OK. Here's the question in regard to Bob Stretch (BMW). The second incident with Bob Stretch (BMW) with Nic Jonsson (BMW). I saw the incident and correct me if I'm wrong, but I wouldn't say it was "all" Bob Stretch's fault. Bob was pretty much up to Nic's front right tire, and Nic came hard right into Bob. Yet the folks on "Speed Channel" as well as a few of the drivers (of course from "Turner Motorsports") said that Bob was a menace and should not be driving in the series. Yet, most of the race he had the fastest lap times.

What's up with that??? Did I miss something? Granted the first incident with J. Marks wasn't too nice...it showed me that "hey, you're going too slow...get the hell out of the way...I gotta go get some groceries".

 

Did you see the dash to the finish line in the race this past Sunday?

Stretch tapped one of the Realtime TSXs and and sent it fish-tailing.

 

Looked to me like Stretch had his door but was in too deep and too hot, taking out both cars in the process.
He's on probation now but that doesn't seem to be something he cares about given his paint swapping with the TSX at the finish line Sunday.

I think it was Cunningham that used the term "Stretch Marks."
When your competition is coming up with little stuff like that and mentioning it to the TV cameras, you probably need to take it down a notch.

 

"Stretch Marks". Hehe. That is priceless.

 

You can find a full-throttle discussion going on about this at the SCCA Pro Racing BB:

http://bbs.sccaproracing.com/u....html

I've talked with Bob a couple of times to find that he is really a pretty good guy and I respect his abilities, but he has been involved in incidents in Improved Touring and Spec Miata along with the latest in World Challenge. From what I can gather from talking to drivers and reading on various discussion boards, Bob can play rough.

Basically the consensus seems to be that Stretch has the car and the ability to run up front and just needs to learn a little patience. This not unlike some other hotshoe drivers I've watched and heard about over the years.

p.s.- Stretch replied and his comments are available for all to see.


Modified by itsprelude at 6:56 AM 7/20/2004

 

QUOTE

neokladude
Veteran
Posts: 1
Registered: Jul 2004
posted 07-19-2004 04:35 PM
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Stretch started IT with a rx7 that he would tow to the grid. Lots of straight line speed but a pig through the turns. He would always pull me on straights then block all the way through the corners. I thought he got better than that. Guess not. I thought about punting him more than once back then too. I think I should have now.


ok im not a pro on the racing circute and have never actually raced but isn't blocking part of racing? i mean i wouldn't just step aside and let some one by that would be stupid, maybe im missing something here though

 

Blocking is part of racing, sort of.

You can "block' your competitor by adjusting your racing line a bit and making your car real wide to take away an advantage the car behind might have. It is also generally accepted that you can make one move to "block" the driver behind you (like entering Turn 10a at Road Atlanta) and stick with this position. If you move around the track by swerving back and forth to block you are asking for a trip into the weeds.

One veteran driver explained it to me this way. If the driver in front is swerving to block or is not heeding the blue flag; 1 Turn: Crowd mirrors. 2 Turns: REALLY crowd the mirrors. 3 Turns: Bump, bump, bump..... 4 Turns: BUMP=Agriculture.

 

i'm guessing this is an official statement from stretch:

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">fixrim
Veteran
Posts: 42
Registered: Jun 2001
posted 07-19-2004 10:04 PM
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For the record:
The hit on Marks from behind under yellow was on the first lap in four under, when the entire field was slowing very rapidly, and in my line of sight, I could not see the yellow at the same time of the leaders. The moment that contact occured I was on the radio to my crew to tell them to talk to TMS and make sure they knew the contact was not intentional.

The second time in 7 under hard braking everyone was in a line, but Marks was going for the apex under braking and and he braked a hair sooner than I expected. It was NEVER my intention to hit him and I regret that he spun. In this game, that has happened to me and many others more than we care to count.

As for Jonnson, I was in his mirrors all over for a couple of laps, he pinched on the straight, trying to run me into the wall, and basically closed the door all over. That's fine, that's racing. When the contact we had in four occurred, he opened the door, I filled the hole, and he slammed it shut. We both spun, and I was the loser in that ordeal. I have been behind guys before who obviously had a slower car, but Jonsson was doing all he could to hold me back. In my view, he should not have opened the door if he didnt expect it to be filled. I thought the probation against me for this was a little overly harsh, but I respect the officials decisions.

As for what occurred on Sunday, it was entirely intentional, entirely unprofessional and unexpected coming from Auberlen. Prior to this incident I had the utmost respect for him and all the TMS team.

I make no apologies for my club record, I have competed in several different series with a total of over 300 events. I've heard it all, we're lucky, we're rich, we're cheating, or some combination of the above. The fact is my team works hard and I drive hard. In every series I have ever raced in, I have found success. I haven't done this by punting everyone as the naysayers say.

Based on the talk, the comments, the attitudes of the drivers involved in this weekend, I hope that the officials see fit the levy the appropriate penalties.

I'd also like to point at that this "menace" as Auberlen claims, has NEVER been on probation in this series before, and has been involved in exactly zero incidents regarding spun cars before Saturday. We went from dead last at Lime Rock this year to top ten with no contact at all. That didn't happen by being a "menace". Auberlen's comments were inappropriate and ill informed. He hasn't raced close enough to me to have a clue, and I'd like to know if he basis those comments on two incidents in one race, none of which involved him...

We had the fast car this weekend, and it is likely that we'll have the fast BMW this weekend at Portland as well. Let the drama continue...
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How often are these races? I was at sears point that sunday and it was pretty damn exciting. Too bad I dont get speedvision

 

In my opinion, and keep in mind that this is just from seeing the incident and a couple of quick replays, he didn't have position to try the pass. Yes, he made up some ground, but it was because he didn't brake when he should have, and he wasn't in control of the car. That doesn't count to me in terms of being in position to take the turn. You have to have your car up to the door of the other car for a reason OTHER than braking in a way that you can't make the turn. He was impatient, and was willing to do anything to get past Jonnson. With Auberlin carrying the extra weight, they both would have had a chance of getting past him if Stretch didn't go for the low percentage move...

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by itsprelude &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">One veteran driver explained it to me this way. If the driver in front is swerving to block or is not heeding the blue flag; 1 Turn: Crowd mirrors. 2 Turns: REALLY crowd the mirrors. 3 Turns: Bump, bump, bump..... 4 Turns: BUMP=Agriculture.</TD></TR></TABLE>

This is one of my biggest learnings of the past year. Running an ITC car in a group where there are typically at least 40 "faster" cars (Spec Miata and ITB) you very often can't sit around and wait for someone to "let you by" as it almost never happens.
I have also been taught the above approach and it works. At least 99% of the time you never have to go to step 4 as step 3 conveys the message perfectly. Unfortunately I'm finding that step 3 is required wayyyyy too often (mostly with the SM guys), but its no big deal. A few squirts with a can of black duplicolor and we're ready to go at it again.

As far as Stretch's move on Jonsson... JMO but he's very optimistic if he thinks that was going to work. Most of us have done something very similar due to impatience, most of the time it just ends up in some tire smoke and maybe a little swapped paint, but sometimes it takes somebody out. He probably needs to watch a bunch of video of that incident and rethink his position. He could gain back alot of respect from his peers if he just said "OK, That was a little too optimistic of me to try that."
Or... maybe he could have pulled it off. Maybe.