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Ok, here are the details:

Everyone makes their first day runs. I'm in impound just chillin', pretty excited being in 3rd place less than .3 second out of the lead. Bryan and I are talking about his last run, in which he over-drove a section and got the car all sorts of sideways

Anyway, Matt Grainger comes up and says to me, 'Check this out'. He brings me to his car and shows me the two metal lines that are part of the vacuum system. Both lines are about 1/16" i.d with multiple bends in them.. The top line starts from a branch off of the hose going from the intake box to the top of the valve cover, and connects with about a 1" piece of 1/4" i.d. black hose. The bottom one comes from an output near the middle (back) of the head and connects via another 1" piece of 1/4" i.d. hose.

So I go with him up to the 51/151 car of Carl Wener/Bruno Lajoie. The top metal line was replaced with about 5/8" i.d. RED hose directly to valve cover. The bottom was connected with just a 2" piece of 3/8" black hose.

I check out the other 20 ITR's and only the 93/193 car is different than Grainger's, but none are remotely close to the 51/151 car. Grainger gets soft about protesting the car, being that he has ran against it for maybe 10 events and never noticed it. I decided to protest that one and he would protest the 93/193 car (Stephen Turner/Brian Cembor). The 93/193 car had the correct tubing, but the return line (bottom) was routed incorrectly, thus, effectively plugging it.

My reasoning was simple: The car was not stock and the guy did nothing to hide it. Personally, I think the larger line would increase crankcase pressure and possibly give an very slight advantage. Regardless, I bust my balls to ensure every car I have ever brought to an event have been legal. For the Celica I spent thousands of dollars to meet this, including all new fender liners, as well as insuring the head was done exactly to factory spec when it was rebuilt.

With little time left to file the protest, Grainger and I got protest forms and filed them. Bruno/Carl bitched that they have run their car like this for 5 Nationals and 30 Tours/Pros combined and never received a complaint. That was their 'defense'. They also had a non factory wire cover, oil cap, and other things, so from my perspective, they had little regard for the rules.

The outcome was this, all four drivers were found illegal and received 1 second penalties for their runs on day 1. Personally, I think the 51/151 should have received 2 seconds or a DNF for day 1, while 93/193 should have been told to make it correct for day 2, but no time penalty. The protest committee even told me that the 51/151 car stated that they were illegal.

When I went up to the guys of the 51/151 at the protest building, Cembor ripped into me, telling me I was an asshole and this was a weenie protest. After hearing his profanity spill, I walked away.

The next day, Bryan Hertweck is pulling the Crossfire into grid and Cembor is walking toward him giving him the finger. Then, Bryan goes to take a leak. Alan Posner is behind him and says, "That's a weenie protest you filed." When Bryan corrected him that I filed it, he apologized and then told him it was still a bullshit protest. Funny, Posner was gridded next to me and didn't have the sack to tell me to my face.

The kicker for me was when I pulled into line to make my first run, nervous as hell being in the hunt for the win (I was actually leading the event after the first drivers 3rd runs), I hear Heyward Wagner (announcer for our heat) say over the loudspeaker, "In comes the perfectly legal 51 car of Bruno Lajoie". Then I take off and when I get off the course, he says "Hang around Buckley, the perfectly legal car of Stephen Turner, #93, is coming off the course." Needless to say, I was hot about it.

After it all ended, I ended up getting 4th overall, but if I was solely focused on driving, I probably would have gotten 3rd. Kinch had a tough time and didn't drive to his ability either, and I should have been able to make up the .297 I was behind him from day 1. With all the BS going on, the last thing I wanted to do was go to the Banquet and deal with some more. I headed home and Karen or David got my trophy. It's a real shame, because I really enjoyed receiving my 5th place for B-Stock last year...

Heyward and I talked before I left and he apologized for the comments. He had no idea it bothered me. I was cool with that. - AB

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

Sounds like your protest was correct. If it was a weenie thing the protest committee would have just told them to fix it with no penalty.

