well i agree that isnt right. im sorry but i guess if u need a radio to win or lead the points ur not a very good driver.

Being one of the SMS mini stock drivers I am going to comment on this thread, because overall we have a great bunch of drivers and sometimes inaccurate information causes or supports ill will, and I am confused on the cause and collect rule.  I believe I know which night you are referring to about the DQ and the part being taken.  It was an illegal part.  The officials did their job.

The points leader does have an in car camera that he has been using most of the year, which is not illegal.  There was a joke in the pits about a radio Sat. night, which is not true.  The points leader has a good car and is a good driver.

The spin in the main event was rather unfortunate.  You had the top three drivers in points bunched up and racing hard into turns 3 & 4.  The 22x got a little loose and the 11 car caught his rear corner sending him around and down in front of me.  I had no where to go except into the 22x.  I bounced off twice and managed to maintain forward momentum.  From my perspective during the race and watching the video afterwards, there were no intentions to be malicious.  Just good hard racing and an incidental contact.

What I heard afterwards was that because I was involved I was sent to the back with the 22x regardless of whether or not I was able to drive through.  Based upon what I thought I heard, the 11 car should have joined us at the back?  Maybe the officials didn’t see the initial contact.  I had the luxury of watching a video afterwards.  My intent is not to criticize the officials, who perform a mostly thankless job.  Those folks do a heck of job to the best of their abilities and without them we couldn’t race.

What I would like to see come out of this is a clear understanding of cause and collect between all of the officials and that shared with the drivers.  Maybe it already has and it is just me that is confused.  What happens if you spin yourself out to avoid contact and remain clear?  Is there a difference between “bumping” and “running into” while maintaining forward progress relative to cause and collect?  I realize the rule was put into place to minimize judgment.  I am just looking for some clarity so we can get out there, race hard, and have some fun.

Ken Kehs
MS #00

IT BLOWS ME AWAY WHEN PEOPLE SPREAD A BUNCH OF BULL OVER THE INTERNET AND HAVE ZERO PROOF OF WHAT THEY ARE TALKING ABOUT !!!! MR. KEHS HAS AN EXCELLENT POINT OF VIEW, HE EXPLAINED THE SCENARIO AND GAVE HIS OPINION. I FOR ONE AGREE WITH HIM ON PUTTING THE 11 CAR TO THE BACK IF HE WAS GOING THERE FOR THE SAME INCIDENT. I WAS AN OFFICIAL FOR YEARS AND YOU CAN'T SEE THEM ALL, MOST BUT NOT ALL. OFFICIALS LOOK AT 20 CARS AND NORMAL CREW GUYS LOOK AT THERE'S. AS FOR THE REAR END, GO AND ASK THE OFFICIALS IF THEY LOOKED AT IT AND IF IT WAS CHANGED. I WAS THERE ON THAT NIGHT HE BROUGHT IT BACK AND THERE WAS ATLEAST 3 DIFFERENT PEOPLE WITH WHITE SHIRTS UNDER THAT CAR. AS FAR AS THE CELL PHONE.... GET REAL !!!! UNLESS YOU HAVE A RADIO BUILT IN TO THE HELMET, IT WOULD BE VERY DIFFICULT TO HEAR AT ALL. I COULD HEAR IT NOW TALKING TO THE CREW AND GETTING A CALL FROM YOUR WIFE AT THE SAME TIME.... CALL WAITING WOULD SUCK. DON'T HATE THE GUY BECAUSE HE IS DOING WELL . GREAT CAR AND BETTER DRIVER = CHAMPIONSHIP. DON'T HATE THE PLAYER ... LEARN FROM THE PLAYER. I HAVE TALKED WITH HIM AND YOU MIGHT BE ABLE TO LEARN SOMETHING FROM PEOPLE LIKE THAT.  KEN I HEARD YOU ARE A ROOKIE .... YOU MY FRIEND ARE DOING AN AWESOME JOB WITH LITTLE EXPERIENCE. ANDREW MOST PEOPLE WILL ONLY REMEMBER THE BAD SITUATIONS NEVER THE GOOD TIMES. GOOD LUCK ON THE REST OF YOUR GREAT SEASON. DON'T LET SOME IGNORANT PERSON TELL YOU ANY DIFFERENT.

I TOTALLY AGREE I COULDN'T HAVE SAID IT ANY BETTER RACING-FAN  GREAT POST

could he win in that volvo?...lol

Car loks great......but dammm it seems to be just a rolling road block, is the car that slow or the driver?

WoW!!!

Just to be clear, this is Kirstie Petersen and I am the Pit Manager.  Many, if not all of you, know me; some know me better than others! As Mr. Kehs so accurately said, it CAN be a thankless job, but I choose to look at it from another point of view. It is my job to listen to the folks in the pits, and see what the issues are and try to resolve them.  If nothing else, sometimes all that needs to happen is for both sides of the story to come out and then all the "rumors" seem to disappear.  That's what I hope is going to happen now.'

I was approached Saturday with regard to the issue of #11 having a radio and/or phone in his car.  I listened, and I watched, and I inspected.  I notified the concerned parties that there was NO RADIO or other form of communication between the driver and his crew, period.  In watching the reactions I got, I determined that people didn’t appear too happy with that answer.  So, in the presence of another official, I took the earpiece from the crew person (he was listening to Metallica by the way!) and explained that I was trying to eliminate a rumor. The driver voluntarily put his cell phone into his tool box, where it remained the entire race.  Neither the driver or the crew was at all offended; there is no REASON to be upset, and it was in their best interest to help prove that they aren't wired! So unless they are telepathic, there was NO communication with the driver during the race on Saturday night.  

This happens every race season.  People seem to need to find a reason to get the leader disqualified, even to the point of inventing things. I believe that this is now a non-issue, unless you'd like me to collect EVERYTHING from EVERYONE which might LOOK like it is a method of communication with the driver (wouldn't that include things like IPODS too?)

Yes, a car WAS DQ'd earlier in the season for illegal parts, which were confiscated. The reasons for the disqualification and confiscation were thoroughly explained to this driver. This individual told his side of the story to a former racer he works with and had HIM call the tech guy to plead his case. Once the other side of the story was told, this former racer understood the FULL story of why the part was taken and the car disqualified. The decision was made according to the rules and was entirely appropriate. If there is still some confusion, please read the rules. Under the section General Rules, Race Procedures and General Track rules;
    "# 10 All cars will be subject to periodic inspections, throughout the season, at the discretion of the Chief Steward. Illegal parts may be confiscated." and
    "10(b) No equipment shall be considered legal because it went through technical inspection unobserved or because a rule has not been written against it. Anything not covered in this rule book is still subject to approval."
  I hope that clears up the issue of why the illegal parts were confiscated, even though they may have been allowed to run in previous races.  Perhaps it's just that we have a tech official who knows what to look for, and what illegal parts look like?  Isn’t this an official DOING his JOB?

I encourage EVERYONE to come to me with whatever issues you may have.  If I don't HAVE the answer, I GET the answer.  Just because you may not LIKE the answer doesn't mean it is a WRONG answer!  

Things that happen in a race can be very upsetting and disappointing. I also appreciate that many people respond to disappointment with frustration and anger. That is not an excuse, however, to rant and rave and make threats of bodily harm and worse against others. Why should this kind of behavior be tolerated? We are all adults, and hopefully can discuss issues like the good people we all are.    There are at least 2 sides to every story.

AS FAR AS THE CELL PHONE.... GET REAL !!!! UNLESS YOU HAVE A RADIO BUILT IN TO THE HELMET, IT WOULD BE VERY DIFFICULT TO HEAR AT ALL. I COULD HEAR IT NOW TALKING TO THE CREW AND GETTING A CALL FROM YOUR WIFE AT THE SAME TIME.... CALL WAITING WOULD SUCK.

People came to me with a complaint about 11 using radio/cell phone. In response to that complaint, I searched the car, the helmet, the racing suit, took the earpiece the crew guy was using to listen to Metallica, and had the driver lock his cell phone inside his tool box for the duration of the race. I did this BEFORE the race ever started, and in the presence of another official.  #11 won the race, which should end the rumor that the only way he can win is to cheat with a radio/cell phone.  BTW, (and I know someone else said this) The officials didn't "Catch him with it" later on; I took it so that if this issue came up as a reason he won the race, I would know FOR CERTAIN that there was no commuication with the driver.

As for Greiman #11 Cheating with cell phones, I dont know or really care. Sounds like the officals did investigate the rumor . If they find wrong doing they will take care of it. As for the rear end, has anyone ever modified or moved parts away from the stock position. Everyone is trying to get an edge over the next car. I feel Greiman is a very skilled driver . I dont feel he is a very clean racer. This is my first season  racing against him and I have not enjoyed it . I am not upset that he is winning in points. I am not upset that I cant keep up with him. It does bother me that if he bumps you its just racing, but if you bump him he runs straight to the officals.  If some one is in his way he doesnt mind pushing them. It also bothers me that he feels that he can block your way in to the pits when he is upset with you. If two racers enter a hole and no one lifts and damage occurs whos fault is it? It would be nice to see Greiman  race cleaner  and stop complaining about everyone else. Andrew this is not nascar this is a ministock class, cars are known to touch one another in this class. As for the road blocks we were all road blocks once, I think they all hold there lines very well. If the faster drivers could handle there cars better and pay attention to whats going on in front of them less yellows would be caused by such road blocks. I dont have a problem passing them. You should not call them roadblocks they are just trying to do what they can with what they have. Dont forget every one this is a Mini stock class lots of racers learn to race in this class. After the race on Sat we watched a tape of the race and it did not look like slower cars caused all  the yellow  with Caswell and Wegial.

If you know for a fact, then why are you asking?

"AS FOR THE REAR END, GO AND ASK THE OFFICIALS IF THEY LOOKED AT IT AND IF IT WAS CHANGED. I WAS THERE ON THAT NIGHT HE BROUGHT IT BACK AND THERE WAS AT LEAST 3 DIFFERENT PEOPLE WITH WHITE SHIRTS UNDER THAT CAR."

or one better, call them!
Here's the number!
Santa Maria Speedway
805-922-2233  

racing_fan wrote on 08/29/06 at 8:37pm:


The appropriate way to deal with this issue is also stated in the rules; file a PROTEST!!!
PROTESTS

1. A protest in writing, by any owner or driver, on an approved Santa Maria Speedway protest form, along with $200.00 cash, may be filed with the Chief Steward within fifteen (15) minutes following the finish of the event. Protests will be settled by the ³Protest Committee². If the protest is upheld, the $200.00 fee will be refunded. If the protest is denied, the $200.00 will go to the SMS Driver¹s Benevolent Fund. In the event an engine tear-down is required, the only persons allowed at the tear-down will be the SMS Tech Inspectors and the car owner. Frivolous protests will be denied.

a. No protest will be accepted that is directed at a decision of an official, including but not limited to timing and scoring decisions, inspections and race procedure decisions.

b. Discussion as to official rulings, race procedures, etc. will be conducted with the driver only.

If you have a complaint about another person's vehicle, and feel that it is illegal, then file a protest.  Put up your $200 like anyone else would have to and get the matter resolved once and for all!