Since you have the opportunity, the overarching concern I hear from people
in the Northwest who have raced there, and people in FOT is heavy-handed
security. If that is indeed the biggest issue then I'd be sure to
concentrate on that rather than specific instances which can simply be
explained away.
I admire the approach of trying to take a list of concrete grievances to the
management, but at the risk of appearing uncooperative, I'd point out that
they are the vendor and we are the customers. It's up to them to identify
concrete ways that they are dealing with a problem that they obviously know
they have. Examples of correctable faults are important, but they also
create a way for responsibility to slip away, and that won't do anyone any
good.
What I think you really need are two things:
Confirmation from management that they understand the security problems were
substantial and that they are responsible for the problem (it's easy to
blame the guy you just fired, but they hired the guy and gave him his
marching orders).
A written document that they commit to distributing to all security people,
outlining how they are to behave (what you're looking for here is not the
elimination of effective security, but an understanding that over-reaction
to a situation is not acceptable, and that they are dealing with
customers--they deserve respect even when they break "the rules").
If you get anything close to that, you win, and we all win, and they win,
and people might be willing to give them another try. Otherwise it's just
talk.
-----Original Message-----
From: owner-fot@autox.team.net [mailto:owner-fot@autox.team.net] On Behalf
Of N197TR4@cs.com
Sent: Tuesday, May 24, 2005 2:48 PM
To: jsnook@wcnet.org; fot@autox.team.net
Cc: Thinkfast@mindspring.com
Subject: Re: Mid Ohio
This terrific!
I am sure you are the right guy to be an agent of change.
I'll provide a couple of items directly to you.
Regards,
Joe (A)
> Based upon the recent fervor about Mid Ohio on our list, I have been
> asked by SVRA Competition Director, Carl Jensen, to do a meeting with
> Michelle Truman at the track during the June Vintage Race. The
> purpose would be for her to address past problems and inform me of
> actions taken to correct them.
>
> I would like to be prepared with a list of specific issues that have
> turned people off from going there. I all ready have a couple:
>
> 1. Not being allowed to take a pickup with empty fuel jugs into the
> paddock area to get fuel at their pumps. You can do this, but you
> have to drive out to the track entrance and surrender your driver's
> license until you come back within 15 minutes.
>
> 2. Having the walk gate locked where you would normally walk from the
> grassy paddock area into the main paddock area by the fuel pumps.
>
> 3. Paying a large amount (I heard $200) to spend the weekend in your
> trailer in the paddock without any services provided.
>
> Please, no rants and rambles! Just specific Mid Ohio track issues
> that have pissed you off over the years and are keeping you away.
>
> Thanks,
>
> Jeff Snook
> http://www.snooksdreamcars.com
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