Circus County Speedway 8/23/14

[Dora Thorne]

The full Monty

To answer everyone's questions about the heads. My car is legal in every aspect. I paid good $$ to have this motor built for me on a blue collar budget. I'm 52 years old and in my 4th year racing. No I'm definitely not a gear head and rely on good friends to help me. I surely couldn't do it without them.
This all came about because of what happened Friday night before the race on Saturday.
My "peeps" that help me with my car were working on my car all week, with springs, adjustable buckets and scales, etc...
(I've been racing other tracks especially with all the BS) All legal for citrus with 1 exception, he wanted me to try a Bradenton setup at practice Friday night and all that consisted of was outboard shocks on front, no jacking bolts, just the shocks outside "the stock location". Went to practice, had a clutch line let go, had to push her on the trailer. Remember this is Friday night.
Saturday morning (Race day) Go to the shop, him and I pull the transmission, fix the clutch issue, fix another problem we found that we didn't even know we had and put her all back together.
Last thing to do before we load up is move the outboard shocks back to the "Stock location". THEY WON"T FIT IN THERE RIGHT with the spring buckets he used. If I try to race with them they will be destroyed. It's 1PM, covered in grease, cut knuckles, etc....... I had to make a decision, sit home because we surely don't have time to change the whole front suspension and get it back together and scaled by race time, or go try to race.
I decided that if I got there, was up front, see if we could run or I'll leave it on the trailer, I had to try.

I got there late, as soon as I got to the track I found Darren the Techman (Car still on the trailer) and told him what happened and that the other 3 SS drivers I race with don't have a problem with me running them just for tonight so I can fix it during the week and could I run.??? (I brought 2 of the 4 cars in the class).

He said he'd get back to me.

A little while later they (Darren Jackson and Donnie Lewis) come down to my pits and inspect the car. I show them everything and anything they want to look at on the whole car.

They SAY OK for tonight but gotta start in the rear. OK, 4 cars and 2 of them are mine. They disappear....

Heat races..... I'm sitting in staging to go out and Darren walks up to my car, tells me Gary said if I come through tech, I'm DQ'd. I don't know whether to turn around or drive though the office. I asked why and he said to me, "Well, what the other drivers (SS drivers) say to you and what they say to me are 2 different things".

My car guy comes up to me and says go out and we'll clear this up after then. I run the heat, come in and we all go to Gary's office (My car guy, Me, the kid that races my figure 8 car in SS, #16 JD Goff and #8 Tim Wilson. (Basically ALL the Street Stocks)...
These are the only ones that have raced there in months regular.

I call Darren on the carpet about lying (not the first time) pitting one driver against another, were all standing there and everyone is pissed because none of them had a problem with it and don't understand how Tech can inspect a car, say it's ok, we say it's ok but now there's a problem.

Gary says he's the one that is putting a stop to it. I told him his tech people already inspected the car and said OK for the night. He kept saying I brought an ILLEGAL car to the track because of the shocks. (although he lets other cars have 2 weeks to fix something if they race regular).

Gary told all of us he didn't give a sh*t if we ALL loaded up and left now.

I started vibrating and not wanting to get arrested I left the trailer and went to my pits. Everyone else stayed and fought with the dumbass.

They're just about to call SS, I don't know whether to Sh*t or go blind.

My car guy comes back and said, the car will be fine for tonight we all fought for you and Gary said OK you'll be fine in tech.

C'mon, it's not like I hid anything, I just wanted to race and was forthright as soon as I got there. NOBODY I RACE WITH HAD AN ISSUE....

Well, you heard the story: 13 laps of a 15 lap feature (usually 25 but short on time), Timmy #8 car 1/2 lap ahead of me, blows up, I end up in his sh*t, a$$ pack the wall. On the restart (2 to go) I end up winning..

Cars roll through tech, get weighed and sent on. I get scaled and told to back up under shed. I figured pull carb or take his little camera and look around like they have before or maybe even a something a little more troublesome like clutch..................
I was told to pull the head.... REALLY????

This is my 2nd feature win of the season and it's 3/4 over.

