Reading these posts about NASA and Speedtrial makes me sad and although I would normally let it die, I think it is time to straighten some things out.

NASA-VA and SpeedTrial-East are BOTH the little guy.

No I wasn't hired by Jon Felton. We both took over in late 1999 after Mike Garner vacated the chapter. Jon stepped down from the Director's chair to pursue a job at Rosen Autosport in the middle of 2000. I put together a new VOLUNTEER team for the end of 2000 and 2001 and here we are, ready for 2002.

The NASA-VA chapter is my small business and I receive no financial support whatsoever from NASA national. I have built this while having a full time job and at my own personal expense. I listen to my customers and make policy that accomodates their wishes if it doesn't conflict with safety. Last month I quit a secure job, sold my racecar and plan on living on savings while NASA grows. Does that sound like a "BIG guy" to you?

I have always been a proponent of people getting on track anyway they can but when people stir the pot and begin to compare my organization with others I feel that I must let people know why we are better. ( Especially when they are talking out of turn and with inaccurate information) I don't think this is unreasonable.

My goal is to grow roadracing by lowering the barriers to entry, especially cost. Autocross and HPDEs are elemental to accomplishing that goal. That is why I spend as much time trying to get sponsorship like RASport for the HPDEs as I do for the race groups.

Yes the future of Road racing is the import scene and specifically Hondas but......don't get too cocky. Not everyone gets it yet. Companies are just now beginning to understand open tracking and roadracing. It is in it's infancy but there is an opportunity for ALL of us to win if none of us fight. Companies understand when you ask them to sponsor a race series but look at you like you have three heads when you suggest sponsoring an HPDE. I have turned a few on, but there is much work to be done. The simple fact of the matter is that the more events you guys attend the easier it becomes for us to reel in potential sponsors. Rosen Autosport has gotten their moneys worth already because of these threads, though I am not suggesting this type of conflict everytime I get a sponsor to give you guys a break on entry fee.

NASA-VA has the best racing and driver education program on the East Coast. I believe it and can back it up. Every participant puts their life in my hands when they sign up for one of my events. I take that very seriously because I KNOW from personal experience how fast things can happen on track and how much it can hurt. I have lost wheels in 100mph turns and been on fire. That is why I assembled a volunteer team has a combined 100 years of roadracing and high performance driving experience.

The good thing about this entire topic is that is shows how impassioned this group is about putting their cars on track. People are just finding out about open tracking and the quicker it becomes popular the quicker I can get more deals like RASport.

Now can we put this to rest so that I can go back to layn' the smack down on Bookler

Which reminds me.... Hey, Bookler, you left your Boy George T-Shirt in Felton's back seat and he asked me to get it back to you. Where do you want it sent or do you just want me to keep it until VIR?

Peace,
Chris Cobetto
Director, NASA-VA

 

Well said Chris.
But, at the first sign of flame or animosity, I'm locking this puppy.
I'm just tired of the crap.

Optimus.

 

 

Absodamnlutely!!
C

 

Actually that is incorrect. NASA hired me as east coast director in Nov of '98, to pick up where Garner left off during his "version 1.0" in 1997-early 98. At the time I was crewing for Chris when he raced his RX-7, but Chris didn't come into the picture as Marketing Director until sometime in mid-late '99, I can't exactly remember when. It was a partnership (mostly mine) until he took over in May of '00, and I moved into the background.

I stepped down partly because of the Rosen project, and partly because I simply wasn't the man for the job. Chris had much better business skills, and a much more advanced idea of what NASA could become, and the dedication to make it happen. Its successes to this day are due to him and his team, not me... I was just the guy who got the ball rolling again and held some schools/time trials before the roadracing program got underway.



I agree 110%. We are all in it for the same thing here - fast, safe fun. And as I have said before, my interests in this hobby run way too deep to take all this bickering too seriously.



I thought it was a "George Michael/I Want Your Sex" t-shirt. I guess that one was from someone else...

Jon

 

that is the gods honest truth

Chris,
thank-you for your dedication, in the long run people always remember those who paved the way for the rest of us

NASA and Speedtrial always come up in conversation with the people who ask why I have numbers on my car or what is done to it. I have a Speedtrial sticker on my car and would be more than proud to have a NASA sticker on there too.

Thank-You also to Eric Rosen for his continued support, wether it is through instruction on track or business support I hope he has returns ten fold to his input

 

As long as noble amount of couth is displayed by all parties involved… I am more than happy to share “joyous” track time with everyone.

Will
-who enjoys track time.... and could care less who is in charge

 

Now, lets all wait patently for Feb to roll around, and have fun...

 

Cobetto:
Felton:

"All your base are belong to George"

 

I may be able to speak for many by saying:
We just like getting on the track. It doesn't really matter which track, but VIR Full Course is one of the favorites. Don't care which car club puts on the event whether it be BMW, Mazda, NASA, Porsche, Speedtrial, SCCA, Viper or Yugo (yes, this is in alpha order...NO preferences), I've never had a problem or thought there was a problem at any of the clubs. And as far as Rosen stepping in to making it cheaper for people to participate...Thank you! I will given Rosen's name to anyone and everyone that inquires about performance improvements. They get an A+ from me, and I've never met anyone from Rosen. I just wish more companies could do this, it really does help!

Bottomline: We just want to have fun...PERIOD...

Jon Starnes

 

Let's all step back and realize what a GOOD problem we have here.

So much cheap track time...offered by organizations that care about doing it right...at one of the best tracks in the entire country...that some of us can't do it all.

Wow. That really sucks.

--Karl, who when he's old and grey and puttering around in some damn electric car, will tell his kid of the "glory days" and be referring to right about now

 

You must be mistaken, I have it here right next to my Wham Make it Big tour t-shirt. Don't you remember, that's the one I wore the night you and I had our little "meeting" in the hotel room....

Matt

 

Oh Thstop you thsilly goosthe. Besides that's my Wham shirt.

 

And now we know how Matt occasionally wins a race. Late night Wham meetings in Cobetto's room.
Let it be known that the term "Wham Meeting" originated right here.

 

Giles, you have no respect. I like that in a racer.

C

 

Shouldn't you guys be "drag" racing instead of road racing?

Chris, I thought it was just your car that was flaming.





[Modified by Geezer, 9:14 PM 1/8/2002]

 

Oh the trash talking is quite abundant in our little group.
Go ahead and buy that Type R and we'll disrespect you too. I wouldn't want you to feel left out.

Scott, who gets to call Karl his bitch for at least 4 more months (I just love winning the last event of the year ).

 

Oh yeah, like that's any different from how the Honda Challenge got started!


Matt

 

Shhhhhh...
My bitch will get jealous.

Scott, who just can't seem to get tired of jabbing Shultz, but makes sure his doors are locked nightly. That sKiLLz MasTA freak is still on the loose.

 

I want to go on the record that I was NOT involved in any Wham meetings.

RoadRacer speedracer33. Isn't that sweet.

 

Whatever... Karl "bitch until at least April 21st" Shultz.

 

OK...I'm getting the voodoo doll back out.

 

Ya know, we have a great sense of community on this website and even those of you I haven't met personally, I feel as though I know many of you quite well. But man... pre-race "Wham meetings" are WAY more than I need to know about