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We might have to "be the better man" but this kind of thing is just ridiculous, this a volunteer organization, for us to have fun at, how can we have fun knowing there's someone there who won't hesitate to deliberately break our vehicle. I don't think I can "let it go" even though I wasn't directly involved just knowing that this happened is enough to bother me. I guess i'll just bight my tongue.

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89/189 STS Miata

Clemens:

Shahab has it figured out

The best thing we can do now is let their BoD take this matter up and fix what they need to fix.  The proper people have been notified, things are in motion.

So for now, we should all let this go and see how they handle their end.  There will NEVER be "retaliation" on my part.... unless you call stealing their trophies on Aug 2nd retaliation.  I can assure you I WILL be driving in anger (it helped Will) and doing my best to not let one slip past me.  That's the best we can do!

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"Drag racing is for fast cars, autocrossing is for fast drivers"

I'm sure he didn't mean to damage your car, but he should have volunteered to fix it.  Maybe he thinks it was truly broken and that he was just showing you.  I don't understand how a battery can be pulled out of a tray if it has the hold downs on it.

 I'm trying to be nice....my grandpa once told me to grab things by the smooth end of the handle and you usually have a better outcome.  Should have just kicked him in the balls LOL!  Sorry to hear.  We have a good region with good people.

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08 Lancer Evolution X - STU
Quickest and Fastest Stock turbo X
11.4 on the brakes, 3710 lbs :)

Guys, we DO have a good region with good people. That's because A LOT OF REALLY GOOD PEOPLE have stepped up to volunteer to go the extra mile to make our region grow.

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90 Miata - STS #90/190

If it aint broke, don't fix it.

Geoff's right.  It;s the people stepping up to make itbetter, more fun and just all around great that make the Indy Region what it is.  We're a volunteer organization run by people that love the sport.  Be it clubracing, auto-x, road rally... whatever.  Our love of what we do drives us to make it better.

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"Drag racing is for fast cars, autocrossing is for fast drivers"

Agreed completely, Bob.  That's the one thing I love about our region is that people aren't afraid to step up and volunteer to help out.  I know I can slack a bit at getting up early on Sundays (I'm not an early riser) but I love helping out in Tech as well as in T&S.  I'm proud to be an Indy region member on event days because this season, we've been running events like a well-oiled machine.

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Scott T.
SCCA Member 401575
91 Saturn SC - FSP/ITA 16
2010 Indy Region Solo Chair
indyregionsolo@sbcglobal.net

Bobzilla:

and why I'll NEVER run a Ft Wayne run event again.  What was meant to be a fun (if hot) day with my Dad co-driving in his first ever auto-x turned into 4 hours of wasted driving capped by some (insert REALLY bad word here) physically ripping my battery out of its FACTORY hold downs and allowing it to drop off into the engine bay, crashing into my radiator fans and in the course of that pulling the main fuse box wire out of it's connector.  So here we are, 2 hours and 146 miles from home with a car with no power.  Thanks to Jeremy's massive supply tub and a nice guy from the Ft whom I did not catch a name (sorry, I was still a little, umm.... pissed) with his multimeter found the cause of the dead car.

 The 45 minute wait to register was way too long, but things happen I understand.  Taking 35 minutes to process the 2 people in front of us to get our money back was ridiculous.  Tech Meister extraordinnaire who thought it was cool to rip apart someone else's car put it over the top.  Poorly organized and manned by Mr God-Complex it's a wonder they have ANYONE show up for an event. 

Had the car not been ran for over 2 full seasons, with multiple Ft Wayne Region events (Grissom, Kruse and Verizon) I might understand.  Heck, had he just said "Look, you need to strap this down more, do that and come see me" I would have been glad to sourced a bungee cord.  To make up crap ( "You have a broken tray" - it was not, "It's all twisted up and stuff"- IT is not, Putting his body weight behind it and yanking hard enugh I thought he broke the plastic tray) and then to physically break someone's car that just carried 3 people 150 miles and ran for over 2 seasons as an auto-x car and sees 300+ miles a week as a daily driver is completely uncalled for.  Your job as Tech chief is to pass or fail the car and instruct the failing cars what needs to be fixed in order to compete.  Your job is NOT to argue with car owners then break their pride and joy in front of them to prove you were "right".

I will be sending my repair bill to the Solo Chair of Ft Wayne.  Anyone have his home address?

First I would like to say that I am sorry to hear what happened to your car at our region's event.  I know that if that had happened to my car I would be just as pissed off as you are.

Secondly I would like to say that Bill Headlee has already contacted the board members at Fort Wayne and they will investigate what happened.  They will want to hear both sides of the story so I am sure they are trying to get hold of the tech that did this and probably the other techs that were there so they can get as many different view of the story as possible.  I would say to you to make sure you send your story as clear and as concise as you can make it to Bill (his contact information is in our newsletter which is online at our website) and if you have any witnesses to have them send their version of the story to Bill.  I know Bill would want as much information from both sides that he get and I know him to be a fair man and the board will do what they can to rectify this situation.

