Now that I have been thinking about this all day since the new rule changes with all of 5 or 6 nights to go has killed the division. I wanted to see where the blame laid for the death of this division and i came to the conclusion theres plenty of blame to go around.
Lets start with the DRIVERS, now this has to be the most diverse group of people ever to get behind the wheel of a stock car(and no I don't care if these cars fit your definition of stock car). Now the new ownership group hasn't exactly shown these driver any amount of respect and these drivers have continually misplace there anger towards this. They started from about night 2 of the new ownership when the second round of heats were dropped and a consi was picked up starting only 24 cars in the A-Main. This then lead to the slower drivers to start filing complaints about how they deserve a last place payout or tow money. They then ended up getting what they wanted and on most nights even receive a "little feature" for those who do not qualify to the A-Main. But there complaining has not stopped there, the issue then arose that they did not get enough public viewing and they no longer wanted to be the last feature. Now there was a reason they were the last feature, the former ownership group realized how many cautions these inexperienced drivers could create and how long they can make a night. And once again the drivers yelled and they received. But as it was last time they still were not happy. So the person who was doing his best to help him became there next victim(yes thats right I'm the victim) the Tech Guy, some cars were going to fast and the slow cars and drivers could not keep up(in slow drivers view the fast guys were cheating). Now I teched a probably about 10 cars or so and measured springs checked tire sizes and rating, the muffler depending on the car, and even looked for hidden ballast weight. And came up with nothing. No one go DQ'd and that did not sit well with these drivers who do not win, so what happens, they race backwards and what happens people who should have never won a race end up winning and it was just wrong in my view and many others because thats not racing that a circus. So it all comes to a head when some certain 2 faced drivers(and they know who they are) whined to the new owner at the first drivers meeting he attends that I'm not doing my job and etc etc etc so in turn the owner insults me to all the drivers and I quit. Fred takes over Four Fun tech and the complaining goes away for a short period. They get what they want again and end up racing the correct way and the same winners end up in victory lane and the complaining comes back so what happens, the rules change and no camber and no different rim sizes and the complaining goes away. But the same winners and driver continue to finish in the top 5. Now thats just there off track issues. There on track issues were clearly visible Saturday night, disregard for your fellow drivers safety so that explains itself.
Also with the majority of injuries over the last few years and dramatics of some of the drivers, now I'm not down playing any of the accident this year, but there have been certain drivers that pull dramatics after accidents and now make people think these accidents and injuries are not serious(anyone remember September of 2007 pm me if you want the story).
So now that the drivers have done there part it is now onto the FLAGGING STAFF.
Now every year in this division except this year the ZERO contact rule has been in effect, we have seen drivers intentionally flip other drivers and just flat out wreck each other. And for all of these accident the black flag has been used the issues are solved. Rob would come down to the drivers meeting and tell us that intentional contact would result in a black flag and the contact goes away and accidents stop. How many times last year and in 2006 did this division race flag to flag. This year I have personally not seen the black flag thrown and its resulted in some serious accidents. So pretty much all of Saturdays accident, all of which broke the camels back could have been prevented if the black flag had been used this year these drivers would have feared contact with each other and these accidents would not have taken place. I understand Rob no longer flags the 4 cylinder divisions but something needed to be done and it never was.
Next up is Tech Staff
Now I told you my track record as Tech Man and the record in the post Rainman time. Now there were 3 Dqs in 2007 if I remember correctly, I was nailed once(heater core) as well as Terry Woodly(snow tires) and Bill Campbell(H rated tires on the borrowed track VW Jetta). Now Fred`s view of the rules was the same as many, as long as it was with in stock adjustment it was good, its a beginner and a learning division and without allowing drivers to adjust there cars how are they suppose to learn. So in my view the Tech Staff did nothing wrong in this, they worked hard to ensure the cars were safe(once again your definition doesn`t matter they met the rule book)
OWNERSHIP GROUP
The division was started but Glenn Lloyd under his ownership and 2 other tracks followed....Peterborough and Capital City and Oshweken. Now no other track has had such controversy over this division as Sunset. Capital City allowing DOHC cars in and alot less belts and bars than Sunset(I remember Autumn Colors 06, a few CC cars showed and with no window nets and stock belts they were scary). Now Glenn did everything in his power to keep these drivers in control and not upgrade safety standards in them. Glenn also did his best to treat all these drivers like equals and treat them equal with the drivers in other divisions. When the new management took over that treatment went out the window, these driver started being treated like a red headed step child(I hope no one seriously takes offense). The new ownership has started making moves before now to introduce full cages and racing seats for next year, and in light of Saturday nights accidents has decided to make them mandatory and destroy what some drivers have been racing for all year and probably destroy the points fund most of these drivers have been racing for.
So thats Who Killed the Sunset Four Funs..........in my view, its taken me over an hour to write all this and all day to think about it. So I hope some of you share the view as to where I`m coming from with this.
I could not agree with you more Rainman i believe the tech dept. is doing a fine job, look at me on sat. i've decided i had enough and switched back to a setup that i ran earlier in the year. During this time it was totally legal then a rule change to slow down 3 or 4 cars came along and ruined this setup. So on Saturday i switched back and won the feature. Low and behold the tech dept. caught this and Dq'd me, i knew it was going to happen and did not care anymore. boy i had fun though!! Yes there were a few people who did kill this class crying they wern't fast enough couldn't win need to even things out blah blah blah. Then try something different try to learn ask for help if you need it. I personally have not ran my car the exact same for more than 3 nights in a row, changing toe, tire pressures, stagger all legal things but to some it's cheating i guess ???
Clap clap clap clap clap I couldnt agree more. ;D ;D ;D
I as one of the non winners 🙁 ( but close to winning) agree to everything that has been written here about who killed the 4 funs!
My car according to the sticker and track standards is 2008 safety teched! I feel safe driving my car, I do not fear safety wise. I trust the more experienced drivers more so than the rookies due to there perception of 4 fun. (too competitive, not fun)
I just want to have fun and race my car without complaints, whining and poor sportsmanship. I feel that a select few of the drivers have ruined the 4 fun division. I totally agree with the black flag issue.
How many of these drivers can and will abide to the new rules by Saturday? Technically, we should be notified of any changes in rules or regulations in writing by the owner before any changes are actually made.
For those who are competitive to the point of craziness should move on up to the next division or leave. Leave the ones who want to have FUN racing alone. We (the 4 funs) as a group should request a meeting with the owner and ask him to leave the division alone for the rest of this race season and start fresh implementing the new rules next year.
I have enjoyed being apart of the sunset group by meeting new people and acquiring new friends.
See but Paul you were one of the people who didn't complain about the fast guys, you worked hard on your car and drove the wheels off it and tried to compete with the fast guys, you didn't complain about them you just tried to better yourself and for that you are one of the better racers out there, I always had fun racing with yah(well probly just cause i won lol j/k).
