Offical Thread: SKUSA Honda Racing/HPD SpringNationals

Steve Buckner · Joined: 22 Apr 2003 Posts: 839

QUOTE: When the position was stated, SKUSA elected to change the on-track decision.

Rob, what was changed. I think p2 was not a very bad blow to Mr Campbell. Listening to your interview with jimmy after the race he was very professional, calm, and I thought I herd Mr Campbell say, you were all over the place.
It would have been a great chance for Mr Campbell to come back the next day and show everyone whats up. Points would have been very close going into the next round.

Great job to all the Skusa staff and M C Howden.

chad lee · Posted: Mon May 02, 2011 1:11 pm Post subject:

Rob,
No one said I was not there, but thank you for stating the points. Would be interesting to see the data of Mcneils kart to see how much slower he was there than he had been 3-4 laps before that or was he maintaining his normal corner speed. May be something they should take under consideration when making a decision of that nature. Boils down to its racing I guess but not sure what example it set when the last two Super Nats there has been all types of "avoidable contact" in S4 with no such penalties that would change the outcome of an event. Looks to me its setting a presedence of..."oh he hit me,i want my spot back, lets protest it" MAN UP, race the race and where the cards fall they fall. Another 2 cents.

Troy Berry · Posted: Mon May 02, 2011 2:34 pm Post subject: Props to Reno Guys!

Thanks EKN for the live coverage, you guy's rock! Nice job by our local guy's from Reno. Austin Dement dominates TAG Junior for the weekend! Too bad about that radiator while you were leading on Sunday, you'll get 'em next time buddy! Also David Harwin , sorry about that motor, you had P2 for sure! And one more props to Garrett Dixon, 5th in Cadet! Also Jess Petersen racing hard in Tag senior. Way to go everyone, we support you from Reno! Very Happy

_________________
The art is in the details
Reno Racer/ Tag Masters #57

Elbert Thompson · Posted: Mon May 02, 2011 3:19 pm Post subject:

I guess its time to release the hounds . . . . . (dogs barking)

First off - excellent racing all weekend long but all classes and I saw some excellent sportsmanship never witnessed in real life.

How about a driver taking another driver out, (accident)
karts getting locked together,
the driver who caused the incident jumps out of his kart,
unlocks the karts,
pushes the kart and the driver for about 15-20 feet to get him started again and then returns to his kart.
Pushes his kart off the track and stands in the dirt pumping his fist lap after lap while standing in the dirt watching the race.

I've decided to hang up my helmet and driving gloves, apply for a position with SKUSA because they are doing it and doing it well.

This was the SuperNationals in Tucson, AZ.

Sean Kingston · Posted: Mon May 02, 2011 6:08 pm Post subject:

From the corner workers position (probably will regret this but here goes). I have been racing karts at this track for five years and have driven through the turn a few thousand times (also been to two SNATS with my son driving). I had been watching the leaders very closely each time through the turn for contact. They had been racing very clean and very close for several laps. I followed them through the turn the last time and just before I took my eyes off them the contact occurred. I was surprised because I thought they had gotten off clean. In my opinion the lead driver most likely made a slight mistake or was slower than previous laps for some reason coming off the turn and since they were so close there was nowhere for the second driver to go. If the second kart dove in too hard the contact would have occurred sooner. That being said I agree 110% with the SKUSA decision. It was too close to call and you have to give the benefit of the doubt to the leader. It would have been nice to see these guys go at it again on Sunday. Great weekend of racing at an awesome track! Hope they come back next year.

chad lee · Posted: Mon May 02, 2011 7:42 pm Post subject:

Sean,
Nice comments,coming from the guy who was as close as anybody other than the 2 involved and going by what you stated it seems they did not come to you for your opinion of the incident. I thought that was what turn judges were used for. Might as well do away with turn judges and get after it, hell its just parts right! As Rob stated everyone has a financial stake in the game and guess others have just a little more stake.

