Dick,
Thank you for your comments.
I'm a bit confused. If VMC is not a "national licensing org." as you say,
then you've got a publicity problem. I understood that the $35 I sent in
every 2 years and received a VMC license in return was one of the main
reasons behind VMC. The other, to coordinate 13/13 issues on a national
basis. I never got the impression that insurance issues were your major
charter.
With the exception of one newsletter a year, I see very little visibility
for the group, and subsequently did not renew my "license".
In my opinion, the flag discussion is a perfect opportunity for your
organization to step up, and attempt to clarify a very dangerous (and
common) situation in vintage racing today. I've been at many many driver's
meeting where the race chairman and the chief steward's impression of the
flagging rules were in direct contrast.
As far as member clubs that do not subscribe to VMC adopted policies... and
don't report infractions, or require medical forms, why are they still
members? It was my impression that you had a far better level of cooperation
regarding 13/13 sanctioned drivers. Your statement that only 23 race groups
or organizations are members shocks me. It's my understanding that there
were almost 200 race organizations in the US and Canada. Is that true? If
so, I understand your lack of leverage.
I totally understand car eligibility issues to be one far beyond the scope
of your group. But this issue that's been discussed is a perfect opportunity
for VMC to step up, and identify a very dangerous situation that affects all
vintage racer's safety. It certainly could be an insurance issue if racers
are given one verbal set of instructions, and contrary instructions in
written documentation.
WST
Team Thicko
( a race "organization"... a term used REALLY loosely here... with over 300
members worldwide)
----- Original Message -----
From: Dick Buckingham, Jr. <rebjrmd@ix.netcom.com>
To: Wm. Severin Thompson <wsthompson@thicko.com>
Cc: Jack W Drews <vinttr4@geneseo.net>; <vintage-race@autox.team.net>
Sent: Friday, September 17, 1999 1:03 AM
Subject: Re: Reflections on a racing incident
> To all, there have been a couple of references to the VINTAGE
> MOTORSPORTS COUNCIL in this thread. As the President of that
> organization, I would like to clear the air and set the record straight
> on who we are and what we do. The VMC is not a "national licensing
> org." It is an organization which serves as a forum for the exchange of
> ideas. It was originally founded in order to get more realistic rates
> on liability insurance for vintage racing which was getting lumped into
> the actuarial date of "real racing." This was accomplished. Presently
> 23 clubs and organizations which put on vintage races belong to the VMC.
> The VMC has no authority except what it is given by its members. It is
> much like the League of Nations or the USA in its early years when
> "states rights" were paramount. Over the years, it has been difficult
> to get all of the members to agree on many things. The VMC license is
> one. This was initiated in order to make it easier for people to travel
> and race with different groups. The infraction list is another.
> However, not all member groups use the VMC insurance program, report to
> the infraction list, or submit nominations for the VMC license. A
> national "points system" for infractions has been proposed many times
> but never adapted. I am currently working on a VMC Medical form which I
> hope will be adopted by all of the clubs, but at least one member
> organization doesn't even require physical exams in order to have a
> license! There is too much individualism and independence for much
> agreement.
>
> As you can imagine, it is difficult to accomplish anything that requires
> universal approval. This would certainly be the case with flag
> procedures. I think Maura said it correctly in a subsequent
> posting--the SCCA is not universal thruout the country, and if they
> can't be with a strong national organization, then certainly the VMC
> can't. From a practical point of view, I think that there are local
> conditions and track design constraints which would make a national
> policy difficult to institute and that doesn't begin to address the
> ideas of individual stewards and race chairman who think they "know best."
>
> In a perfect world, perhaps the VMC could set national policies so that
> there would be uniform rules, rules enforcement, car eligibility,
> licensing requirements, physical exam requirements, etc. thruout the
> country. I don't look for this to happen in my lifetime.
>
> Richard E. Buckingham, Jr. MD
> President - Vintage Motorsports Council
> Race Chairman - SOVREN
>
> "Wm. Severin Thompson" wrote:
> >
> > Sounds like something the Vintage Motorsport Council ought to do.
> >
> > For a "national" licensing org., other than provide a yearly trip for
mucky
> > mucks in various race orgs and take money for a license every 2 years...
I
> > find them to be awfully low profile...
> >
> > WST
> > ----- Original Message -----
> > From: Jack W Drews <vinttr4@geneseo.net>
> > To: <vintage-race@autox.team.net>
> > Sent: Wednesday, September 15, 1999 6:49 PM
> > Subject: Reflections on a racing incident
> >
> > >
> > > To have more than one set of flag rules in existence in the fastest
> > > growing segment of motor sports is gross madness. SCCA never did that.
> > > Boy, they are totally consistent, and you can race anywhere in the
> > > country with SCCA knowing that the flag rules are the same.
> > >
> > > This situation needs to be fixed.
> > >
> > > --
> > > uncle jack
> > > occasional maker of mistakes, too
> > >
> > >
> > >
>
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