Part II of Pat Ryan's response:
One of the aspects of the original SVRA Charter that attracted me to =
this
organization ten years ago was that it was founded to provide people =
with a
deep and abiding interest in the sport for vintage motor racing, =
regardless
of your station in life, a venue for active participation. Until now I =
have
never been disappointed or sorry that I chose to be a part of the SVRA. =
I
often remark in conversation outside the organization as to genuine =
pleasure
experienced associating with the people that make up the SVRA. These =
are
true ladies and gentlemen working to preserve a valuable asset and piece =
of
important history. And whether we pull into the track with an old van =
with
an open trailer of forty eight foot enclosed rig, once we slip into your
respective machinery we all become equals, with the same goals and
opportunities.... a truly unique experience. [Pat Ryan] Amen. We =
share the love of this experience and this proposal is about not letting =
it change by default. Back to basics. No $60 banquet with a cash bar. =
Where's our magazine? No scheduling of events directly against a small =
club in the same city on the same day in Phoenix where only 10 or 15 =
members attend. No legends cars. No "period prepared" group taking =
away track time from traditional SVRA cars. What happened to Sebring? =
The ladies and gentlemen are still here, most of them, and we would like =
nothing better than to forget all things political about vintage racing =
and just race. Unfortunately, somebody has to provide the direction or =
we go the wrong way. David and I do not presume to choose the =
direction, we merely recognize the need for the ladies and gentlemen to =
select those who control their future.=20
Now it seems that there is divisive, political backbiting infecting our
precious organization, threatening to destroy the very Charter that =
brought
us together to begin with Rumors of boycotts of upcoming events by event
workers and potential buyers. Pending overthrough of existing owners by
leveraged buyouts Malicious gossip surrounding members and staff. =
Political
maneuverings the likes of some of the worst in Washington! How do we =
restore
order? [Pat Ryan] There are a few members who feel strongly and they =
may have said some things privately in that direction but up to now only =
one person seems to be concerned enough to spread such rumors in a =
public forum. These things only hurt the club and just discussing them =
is damaging and inflammatory. =20
I do favor the idea of the Race Groups taking a proactive role in =
managing
the rules and regulation s pertaining to their cars and events. I =
support
the concept of a regulatory board made up from the members at large, =
elected
by the Race Groups. [Pat Ryan] This is also a critical part of the =
proposal. Did you know that the Board of Representatives has had the =
power to change or veto any racing rules since 1991. Did you know that =
they have the right to meet at every event and review all racing rules =
changes? They do, according to the bylaws of SVRA. I should know, I =
wrote them when I was Chairman in 1991 and the Board approved them. =
During my Chairmanship and then Robert Pass' Chairmanship they met =
regularly. I have been quietly working for a democratic SVRA for six =
years. Did you know that for the last 3 or 4 years current management =
has not scheduled any meetings? Did you know that the current Group =
Representatives did not know they had this power?
I favor expanding the extracurricular activities tied to
the race events; more family involvement for example. I see real =
benefits to
be derived from a web page. Bring back Flea markets. Maybe a golf
tournament. More events like the Pinewood derby, maybe with RC cars! I =
am
sure that if the membership were polled there would be many more great
suggestions. [Pat Ryan] One should expect more and improved social =
events if and when the members control how their money is spent.=20
My closing comment is that I hope that cooler heads finally prevail and =
this
nonsense is put aside in favor of a concerted effort to preserve this =
stellar
organization. I offer my time and limited services to work toward the
fulfillment of this goal.
[Pat Ryan] Up to now, cooler heads have kept rumor, innuendo and =
misinformation off the internet and off of the fax machines. I =
apologize for the fact that you were not sent a copy of the "open =
letter". This was done by fax machine from my own Rolodex and without =
the benefit of an SVRA mailing list. I was unable to obtain a fax =
number or address for you without asking SVRA. Current general =
management would not condone my mailing. I hoped everyone would get a =
copy using the multi-level (chain-letter) approach, obviously you did.=20
I must also point out to the other list members that Jim's =
daughter-in-law, Julie Allen, is a valued member of SVRA management and =
also that there is no agenda I am aware of on the part of owners or =
facilitators to change any of the SVRA staff other than the two changes =
already made by the current owners. They removed their President and =
added a Carl Jensen as Competition Director. If the plan proceeds, there =
will first be a contract of sale, then an offering to the membership, =
then elections, then the new President and the new board will manage =
the managers. =20
We currently have no signed contract of sale, just a proposal that the =
current owners liked and then didn't like and then maybe like =
again.....who knows? Ask them.
Time kills all deals and (like this response) this one seems to have =
drawn on intolerably. David and I each have several hundred hours in =
the project and many concerned members have offered to help. Right now =
the only way anyone can help is to let the current owners know whether =
or not they think this is a good plan for the future of SVRA. I realize =
you don't have the details and no one wants to commit without details. =
Please just address the concept. The current owners are sincerely =
interested in doing what is best for our club.
The urgency has been lost. If it is not rekindled soon this opportunity =
will pass. Either way SVRA will be SVRA. This is not about survival. =
Far from it. SVRA either trends slightly up or slightly down as a =
result. Our members are dedicated to having fun, not having politics. =
We have been going in a negative direction for some time and those of us =
who are close enough to see the causes, not just the effects, have been =
pressed into action. This should have taken three weeks to put together =
and bring to the membership. It is now going on three months and the =
owners can't seem to get together. Help.=20
I will be at Road America this weekend and available for further =
questioning.
=20
Respectfully,
Jim Allen, Group One
#51 Austin Healy Sprise, Team 51
[Pat Ryan] =20
Sincerely,
Pat Ryan=20
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