Timmy had to pull his head after 8 or 10 feature wins.

I told them to pound sand (Not exact words).

Those are the FACTS of what happened 8/9/14 When I got Dq'd.

This last Saturday was me getting banned from CCS.
I promised a fig 8 friend long before the 8-9-14 BS he could run my car (Fig 8 car) last Saturday, I also promised my "young Grasshoppers" Mom she could race in powder puff same night. I already told the track I wouldn't be back with my Camaro, (my regular SS car).
I deliver the Fig 8 car to the track and unload it. Ronnie registers the car in Fig 8 and Bobbies Mom registers it in Powder Puff. I go to the drivers meeting, never say a word. All's I'm doing is have a pleasant look on my face and smile. Gary in the drivers meeting has to announce to everyone the RULE #3 in the book gives the track the right to tech Inspect ANY CAR FOR ANY REASON. He looks up at me and asks me if I think it's funny and I said as a matter a fact I do. (that is the only thing I said the whole time).
He goes on and on about different social media rants, kept saying over and over "I'm not saying any names", most of the drivers are looking at me and kind of laughing and making faces because it's very evident he is fixated on me. Remember, I have made only one comment and he asked me a question.

He talks about the rule change about world product heads and why he needed to do it now because it will save the class, Blah, blah, blah....
He starts in about trying to get more cars and someone else says "What about your techman running off 3 Auburndale cars"???. You can read the previous post about all that. Quite telling.

They Called Darren out to be a liar again and Gary even tried to cover for him by saying, "He's talked to them (the A-Dale people) and overrode what Darren may have said". Basically saying I'm the reason no one races here. Well, when you get the people (from A-Dale) on the phone right then, they say they've never heard from Gary Laplant and they tried to get Darren to take the phone to prove us all to be liars...... He wouldn't take the phone and walked away.... That's when we got thrown out.

I hope this clears up at least the muddy parts to allow someone to understand where I'm coming from and why I am so bent out of shape.

I've been bent over by Laplant and his henchmen before...... quite a few times. I've taken it well and said shame on me for not knowing every inch of my car.
Only been found wrong once and that was for an aluminum crosshaft on an upper control arm I didn't even know I had. (everything is black). I can assure you it was changed before the next race.

I have complied with all tech requests since I started racing except for this one.
My sh*t aint going in a box over a mean streaked SOB that wants to throw their weight around.
Especially after all the BS that the guys I race with had to deal with to make them let me run, they fought for me...... AND that my friends, is called pals.... I will miss racing with them.

Twisted Sister SS #48

[Lurkin]

I am starting to understand how Gary feels.

[Matt Albee]

To answer everyone's questions about the heads. My car is legal in every aspect. I paid good $$ to have this motor built for me on a blue collar budget. I'm 52 years old and in my 4th year racing. No I'm definitely not a gear head and rely on good friends to help me. I surely couldn't do it without them.
This all came about because of what happened Friday night before the race on Saturday.
My "peeps" that help me with my car were working on my car all week, with springs, adjustable buckets and scales, etc...
(I've been racing other tracks especially with all the BS) All legal for citrus with 1 exception, he wanted me to try a Bradenton setup at practice Friday night and all that consisted of was outboard shocks on front, no jacking bolts, just the shocks outside "the stock location". Went to practice, had a clutch line let go, had to push her on the trailer. Remember this is Friday night.
Saturday morning (Race day) Go to the shop, him and I pull the transmission, fix the clutch issue, fix another problem we found that we didn't even know we had and put her all back together.
Last thing to do before we load up is move the outboard shocks back to the "Stock location". THEY WON"T FIT IN THERE RIGHT with the spring buckets he used. If I try to race with them they will be destroyed. It's 1PM, covered in grease, cut knuckles, etc....... I had to make a decision, sit home because we surely don't have time to change the whole front suspension and get it back together and scaled by race time, or go try to race.
I decided that if I got there, was up front, see if we could run or I'll leave it on the trailer, I had to try.

