ProAutosports At Firebird This Weekend

[ItBites]

I gotta say that I am not sure what Bill's point is here. He, like some others in the Valley, has an issue with Larry Pond. I know some of the things Larry is reviled for by some folks, but frankly, I don't care. The issues I am aware of are not safety related, nor do I know of anyone who blames Larry or PASA for the incidents Bill has described. I don't know everyone, but the ones I know who have been involved in incidents pretty much chalk it up to racing (or blame the other driver equally as often). All of the complaints I know about with Larry Pond revolve around the race classes and his business operation. All of us drive in the green or red group and I really haven't heard much complaint about those classes.

Larry runs a group that allows me to get my car out on the track. I have lived other places that do not have groups like PASA and I can tell you that having PASA is better than having nothing. I am also a NASA and ASRA (since 1992) member and I am glad that PASA is at least a going-enough entity to offer more than a few track days per year. Before PASA (or SAAC before that), there were years here where three or four track days was all that were available. Having the choice to go out to a PASA event is better than no choice to track your car.

If you don't like PASA, don't drive with them, but don't try to convince the rest of us that we should beware Larry or PASA. My relation with PASA has been satisfactory and I really don't need you trying to dampen my or our enthusiasm about taking these cars out to the track. I show-up, drive the car, go home, end of story. Frankly, I don't care if PASA uses barrels. If you want to keep your mirrors, you have the choice to hit the barrels or not. Usually this sort of thing occurs as a result of driving past your capability - your choice. Every track has "intricacies" that can bite you - it is up to you how you drive and what you hit. And I'll bet you a donut that the tunnel of death (tunnel turn on the main track) IS 45' wide. I hate that corner and so I slow down a little, but that is a choice I make - however making that choice allows me to continue to participate...

Is there the possibility of danger? - yes. Can things happen with multiple cars at speed? - yes. We know this, thanks mom...

I am willing to take the risk, such as it is, to drive in a manner that I love and cannot do without track events. I also choose to control the level of that risk by not driving beyond my capabilities and being aware of what other drivers are doing.

I will continue to enjoy my track days with whatever group has track openings that align with my schedule, even PASA.

[scott coyle]

Guys,

I have run open track events with lots of different organizations, PASA, NASA, COCOA, NWCC, etc.. Your safety is pretty much dependent on you. I mean that in the way you drive and the decisions you make. If somebody is on your tail, point them by. If you don't want to go off track, slow down. Most incidents occur, allthough rarely, when your own ego gets in the way, ask me how I know.

I am a big endorser of track events for cobra guys. One it allows you to drive your cobra fast in a relatively safe enviroment. Is it totally safe, no. Is it ten times safer than going fast on the street, YES it is. Two, you get to know your cobra better and how it behaves at the limit when you have gone too fast. That way when it happens on the street, which is now less likely because you realize how unsafe the street is for fast cobra's, you can catch the car before you hit somebody or something.

As for PASA, I would say there events are generally safer than nasa or azra. All 3 organizations do a great job, but nasa and azra primarily run at PIR. If you drive your car hard at PIR, there are only 2 corners you can spin on and not hit a wall. You spin in the 7 other corners and you are likely to hit a wall. If you are not near the limit with slicks, your chances of hittting a wall are less. At least at Firebird, 90% of the corners have lots of run out where the car will just spin and not hit anything. Since there are no elevation changes or drop offs, your chances of rolling your vehicle are pretty small. I personally like PIR as a track but the penalty is higher. I had much rather test the limits at the east track.

Larry is not getting a Christmas card from everbody, but he is being thrown under the bus here a bit unfairly.

Scott Coyle