THSCC Forums

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02 Focus SVT
STF 9

Now I didn't say anything about that

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Mike Whitney
whit32@gmail.com, 919-454-5445
V10, V8, V8t, I6, I6, V6, F4t, I4, I4, I4, I4, I2, 1, 1

OK, so I'm not going to protest anyone for removing fog lights, but I certainly don't think we as a club should look down on ANYONE for a protest. What we may personally think of as a weenie protest has to be put aside if you are in any sort of leadership position. Just my opinion of course.

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05 MCS

I agree with Chris completely. Protests don't have to be horrible things. IMHO, what should happen is:

. competitor with problem should talk to the other competitor as soon as possible
. if there can be no friendly resolution, then file a protest
. those in charge should do what they can to adjudicate the protest while keeping everyone as friendly as possible

In 99% of the cases, the first step will end up clarifying a misunderstanding for *someone* and life will move on with either a correction at the next event or a dropping of the whole thing. But if you believe someone else is doing something that's against the rules and giving them some kind of competitive advantage (even if it's just small weight savings) and they won't fix the problem, you have every right to a fair and friendly protest. Even if the officers believe the "small weight savings" was negligible, they should handle the protest in a nice manner (without any nut kicking, at least!). And if their answer is "come on, we're talking two pounds here, you're gonna have to get over it", then get over it.

But I really don't think we should be threatening people to not protest. It doesn't need to be like that. I know you guys are really just joking around and trying to put some amount of pressure out there to avoid the truly weenie protest over a shift knob in stock or something, but I just think it needs to be said that protests aren't horrible things.


--Donnie

Yeah, you just say that because you're one of those mean-spirited protesters.

As for what's going to be illegal on my car, there may be things I'm not aware of (and don't really care about, so ), but the one I'm thinking of is the heavier-than-stock JDMYO!!! fold-down rear seat that came out of a 98 WRX. The slipping Exedy aftermarket clutch may make it a couple of events before being replaced with a new OE Exedy clutch, too. I probably won't wait too long, though, as I'd like to be able to get a good launch so Chris and the rest of you 2wders have some time to make up on me after the first 60ft.

If these two items bother anyone badly enough, please protest me.

Everyone behind me is an incredibly talented driver - Everyone in front of me is cheating!
~ Bill Haney~

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02 Focus SVT
STF 9

Though we use the SCCA rule set and classifications out of convenience, it is clearly not in the tradition of the THSCC to be "nit pickers" when it comes to SCCA rule enforcement. Two examples of this are:

1. The fact that the official THSCC SCCA rulebook in the bus is four years old.

2. In my ten years of THSCC involvement, I've only ever heard of one protest attempt and it was denied. Jack Hall's protest of Tom Hoppe because he was "too fast" without any mention of a specific rule being broken, just the fact that it was impossible for a WRX to go faster than a Corvette on that particular course so he must be cheating.

However, We do strive to avoid blatant incorrectly classed cars unlike some other unnamed NC autocross clubs. I promise I will not kick anyone in the nutz for attempting a protest, however I can't promise I won't laugh at you.

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'07, '08, '11 Autocross VP
'06, '10 Mike Dishman Cup
'21 MX5, '13 Corvette GS, '92 Corvette 383 c.i. 413whp/390wtq, '03 Expedition

Sheesh guys, when did the subject of this thread change from "Foglights in ST* classes" to "protestors suck"?

Donnie, Regardless as to how my comments were interpreted, I don't disagree with any part of what you said, and couldn't have said it better, you nailed it on the head, etc... etc... etc...

Protests are definitely a valid part of the dispute process that the staff will take seriously should it come to that, and in no way should my previous comments be construed to suggest otherwise.

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Dustin Fredrickson
-- I'm a nobody --

As someone who has filed a protest on the biggest stage of autocross, I can say that they are actually vital to keeping everyone on the level. Without them, this "self police" sport will be nothing more than your local dirt track with "house" rules based upon each driver.

I've been on the other side of a protest too when I co-drove Eric's Spyder. Sometimes protests are done to get a rule clarified, for it's not written well or fuzzy in the interpretation, so people shouldn't ever assume that protests are always bad or even contentious between two drivers. Hell, about 50 of us protested the course at a ProSolo event a few years back - AB

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'14 Toyota Sequoia Platinum 4WD
Super Westerfield Bros - '93 Integra - LeChump Du Jour
STX 93 - Scion FR-S

I don't care who you are, that ish is funny!

Dustin, I wasn't getting on you, just the tone of the "kick in the nuts" thing. And I don't even really mind that, I just wanted to make sure lurkers and newbies who *do* read the forums understand that protests aren't necessarily bad things that people will hate you for. And obviously point out that it probably won't come to that if you talk to your fellow competitors beforehand.

And for the record, if anyone has read this thread and still tries a weenie protest, it is time for the kick in the nuts.

I would like to point out that any club using the SCCA rules does at least owe it to the SCCA to buy a rulebook each year. JMHO.


--Donnie

What happens if it is a woman who raises the protest?

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Jim Pastorius
2008 Silverado VortecMax
1992 Camaro CMC#92
2002 BMW R1150R

2009 3rd Place CMC Mid-Atlantic Championship
2009 CMC Hyperfest Winner

No comment - AB

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'14 Toyota Sequoia Platinum 4WD
Super Westerfield Bros - '93 Integra - LeChump Du Jour
STX 93 - Scion FR-S

Rhymes with....

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02 Focus SVT
STF 9

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