I got there late, as soon as I got to the track I found Darren the Techman (Car still on the trailer) and told him what happened and that the other 3 SS drivers I race with don't have a problem with me running them just for tonight so I can fix it during the week and could I run.??? (I brought 2 of the 4 cars in the class).

He said he'd get back to me.

A little while later they (Darren Jackson and Donnie Lewis) come down to my pits and inspect the car. I show them everything and anything they want to look at on the whole car.

They SAY OK for tonight but gotta start in the rear. OK, 4 cars and 2 of them are mine. They disappear....

Heat races..... I'm sitting in staging to go out and Darren walks up to my car, tells me Gary said if I come through tech, I'm DQ'd. I don't know whether to turn around or drive though the office. I asked why and he said to me, "Well, what the other drivers (SS drivers) say to you and what they say to me are 2 different things".

My car guy comes up to me and says go out and we'll clear this up after then. I run the heat, come in and we all go to Gary's office (My car guy, Me, the kid that races my figure 8 car in SS, #16 JD Goff and #8 Tim Wilson. (Basically ALL the Street Stocks)...
These are the only ones that have raced there in months regular.

I call Darren on the carpet about lying (not the first time) pitting one driver against another, were all standing there and everyone is pissed because none of them had a problem with it and don't understand how Tech can inspect a car, say it's ok, we say it's ok but now there's a problem.

Gary says he's the one that is putting a stop to it. I told him his tech people already inspected the car and said OK for the night. He kept saying I brought an ILLEGAL car to the track because of the shocks. (although he lets other cars have 2 weeks to fix something if they race regular).

Gary told all of us he didn't give a sh*t if we ALL loaded up and left now.

I started vibrating and not wanting to get arrested I left the trailer and went to my pits. Everyone else stayed and fought with the dumbass.

They're just about to call SS, I don't know whether to Sh*t or go blind.

My car guy comes back and said, the car will be fine for tonight we all fought for you and Gary said OK you'll be fine in tech.

C'mon, it's not like I hid anything, I just wanted to race and was forthright as soon as I got there. NOBODY I RACE WITH HAD AN ISSUE....

Well, you heard the story: 13 laps of a 15 lap feature (usually 25 but short on time), Timmy #8 car 1/2 lap ahead of me, blows up, I end up in his sh*t, a$$ pack the wall. On the restart (2 to go) I end up winning..

Cars roll through tech, get weighed and sent on. I get scaled and told to back up under shed. I figured pull carb or take his little camera and look around like they have before or maybe even a something a little more troublesome like clutch..................
I was told to pull the head.... REALLY????

This is my 2nd feature win of the season and it's 3/4 over.

Timmy had to pull his head after 8 or 10 feature wins.

I told them to pound sand (Not exact words).

Those are the FACTS of what happened 8/9/14 When I got Dq'd.

This last Saturday was me getting banned from CCS.
I promised a fig 8 friend long before the 8-9-14 BS he could run my car (Fig 8 car) last Saturday, I also promised my "young Grasshoppers" Mom she could race in powder puff same night. I already told the track I wouldn't be back with my Camaro, (my regular SS car).
I deliver the Fig 8 car to the track and unload it. Ronnie registers the car in Fig 8 and Bobbies Mom registers it in Powder Puff. I go to the drivers meeting, never say a word. All's I'm doing is have a pleasant look on my face and smile. Gary in the drivers meeting has to announce to everyone the RULE #3 in the book gives the track the right to tech Inspect ANY CAR FOR ANY REASON. He looks up at me and asks me if I think it's funny and I said as a matter a fact I do. (that is the only thing I said the whole time).
He goes on and on about different social media rants, kept saying over and over "I'm not saying any names", most of the drivers are looking at me and kind of laughing and making faces because it's very evident he is fixated on me. Remember, I have made only one comment and he asked me a question.

He talks about the rule change about world product heads and why he needed to do it now because it will save the class, Blah, blah, blah....
He starts in about trying to get more cars and someone else says "What about your techman running off 3 Auburndale cars"???. You can read the previous post about all that. Quite telling.

