I hope everyone does watch the race this Friday larue...it was exciting for about 65 laps. David has shown his fans in the past that he can come from the back...he did it at Delaware earlier this year, coming from 2 laps down in 30th place to finish 4th. We may have lost your respect, but we didn't lose a race car. That's the choice we made and our sponsor backs us. Glad to hear you'll still be cheering for Gary.
Being involved with the dirt car now at Ohsweken it will be hard to get to Delaware as much as we did before but hope to get to see Dave there a few times as he always gets the most out of stuff. Atleast Flammy still has Gary, a class act all the way.
I just want to say that I appreciate everyone's opinion,and the kind words. There is no place I would sooner be than at the race track and racing with friends or strangers. I don't mind racing with hard chargers, as long as they respect each other, and I agree rubbing is racing. Sometimes however, rubbing is a poor excuse when you can't get by and using the bumper is a disrespectful way to pass.
I don't want to take too long here, but there are 2 issues.
#1...My biggest worry or fear from a competitors point of view is racing against cars that are illegal or have an unfair advantage. I would race IROC Late Models and let the best driver and set up system be the winner. Maginnis is a good driver, no doubt, and his dad knows his stuff as well. But they are no better than Paul Howse and Junior Hanley, Jason and Randy Shaw, Jeff Stewart and Bruce Bennett or Scott and Bill Lyons. They have a car that clearly, is no match, for the rest of the Late Models at Flamboro, and soon the Tech people will find out what it is that makes the car so much faster and do something about it. Then this frustrating part of 2009 will be gone.
#2...I was one person who wanted David to race, but I understood how bad he felt after getting messed around again by the Flamboro staff. From an outsiders point of view, it looks like David parked his car and wouldn't race it. From those who know him and how much he loves to race, the truth is totally different. We were told in Tech, prior to the races, that a black flag meant you went to the back. When David got the black for dumping Shane, he went to the back. He knew he would have to, he slowed down waiting for the black flag, he did it intentionally in retaliation. If he was suppose to be out of the race the starter should have pointed to the exit or blacked him again but didn't. David knew that was the only time he hit Shane in the race. After the race he went to Tech. He passed Tech, but rumours were flying around that he had been disqualified. David went to the tower and was told by Bob Munroe that he finished 2nd and he wasn't d'q'd. Ten minutes later he was called to the tower and told he was disqualified for rough driving. David told us last week that if he was hit by the 03 at any time during warm ups, heats or feature he was going to dump him. He was upset because of what Maginnis did to a number of drivers the week before by running into them including spinning out Steve Laking who was running 3rd on May 23rd.
When Don Cox was questioned...that if Shane wasn't disqualified for dumping the #44 car who was running 3rd in the feature last week, why would David be disqualified tonight...the answer.."we got to start somewhere". When David heard that he was blamed for hitting Shane in the heat and that he was going to be made an example of...he lost it. He was almost in tears after arguing so long about the unfair call. Some other team crews were standing around the Tech garage during the rant and said it was BS what was happening. When you think of it, who would argue that much about an issue, unless they were convinced they were not to blame, and maybe the staff had it in for him?...he wasn't out of the race, he could start last...it was the principle that made him load his car, then take it out to go one lap and collect $360.
Some have suggested I would have went out to race, and they're right... but I'm not David. He'll bounce back, just not at Flamboro anymore.
Visit our site at www.elliottracingteam.com we have a message board and some CVM history for you to see.
Thanks again.
PS I will be driving my #9 Late Model at Delaware Friday night...can't wait.
Who knows what channel it is on??Gary Elliott,thanks for your very honest reply.I would of loved to see you and your son do battle,you ran a good hard race.
Okay,with the built engine rules,do you think if you spent the money,can you built a kick ass engine and beat up on the crates?Iam not sure myself,thats why iam asking,thanks. ::)
I wouldn't have joined Late Models if it were not for the Crate engine. I was able to work a deal back in 04' that would allow me to race Late Models in 05. The Crate engine was being used at that time by ASA and slowly becoming the engine of choice through the US. Delaware embraced it and Flamboro was considering running the Crate. No one wanted it in the beginning. By late 04', after my final full time season with the CVM, I started checking into the cost of built engines. The range was as low as $17,000, to $35,000. The average good competitive engine would be about $25,000. That to me was the end of Late Model racing unless Flamboro decided on the Crate.
Joe Chisholm wanted me to run ALSTAR, but at that time they wanted no part of the Crate. Flamboro wasn't offering any assistance at all. Delaware had the Crate rule in place and I asked Flamboro if they were going with the Delaware rules...they didn't know. Finally they agreed to go with it but were not certain on the rules. Eventually they allowed the little clutch and the 4 barrell carb. I was warned by the owner not to blame him if I couldn't keep up...anyhow we became the experimental car for Flamboro in 05'. We won 2 features and they called and told me to add 150 pounds to the car about mid season. I added the weight and it slowed me down tons. In 06 about 7 cars bought Crates and the weight penalty was lifted and the Built engine was allowed to run the 5" clutch. Now almost every car is running the Crate. It's the reason I'm running in this class....cost and reliability.
Our current engine has accumulated 10 nights in 06, 24 nights in 07, 27 in 08' and 4 so far in 09'. It cost $5500 plus tax....it's truly a no brainer! All the drivers agreed in 06' that if anyone messed with the Crate engine they would be disqualified for the season.
The Crate engine has allowed me to learn how to set up and drive a Late Model because I'm not chasing oil leaks, carb or running rough issues....only concentrating on driving....I also like the change to Five Star bodies. The pre 04' Late Model body styles were fairly ugly.