
>
> Could somebody come up with a list of drivers who didn't go through the
> rookie program, yet have somehow managed to remain happy and productive
> people? I never said, nor will I EVER say, that first timers or rookies
are
> detrimental to this sport. I will say that segregation IS.
>
> We've spent far too long on this topic, and have totally neglected the
real
> issue:
>
> The End of Malibu Mike
>
> I saw it with my own eyes. I pulled into the Malibu Grand Prix in Redwood
> City at approximately 8:20. There were many celebrities there, including
> Andy McKee, Derek Butts, and Teresa Neidel, all to watch this premiere
> event. Apparently, there was supposed to be some talk about nationals, but
I
> didn't year any.
>
> When I arrived at the pits, Josh Sirota was just beginning his preliminary
> runs. He got down to a 53.3, I believe.
>
> Peter Thana followed in the same car. He was extremely close, but not fast
> enough.
>
> Lella was the fastest in his car. He, Scot Zediker (I think??), Josh
Sirota
> and Barry Goldine would advanced to the final round.
>
> The atmosphere was tense. As Sirota demonstrated his MGP expertise, Lella
> stood on the side lines with his clip board, as Sirota set the fastest
time.
> "Oh, it's all relative. It's all relative," he mumbled nervously to
himself.
>
> With each run, Sirota shoved his fist into the air.
>
> Peter Thana, who narrowly missed being the fastest driver in his car,
showed
> a fierceness that would frankly frighten me if I saw it at an autocross.
> Later, he was caught on film playing video games still wearing his helmet.
>
> http://www.unsteady.net/malibu/images/malibu-3.jpg
>
> Thank you, Vitaly, for this footage.
>
> The final round began with Lella. Three runs for each driver. Curbs mean
> you're a big cheater.
>
> Lella was never joking when he said he was a master of MGP. At each turn,
> his eyes were well ahead of the car. He was smooth and precise, on the
power
> early. However, he made one tragic error with each run: he kept running
over
> the curb, the same curb, at the SHOW CASE TURN.
>
> "Cheater! Curb! Cheater!" the crowd yelled, and booed, all giving him the
> big thumbs down sign.
>
> Lella maintained this tactic, and turned in a 53.0 on his final run.
>
> Given that no time can be added for curbs, and this whole curb rule was
made
> up pretty much right then and there, nothing could be done.
>
> It was Sirota's turn. First run: not so good. Slow, to be precise. But no
> curbs.
>
> Next run: a little better. Smooth, precise, no curbs, but a second off the
> pace. Could it be the only way to beat Malibu Mike would be to jump the
> curbs?
>
> Sirota is a moral man. He stuck to his guns. Third run: smooth but early
> acceleration.
>
> "The curbs, Josh! Run over the curbs!" the crowd yelled.
>
> There were no curbs on Sirota's final run: 53.1.
>
> Barry Goldine started off with a slow 56.0 on this first run, then a 54.5
on
> his second run, and then the manager kicked him out before his third. We
> were over our time limit.
>
> "But I dropped a second and half! All I needed was a second and a half
> more!" demanded Goldine.
>
> We shall never know if that could have been the run.
>
> It was never decided who the real winner was, as now the attention turned
to
> the video games inside.
>
> This is your friendly Ace Reporter, signing off.
>
>
>
> Katie
>
> > -----Original Message-----
> > From: Jerry Mouton [mailto:jerry@moutons.org]
> > Sent: Friday, September 01, 2000 4:47 PM
> > To: Bay_Area_Autocross_List
> > Subject: Success of the Rookie Program
> >
> >
> > Let's see -- the rookie program has brought us Derek, Andy,
> > Boris, Pete, Vernon, Jesse, Tony Colicchio, Darren Madams,
> > Don Campbell,
> > Don Lew, Dietrich Schultz, Jim Ochi, Tony Ozzello, Durk Edwards,
> > James Creasy, Jim Zalesny, Barry Chafin, Kit Wetzeler, Rob Luis,
> > Kevin Lahey, Keith Hearn, Scot Zediker, Dennis Armstrong,
> > Chris Herring,
> > Peter Thana, Carl Merritt, Tim Madams, Navid Kahangi, Corey Smith,
> > Gino Cosculluela, Steve Sherwood, Mert Solis, Peter Allendorfer,
> > Sharon Levy, Patrick Jones, Jerry Brown, and more who compete
> > regularly and improve constantly.
> >
> > If all these folks were taken away, how strong would our region be?
> >
> > Jerry
> >
> > Jerry Mouton mailto:jerry@moutons.org Laissez les bons temps
> > rouler!
> >
> >
>
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