They Called Darren out to be a liar again and Gary even tried to cover for him by saying, "He's talked to them (the A-Dale people) and overrode what Darren may have said". Basically saying I'm the reason no one races here. Well, when you get the people (from A-Dale) on the phone right then, they say they've never heard from Gary Laplant and they tried to get Darren to take the phone to prove us all to be liars...... He wouldn't take the phone and walked away.... That's when we got thrown out.

I hope this clears up at least the muddy parts to allow someone to understand where I'm coming from and why I am so bent out of shape.

I've been bent over by Laplant and his henchmen before...... quite a few times. I've taken it well and said shame on me for not knowing every inch of my car.
Only been found wrong once and that was for an aluminum crosshaft on an upper control arm I didn't even know I had. (everything is black). I can assure you it was changed before the next race.

I have complied with all tech requests since I started racing except for this one.
My sh*t aint going in a box over a mean streaked SOB that wants to throw their weight around.
Especially after all the BS that the guys I race with had to deal with to make them let me run, they fought for me...... AND that my friends, is called pals.... I will miss racing with them.

Twisted Sister SS #48

Well, at least it's YOUR version of the facts. Sadly for you, the track rule book has rule #3 in it, and you violated that rule. I understand your deep need to create as much drama as possible, but you're still completely in the wrong here.
And so is everyone that sides with you. Not about Gary and his " henchmen " that might be accurate. But about selective rule enforcement. If the track has the right to inspect your car for certain things, if that rule is published in the rule book, then you have the obligation to follow the rules. The track shouldn't ignore the rules because it's a feel good win???? Or there weren't very many cars in the race???? Then what's the point of having a rule book. Let's just leave it up to track officials to decide whether to inspect a car or not. By the way, it looks like they were right to want to inspect your car. Illegal shock locations, illegal rocker arm shaft.......

[Mike Bresnahan]

Matt, she stated it was an illegal Aluminum Cross shaft in the A-Frame. (A meaningless part of the A-Frame.) Not a Rocker arm on the engine, but never the less, still wrong. And she was up front and clear about the outboard shocks before the race so that's irrelevant. Dora may be loud and guilty stirring up drama, but even still, she's always encouraged other racers to come out and support the track.

The one thing you are right about is by the "letter of the law" the track does reserve the right to inspect any car for any reason. Nobody has a problem with that rule when used correctly and in it's spirit... Heck, my best good ole buddy Don Nerone made me pull out all my fuel cell foam in tech after qualifying one time. (which if you know anything about a blatter fuel cell you know it's a monumental pain in the rear to do, especially in between qualifying and racing) I didn't complain at all. I wore that like a badge of honor because at the time we were quite dominate and I knew we had all of them scratching their heads.

Using that rule after winning a 4 car 15 lap race by default is Chicken Shizz and if you can't see that then there is no helping you understand anything. I get the sense that if Gary were the one on here arguing his point you would take the opposition, just because that seems to be the stance you take. On everything.

If a promoter doesn't want someone there that's their right as a business owner. Just be a man and tell them up front, don't be a coward and wait for them to come thru the gate, then go on a witch hunt to steal their money.

[turnleft]

follow the rule book.

The track should not have let you run the shocks outboard, even if all the other drivers said it is ok. You and the track need to follow the rule book.

[Matt Albee]

Matt, she stated it was an illegal Aluminum Cross shaft in the A-Frame. (A meaningless part of the A-Frame.) Not a Rocker arm on the engine, but never the less, still wrong. And she was up front and clear about the outboard shocks before the race so that's irrelevant. Dora may be loud and guilty stirring up drama, but even still, she's always encouraged other racers to come out and support the track.

The one thing you are right about is by the "letter of the law" the track does reserve the right to inspect any car for any reason. Nobody has a problem with that rule when used correctly and in it's spirit... Heck, my best good ole buddy Don Nerone made me pull out all my fuel cell foam in tech after qualifying one time. (which if you know anything about a blatter fuel cell you know it's a monumental pain in the rear to do, especially in between qualifying and racing) I didn't complain at all. I wore that like a badge of honor because at the time we were quite dominate and I knew we had all of them scratching their heads.