I just don't understand why people think that their car can be modified beyond the rules at Nationals. You really do have to have everything legal on your car out there, because it's one place that you can be sure that your competition is actually going to check over your car.

I'm sorry it turned out to be so stressful but I think you were correct to file on them.

Besides that congratulations on your 4th place that's a really great run.

Shawn

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OK so I'm back in. Now which tire should I buy??

You should have protested Posner for unsportsmanlike conduct. And anyone else who cursed at you. Seriously.

I'd add that this should be a learning experience for you. Reading your comments has been one for me. What did I learn? If you're going to protest someone, be mentally prepared for the ramifications. I'd hope to those reading that doesn't mean "don't do that." To me it means I should just be prepared for the onslaught of crap and ignore it. Well, I'd ignore it up to the point someone cursed me. I'd either curse back (likely), or protest (better, but you have to not curse back for that to work). But you still have to be ready to get over that and do what you came there to do.

The protest committees are good at what they do. I *really* can't understand anyone getting mad at someone for a protest that was upheld. Sure, there could be situations where a competitor could have let you know beforehand or whatever. This clearly wasn't one of those, though. *sigh*

EDIT: 1.4.2.K is the unsportsmanlike conduct rule and seems clear to me. Someone flipping you off or cursing at you could be disqualified. If you've acted within the rules and had this happen, well, I would think long and hard about it. If it happens to me I think I'd just say "Give it up or you'll be under protest for unsportsmanlike conduct." If they continue, write the paperwork. You have until 30 minutes after the completion of the entire EVENT to file that protest, too. Not just 30 minutes after yours or their class.


--Donnie

Damn, Aaron, that sucks.

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Has no responsibility whatsoever.

I know Carl from when i was living in Quebec. That doesn't surprise me that much from him. He should have know better than that. At the National
level you have to make sure your car is legal to the letter.

I check their forum, so far no word of the protest yet. Here the link for it.
It's a mix of English and French but it's mostly French.

http://cadl.qc.ca/portail/modules.php?o ... file=index

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Patrice
1973 911 former track and AX car.
2016 VW GTI
2002 Nissan Sentra (Olivier car)
2012 Nissan Juke (Kathy car)
2010 Suzuki Kizashi (Audrey car)

My nationals take:

Aaron and I took the overnight bonzai run out starting Thurs, 1pm...arrived in Topeka around 5am...plenty of time to hit Denny's and get stuff set up in paddock. Smartest move ever was setting the back of the Excursion up so that half of it had a makeshift sleeping bag bed...I don't think much true sleep was had, but being able to stretch out and relax while not driving was verrrry helpful. I think this was the first pro I ever arrived at morning of instead of day before. I actually kinda liked it. Practice starts are relatively useless once you've done a bunch of Pro's (and the Crossfire is relatively inconsistent anyway with it's not-really off TC). It was nice to arrive and not have to wait very long to compete. At 3rd after day 1, I thought I was poised for a trophy...but somehow on day 2 I picked up like 8 tenths and still managed to drop 3 spots. Oh well...maybe sleeping would have been a good idea instead of that trip to Harrah's KC. Great competition...and finishing a second behind a car that had a 4 tenths lead per side by 60' was not too bad.

Nationals day 1 for DS was one of the most exciting days of my autocross life. Aaron had a not-so-great-cold-tire first run. After I crossed the line on my first run, they announced me in 3rd place, with only a few 2nd drivers left in 1st runs...cool. Then Aaron busted out a 2nd run that was right in the lead time mix. My 2nd run, I ran what I felt like was a really fast run...and the clock said so...faster than Aaron's 2nd run, but there were 2 places I thought I nicked cones...apparently one of them fell...but I'm still feeling good because I know me and the car are capable. 3rd run, Aaron is announced as the leader after he crossed the line...I'm totally pumped now...Aaron at worst has a high trophy spot locked up for day 1 and I have one more shot at doing the same. Well, I went for it...I wanted the lead...didn't hit the fastest section of the course quite right and ended up with a Dukes of Hazzard slide that I saved, but ended with a cone right in the middle of the door along with the pissed away time...I coasted through the finish. At least I went for it. The good news after that was Aaron in 3rd and a car that crossed the scales at 2893lbs. I was in 12th, one out of trophies standing on my first run, feeling confident that I could move up a few spots day 2.

Then all the protest drama. Been covered pretty well above. Made day 2 really suck. I drive up the very narrow grid entry lane...someone I don't know is walking directly at me, trying to look as intimidating as possible, and holding up the middle finger salute. I ignore him and park...then talk to a few people and figure out that it was Brian Cembor. We go about prepping the car...following a rule of not leaving the car unattended since there's some obvious hate floating around. Then, I'm sitting next the car, trying to relax and minding my own business when Alan Pozner, gridded next to us says "protesting someone who's behind you for something that's no performance advantage is being a dick." I said "excuse me, was that directed at me?" "Didn't you file the protest?" "No, Aaron did." "Well, I apologize to you then, but it's still being a dick." Feel the love. Then Aaron goes up for his first run and Heyward Wagner is announcing crap like "and here come's the extremely legal #51 ITR...Aaron Buckley will be able to get a nice look a that one." Total bush league. Unfortunately, I'm letting all this crap get in my head. I end up rushing to get ready for run 1. About 1/3 of the way in, I realize I haven't turned TC off...I manage to find the button, but the run is wasted...it's like 2+ secs off the pace. Meanwhile, Aaron is running solid times, but our demeanor in grid is like night-and-day compared to day 1. I go out for run 2 and have a *much* better run going...flying to the finish and as I hammer it after the 3rd gear shift, I see the red flag in the corner of my eye. I go 2 feet in, slide into a cone and come to a stop literally feet before the finish lights. Damn, I'd like to know what that time would have been...but hey, at least I get an extra look. Manage to run decent but not spectacular times on the rerun and 3rd run. 14th of 42. Not my worst, but I really thought I could turn in my best performance this year (best was 9th in GS my first trip in 2002).

Overall, I'm happy that I chose to buy, prep, and run an oddball car and it has had some really nice success in less than a season. Hopefully seat time and a tweak or two really make a difference for next year.

But I'm bummed about 6th of 9 and 14th of 42. And I'm really disappointed in the behavior of the competition relative to the protests. I understand it's not a happy event...and anyone is free to think they were weenie protests (I don't)...but that doesn't give you the right to act like a weenie in response.

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That dope Crossfire is actually mine.

Aaron, Congrats on the driving, 4th place at the National Level shows a great bit of talent is involved. Doing the right thing as for a the protest shows huge bit character. People can be born with talent but character is achieved and is of more value.

Crap, that was deep

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2002 MCS, 2003 MCS Track Rat, 2003 Generic White Yukon, 2003 BMWk1200rs, 1973 CB350F, 02 996. 08 Cayenne Turbo
http://www.clinehallagency.com

Thanks Cline. Honestly, I'm probably more a rules Nazi than most, but it's the first time I actually acted on something I knew was illegal. The problem is that I think the protest actually hurt both Bryan and I, even though it was the right thing to do.

Carl Wener (#151) would have gotten 6th place I think without the penalty, and for those that drove their butts off to be beat by a car that wasn't truly legal, would be hard to take. Plus, I didn't want to hold it my back pocket and bring it out if he ended up beating me. That would appear to be big time sour grapes.

Bruno finished 3rd and Carl 7th at 2006 Nationals with the same setup too... Not that it matters much, for they're both solid drivers and were fast on day 2 this year when the car was corrected. It's really a shame that no one ever called them out before, for it might have saved them a better finish this year.

I too was dissappointed with the ProFinale finishing 8th out of 9, but the competition was fierce and picking up 1.1 seconds on day 2 was good. The big plus was that I think we really hit a nice setup for HPT on day 2, which helped us a lot at Nationals.

