Someone needs to send a letter

[Sklossmonster]

can't ... stop ... typing

Must ... control .... emotions

(Deep breath)

If you're more worried about going to work on Monday than winning, racing may not be for you.

If you can't handle close passes, or having to alter your line because a faster rider is coming through, racing may not be for you.

If you want every other rider on track to respect your personal space and never cause you to check up mid corner, racing may not be for you.

I do not advocate bike to bike, or rider to rider contact.

I do not advocate the "lowering of the etiquette bar" Ed referred to in his now infamous letter.

I do however understand the difference between racing and track days.

Do you?

[JBraun]

I do however understand the difference between racing and track days.

Do you?

I'd have won every race last year, but I thought Brian Hall was a control rider...

[Super Dave]

There was a huge purse at that last track day...

Kind of like your porn date.

[r1owner]

I'm going to win Moto GP next year... tough to move a Boss Hoss off the racing line.

[tstruyk]

I'm going to win Moto GP next year... tough to move a Boss Hoss off the racing line.

dont have to move you, just wait for the meatball   

that is assuming you dont loop it at the start... 



I think the only reason this is all an issue is its coming from a well known face in the track day crowd and the implications made are a concern that new "rookies" that look up to Marshall from a personal level (even if only from relating to him from his artlices) are going to think its "ok" or the norm.

I'd hate to think back to my AM season and have half the psycho's behind me struggling to get around me, get in their head "no more Mr. Nice guy" and t-bone me trying to "stand me up".

most AM's dont have a 10th of the experience marshall has on the track.  (to that I dont think I do either!)  I have no doubt that Marshall plays fair when racing.  Its the message sent to the less experienced racers... the real "rookies" to our sport.  The message that sometimes you have to play not nice.  The new racers dont have the instinct or judgement to put themselves in a position to make a safe pass.  Marshal does.  I think if the article was written from the perspective of someone with limited seat time, struggling with suspension setup, tire choice or pressures, gearing etc... it would have taken on a whole new dynamic.  but coming from a more seasoned person with loads of track time and with abilities equal or greater to those who have been around a year or 3... its a tough comparison and seperation to make.  Yes he was an AM, but IMO not with a skill set or mentality that most AM's have.  marshal makes comments that I am sure most those who have been around a few season have at least alluded to, but wouldnt recommend to a someone on their 3rd weekend at the track.

did that make sense?

[r1owner]

dont have to move you, just wait for the meatball   

that is assuming you dont loop it at the start... 

You suck! LOL!

[Super Dave]

LOL!



Ok, I feel the need to validate Marshall.

Maybe there's some debate, but I'm a pretty nice guy.  That was a problem early in my racing career.  I was very concerned about riders around me.  Maybe I should restate that, I was concerned about racers around me.  I didn't want to make anyone mad or anything so often I'd come up on someone and slow waaaaay down not wanting to spook them at all.  Seemed like no one bothered too much with that kind of attitude with me, as they would barge pass no problem.  Anyway, I learned more about the bike and racing and learned that what I was supposed to be doing was passing people given the opportunities that were reasonably available to me.  And for me, that wasn't being "nice".  I guess I'm used to holding doors open for people and stuff like that.  And when Marshall talked about no more Mr Nice guy, I reconized that he was not going to exploit opportunities that his riding and skill brought him to get around riders.  The implication that I got was that, not that he was going to be "Mr Mean and Aggressive Guy on Med's that Has Various Mental Issues" who might make a huge mistake and take out the person being passed, and potentially himself. 

Whaddya think Schloss?  More of a representative idea of what you really meant to say.

[EX_#76]

I'm going to win Moto GP next year... tough to move a Boss Hoss off the racing line.

It would be hard to make a Boss Hoss hold a racing line LOL!!!

[Super Dave]

Who cares...you'd be stylin'...

[r1owner]

Who cares...you'd be stylin'...

I wouldn't even need to put my knee down!  The valve covers would be sparking... that would make for some sweet pictures!

[lilroy]

Did I miss something?  Did Ed write another letter to RRW?

[weggieman]

If you're more worried about winning a club race than going to work on Monday, racing may not be for you............

Unless you're independently wealthy and don't give a rat's ass about your own safety much less those of your competitors you need to worry about going to work on Monday.

If winning a club race takes precedent over your health and livelyhood you need to rethink what you're doing.

Just the opinion of an old ass that's been around this sport for 30+years and has paid many medical bills for injured racers.

Sorry, no letter but I wouldn't want to be the one to make the call to your parents that you're laying in a hospital paralyzed or dead because you just HAD to win that club race no matter the cost.