Michelin tires at VIR Weekend

[leoneddins]

Hello All
I was the Pirelli Tire vendor at VIR this past weekend. Let me start by saying, that I was very sorry for any problems that were created this past weekend due to the Michelin tire vendor running out of tires. I try to always be in attendance at the trackdays prior to an event, with a large selection of tires to help all of the racers out. If you are not familiar with me, I am the Florida region vendor. I cover races for Trackside racers supply in the southeast and mid-atlantic regions from time to time. Mostly when there are multiple races on the same weekend at different locations.
I as a ex-racer, I know how important tire vendors are to the true privateer's racing weekend and trackdays. I try to do the best for all of the racers and run a business at the same time. The choice of tire brand is truly up to the racer and "I think that choice should be Pirelli Tires".
With that said, I will always do my best for all of the racers out there, no matter what choice you make. On Saturday afternoon at 4:00 pm I closed up shop due to running low on tires from switching some Michelin riders over to Pirelli's for the weekend. I drove 3 hours over to Canton, NC. to Tracksides warehouse and loaded up as much inventory as I could. I drove back 3 hours to Danville to catch 5 hours of sleep, and went at it all over again on Sunday. I am sorry if that short delay in service at the track, stopped anyone from changing tires at the Pirelli trailer on Saturday afternoon. I hate to tell the racers that "I am out of tires"
If any of you had to do this, you would understand what we go through to provide service. It's not all cake and ice cream. Hope to see all of you at the next race??? I hope all of you have a great season.

Leon Eddins
Competition Motorsports South

[Sig]

Leon Rocks!

[ecumike]

I understand that no one can predict how many tires are gonna be sold on any given weekend.  However, it would be nice for the vendor of said product(s) to take the time and post a message on this and other boards...

This is kinda funny... everyone's pointing at the vendor for being in the wrong...
Have you guys ever thought about calling the vendor and 'reserving' or making sure he's bringing some tires for you?

I mean damn, if you guys really needed tires, why didn't you call, reserve, or buy them over the phone ahead of time to make sure he had some for you?

I always call the dunlop guys and make sure they are bringing plenty of tires.

[GregR6]

This is kinda funny... everyone's pointing at the vendor for being in the wrong...
Have you guys ever thought about calling the vendor and 'reserving' or making sure he's bringing some tires for you?

I mean damn, if you guys really needed tires, why didn't you call, reserve, or buy them over the phone ahead of time to make sure he had some for you?

I always call the dunlop guys and make sure they are bringing plenty of tires.

Actually, Mike...I DID do that. same race, same guy, exactly 1 year ago for 3 sets (plus 1 rear). I did it through the mid-atl guy who specifically stated to me HE would be there. Where was he? Mid-Ohio. Who was there? This guy. Now I don't hold anything at all personally against whoever this rep is, but to boot my 7 tires, again....PRE-ORDERED, got mixed up, and I did not get exactly what I had requested. And what I DID order/want was not on the truck...well there was a few, but they were also already promised to racers... which I also don't get... who chooses who gets screwed over???

Maybe I'll just continue to give Leon and Moose my business... since they aren't yet "stocking up for Daytona"....

By the way...I like cake and ice cream.

Leon, thanks for your support last weekend (my sig is wrong... GSXR 1k #5)
Greg

[Sig]

I don' think that it's unreasonable to expect a tire vendor to bring enough.....or more than enough tires for a weekend.

[PJ721]

just a quick thank you to Leon for going out of the way and getting in more Pirelli tires for Sunday...especiallly with it being a Team Challange weekend - lots of tires being used up.

[ecumike]

GregR6 yea in that case, that a shitty deal.

[MELK-MAN]

This is kinda funny... everyone's pointing at the vendor for being in the wrong...
Have you guys ever thought about calling the vendor and 'reserving' or making sure he's bringing some tires for you?

I mean damn, if you guys really needed tires, why didn't you call, reserve, or buy them over the phone ahead of time to make sure he had some for you?

I always call the dunlop guys and make sure they are bringing plenty of tires.

I actually did call Monte Lutz, who i THINK is associated with Quinten mize for the NE distributors but got no call back. Had they called and said they were comming i would have still been SOL as i doubt they would have sold me the amount of tires i wanted for 8 races. I picked mine up directly from my local guy Frank Kinsey on the way up. Im sure the Michelin USA will be looking into the matter of getting tires to the races and helping out however possible... pretty hard to pomote the new stuff comming out if the riders can only get tires some of the time.

Thanks for your assistance Leon, it is great that you help out and wont put another brands tire change at the back of the line. The many changes you did for me is much appreciated. Leon sells EBC BRAKES!! they rock as well.

[rogers1323]

Leon, thanks for all the help over the course of the weekend.  Given a bad situation, you went out of your way to help me as much as possible.  This is the type of service that I appreciate, but also expect to see from vendors at the track, and the type of service that earns my business.

This is kinda funny... everyone's pointing at the vendor for being in the wrong...
Have you guys ever thought about calling the vendor and 'reserving' or making sure he's bringing some tires for you?

I mean damn, if you guys really needed tires, why didn't you call, reserve, or buy them over the phone ahead of time to make sure he had some for you?

I always call the dunlop guys and make sure they are bringing plenty of tires.

Calling ahead and ordering tires requires several things.  The first is knowing exactly what tires and how many you are planning to use.  Because of the team challenge, I was unsure of this on Friday, much less far enough in advance to reserve tires.  Second, it requires time and attention to make the phone call ahead of time, and possible money to buy them ahead of time.  While these things are possible, they don't constitute service.  Vendors have contracts with CCS and are expected to be there with enough product.  I don't think that it's unreasonable to expect them to show up with enough product and be able to provide service to the racers.

And the claimed issue is that he couldn't get the tires before he came to VIR.  If this is the case, then there should be no discussion about how many tires he sold here or sold there.

Melk-Man, you are correct in your understanding of who is associated with who.

[Headdog122]

I'll have to say that I have called ahead and then gotten shorted on tires just like GregR6.  Been there, done that..!!

Mike, you might want to figure out how your gonna keep Butters behind you next year.  You are his immediate GOAL!!  he,he,he... 

[ecumike]

I'll have to say that I have called ahead and then gotten shorted on tires just like GregR6.  Been there, done that..!!

Mike, you might want to figure out how your gonna keep Butters behind you next year.  You are his immediate GOAL!!  he,he,he... 

He's got to get in front of me first.  8-)    I just have to stop handing him races/points.

[Headdog122]

I've got butters on a strict "Weight Management" program..!!  He has about 20lbs to loose....     I can't figure out which leg its gonna be..!!