Big shout out to Bryan for another great year. This was our 5th (or 6th?) year co-driving together and it continues to be a lot of fun. I think the fact that we push each other so much has really accelerated our driving skills. I would love for a Nationals where we both do well. I thought last year would be it, but jury duty kept Bryan from being there. Hopefully one of us can pull out a win in a Mini-less DS next year - AB

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

FWIW, I think Aaron and Bryan did the right thing as well. It sucks to be involved in that stuff but at least they showed character by not allowing things to slide when so many others would have. I have a funny feeling that the relatively relaxed attitude we've seen in STS2 the past couple of years is suddenly going to change now that it's a "real" class. It has already started to some extent with the Miata motor mount issue but I'd much rather see everybody be legal than trying to fudge the rules whether or not they are aware of them.

To echo Cline's and everybody else's sentiment, great job guys despite the hassles!

On a lighter note, if Spratte finishes ahead of me in the next event, he better damn well have that @#$@#!!! cup holder installed properly in his car OR ELSE!!!

Jim

I don't think it is about being a rules nazi. Right is right, stock is stock, you can't be a little bit pregnant! I lost a golf tournament a few years ago after a competitors caddy rolled a ball to him along the line of his putt during a play off. I was too busy lining up my own putt to notice it. Alot of people afterwards asked my why I didn't call him on it, simple fact was I didn't see it. I guess I probably would have called it on him and I would have won the tournament, it would have been a hollow victory as you want to beat somebody fair and square. If they don't play that way you both loose. You did the right thing, just when you do it sometimes there4 is no good way out.

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2002 MCS, 2003 MCS Track Rat, 2003 Generic White Yukon, 2003 BMWk1200rs, 1973 CB350F, 02 996. 08 Cayenne Turbo
http://www.clinehallagency.com

That brings a good point to the table, and I think someone mentioned it previously, but our club has some talented drivers. Not everyone had their best Nationals, but it's pretty clear that we have very good drivers.

Even with my best finish, the best moment of Nationals 2007 was when Spratte crossed the line after his 3rd run and was announced as the provisional leader. I honestly got kind of emotional. I know he wished he held onto his 3rd place finish, but to hit your first Nationals and snag a 9th place trophy is awesome. Hell, he beat me in overall time by .64 - AB

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

I was stoked. Completely incredulous in the car as I waited for the safety guy to wave me to weigh in. Unfortunately I had bumped the zoom toggle on the camera, so the video is useless, but the audio at the finish. Where I'm just sitting there laughing? Priceless.

Friday was tough. Even now I know how I messed up, but couldn't do anything about it in three runs. Next year. Oh. . . and I'm pretty much on the hook now for going next year. I mean, how can I not?

As much as I hate that cupholder, I'll keep it in there for you Jim. I'd hate to get DQed on my back to back Top Gun wins.

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Not spectacular just decent.
I'm not sure what I'm driving.
Maybe an ITR in DS.
Or half-assed STX prepped 330.

Oh God, we've created a monster!!!


--Donnie

Tell me about it!

I told David out in Topeka that if we're tied going into the last event, we'll have to find a car that neither of us are familiar with and duke it out head to head. None of this silly PAX stuff!

Thinking about it further, the ideal car may be David's Mini since it's obvious from his driving that he isn't too familiar with it!

A certain ES MR2 might be available by then as well...

Jim
- who has surely just jinxed himself into "coning out" for the rest of the season!

I keep changing stuff on the car. Tweak the shocks after every run, crazy opposite corner stuff. Pressures too. By the end of the day I have no idea where they are. I just turn everything back to full soft and start all over.
I have no idea what the car is going to do before I get out on course.

Heads up co-drive in the MINI for November. Hmm. . . that could be fun.

You really think you'll have Mr. Two in the area by then?

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Not spectacular just decent.
I'm not sure what I'm driving.
Maybe an ITR in DS.
Or half-assed STX prepped 330.