Ranting and raving

[figure849]

I got turned on to the JAM afew years ago.
And I still get up every morning and sign on and go to the JAM.
What I like about the JAM is I can go and get info, I can support my sponsors, I can advertise my sandblasting business, I can find my next project, and let racers know how it is coming along.
But it seems that there is much too much ranting and raving. Yes, freedom of speech.
I did my share last year when I felt all race teams should have had the same opportunity to purchase the Charger tires.
With car counts down in all divisions, we have to stand together, and find ways to get more cars out there. Not try to run teams away.
Yes, Mike is an aggresive driver. When he calms down just a bit, he finishes well.
The 69 car needs to learn to time the x and stay up to speed. All drivers should encourage him to stick to it and give advice.
The figure 8 division is the best paying dollar for dollar division, we can make the figure 8 race a full field if everyone works together. There are a few cars out there ready to go, and top drivers thinking about coming back.
Let's give them a reason to come play.
Be positive, and save the rest for your shrink.

[Golf Guy]

Artie I agree. Not just in the fig8's but all divisions. The fighting in the pit area this weekend was out of control. I know all spend hard earned money and time on their cars, but this is short track racing. Banging and crashing are inevitable. I am not writing to accept and go home. But how about talking things out or taking the high road and just go about your own business? Either way, what we are doing isn't working as seen by the diminishing car counts.

[00 RBDJ]

I totally understand the reason that some do get out of control. The fact is that in the pits there are sponsors around and after the race the pits are loaded with children and families.. The fighting and the language do need to stop or at least get toned down, but I don't think it will do to the aggressive driving of some. It is in all divisions not just one. I know people that were outside in the dirt area just east of the track and heard word for word, what was going on in the pits..As a car owner it is does not good look good for us or the track.. People are not going to keep coming back with their families if they see or hear this going on.

[Ka$h25]

I must have missed the day when racing became personal. When I was younger, I remember no matter what happened on the racetrack, Biondolillo, Brown, Fortin, Hydes, Ryan, Tasso, etc., they were the first ones at every birthday, New Year's Eve, and Daytona 500 party. It's just not the same anymore.

[racerwife]

For all that have posted here... we couldn't agree more with all stated. The SAFER organization especially was like a family. We had our differences of opinion of course but were the first ones there for each other in a time of trouble or joy.
As for sponsors and others hearing what was going on by the fence... just imagine innocently standing there and having this scene go on ... fearing that you and your family members would be caught in the fray and injured. Not a pretty thought now is it? If that sponsor isn't rethinking about his "advertising venue", maybe he should. "I wouldn't spend my money in an establishment that condones that type of language or behavior at a family entertainment venue or anywhere. In fact, we won't be spending our money there anymore."
Things have changed, that's for sure, at this track... and NOT for the better !!!

[fig8wife]

I believe that the SAFER club is still a family and always will be through thick and thin. I do believe that Mike is a good person because he has always been to me. I do believe that he is aggressive on the track, too. I also believe that Kenny and Dorothea have a right to be out there racing, just as Mike does. When I came to the track, when I first met Timmy, I remember thinking wow, how close they are compared to all the other divisions out there and thinking that they are always there to lend a helping hand, regardless of what happened the week before. From what I understand, everyone knew what to expect from Joe and they got what they got, and that was it. People come out here with their cars that they have paid hard earned money for, and yes, accidents are inevitable (as I say, ACCIDENTS). Not when every other week your car is taken out by the same person every week. Not when every week the same person is deliberately taking someone out, whoever it may be every week. It gets old. Mike has a fast car, there is no reason that he can't get around half of these other cars out there. And I do feel for Dorothea and Kenny, I love them, and no, I do not agree that they lose their tempers as fast as they do. I think they should maybe be a little calmer and talk to the officials. But then when you get nowhere with the officials, what do you do? When you are spending all this money to get your car back together every week, after this person takes you out every week, and every week there is nothing done, what do you do? Granted this week he did not intentionally take Kenny or Dorothea out, instead he took Willy out, and everyone wasn't paying attention to the flags, there was a lot going on. But this has been going on with them for years before I was even there, so over 6 years of the same; thing excuses every week. So my question is, what would the rest of you do? Or what should Kenny and Dorothea do?

[00 RBDJ]

This is was not just meant for Kenny and Dorothea, who I also adore..This is every week with all the divisions..The screaming, the fighting, men going after the women to fight them. They want you to try and get more people to come down to the track, but for what, to see a bunch of crashes, then the fighting that continues for hours later? I understand people use their hard earned money and spend a lot of time fixing the cars. I do understand that people get to the breaking point. Maybe if everyone together, since you are all like a family, should go to the officials and whoever else is in charge, and let them know how you ALL feel, then maybe something will be done. Go as a group, not one person or the same person over and over. If the same person keeps complaining, you're going to be tagged as a pain. There are new people in charge from what I understand, go to them and give them a chance to help first. The problem is if there are potential sponsors walking around the pits looking to invest in a car, they're not going to. Peoples families are walking around, everyone needs to watch what they say and do. I had someone ask me if a person was drunk or if that is the way they always act. All we are saying is take some time, calm down, then go talk to the person. If you are going to fight with them, then the next week they are going to come back at you even harder.

[racerwife]

Teresa... when I and others referred to "how it used to be" is before your time of racing. Some of those names are still around, yes... however my description of being close as a family no longer exists the way it used to be. Saturday night at the races followed by Sunday morning breakfast together for many of the racers doesn't happen anymore. That WAS every weekend. This is before Joes' officiating days... in fact, I think he used to join the breakfast crowd. We ourselves only went once or twice. But it was hot, fast, wicked competition on the track... followed by good food and friends in the morning. NEVER , will you see that happen with the parties you write about!
At this time, this matter should be left to be dealt with PRIVATELY. It always was between Kenny and Mike... and especially should be left that way now. It has gone on for so long, I don't believe most people even know what started it, it's just easy to jump on the bandwagon and blame Mike for many of the race problems that happen out there, regardless of him actually being involved or not. I don't have favoritism out there for either one of them. We get along with and like all of our racing competitors. We do also recognize that neither of these drivers is without faults, that goes for everyone .. no one's perfect, including us!
That being said, this is a subject that should be left alone. Let the track officials deal with it. And yes, after this weekend, they will be forced into doing something... or NASCAR or better yet... SCPD !!!!
I, for one, heard and saw enough first-hand to want to throw up over the entire matter. It was a disgusting display of people being out of control!!!
And the comments from "retired" racers just add heat to a heated subject. If you want to say something, get another car and get back on the track and have current issues to complain about. Things that went on years ago are over and done with. And old to be hearing about from you still.

TIME TO MOVE ON.

[racerwife]

In response to Double Zero Racings' thoughts...

there used to be a policy ENFORCED by the track years ago...

ZERO TOLERANCE FOR FIGHTING IN THE PITS...AT ANYTIME.

No-one was exempt from it. Your pit space was your safe haven. If you entered someone elses pit uninvited to cause harm or damage, you were GONE!! You, your car, truck & trailer and pit crew were "escorted" off the premises immediately. If you gave any resistance to the "get out", you might be met by the cops, sometimes now wearing silver bracelets as exiting. Needless to say.. there was still some fighting, but not like it's been. Then, the track officials would give out the final punishment based on your indescretion.. suspension, points gone, and heavy fines!

It certainly made for a different feeling in the pits both during and after the races. It also had the officials in charge, IN CHARGE, and respected. And the track was packed with cars and spectators. Never a parking spot in the pit area left open (if you arrived late, you parked outside the pits, regardless of what kind of car you raced), and NEVER a seat in the house left to sit in past 4:30 in the afternoon.
And it was fun to be there watching or competing.

[00 RBDJ]

It should be enforced again. Maybe with the new people in charge, there may still be hope.

[W. J.]

I'm keeping a close eye on this one, too, so let's watch where we go. It started out okay, but we are in danger of crossing over the line again.

[Fig8 T.K.]

I do not know why people are saying Mike keeps doing things to other drivers and people have taken things into their own hands because the officials do not do anything. I believe Mike has been set down for his actions at least once if not more this year. Obviously, this time the officials did not think it was intentional and I agree. As far as after the race fights, exactly how long do these officials have to stay and babysit a pit full of so called "adults." I am sure they are happy their day of work is over and they can relax and enjoy the rest of the night. There would be less problems if everyone respected each other and the officials. A few years ago Tom and Mike had a horrible crash at the X. Tom was mad because he felt he was going for the lead and Mike should have stopped. Before the night was over, we were at the hospital to check and make sure Mike was ok. Why, because no matter what happened on that track, Mike is a person and Tom was concerned for him. A few people actually told Tom he screwed up because he had the perfect opportunity to "do Mike in" and he blew it. That, my friends, is sick, and if that is how a driver thinks, they have no right strapping into a race car. Hopefully all the crap will be left behind on Sunday for the SAFER picnic. We have not had any problems in many years, so let's keep it like that.

[figure849]

I didn start this post to continue ranting and raving, it was to talk about what we need to do to make racing fun again.
How about starting off with something that I have not seen all year?
A DRIVER'S MEETING
At this point we need to beg for penalty's. If we can get back to a set of rules for all competiters, we can make for better racing.
As a club top priority should be cleaning up our play ground. It is not just our division, all racers are finding out that they can do what ever it is they want on the track. Jump restarts. All you might get is put back one spot. The second time, you should be put in the back.
Dump two or three $80,000 dollar cars one at a time, then they might start talking about watching you.
ZERO TOLERANCE.
Guess what you will see? Racers that will come back, because now they know they have the same chance as the next guy.
I don't know if I am guilty of ranting and raving, but I am trying to be positive and put ideas out there to fix the sport I love.

[racerwife]

AMEN ARTIE !!!

Couldn't agree more !!

[W. J.]

You're doing just fine Artie, Thanks!

Fig8TK, in reference to the officials relaxing I agree, but what time do they get off? I saw a few who had to jump into another altercation just before I left the track around 12:15-12:20 AM. If not for them, the pits would turn into "Dodge City" and I'm not talking about a car manufacturer's home town!