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It was quite an enjoyable day with some close racing and plenty of quick times in most classes. I congratulate WSID for taking on the event when other organisers dropped the ball in a huge way. However, I was quite disappointed with some of the actions of both the WSID staff and event management, considering that this was actually a national championship round, albeit for the lowly (sic) SC classes.

On many occassions track officials showed a total lack of respect for the racers and spectators in the way the event was run. For example, the official who was supposed to be keeping water in the burnout area had his hands on his hips and members of racers' poit crew had to step in to add water to the ground in order for cars to actaully be able to do a burnout and not stall. This may not be a big deal to most people, but to me, it shows a complete lack of respect for the racers of SC, as it mainly affected the top class ($$$) racers. This wouldn't happen if the big boys were contesting a round of their national championship.

Another blaring error by the officials was the fact that between all of them, they neglected to fit the black seperator board when the elimination rounds started in the DYO categories. For those who are unaware, this board is fitted inbetween the amber lights on the starting tree in DYO racing so that the racers are not distracted by the different starting lights of each lane. They can only see the green and red lights in both lanes and the ambers in their own lane. This resulted in the top two qualifiers being eliminated in S/RWD due to redlighting . The officials then realised that the seperator board wasn't in place and subsequently fitted it. In my eyes, the racing conditions had been unfairly altered to the disadvantage of the top two S/RWD qualifiers. When this was pointed out and a possible grounds for protest was mentioned, both racers approached the ANDRA SC Director who then referred them to the race director.

So what did the race director have to say? Even if a protest was lodged, it would not accomplish anything. He even had the audacity to say that they had raced like that earlier (in qualifying). But when the fact that the lights started simultaneously during qualifying, and not delayed according to the dial-in times in eliminations, was mentioned to him, the race director basically said "bad luck".

Again, this would not have happened in any round of the ANDRA National Championship, but it was a SC round, so gives a stuff, eh?

Also, the QSR RX3 crashed due to a large oil down from the previous race. To me this is absolutely pure negligence/recklessness and poor conduct by the track officials in allowed another race to be run with oil near the finish line. What sort of professionalism can be seen here? Not much.

Once again, this would not have happened in any round of the ANDRA National Championship, but it was a SC round, so gives a stuff, eh?

This little rant is not intented to take anything away from any winners in any class, but is just meant to highlight the fact that WSID is taking a two faced approach to SC racing. It appears as if they are only doing it because they have to rather than want to.

Bit disappointed with the starting problem.....cannot think of any other National Championship where a false start or an error by the starter would not constitute a re-run. Was definately distracted by the other lights in the other lane, which upset my concentration. I have never red-lighted before in my drag racing career (normally a bit slow off the lights). I had my opponent easily covered in the run and would have had an easy win. No sour grapes to the winners (bu5ter/2rismo), as im sure you both could see how excited i was to see you guys battling it out for top honours.

i am sure that the blacking out boards were up for my first 2 rounds of racing.

i actually thought it was very well organised, we had one person as point of contact for our class, i was really happy with the day and its organisation.

as for the burnout water, if you want more toot your horn and point to the water and the guy will do it. you have to remember we have awd cars in our class that dont want to drive through water so the water guy is conscious of that.

i have always found them obliging after a toot and point, they wave and give you some water.

Adrian, it was an awesome run, i was dabbing the brakes for the last 80 metres or so just trying to keep my nose ahead, didnt think it would run faster int he afternoon as my intake temps were 60 deg and only 30 deg earlier in the day. that said, it was a great run and probably the closest i have had for a long time, its always enjoyable to race against some one i consider a true racer.

Shane

i am sure that the blacking out boards were up for my first 2 rounds of racing.

yeah they were put up straight after i red lighted...i was the third run. two of the three runs without the board were red light runs.

must have been me and the satria that werent the red line run then.

i cant remember it not being there, but i was in the second pair out.

was going to hit you up for a tow car challenge on they way home, seen you at the twin servos. was half asleep on the way home and dropped in for a cuppa.

i wont be making the trek to QLD for round 3 at this stage, will just enjoy final round in sydney.

im (the car) is going on a diet to get down to minimum weight im 140 kilos over.

must have been me and the satria that werent the red line run then.

i cant remember it not being there, but i was in the second pair out.

was going to hit you up for a tow car challenge on they way home, seen you at the twin servos. was half asleep on the way home and dropped in for a cuppa.

i wont be making the trek to QLD for round 3 at this stage, will just enjoy final round in sydney.

im (the car) is going on a diet to get down to minimum weight im 140 kilos over.

im arranging for the interior to go back in and the windows to be tinted....going to enjoy a "street car for a few months between races. All the race numbers and battery stickers are gone and the Nismo rims are back on. With the cat and silencer installed its quite a sedate package on the street and quite often travels the around unnoticed.

im arranging for the interior to go back in and the windows to be tinted....going to enjoy a "street car for a few months between races. All the race numbers and battery stickers are gone and the Nismo rims are back on. With the cat and silencer installed its quite a sedate package on the street and quite often travels the around unnoticed.

yea, i know what you mean, once the simmons and factory interior go back in its nice to cruise in, but the auto doesnt like summer, so i doubt i will see much cruising at xmas time, though winter will be another story.

Good to see that the lane marshalls did a good job. I would have loved to have raced that day but it ws not meant to be. So hopefully car will get fixed and will be 100% ready for next year.

Shane, I think that Mark ran first, then Paul, and I definitely noticed the officals putting the board up after Paul red-lighted, and that is when the error caught my attention. In my opinion, the racing conditions had changed and the races should have been re-run as the red-lights affected the result.

As for the lack of water on the burnout area, I saw plenty of Pro RWD teams having to get one of their pit crew to add more water after they failed to get their burnouts underway. Bit hard for those guys to toot their horn when they dont have one :D It's a basic job that they failed to do, with the guy responsible for it having his hands on his hips 5 or 10 metres away instead. To me, this shows a lack of respect and professionalism towards the top class (if not, all) racers in SC.

The point I am trying to make is that WSID while putting on this event, appear to not really give SC the same attitude as they would for the ANDRA National Championship. Their was little promotion from WSID for this event, and this was reflected in the amount of racers and spectators. Even the guys at the gates said it was a test & tune/bracket meet. Having said that, I do appluad them for taking on the event. Lets hope the next one is bigger and better.

PS, Paul, now you know why the QSR guys blew up in anger. The officials didn't stop racing from an oil down the previous race and this is what caused their RX3 to crash.

I raced first

Mark pushed through his clutch, I'm pretty sure board or no board would of helped him with this problem

from another racers point of view it was a good day not perfect but tell me what is

Brett

Bit hard for those guys to toot their horn when they dont have one

Sport Compact Rule Book - SRWD - Page 32 - Section 6.1

All factory controls must be retained and operative; i.e., lights, signals, horn, windows and wipers.

:)

Adrian

I was referring to PRO RWD cars (you know the ones with the uniformed pit crews all over the start area

Uniformed pit crew who can't decide between the 90 or so of them which one's job should be to get some water down? Gimme a break!

Adrian

While we're on the subject, I'm usually the FIRST person in line to hang shit on WSID when they fark up in a large way but I have to say that the way they conducted themselves on Saturday was a million times better than i imagined it would be.

Sure they stuffed up a few things and there were some care-factor issues, however the usual suspects kept things together pretty well.

Now they've had a taste of just how easy a SCompact event is to run, I don't think it will be such a battle to get the next one going.

Adrian

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