Using that rule after winning a 4 car 15 lap race by default is Chicken Shizz and if you can't see that then there is no helping you understand anything. I get the sense that if Gary were the one on here arguing his point you would take the opposition, just because that seems to be the stance you take. On everything.

If a promoter doesn't want someone there that's their right as a business owner. Just be a man and tell them up front, don't be a coward and wait for them to come thru the gate, then go on a witch hunt to steal their money.

Rules can't be used " in it's spirit " when you're talking about tech rules. And shouldn't be. All we see on this board is complaints from racers about tech officials who let certain people get away with things. And now here you are arguing that this racer shouldn't have been inspected because.....well, because there weren't enough cars in the race.
I don't have any idea who this woman is so i don't have any particular view of the incident other than the idea of selective inspections. Either it's the rule or it isn't. Either the rule is enforced or it isn't. It can't just be enforced against certain people, or at certain times. It can't just be enforced when a car has dominated because the second or tenth place cars have to legal as well.
Yes, it is Gary's right to tell her to go away. I think it's pretty clear that Gary doesn't want her at his race track. So she should go away.
And i don't think you'll find any evidence of me ever arguing on the side of Gary or his " henchmen ".

[Mike Bresnahan]

Matt Matt Matt.... You just said "It can't be enforced against certain people at certain times". Have you not been paying attention? That is exactly the point many of us have been arguing... In this case SHE is the CERTAIN person and this is that CERTAIN time...

But in your mind, any track should be able to just randomly tear down anyone anytime (at the racers expense) simply because it's their right to do so? In your mind there is no such a thing as "abuse of power"? If the track wants to pay the prevailing racer the normal protest fee AND it has set the precedent from day 1 that this can and will happen equally and fairly across the board, fine. Great idea. Nobody has ever been wronged by that.

And YES rules can be enforced in spirit. This is a G.D. HOBBY!!! If a guy is a pound under you would take his money on a normal Saturday night feature? No, you tell him "hey bud, your a pound light, double check your scales at home and we look forward to seeing you next week, congratulations". This isn't Sprint Cup or the Snow Ball Derby.

This hard stance BS on "right is right and wrong is wrong" is just one of the reasons tracks are closing and this HOBBY isn't fun anymore. I suppose if I forget to paint a piece of lead white, in your eyes I should be thrown out too huh? What if I get caught up in a wreck and my air box is dragging after the race? DQ me for ride height violation?

[Phil Jacques]

I've kept fairly quiet on this other than a couple small comments but I think I will say something now

In fairness of competition, the track should hold the right to tech any part of any car at any time whenever and wherever they please. However, they should not be able to do it just because they feel like it. There must be reasoning... If said person has dominated race after race by large distances over the rest of the field and it is obvious something is different about their car compared to others then yes, it's fair game because eventually, those guys who can't keep up with that particular person will likely get tired of finishing 2nd or so and move to another track where they can be competitive and the original track will slowly lose car counts and fans because of this. A lot of tracks don't stop to think that they lose fans when a driver leaves also, and sometimes it has a large negative impact. A prime example is none other than 2013 Whelen Modified Tour Champion Ryan Preece last season at Stafford Motor Speedway. Ryan was seriously bringing the hurt to his competitors. Won 8 out of the first 12 events or something like that. The night of his 8th win, they did a full tear down of his car. Every nut and bolt. They did not disclose whether or not they found something different about his car, however the following week it was noticeable that he was not as fast.

When it comes to post race tech... I don't care if there are 3 cars or 33 cars. Tech MUST always stay fair and consistent. You can not walk in and tell each driver to do a different tech item. As I stated earlier, top 3 to 5 always should report to tech and submit to a carb check and fuel test as well as sniffer test on the tires. That is our standard up this way, and many other tracks I know of in the midwest. It should be the standard everywhere. Aside from those 3 basic and simple tech items, you should have to tech 1 other thing. Shocks, Rear end, trans, flywheel/clutch, heads, pull oil pan etc. Doesn't matter but all drivers who report to tech must tech the same thing.

