From the "AUCKLAND ALLEYCAT" team manager (Read 1,856 times)

[GRUNTA]

Well what a weekend !

First of all i would like to thank Huntly Speedway for a excellent weekend of racing.
Colin Aston from T.W.S for his support to Huntly Speedway and to this event.

To the boys that put themselves and their machinery on the line Jamie (333), Gary (383), Mark (388), Dean (838), Seth (883) & Muzza (833) ( Even though you didn't race you are still a big part of the team ) You guys 'ROCK' and i couldn't be any happier to have a bunch of guys that are so willing and determined to succeed, Cheers

To all the crew and helpers, Thank you for all the hard work over the weekend we could not have done it without you.

To Our Mascot (Blair Mitchell) Cheers dude it was good to see.

To all the fans & supporters you were great all weekend, Thank you so much and we hope to see you all in Wellington to cheer us on.

The team dedicated this meeting to the memory of Fraser Mason who must of been looking down on us. Cheers Buddy

Second of all i would just like to voice my opinion on this 'PROTEST BULLS**T'

I nor any other team member protested the Gisborne team.
There is no protesting in teams racing, simple.

I as team manager acting in what i thought was the best interests of the team did ask the Steward of the meeting prior to our teams race as to why two Gisborne cars were allowed to run with unsealed engines when the SNZ rule book states NO SEAL NO RACE to which at that stage he was unaware and was disappointed that it had not been brought to his attention when the cars should have failed scrutineering it is then his job to talk to all parties concerned and make a ruling on weather or not those cars are allowed to race.

As it was they were allowed to race and did field a full team against us in the 1st semi final which we beat them fair & square.

To blame us for them not being able to put a full team in against Hawkes Bay for 3rd & 4th when half there cars were broken i think is wrong. Blame the people at the top who didn't do there job to start with.

I only asked the question in the first place for two reasons.
1, Why didn't someone come to me and explain hey Gisborne blew a couple of engines last night they got some sh*tters from the wreckers are you all good with that. I would of ask the drivers in our team if it was ok, if they had of said no problem then all good.
2, The safety of my drivers, Lets say one of those engines that came from the wrecker had been owned by some petrol-head that had bored it out .60', up'd the compression and put a cam in it, Next thing we have a jumbo engine straight lining cars of the end and who was going to put there hand up when someone got seriously hurt ?

As the manager i thought i was doing my job to ensure that the rules and safety of our sport are followed. If i have upset or offended anybody I'm sorry it was not my intention but RULES ARE RULES.

Grant Littlewood
Team Manager
Auckland Alleycats

[LRT]

Well said Grunta. Congrats to you and your team!!!!!

I have alot of time for the Gizzy boys but rules are rules. And I am not saying that what they did was wrong either.
You are right, the stewarts should have sorted it out before things got out of hand as they did. We see the same thing everywhere every year. Stewarts that let things go, and others that pull you up a week later for something you have had for two years!!!
The fact is, whoever scrutinerred those two cars in question are responsable, not you. You have my support.

Ivan Lammas
7k

[fearless]

Congradulation Auckland will raced. My first thought was sh*t but when I thinking about it during the meeting it would have been worst if they had been allowed to race. Then there would have been moans and groans at the end. Yes the Officals should have had this Sorted out.
But any rate the cars by the sound of it were broke.
All teams uped the ante Saturady to more of a tackical race than the bash.

HB greet sportsman with the race againist Gizzy.

[Murray Guy (Grandad)]

Nov 23, 2009 12:54:07 GMT 12 LRT said:

Well said Grunta. Congrats to you and your team!!!!!
We see the same thing everywhere every year. Stewarts that let things go, and others that pull you up a week later for something you have had for two years!!!
The fact is, whoever scrutinerred those two cars in question are responsable, not you. You have my support.

Ivan Lammas
7k

Good call and post Grant.
My tuppence worth says the 'scrutineers are not accountable'.
The track 'day of racing' scrutineers have safety as their focus and 'in your face' compliance monitoring.

I carry an engine certificate in my car log book, I sign a contract, I, as a driver, must take responsibility.
A race car minus a tag, illegal fuel, internal illegal modification, over weight etc cannot be and was surely never intended to be, monitored at every pre-race scrutineering process.

When we knowingly break the rules (regardless of the reason) we know we run the risk of being caught and a penalty applied.

[supa36a]

Nov 23, 2009 12:26:38 GMT 12 GRUNTA said:

To Our Mascot (Blair Mitchell) Cheers dude it was good to see.

Thanks Grunta....... lol

GO THE ALLEY CATS!

[bernie]

Nov 23, 2009 15:13:46 GMT 12 Murray Guy (Grandad) said:

Nov 23, 2009 12:54:07 GMT 12 LRT said:

7k

Good call and post Grant.
My tuppence worth says the 'scrutineers are not accountable'.
The track 'day of racing' scrutineers have safety as their focus and 'in your face' compliance monitoring.

In defence of vehicle checkers and others. These guys dont check everything every week, nore are they required to , they only check the items they tick on the scrutineering card.

As Murray eludes to , competitors sign a card, week in week out, saying that hey have presented a "fully" compliant car. HMMMM

(Good on ya Gisborn for one way or another putting up a full team)

Go the Alley cats

[Richh]

Nov 23, 2009 12:26:38 GMT 12 GRUNTA said:

As the manager i thought i was doing my job to ensure that the rules and safety of our sport are followed. If i have upset or offended anybodyI'm sorry it was not my intention but RULES ARE RULES.

Grant Littlewood
Team Manager
Auckland Alleycats

Good on ya Grunta. but you don't have to say SORRY for nothing.
Doing a great job as team manager

[squeaky8g]

Was'nt going to bother with gossip,but feel have to make some things clear as some people might have missed what has been written in another thread

Nov 22, 2009 15:50:49 GMT 12 redman22 said:

To clear up about the engine protest. Yes it was my car and Sam Hughes car. There were checked by SNZ it was made clear at that time to SNZ that our motors were runners from the wreakers and that they had no seals. (we didnt have time to arrange for them to be sealed before we got them back to the track) It was written in our log books that our engines were not sealed therefore giving us til our next race meeting to get them sealed and it was only protested from Auckland 20 minutes prior to our race with them. So hopefully this clears up all gossip.

Ian Barron

When is a PROTEST not a protest,if you werent worried about the motors then why mention it.I am offended by what happened, I dont like the attitude of win at all costs.We were beaten soundly on the track END of STORY have no problem with that but we wasted alot of time changing motors that we had been cleared to run ,why the change of heart?? Perhaps pressure applied to officialdom took its toll at the end of the day it SUCKS as we race hard and play fair .NO PROTESTS should be Official has final say.
What lengths would of you gone to if we had won?Taken the officials concerned to court , anyone would of thought there was HUGE money at stake or something.Dont get me wrong I have never cheated an never will and am a stickler for the rules- we had done as much as we could to advise officialdom of our position ,that perhaps officialdom didnt consult any one else we will never know.our consciences are clear,an we still hold the DRIVERS in the ALLEYCATS as friends an great rivals.Best of luck in Welly ...