I agree with Navid,
It's like gambling or going on trips or buying
jewelry. If you can't afford it, don't do it! I don't
drive a $65,000 car because I can't afford one. I
don't wear Armani because I CAN afford Men's
Wharehouse. But I do beleive in working hard and
getting paid well for doing what you're good at and
enjoying the money you DO make to the fullest. So I am
willing to spend $100 for some good times out at the
track or $25 at the autocross. And paying way to much
for tires that last WAY little.
ANYWAY... Back on the subject of this thread:
As a newbie autocrosser and road racer I thought last
Sunday's THill event was very fun once we got to go
out and do the 20 minute sessions. I could have cared
less wether we got timed and thought that anyone who
really needed a time would find a way to get it either
through stopwatch or whatever other means there might
have been. Lets face it, If you were there taking it
totally seriously as a way to dial in your race car
you are probably very serious about racing and have
spent so much money that whatever you spend on timing
equipment is probably negligible in the context of
your budget anyway. I'm not a hater, especially after
this weekend I have a huge amount of respect for road
racers and autocrossers alike. Especially those that
make it all look so easy and do it so well. I was very
afraid to put my 5 month old vehicle on the track with
other cars filled with newbie raod racers like me all
flying around the track at ungodly speeds. That was
until I tried it and found out that it is probably
safer than flying down the 101(or any freeway for that
matter) surrounded by people doing 90mph drinking
coffee, reading the paper and talking on the cell
phones, all at the same time. What you take away from
road racing is an even healthier respect for speed,
your surroundings, and the concentration required to
really drive your car well in ANY situation. Is it
dangerous? You bet. Even with only being allowed to
pass on the front and back straights. That's why you
have to concentrate and focus and have your head in
the game at ALL times. But that's also what makes it
so much fun! It's surprising to find out what you
don't know about how your car handles and your driving
ability. I think they could have given up on the
timing system a little earlier in the morning and
moved to the alternative format sooner. Also I thought
some of the guys in group one got WAY too many reruns
in the morning. In the future I would prefer the 20
minute group sessions divided by skill and scaredy-cat
level.
--- Navid Kahangi <navid@interwoven.com> wrote:
> Pat,
>
> You are missing my point! Whether we buy
> transponders, or rent them, or pay
> for some other "convenience" things to make the
> sport we love more
> enjoyable, that's a choice we freely make. The cost
> of the sport is known.
> You either chose to participate or you don't.
> Nobody forced people to show
> up at TH. Nobody asked them to pay for something
> they didn't know about
> ahead of time. If in the future a rental of
> transponders is necessary, I am
> sure it will be stated ahead of time.
>
> Why so much hostility against time trials?! I don't
> understand why autoxers
> don't like road racers. But then again, I don't
> understand why Raider fans
> hate Niners either. It's just one of those things.
>
> --Navid
>
> > -----Original Message-----
> > From: Pat Kelly [mailto:lollipop487@attbi.com]
> > Sent: Tuesday, December 18, 2001 4:19 PM
> > To: Navid Kahangi; 'john f. kelly jr.';
> ba-autox@autox.team.net
> > Subject: Re: Thunderhill report?
> >
> >
> > This is a double reply, first to the value of my
> head
> > (referencing your
> > earlier post), and the costs involved.
> Transponders are neat
> > and make T&S
> > far more accurate. I was being facetious when I
> said I like
> > to spend my $$
> > on things things that make the car go fast, but am
> reluctant
> > otherwise. A
> > helmet is a necessary safety feature, as are
> suits, gloves,
> > fire systems,
> > etc.; a transponder is a convenience for T&S, and
> for the
> > drivers as the
> > times recorded will definitely be theirs and not
> someone else's. Too
> > different aspects of competition: safety vs.
> accuracy.
> > John's point about the cost was, I'm sure, not to
> raise that old issue
> > again, but to point out transponders are not free.
> If a club
> > gives them to
> > drivers, that club must still purchase them, thus
> they are a
> > cost that must
> > be covered, probably by raised entry fees, and
> that sort of thing.
> > The rental solution as Ralph reports makes sense.
> I'm sure there are
> > maintenance costs of some sort.
> > --Pat Kelly
> > ----------
> > >From: Navid Kahangi <navid@interwoven.com>
> > >To: "'John F. Kelly Jr.'"
> <76067.1750@compuserve.com>,
> > ba-autox@autox.team.net, Pat Kelly
> <lollipop487@attbi.com>
> > >Subject: RE: Thunderhill report?
> > >Date: Tue, Dec 18, 2001, 4:21 PM
> > >
> >
> > >John,
> > >
> > >I really don't want to open up another discussion
> on cost of
> > motorsports. I
> > >also think that we are all old enough to decide
> what we want
> > to spend our
> > >money on and if we wanted financial advice we
> would not seek
> > it on this
> > >list. So, let's take this discussion to
> > >ba-let-me-tell-you-what-to-spend-your-money-on
> list.
> > >
> > >--Navid
> > >
> > >> -----Original Message-----
> > >> From: John F. Kelly Jr.
> [mailto:76067.1750@compuserve.com]
> > >> Sent: Tuesday, December 18, 2001 3:55 PM
> > >> To: ba-autox@autox.team.net; Pat Kelly; Navid
> Kahangi
> > >> Subject: Re: Thunderhill report?
> > >>
> > >>
> > >>
> > >>
> > >> -------------------- Begin Original Message
> --------------------
> > >>
> > >> Message text written by "Pat Kelly"
> > >>
> > >> " Although,
> > >> >if Thunderhill is interested in continuing
> this program,
> > they need to
> > >> supply
> > >> >transponders for the cars."
> > >> -------------------- End Original Message
> --------------------
> > >>
> > >> RE: Transponders.
> > >> I think that's another item somebody forgot to
> budget for. I'm sure
> > >> Thunderhill can supply. It's mostly a question
> of money.
> > >> Yours. <G> As I
> > >> recall they go for about $235.
> > >>
> > >> --John Kelly
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