Jim.....
...... While I certainly appreciate your walk down memory lane, I suspect I walked that road many years before you. I got into drag racing in 1958 and have been involved since that time, and no, I was not 6 yrs old I was 19 years old and in the military that year. While I respect your sticking up for your friend Bobby what bothers me is the condescending manner that you responded to me. Every issue you brought up is indeed old news, While I certainly do not agree with most of it I respect your opinion and can only hope that you can at least respect my opinion also.
Thanks, Paul
Take what you want from my post. Bobby is I guess a friend but as he will vouch I pull no punches with him either. (Hell he probably likes vingar based BBQ so he ain't exactly like kin folk with me) (Easy now I eat it too when I go east)
Unfortunately I was born and grew up in the traveling circus and it is quite possible we crossed paths over time. Should sue parent for that deal. Ain't exactly new nor my first rodeo either. My math from your post puts me just a little over 20 years behind you if your 69.
First National race? Indy 63' still have the event shirt!
Every issue old news? Sure you can call it that. But still the same it is current news and damned relevent to fixing the very issues you talked about. The bashing or not getting along. Broken record that has been for around 15 years.
History and the fact it keeps repeating. Hide the skeltons in the closet and put granny in the attic. Don't talk about issues or problems. Ignore it and it will go away. The current state of affairs has been brewing and brewing for a long time. It is going away in effect, at the cost of people who put the show on walking away.
For this sport to survive and grow it needs to be a cooperative effort. Not just keep changing things and pushing all of the costs to the fans and team owners. Management needs to admit they need the employees, the customers, and listen to the janitor who really runs things in the back.
My last three jobs out there have gone away due to:
1) Sponsor being poached (woo'd right out from under with full knowledge of powers that be).
2) Rule changes that absolutely made no sense driving costs beyond a reasonable weekend $20K budget just to try and qualify.
3) Get an almost new car (6 month old record holding car) Then get hit with oh it needs updates, needs more updates, get new update...broken record.
And we keep going with like Bobby Laganas post about 3/8" valve cover studs. Why?
I have no beef with you personally. But Bobby and staff report the news and situations very damn well. And they are not affiliated nor held to house rules. He may have struck a nerve with you and that is good he did his job.
And if we as a collective group cannot admit there are issues and talk about it, then it is time to do as we have. Sell it all to go find another place to make or put money, or play.
I'll close with this. If Bobby can do what others have been fired for in the past by telling the truth or speaking out against things that need speaking we are all the better.
Get close to here Paul I'll buy you a real BBQ dinner and we can talk more. No vinegar and the sauce on the side! Sorry Bobby!