I brought this up earlier also... What if Dora pulled heads and was illegal, but P2 only pulled intake and was all set... How is it fair to the P3 finisher that P2 finisher gets given the win if they did not have their Heads inspected also? Now, as racers I am sure I am not alone when I say, I never want to gain position or a win because another competitor was illegal. I would rather gain those positions on track personally regardless of if the person is legal or not because when they are found illegal, I can smile knowing I was and I still beat them.

When it comes to Dora's rant here... I personally think it's ridiculous. Sure, Dora you have every right to be upset. But to come on and continuously trash the place after the first time you stated a post about the incident, makes you no better than them. You are more likely to hurt yourself more by continually posting negativity about a particular track because when you think about it, it may make other tracks hesitant to have you as a weekly competitor in fear of a huge lash-out if you do not get your way. I get the whole freedom of speech and free country argument behind it and that it's a public board. Do as you wish as I can not stop you but it would benefit your standing with other tracks in my eyes to hold your tongue and handle issues more privately. Just my $0.02

[Mike Bresnahan]

Great post Phil. I agree 110%.

[polesitter61]

So Matt...if you were pulled over by a law enforcement officer, and given a speeding ticket for 1mph over the posted limit, how would you feel?

After all, you were breaking the law right?

[scottgarrity07]

Well said, Phil. Every word...

[Matt Albee]

So Matt...if you were pulled over by a law enforcement officer, and given a speeding ticket for 1mph over the posted limit, how would you feel?

After all, you were breaking the law right?

Yes, i was breaking the law. I wouldn't be happy about it, but it's the law and it's very clearly posted, so i shouldn't really be very surprised should i?

[polesitter61]

Thank you for proving my point...

[Matt Albee]

Matt Matt Matt.... You just said "It can't be enforced against certain people at certain times". Have you not been paying attention? That is exactly the point many of us have been arguing... In this case SHE is the CERTAIN person and this is that CERTAIN time...

But in your mind, any track should be able to just randomly tear down anyone anytime (at the racers expense) simply because it's their right to do so? In your mind there is no such a thing as "abuse of power"? If the track wants to pay the prevailing racer the normal protest fee AND it has set the precedent from day 1 that this can and will happen equally and fairly across the board, fine. Great idea. Nobody has ever been wronged by that.

And YES rules can be enforced in spirit. This is a G.D. HOBBY!!! If a guy is a pound under you would take his money on a normal Saturday night feature? No, you tell him "hey bud, your a pound light, double check your scales at home and we look forward to seeing you next week, congratulations". This isn't Sprint Cup or the Snow Ball Derby.

This hard stance BS on "right is right and wrong is wrong" is just one of the reasons tracks are closing and this HOBBY isn't fun anymore. I suppose if I forget to paint a piece of lead white, in your eyes I should be thrown out too huh? What if I get caught up in a wreck and my air box is dragging after the race? DQ me for ride height violation?

Nice job of tap dancing Mike, but the rule is still there, it was there when this race was run, it was her obligation to be been familiar with the rules, and she refused to abide by the rules. Get over the " poor racer on a budget " routine. She knew or should have known that there are such things as tear downs and she should have been prepared to deal with that possibility. If she couldn't afford a tear down, she shouldn't have been racing.
Tracks are closing because of rules enforcement? Not hardly. Racers are not bringing their cars out because they love to whine about rule enforcement, especially selective rule enforcement? Yes, in fact that's exactly the problem. And here we have a classic example. This woman decided the rule didn't apply to her. That's not how rules work. This hobby has rules. If you don't happen to agree with those rules, or they prove to be a hassle for you, tough. Don't race there. The request by Gary's " henchmen " to inspect her car could very well have been malicious. So far we only have her long drawn out version. But they have that right.
And as long as you're giving out hypotheticals here, being underweight is the same as speeding on pit road. You are given a maximum, and there is always a plus or minus tolerance given IN THE RULE BOOK. Same for cubic inches. If you are a little over, fine. If you're outside the plus or minus you're out.
If you only want certain rules applied at certain times under certain circumstances, then write the rule book that way. And watch the fireworks.

[Matt Albee]

Thank you for proving my point...

I didn't see one, but you're welcome.