Thirdly I would ask everyone to remember that they have only heard one side of the story so far.  I do not doubt Bob's side of the story by any means.  Obviously his battery tray and wiring harness was broken as he said.  But let us remember that we are all volunteers, we are all human, we all have emotions, and we all make mistakes (I know I can't count how many times I made a mistake).  Let's hear his side of the story before we condemn him.  I don't know what he was thinking at the time he did that but I would like to know before I personally make a judgment that I may regret at a later time.

Finally please do not condemn the entire Fort Wayne region for the actions of one member.  I have raced with many of you down in the Indy region and consider them very good friends and I know the same is true of many of you in Indy of Fort Wayne members.  Let's not destroy that because of one mistake one member made.

Oh, and by the way Bob in the three years that I have raced at Fort Wayne they have had the rule that bungee cords are not satisfactory battery tie downs.  The battery has to be tied down by some method that bolts it securely in place.

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Bart Monnin
1999 BMW Z3 Roadster 2.8
BSP 42 (new class, old number)
bmonnin1@live.com

bmonnin1:

First I would like to say that I am sorry to hear what happened to your car at our region's event.  I know that if that had happened to my car I would be just as pissed off as you are.

Secondly I would like to say that Bill Headlee has already contacted the board members at Fort Wayne and they will investigate what happened.  They will want to hear both sides of the story so I am sure they are trying to get hold of the tech that did this and probably the other techs that were there so they can get as many different view of the story as possible.  I would say to you to make sure you send your story as clear and as concise as you can make it to Bill (his contact information is in our newsletter which is online at our website) and if you have any witnesses to have them send their version of the story to Bill.  I know Bill would want as much information from both sides that he get and I know him to be a fair man and the board will do what they can to rectify this situation.

Thirdly I would ask everyone to remember that they have only heard one side of the story so far.  I do not doubt Bob's side of the story by any means.  Obviously his battery tray and wiring harness was broken as he said.  But let us remember that we are all volunteers, we are all human, we all have emotions, and we all make mistakes (I know I can't count how many times I made a mistake).  Let's hear his side of the story before we condemn him.  I don't know what he was thinking at the time he did that but I would like to know before I personally make a judgment that I may regret at a later time.

Finally please do not condemn the entire Fort Wayne region for the actions of one member.  I have raced with many of you down in the Indy region and consider them very good friends and I know the same is true of many of you in Indy of Fort Wayne members.  Let's not destroy that because of one mistake one member made.

Oh, and by the way Bob in the three years that I have raced at Fort Wayne they have had the rule that bungee cords are not satisfactory battery tie downs.  The battery has to be tied down by some method that bolts it securely in place.

 Good post.

 Maybe he caught something that had been overlooked in the past.  The rules on battery tie down are clear and they are there for your own safety.  I have owned a lot of cars and have never had one that the battery could have even been moved 1/4 inch with the tie down in place.  You could probably pick my car up by the battery to be honest.  I think the above post is wise and don't everyone jump to conclusions and condemn an entire region based on one person's actions.  If we were on the receiving end of that because of something one of our members did, I'm sure we wouldn't take that too lightly.

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08 Lancer Evolution X - STU
Quickest and Fastest Stock turbo X
11.4 on the brakes, 3710 lbs :)

I have never, nor would I ever, use bungee cords to hold a battery down.  Just how stupid do you take me?  I am, and was, using the FACTORY battery tray and FACTORY holddown tab and bolt.  Not like it was held in with a tie strap and piece of rope.

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"Drag racing is for fast cars, autocrossing is for fast drivers"

bmonnin1:

Oh, and by the way Bob in the three years that I have raced at Fort Wayne they have had the rule that bungee cords are not satisfactory battery tie downs.  The battery has to be tied down by some method that bolts it securely in place.

We have the same rule in Indy region and Bob is the tech chief...

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Scott T.
SCCA Member 401575
91 Saturn SC - FSP/ITA 16
2010 Indy Region Solo Chair
indyregionsolo@sbcglobal.net

Bob, this really sucks and I really wish I knew this happen.  I would have been there in a heart beat to help where I could, weather it be fixing the car or getting someone in charge involved right then and there.

 

I am no longer a FWR member and probably will never will be one until some things change.  I would prefer to just be a non member.  But as it has been stated, FWR does have some excellent people (only a couple on the BoD) and I would hate to see the competitive sprit get ruined due to a newbs or a seasoned person mistake or intintial doing.  If there is one thing I have seen over the past 4 year with FWR, members that are well trained and pasionate with the club are leaving, so with what is left is a few HARD CORE individuals to keep training going and not all of these few people can be at all events.  When I have been to Indy, NWOR, or CINCY so far, there is a true sense of trained individuals running things.  I am not saying FWR is not, just only so many can be at these events.  I ask myself somtimes how these HARD CORE members stay and tolerate the madness here, I guess I was not HARD CORE enough :P

I have seen some comments from this forum and the FWR one about it being a volunteer sport.  This is true, both with any customer service organization (even if volunteered) should have a training program going and have plenty of discussion on the website or forums covering these positions.  But when I really think of it a little more, why...why would anyone just grab a part on someones car and aggressively tech it.  Nothing on someones car should be aggressively handled.

 

Well, enough of my rant... just frustrating to hear this happen to a good friend of mine.

 

Cheers,

Jason

(the views or thoughts above are only mine and are not supported by anyone or group I am apart of. Just wanted to make sure no one thinks or would like to condone my friends or the Team I am apart of for my feelings.)

 

 

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Bobzilla:

 Heck, had he just said "Look, you need to strap this down more, do that and come see me" I would have been glad to sourced a bungee cord.

The only reason I mentioned that rule was because of this statement.  I got the impression when I read it that you were planning to use a bungee cord to correct a loose battery condition.  Sorry that I misunderstood what you wrote.

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Bart Monnin
1999 BMW Z3 Roadster 2.8
BSP 42 (new class, old number)
bmonnin1@live.com

bmonnin1:

Bobzilla:

 Heck, had he just said "Look, you need to strap this down more, do that and come see me" I would have been glad to sourced a bungee cord.

The only reason I mentioned that rule was because of this statement.  I got the impression when I read it that you were planning to use a bungee cord to correct a loose battery condition.  Sorry that I misunderstood what you wrote.

Bart, you're good people. Lots of good people up there. Chuck, Travis, Jason, all the Awesome Sauce guys. You're right about not letting the actions of one spoil it for the whole region.

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90 Miata - STS #90/190

If it aint broke, don't fix it.

GChambers:

bmonnin1:

Bobzilla:

 Heck, had he just said "Look, you need to strap this down more, do that and come see me" I would have been glad to sourced a bungee cord.

The only reason I mentioned that rule was because of this statement.  I got the impression when I read it that you were planning to use a bungee cord to correct a loose battery condition.  Sorry that I misunderstood what you wrote.

Bart, you're good people. Lots of good people up there. Chuck, Travis, Jason, all the Awesome Sauce guys. You're right about not letting the actions of one spoil it for the whole region.

Thanks Geoff, I appreciate it.  Especially from a stand up guy like you.  Hope to see you at the national tour in a couple of weeks.  I can understand why Bob may never come back to our region but I hope you realize that this was an unusual and hopefully never repeated incident and come up to have some fun with us again.

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Bart Monnin
1999 BMW Z3 Roadster 2.8
BSP 42 (new class, old number)
bmonnin1@live.com

JPMRacing26:

Bob, this really sucks and I really wish I knew this happen.  I would have been there in a heart beat to help where I could, weather it be fixing the car or getting someone in charge involved right then and there.

 

I am no longer a FWR member and probably will never will be one until some things change.  I would prefer to just be a non member.  But as it has been stated, FWR does have some excellent people (only a couple on the BoD) and I would hate to see the competitive sprit get ruined due to a newbs or a seasoned person mistake or intintial doing.  If there is one thing I have seen over the past 4 year with FWR, members that are well trained and pasionate with the club are leaving, so with what is left is a few HARD CORE individuals to keep training going and not all of these few people can be at all events.  When I have been to Indy, NWOR, or CINCY so far, there is a true sense of trained individuals running things.  I am not saying FWR is not, just only so many can be at these events.  I ask myself somtimes how these HARD CORE members stay and tolerate the madness here, I guess I was not HARD CORE enough :P

I have seen some comments from this forum and the FWR one about it being a volunteer sport.  This is true, both with any customer service organization (even if volunteered) should have a training program going and have plenty of discussion on the website or forums covering these positions.  But when I really think of it a little more, why...why would anyone just grab a part on someones car and aggressively tech it.  Nothing on someones car should be aggressively handled.

 

Well, enough of my rant... just frustrating to hear this happen to a good friend of mine.

 

Cheers,

Jason

(the views or thoughts above are only mine and are not supported by anyone or group I am apart of. Just wanted to make sure no one thinks or would like to condone my friends or the Team I am apart of for my feelings.)

 

 

I don't know about anyone else but for me a lot of it is military discipline.  Whether I liked it or not when I was in the military I had no real choice but to put up with it and that was in the cold war military when the s*** was a lot deeper.  Trust me, the s*** is no where near as deep in Fort Wayne Region.

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Bart Monnin
1999 BMW Z3 Roadster 2.8
BSP 42 (new class, old number)
bmonnin1@live.com