ATTN: PRO Drivers

[raceright]

The future of radios will probably have some type of monitoring as in NASCAR.

Drivers will be on same channels as offical,if there is a problem on race course who better than race officals to inform the driver,offical has many spotters on course and judges stand. Drivers currently only have one spotter. If ya feel that a rule is wrong tell ya commissioner and attend meetings ya can speak your mind and ya will be listened to and who knows if ya do ya homework things can be changed,just complaining on a computer will only go so far.

Pat Wright
Region 2 Pro Commissioner

[nicf14]

When the commission words the ballot like they did, can you trust the numbers of the vote? There is more than one person that was confused by the wording. This was by far the closest vote on the agenda. This seams like a conspiracy by the commission to defraud PRO racers. And yes, I'm just another whiner.

[Lights]

When the commission words the ballot like they did, can you trust the numbers of the vote? There is more than one person that was confused by the wording. This was by far the closest vote on the agenda. This seams like a conspiracy by the commission to defraud PRO racers. And yes, I'm just another whiner.

I too had to scratch my head and think about how it was worded. I still do not fully understand the wording.

[pro350hydro]

They did not take it away you voted it away....I hope those of you who are unhappy at least sent in your ballots!

Kristi,

You are right and I stand corrected. But they did try and take it away as a safety item in the past.


And yes, I voted

Mike

[pro350hydro]

When the commission words the ballot like they did, can you trust the numbers of the vote? There is more than one person that was confused by the wording. This was by far the closest vote on the agenda. This seams like a conspiracy by the commission to defraud PRO racers. And yes, I'm just another whiner.

I totally agree!

[raceright]

Hope to see all you talkers on the computer at the Detriot meeting so ya can speak to the commission and realy see how the system works.

Pat Wright

P.S. at least half of the commission do not I repeat do not watch what is written on any computer.

[Composite Specialties]

So let's see if we can get to the bottom of this rule. Who first contacted the Pro commission and ask for the rule? Who actually wrote the rule for the commission? Why was the rule tied to the phrase "required reinforced cockpits"? The UIM requires reinforced cockpits for their open cockpit classes, they are now and have always been so far ahead of APBA in the safety requirements of their open cockpit rules. If we also required reinforced cockpits for our open cockpit boats, then the new radio rule would be void. So how many safety issues will have to happen until we can get to that stage?

As I have stated before in this post, the issue is not the radio, the issue is with the drivers. If you have a issue with a driver and their driving style, have a back bone and confront that driver after the race about it instead of hiding behind fabricated radio rules. I was in Raleigh last year and watched some questionable driving by several 250cc hydro drivers from coming up to the start all the way to the end of the race and no one was using radios at all. I saw the same questionable driving going on at Inverness and heard there was the same thing going on at Lake Wales in some of the races.

Radios are a safety feature that can only help people. The past few races have shown me that you don't need a radio to be a dirty driver! So let's see if the rule originator will come forward and state their original intentions.

[Joe J]

A conspiracy? Get serious. Maybe it's time to step up to the plate and run for a seat on the commission.

As to the vote count, the commission has NO part of this, the ballots go into APBA directly, not the the Pro commission.

Joe Johnson
Pro commissioner

When the commission words the ballot like they did, can you trust the numbers of the vote? There is more than one person that was confused by the wording. This was by far the closest vote on the agenda. This seams like a conspiracy by the commission to defraud PRO racers. And yes, I'm just another whiner.

[pro350hydro]

A conspiracy? Get serious. Maybe it's time to step up to the plate and run for a seat on the commission.

As to the vote count, the commission has NO part of this, the ballots go into APBA directly, not the the Pro commission.

Joe Johnson
Pro commissioner

Joe,

Can you shead some light on how the radio proposal got brought back up and went to a vote?

Thanks

Mike

[pro350hydro]

From Pro Commission Metting Jan 2007

This is cut and pasted from the minutes from the January 2007 Pro Commission meeting found on the "pro site" link below

http://www.portagebaysystems.com/proweb/new_page_1.htm


Ed T via letter asked that the issue of banning radio use be brought up for discussion again. The reason that the rule was repealed by the Board and upheld was that, at that time, Commissions did not have the power to make safety rules per a flaw in the bylaws. That has been fixed, so this could be done as a safety rule or a technical rule. Suggestions were that the spotter must be an APBA member, must attend the drivers’ meeting, spotters in a corral with monitoring by a referee, one channel receiving only.<?XML:NAMESPACE PREFIX = O /><O:P> </O:P>
<O:P></O:P>
Pat W made a motion (Bruce S second) to ban radio communication with drivers in non-capsule classes (radios would continue to be allowed in classes with mandatory reinforced cockpits, i.e., 500H, 700H, and 1100H). This would go to a vote of the drivers in the non-capsule classes. If passed, this rule would go into effect November 2007. Motion passed with 1 opposed.<O:P> </O:P>
<O:P></O:P>
Kristi E made a motion (Joe J second) to require that radio spotters be APBA members and must attend the drivers’ meeting. The motion passed with 1 opposed. This will be a safety rule so will not go to ballot, and will be effective immediately.<O:P> </O:P>
<O:P></O:P>
<O:P>
</O:P>

[Kristi Ellison]

All,

The issue was brought up by Ed.....however, I as well as many of the Commissioners have had many drivers express concern over the last 2 seasons on all the issues that have been hashed on since this started.

We discussed this at length and felt it was enough of an issue to put it to a vote of the drivers.

This is not a new issue and we all realize that there are strong feelings on BOTH side with valid points.

This is not the same Commission tried to get rid of the radios in the past.

Kristi

[Composite Specialties]

cockpit side construction

So, Pro commission, what is the latest with this safety issue:

This is cut and pasted from the minutes from the January 2007 Pro Commission meeting found on the "pro site" link below

http://www.portagebaysystems.com/proweb/new_page_1.htm

Issues from the National Safety Committee:

There are proposals from Brian Williams regarding cockpit side construction and sharp points on hulls. The proposals are being recommended by the National Safety Committee. These proposals were tabled to review the positions of other categories.

Some boat builders have already been using UIM standards for the cockpit sides, why has this not been looked at closer to help with cockpit side impacts, this is for Safety.


What is being done about the "Clearance rule" above the helmets for the Capsule boats in Pro, this is for Safety.

[Kristi Ellison]

WOW you really sound like you have a vendeda.....we had lengthy discussions over capsule clearance and are concerned after the demonstrations the OPC guys provided. Pat Wright is currenlty researching and discussing with the capsule drivers the new information that is coming out so we can make a plan for implmentation without financially crippling the teams.

We are also in discussion with the safety committee and Mr. Wartinger on cockpit sides and how to best approach any changes as well as sharp points. It says tabled because we need a lot more info before we make changes that cripple all of us.

If you bringing this up as link to the radios....the radio issue was not put under a safety heading in the open cockpit boats this time around as it was determined last time it could not be banned as a safety issue.

I hope that clears up some of your questions.

[Composite Specialties]

No vendeda here Mrs.Ellison, just want answers to some issues. You don't seem to like it when people start asking questions. Suddenly they become Juvenile and have vendeda's to cast.

I am a member just like everyone else and I can ask about any issue I like. If the radio issue was such a big issue over the past couple of years, then where do the real issues such as reinforced cockpit sides, break away pickle tips and capsule head clearance reside on the priority list in Pro?

[raceright]

No vendeda here Mrs.Ellison, just want answers to some issues. You don't seem to like it when people start asking questions. Suddenly they become Juvenile and have vendeda's to cast.

I am a member just like everyone else and I can ask about any issue I like. If the radio issue was such a big issue over the past couple of years, then where do the real issues such as reinforced cockpit sides, break away pickle tips and capsule head clearance reside on the priority list in Pro?

Mark didn,t know ya was such a tough guy but believe you me Kristi can take it and watch out she can dish it out to. Lets see if I can remember some of ya clouded questions oh yea I made the motion to remove radios from open boats was asked to like most things brought up to the commission
membership asks for things and commission puts it out to all the members to make the choices so if ya have any beef its with ya fellow driver not ya commission. Ya should of seen Steve cringe when this motion was made.

Oh I know my real motivation was to have guys who want to use radios
and be real safe get a capusle boat and add to capsule numbers. yea right

radios safety,radios safety, radios safety, radios safety thats right complain about no radios cause ya want to be so safe uh hu uh hu uh hu