Simple as that. Don't go playing with the rules in the last hour to best suit you interests, that my whole deal. Whatever my combo is going to be, its built to YOUR rules as you originally posted. If you can't build the best combo for those rules, that is not my issue. But. I will take issue with sudden off the cuff rules changes right before the event, as that to me is just plainly transparent in its motivations.

You wanna play fair, great... You want to race, great... We're there.

This can either be a fun event, or it can be an ugly mess with a lot of hatefulness. I'd personally prefer some fun, as thats my only reason for coming. If I wanted to go get ugly and mean, and get into a fight with someone, there are plenty of bars that are a lot closer that could fill the bill. Its a lot closer to go to one of them rather than a parking lot at a racetrack in S.C. to throw down with any of y'all.

My hope is that when we get there that maybe when we're face to face with one another some of this stupidity can get this put behind us, and we can actually hang out with one another like civilized human beings and maybe y'all might even learn to like some of us Texans ( I know that might be pushing it but hey, I'll give it a shot).

I wasn't going to post this, I have shared it privately with a few other folks that I know, but I haven't shared it publically. But let me tell you where I'm coming from.

My company is shutting down a bunch of its operations center here in Houston and moving them to one of our bigger data centers out of state. I have been privy to the plans for awhile now, and had to do the planning for a lot of it. But it still sucks to see your friends and co-workers get yanked from their desk and walked out the door, and then go to the meeting in which they tell you everything is ok, and there will be no more layoffs, meanwhile you know that really isn't the whole story.

It took a lot of string pulling with my senior mgmt. on my part to not be out of town for the race in S.C. In fact they wanted me out of the country 2 weeks before the race. Going to this race puts me in a real hardship, as I have to drive out there, race, and drive back. Tuesday, I have to fly out of the country for 3 weeks for work. When I get there, I have to work almost non-stop as soon as I hit the ground. To get hit two absolute non-negotiable deadlines of Feb 28th to complete some projects. So, I had to put my neck out by promising to get a bunch of work done in way short a period of time to even come to this deal in the first place. I didn't want to share any of this, beause quite frakly its no ones busines. We commit to be there. We show up to race, done deal.

It'd be a lot easier on me to skip the race and fly out on the previous Friday and have a few extra days to get over there (get over the jet lag) make sure I can get everything accomplished in the required timeframes. After I get back, my company originally had me going directly to another operations center in another state for 3 weeks after that and 2 weeks in yet another operation center right after that. It looks like I am going to be able to skip one of those, but not both. I am putting myself way out to go do this, so if folks want to play silly games, its just a lot easier for me to just blow it off and show up @ SBSO or NvsS if I can.

And in the mean time, I may have to start looking for a new job....Since they want me to become a senior engineer in one of our operation centers out of state. I have no interest in moving out of Houston.

So like I said, I'm trying to do this race to go have a good time, hang out with some folks, and try to forget how bad things are here. If folks are just going to be a bunch of jerks about the whole deal, then I honestly don't need any of it. But, like I said, if we can all play fair I'm all for it, and I'll be there. And, if someone beats me, I'll shake their hand and tell them good race. My only fear now is hat we're going to get there and there will be some "creative interpetation" of the rules to be used against us. My hope is that we can all be adults about this. Sure, I want to win, everyone does but there is a right way and a wrong way to do this. I'd prefer we all do it the right way and whatever happens, happens...

So, unless the rules chage again, see you in S.C.


[Modified by J-Rod, 10:56 AM 2/7/2004]


[Modified by J-Rod, 10:56 AM 2/7/2004]

 

Glad to see your going. I think you'll be surprised how cool everyone is when you meet them in person. There is always alot of tension when trying to organize a competitive event especially for the first time. There should be 2 or three events like this each year in dfferent parts of the country.

 

:thumbs: Are u the only LMG car running? If so I hope they hook u up for being the only one. :yesnod:

To all the Tuners that do bring cars and run I give much respect. Win or lose.

 

Glad to hear you're still coming man :cheers: and sorry about your woes at work. :(
Things are always different (ie: better) in person than they are on the boards so I'm sure it will be a very fun and productive event. :party:

:seeya

 

That's great that you guys are coming . In my personal experience , people are a lot different when you talk to them in person , or even on the phone , things just come across differently on the internet , mainly because it's so easy to disrespect people , or because you don't know the person personally , If you knew me , you'd know I bust ***** on my friends all the time , it's a Northeast mentality I guess , but some people take it the wrong way . Contrary to what many people might believe about this Cartek/LGM war , I have spoken on the phone with Lou Gigliotti a few times , including last night for over 30 minutes , and in the past for over an hour , I even got Julio from Cartek on the phone with Lou in the last few months , and they spoke for over an hour . One thing I had hoped this shootout would do is create a few new friendships , and maybe stop some of the crap that happens on this forum , I thought if we all got together at the track and put the faces to the names , it might change things around here , and I hope it does . See you in South Carolina . :cheers:

 

J-Rod , By the way , I realize your sacrifice of your time with your work schedule , I have been out of the country the last two weeks on business , I just got back yesterday , I have to fly out West later in the week , fly back East on Thursday the 19th , drive from Boston to NJ , pick up my car , and head South , this time of year is one of my busiest travel times with my job . I also want to give props to all the tuners that are participating for making the sacrifice of shutting down their shops for four days and making the long drive to the event . :cheers:

 

So are you going to beat Brent? :smash:

 

Good luck on the race and the job. :cheers:

 

I do all of my own work and I'm not from Texas (I'm sorry :p: ) but LGM will be doing the tuning on my car for this event. :cheers:

 

J-Rod,

I can definately attest to Mike's comments. Over the past several years The Vette Doctor's and Cartek customers have gotten into it on many occasions on the forum but on Saturday when we show up at the track exerything is always very cival and a lot of fun!! :thumbs: :smash:

I have know Mike, Brent, Julio and Dave for several years now and even though we compete very intensly, myself, Paul, Brian, Carmen and Dennis are always very friendly at the track and each always extends a hand to the other when one is needed.

I am very happy you decided to come and really look forward to seeing the LGM guys in SC and all the other Tuners who I have never had the opportunity to compete against. I know what it is like living on the road and working under the exact conditions you described. When we meat we should compare notes!

See you guys in a few weeks!

 

Good luck J-Rod, Glad to hear your going. I'm sure you will do an excellent job reprsenting LG cars. :thumbs:

I wish I could be there I'm sure it will be a blast. :steering:

 

I'm glad you will be there.....I will be too!

 

Bill , :iagree: :thumbs: :cheers:

 

I am glad to hear that you will be there, and hopefully the rules issues are all past us now and people can start talking race smack :yesnod:

Since Saturday is my wife's birthday I only have a kitchen pass for the Sunday, but I am looking forward to meeting a lot of new faces. In my experience when people meet face-to-face we find we have a lot more in common than we realize. Getting to like a Texan though may be a bit of a stretch :skep:

Les :steering:

 

:thumbs:

wish I could go and watch this event.

 

LET HER EAT J-ROD ! :steering:

 

:thumbs: :cheers: :hurray: :hurray:

 

Well, let just hope for good weather, and good rack prep now... See you guys soon.

 

go get um J, wish i could make it.. :cheers:

 

I've been told by a few professional racers the track hooks awesome , next weekend Scotty Cannon is running a Top Fuel Funny car there in an exhibition race , if it's good enough for Top Fuel it's good enough for us . Good Luck :steering: