Comments - ruffling feathers - The Vintage Racing League2024-03-28T19:07:41Zhttps://www.thevrl.com/profiles/comment/feed?attachedTo=1465153%3ABlogPost%3A159922&xn_auth=noRoger,
I do not run in Group…tag:www.thevrl.com,2010-03-08:1465153:Comment:1635022010-03-08T16:36:00.357ZRobert Metcalfhttps://www.thevrl.com/profile/RobertMetcalf
Roger,<br />
<br />
I do not run in Group 2 and I'll admit that I do not know a lot about Vintage Sprites. I sat in on the BOD meeting a year or so back when they spent 10 minutes discussing the need for and style of inner door panels for these cars. I was appalled by the waste of the Director's time on such a trivial matter. I have run a Midget before, however, in a non-vintage form and another type of racing. In 1991, I worked closely with the car which won SCCA's Runoffs in F/P. This car was nothing…
Roger,<br />
<br />
I do not run in Group 2 and I'll admit that I do not know a lot about Vintage Sprites. I sat in on the BOD meeting a year or so back when they spent 10 minutes discussing the need for and style of inner door panels for these cars. I was appalled by the waste of the Director's time on such a trivial matter. I have run a Midget before, however, in a non-vintage form and another type of racing. In 1991, I worked closely with the car which won SCCA's Runoffs in F/P. This car was nothing close to what was run prior to '72 nor did it need to be. The front suspension was computer designed made of 4130 tubing and used Penske shocks. A handful of other cars were built in a similar manner and, for that National Championship race, a group of officials went around looking at them and asking, "Is this really the direction you guys want to go?" We all responded that we were only following the rules the club had established. They agreed and we raced.<br />
<br />
The point is that each club establishes rules which it should enforce. If the rule package includes something as ridiculous as the requirement of stock inner door panels, that's what the competitors should abide by. Although I am certainly no expert in what is going on in G2 in CVAR, it appears several cars are being run which in no way follow the rules, and I'm not talking about door panels now. I'm speaking of the performance enhancements made which are not in accordance with period correct preparation. In my opinion, faster cars are not necessarily a hazard on the track and I believe the club should create a class for cars which are prepared to later versions of the GCR. They should not compete against the earlier cars, however.<br />
<br />
Driver ability is a separate issue. The club seems to use our drivers' schools as a profit center more so than an educational opportunity - my opinion. Why else would we require someone with proven driving ability and a license from a nationally recognized sanctioning body to go through a CVAR school before they can race with us? I have heard it said that the reason is to teach "vintage spirit". If that is the reason, perhaps some of our members, the drivers whom you charge with rubbing fenders, causing crashes and rolling cars should be re-instilled with that spirit. A related question is this: If we have 20 to 30 students come through the schools each year, should our number of licensed drivers not go up by that same number? Either they do not continue to race with us or the same number (or more) are leaving the club each year. What's going on here?<br />
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I don't foresee any substantial changes until the members have a say in running the club. Leaders are hand picked at the present time and only go through the motions with regard to issues like this which are brought up by the members. I'm sure others will disagree with me on this and I'll endure more bashing. But if they were to give an open minded look at the facts, they will see it is true. Once the members have a say in what goes on in the club, perhaps you can retire your door panels.<br />
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Just my opinions -<br />
<br />
Robert Metcalf