This is no tease. Just a moment to say thanks.

For those of you who don’t know, (and I can’t imagine how you could not) Jim Politi (yells a lot) is NASA-VA’s Race Director, and his wife Elyse (sweet as pie….yells at Jim a lot) is our Registrar for the NASA-VA events.

It is difficult to relate the levels of work and dedication that are necessary to manage a mediocre event. It is almost impossible to relate the levels of work and dedication needed when an organization chooses as its goals to have the best training, the best racing, and the best opportunity for a driver to just relax and have fun. The vision for how best to accomplish this goal is broad, dynamic and requires a true team effort for it to come to fruition. On every team there are all-stars. There are those individuals that rise to every challenge and perform with a smile. The NASA-VA team is an anomaly because there are so many high caliber people that fit the “all-star” description, but…there are always the very few that really go beyond. Jim and Elyse Politi both go beyond.

Jim is dedicated, professional (although he could run his Official shirt under an iron), kind and unusually good humored for someone who refers to himself as “Grumpy’….oh yeah and did I mention passionate. He may not let you see it, but when the Star-Spangled Banner plays at our events a tear forms in his eye. If you think he looks at you kinda funny or maybe has a little louder presentation when he speaks, please remember that it wouldn’t be that way if the helicopter in which he was riding, would have remained in the skies over Vietnam rather than finding its way suddenly to the ground. Jim truly loves racing and driving fast. His involvement in the events that we host is much deeper than standing in the control tower when the track is hot. He brings decades of technical and organizational experience to the event and to event preparation. No team could ask for a better player.

Elyse puts up with Jim. I could probably stop right here and that would have said enough. One may refer to her as an ex-Hippie but they would not understand that once a hippie, always a hippie. If she mentions to you that you would look great in tie-dyed clothing, just smile and take it as the finest of compliments. Elyse is the friendly voice on the other end of the phone when you call for event information. She is the friendly face at Techistration when you arrive at the event and she is the friendly face that is quick with a hug when your internal combustion engine becomes an external combustion engine. On most days, Elyse arrives home from work to stacks of entries on the fax, a plethora of messages on her machine and works tirelessly until late night organizing that event information. She is truly concerned with the welfare of every one at the track and acts accordingly.

It is without hesitation that it can be said that the events you all have enjoyed would not exist without the Politis. Next time you see them tell them “thanks”. (Say it real loud for “Grumpy”).

Peace,

Chris Cobetto
Director, NASA-VA

 

I totally agree with you Chris. I think NASA-VA is going to be a leader this year in our sport. Don't cut yourself short though, you are as dedicated as the rest. Hell you gave up your job to be dedicated to the program. My thanks goes out to all of you.

 

 

ok? I guess

Will

 

Thanks mom and dad without you my new addiction would'nt exist. This stuff is to much fon to live without.

Thanks Chris for it is your efforts that keep this going also my hat is off for you

 

 

Great. Jim relies on said grumpiness to keep the wolves at bay, and you just let the sweetheart cat out of the bag.

Great. All hell will break loose now. Nobody is scared of Grumpy anymore.
.

And I'm still trying to find someone to airbrush a tiedye pattern on my helmet. Just for Elyse.

 

Actually....I'm still a little scared.

C

 

I still control the black flag and I ain't afraid to use it..

 

The Black Flag is my favorite . . . well . . . my favorite to give someone else anyway.

 

Gotta luv 'im. He's the baby

 

Chris sells the rest of his organization short. Without all the help from everyone else, and the dedication ALL the chiefs put in, both at the track and behind the scenes, we could never have accomplished what we did last year.

This year will prove that all that work has paid off. But we also know that this is the worst time to sit back and rest on our laurels. And we intend to grow and make track events safe for everyone that wishes to do something different than just getting tickets on the street.

Without all the instructors that give their knowledge to you, we wouldn't have people wanting to come back - or willing to tell others about our organization.

Without the tech people - Rich and Steve and all their helpers, getting your cars through tech onready woudl be a nightmare.

Without Chuck and his grid people, how would you get out on the track safely - and in your right group.

Without JJ and Mark and all the corner workers, who would know where you went when you took a right instead of a left ?

Without the JMU Car Club how could we have almost 20 flaggers and others working this weekend?

So it is not just a few of us. It is all of us. And it takes you too. Because without you, we'd have the track to ourselves (hummmmmmm). Really, we count on you also.

We need the feedback on how we're doing.

We pride ourselves in being a car enthusiast club, run by drivers for drivers. Mostly democratic with a little authoritarian thrown in. WE only get better when we know what your experience was.

The best thing I can do is when I get a postive email is share it with the person it is about - instructor - flagg worker who helped you out, etc. Even Grumpy, although I have to dole that out in small doses.)

The best thing I can do when I get negative feedback is try to fix it by coming up with a solution to make that problem go away. We work hard at that.

So this is really cool.

Thanks Chris. And thanks to all of you because I really enjoy talking and emailing with you. all.

Helps break the yelling down the hall to Grumpy!

Elyse
aka Snow White who is really touched

ex Corvette racer ( I was a better driver than Grumpy)
Mom to 2 kids we got addicted to race tracks

 

JMU boys


We need to party sometime

 

to all those that help with these events!!

thanks
chad
14

 

I am more scared of Elyse than I am of Jim. The guy that is actually more intimidating is the bearded dude that drives the orange M3, I forget his name.

 

Me too!

Yes, thanks guys, you are what makes NASA #1.. Chris, your great too, and everyone at NASA has a wonderful commitment and love for the sport, that willnot be surpassed..

 

Thanks! see you all at the track on the 16th... we're psyched about it... or at the NASA autoX this weekend maybe