Open letter to LRRS I posted on NEAR

[Degsy]

NEAR is the mailing list for New England Area Racers.

Degs

So, I guess no-one knows who info@lrrsracing.com goes to or when/if it will get checked? That's pretty lame.

I'm not usually one to bad-mouth publicly but I have to say the LRRS web site need some serious work and the fact that the mailto email address does not even get checked is a disgrace. We should have race signup online, it can't be that complicated to add it to the web site.

While I am in complaining mode, I will say that I timed the practise sessions last race weekend from start to finish (while sitting in the grandstand in turn 1) and someone is definitely not being fair to the amateurs, I will leave it at that for that subject.

Also, what kind of engineering genius does it take to get a PA system working?

Our race team (6 riders) spends at least $3000.00 per race weekend at LRRS and I have to tell you that the feeling is that we don't feel we are getting a very fair deal. It's an insult to have to pay $10 for electricity in the grand scheme of things and I seriously doubt the accounting accuracy involved in that operation.Our race team has 6 bikes all with tire warmers, we pay $10. The poor bloke pitted next to us has an EX500 with no tire warmers and he also pays $10 DUH!!

Most of our riders are Amateurs, and every one of them has felt that their first weekend is like being herded around a cattle market in order to be "processed" instead of being welcomed to a club and made to feel part of that club.

We are a small-name race team at Loudon, yet we regularly give a cash donation to the Karen Hornbecker Memorial Fund, we provide cornerworkers every race weekend (who also donate their pay to the same fund). I wonder how many of the big-name teams in the garages do that? Not many I bet as there always seems to be a shortage of corner-workers.

I just get the feeling that there are too many people at LRRS who are getting their racing kicks on the backs of some of the amateurs, who provide a large financial shot to the club but get pretty much nothing in return. Out in the infield we can't hear race announcements, practice session announcements or any other announcements, we actually have to watch for the previous race to end so we know that it must be about time for 3rd call.

If LRRS needs people to operate a stopwatch so that everybody gets a fair practise session, then we will do it.
If LRRS needs someone to fix the PA system, then we will do it.
If LRRS needs to pay for the electricity at the track, then add $1 to the entry fee.

All I am saying is that we ALREADY PAY for a decent racing club, why SHOULD we pay a bit here, a bit there for every little thing. Let us pay once at the door and enjoy ourselves for the weekend.

PLEASE don't attack me, offer your rebuttals as neccessary but let's keep the arguments sensible and don't think I am a lone whiner, my views coincide with those of many others around the club. I LOVE racing at LRRS, I live for it and I always enjoy myself at the track, win or lose (mostly lose), crash or finish I have fun, and I am proud of the LRRS I belong to (particularly our great safety record) but there are improvements that could be made to enable us to be an even better club.

Rant over, back to normal scheduled nonsense.

Derek Sinclair
www.nesrracing.com
LRRS Jun #105

[bemused]

prolly gonna ruffle some feathers, there... which can be a good thing

any responses yet?

[Degsy]

nope.

[PinHead]

Wow Degs! I think you are 100% CORRECT. There are many nickel and dime things that could be done around there to make things go much smoother. If they take you up on any of the repairs and such gimmie a ring and I will help.

[need4speed]

Well said Degs, last race weekend was my first and trying to follow the announcements on the PA system was a joke. Also the lines to register for races could run a little quicker as many had missed their first warmup (myself included) due to the long lines ( I was at the window waiting at 6:25 ). The tech inspection was the only thing that seemed to have its shit together. I wouldn't mind paying a $1.00 or $2.00 more if that means some of the things you mentioned above received the attention they deserve. Online pre-registering should also allow for credit if you back out of a race. I guess because it's the only game in town somethings just don't matter. I'm not sure the length of time for the practice laps but it I heard it mentioned that it was supposed to be 12 minutes. As slow as I am I was only able to do 3 laps and the checkerd flag was being waved. Just seemed like a quick 12 minutes to me. Just my .02 cents worth.

[Stoneman]

Well put, Derek. But like Jon said, they're the only game in town. In my opinion, as long as that's the case things aren't very likely to change much...

[Jank]

Nice wake up call Degs!
Hopefully some good will come from it.

[scootertrash]

I'm glad to see you not only offered your criticism, but also some solutions. Anyone can complain about things they don't like (and sound like a whiner doing it) but to be effective you also need to offer to help fix the problems. As usual, you are willing to put your money where your mouth is. (literally and figuratively) Well put Degsy. (and I'm with you...if they need help fixing the PA or running stop watches...I'll volunteer with ya)

[snowborder]

also what about us shitheads that routinely pay $20.00 to spectate. We don't even know what race is going on!

[beet]

.

[Stoneman]

Any response yet?

[Degsy]

Oh yeah, LOTS of response, most of it good. many many emails telling me "atta boy".

I wasn't trying to piss anyone off or anything, just wanted to stir the pot about some things that really need addressing.

The upshot is that there will be plenty of people at the party sat night. I also have meetings with just about all the officials at the track lined up this week.

The name NESR Racing is now notorious.

[Degsy]

Derek,

Your note was very different from most. The fact that your team helps out
with cornerworking and your rants were reasonably presented made you more
credible than most.

NHIS has had some personnel changes that are making the place more friendly
to do business with. There is a glitch in that the person who is in charge
of operations now just had a stroke, but I am confident that you will all
feel the improvement soon. There has also been recent changes in the
registration building as well and that atmosphere should brighten soon.

The public address system has been a thorn in our sides for a long tome. The
PA guy worked on it Friday and Saturday at the last event. It worked for
several hours after he left before the infield speakers went out. ARRGG!!

That was compounded by the fact that Bruce Berlinger was not there to turn
on the AM radio system that is much more reliable if we don't have thunder
and lightning.

I do appreciate your positive attitude when you volunteered to fix it, but I
suspect that you don't know what you are signing up for. I don't know what
kind of engineering genius it would take to fix the thing, but NHIS hasn't
found him.

As for the first weekend racers, you can come to the Penguin garage for help
anytime.

The practice sessions are governed by available time and the behavior of
the riders in the practice. If a bunch of you fall down or pass on a waving
yellow you are cut short.( A note here that they try to clean up without
stopping practice, but when riders ignore the situation and race through,
they have to stop) That may not be fair to those who did not screw up, but
we can't manufacture more time.

Your group has helped solve that problem by helping with cornerworkers. The
more cornerworkers that we have, the better we can deal with the track
situations and get more practice.

I will grant you that it is not a perfect world but things are improving at
NHIS and I am glad to offer my help to any group that needs it, especially
one that puts an effort back in as yours does.

Jerry Wood

[Stoneman]

Cool, man. It didn't appear for one minute that you were looking to do battle. Every question you raised was plenty valid...

Oh. And I'm guessing that if you're gonna be up in the area, we'll be getting together for some pops...

[Degsy]

Actually, the race weekend is when I have meetings lined up. Janskster should come with me also for a second opinion from our team.

Degs

[Jank]

Where and when?

[scootertrash]

Sounds like you have some great dialog going Degs...Let the rest of us know if we can help in any way.

[bemused]

nice to see that your missive was seen for what it was, good reply from Jerry.

WTG, Squeaky Wheel

[Degsy]

Well, I got a few idiot responses in the vain of "Why don't you stop whining"

all from experts funnily enough, strange huh?

Derek

[twrayinma]

Originally posted by Degsy
Well, I got a few idiot responses in the vain of "Why don't you stop whining"

all from experts funnily enough, strange huh?

tony?
any thoughts?

hope this ends up improving things...