CL

Sean Kingston · Posted: Mon May 02, 2011 8:35 pm Post subject:

Chad,
The race director did come to me for my opinion and I believe they made the correct decision. I appreciate the confidence but calling an amateur corner flagman a turn judge may be bit of a stretch. SKUSA did a great job but as always not everyone was happy.
Sean

Doug Johnson · Posted: Tue May 03, 2011 6:43 am Post subject:

......"Scratch that. You what was more lame, the actions and comments of a few of the people at the podium presentations who booed when Campbell was announced in second and McNeil in first. In my 18 years in the sport, I have NEVER been more disappointed. It was disgusting, and I have lost ALL respect for the people in question. I'm normally a three-strike kind of guy, but this brutal. I spoke with so many people after the race that felt the same way."....

+100... I will stand up as one of those people. I was there and witnessed this firsthand. Classless behavior on the part of a few.

SKUSA.... great job over the weekend! Looking forward to the next pro tour event at Grand Junction.
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DJohnson

Rob Logan · Posted: Tue May 03, 2011 7:15 am Post subject:

Here's a link to my helmet camera footage from Saturday's S4 main event.

http://www.vimeo.com/23185798
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Rob

Joseph Johnson · Joined: 28 Aug 2007 Posts: 226

Rob,
Good job coming through and thanks for catching my "two wheel" action coming out of turn one around 6:10 in the video. The video really shows how I wasn't holding my line. ha ha

Doug Johnson · Posted: Tue May 03, 2011 9:30 am Post subject:

A note regarding my previous post. This was no way intended to reflect poorly on Jason Campbell. His conduct on the podium was above reproach. His presence showed a lot of class despite his dissapointment the outcome of the decision.
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DJohnson

Dakota Dickerson · Joined: 07 Dec 2004 Posts: 138

Just to clarify right from the start, this post is from Dakota's dad so there is no confusion. I wanted to comment on the overwhelmingly positive experience we had at our first SKUSA event. We showed up as a last minute entry and made a hasty decision to put Dakota into the Tag Sr. class having never run in a Sr. class and having never put in a lap in a Rotax Sr motor package (we normally run Rotax JR). This event was top notch and outstanding from all aspects. I've never seen racing without controversy and it's part of the sport. I have to believe everyone does their best to make the event fair and competitive to all who attend. I can say that my driver was so impressed with SKUSA that he is now pressuring me to take him to Grand Junction for the Summer Nationals. Dakota raced with some of the best and they "beat him up" but in all the right ways. I was also impressed with the sportsmanship that was demonstrated on and off the track by many Sr. drivers welcoming Dakota to SKUSA. I think this speaks to the quality of the drivers, mechanics, and event organizers. I wanted to toss out a special thanks to Matt Johnson who took it upon himself to chat with Dakota more than once. Class act IMHO. Thanks to Full Throttle Karting for chassis support and a Rotax package that simply ROCKED! And to Kartsport for their support on the Arrow! Thanks to everyone at SKUSA for a great weekend and if anyone has advice on how to pry a $500 check from a 14 year old please let me know.
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Thanks!

Dakota Dickerson
SKUSA TAG Senior #2
Rotax Senior #180
2010 Gatorz Rotax Jr. Driver Champion
2009 LAKC Rotax Jr. Driver Champion
www.dickersonracing.com

chad lee · Posted: Tue May 03, 2011 10:17 am Post subject:

Sean,
Thanks for being so honest but I am a little confused, you say that they came to, got your opinion, and agree with call but you said earlier that where the contact happened (late corner) lead driver slowed or made a mistake in your opinion...not sure how that becomes following drivers problem and penalty for avoidable contact. Oh well totally agree that some left happy and others did not. I hope all have a blessed day.

CL

Troy Berry · Posted: Tue May 03, 2011 10:41 am Post subject: Corner workers

Chad,

The corner workers are extra sets of "eyes". They make no rulings. They simply tell the race directors what they witnessed. Wink

_________________
The art is in the details
Reno Racer/ Tag Masters #57

Troy Berry · Posted: Tue May 03, 2011 10:45 am Post subject: