At Laguna last weekend, I was looking for Mike Quan (civicrr) at Roger Foo's pits, and ended up talking to Roger for a while.

Our conversation was pretty wide ranging, but what stood out were his comments about how he had taken a 10 year long layoff from racing before, and how he could stop immediately without regret and without looking back. I was surprised a little, and didn't know where he was coming from - now I do.

All weekend long the race announcers were telling the crowd that Roger desperately needed sponsorship to keep going. I didn't think much of it beyond consideration of the additional cost of the round in Puerto Rico, but it looks now like taken all together he'd simply arrived at the end of that precise amount of rope he'd allowed himself.

Most of us bear the entire cost of our racing. Most of us haven't been foolish enough to indulge our desires with 2nd mortgages and plastic. Roger told me that despite the sacrifices he'd made during his recent Pro career, he'd not compromised his financial future - and wouldn't.

He told me that everything I saw was for sale. I didn't really get it when he said it - I thought he was speaking in general, you know: everythings for sale all of the time. But he meant it the usual way - he's done, and everything is for sale.

So how does it end for Roger? I don't know. I didn't have that conversation with him, and by now you might expect that even if I had, I wouldn't have gotten the point. I'll just take him at his word - he seems like that kind of guy.

I don't know if Roger is running at Atlanta next month. If not, then his last race was very undramatic - ending in an early dropout with mechanical trouble. No way to end a spectacular run, but that's racing for you.

I think Roger brought alot to the World Challenge timeline in his role as friendly popular underdog, and he will be missed. World Challenge needs good racing AND good stories. Roger helped give WC some uplifting good-guy storylines.

I have no idea whether Roger is more leaving racing behind, or more moving forward to the next thing in his life. I wish him well regardless. And if he should change his mind - that's good too.

Scott, who's unable to imagine an ending to his own racing career...this is one time the limits of my imagination don't bother me too much.

 

Sorry to hear ... esp. since Roger used my car for a session or two @ VIR one time.

 

Sounds like he has a good head on his shoulders. Good luck to you with your future plans Roger, if you're still poking around here.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by RR98ITR &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">
I have no idea whether Roger is more leaving racing behind, or more moving forward to the next thing in his life.</TD></TR></TABLE>

I don't know exactly why, but I would be very interested in learning which one, if either, it is. And for whatever the reason, I'd also like to hear about how he arrived at his decision. It seems reasonable to assume that he laid out a very clear plan with particular conditions under which he would keep racing.

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by RR98ITR &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">
.... but it looks now like taken all together he'd simply arrived at the end of that precise amount of rope he'd allowed himself.

Roger told me that despite the sacrifices he'd made during his recent Pro career, he'd not compromised his financial future - and wouldn't.
</TD></TR></TABLE>

Taken at his word, it would seem he set forth a plan that would not be ruled by his uncontrolled passion for racing. Rather, it would seem that Roger found the balance between being able to do something he enjoys and excels at, and fitting it into the practical and logistical realities of his life -- perhaps atypical among racer types. But does that make him any less of a racing enthusiast than those who forsake much if not everything to race? I would think not, and it would seem that Roger's example is one that shows racing careers don't have to end because of the GFCP addition and the ensuing personal demise and misery.

Casey, who enjoys hearing a story, real or imagined by me, that has a happy ending.... if that's what this really is....

 

Hey man, not trying to be assumptive but this is pro racing and there are contracts and stuff out there for this guy. You sure its your place to be airing the contents of your coversation with him publicly especially as it pertains to his comitments and such? And I don't want this to turn into a **** match, quite the opposite.

 

So how much money would we have to come up with to allow Roger to run one more race with big "Honda-Tech" stickers all over the car. Let's see, 55697 users on HT...

-Floyd, who goes to find a calculator

 

Taken from the World Challenge Board:

Roger Foo: "I am getting out of racing for good this time!"

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

and:

http://www.world-challenge.com....html

Scott, who thinks this is public information and all I did was share it with a community that has taken an interest in Roger.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Floyd &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">So how much money would we have to come up with to allow Roger to run one more race with big "Honda-Tech" stickers all over the car. Let's see, 55697 users on HT...</TD></TR></TABLE>

That might work only if the folks at MAZDA won't mind seeing HONDA written on their car.

 

f*ck mazda. how can they not back the driver that was the top mazda in points?? look at what he could do with a budget that was maybe a tenth of what tripoint was getting.

as dave white said at road atlanta (as rog was making his way to the front of the pack from nearly dead last..) 'roger is my hero!'

i'm crossing my fingers that we see 88 on some form of racecar next year. you never know what will happen.

 

Heehee, that would be a heck of a slap to Mazda for not supporting Foo more, at least not as much as tripod. A Mazda sponsored by Honda fans! Woo woo!

 

Its a shame for sure not to see FOO out there in WC. But it highlights the astronomical cost of running in that series. $100K a year isnt enough anymore.

I forsee the fields in WC getting smaller and smaller.

 

Damn, that's just depressing. I've crewed for Roger at a couple of events over the last year, and it's really sad to see him out of the mix. You won't find a nicer and more talented guy anywhere. Maybe we can talk him into coming out to play at one of the NASA-VA races when he is in the area!


Matt

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by kekek-20 &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">look at what he could do with a budget that was maybe a tenth of what tripoint was getting.</TD></TR></TABLE>

Was Mazda actually giving money to any of the Mazda teams? The original plan (for Mazda) was to contract Sunbelt to do motor development and let make it easy for privateers to run Mazdas (through Mazda Comp and Sunbelt). If they started sponsoring TriPoint explicitly, that is a change from the first year the Proteges appeared.

Al - who doesn't keep up with SVWC enough.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Crack Monkey &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Was Mazda actually giving money to any of the Mazda teams? </TD></TR></TABLE>

Yes they do (at least they did), and I'm pretty sure TriPoint is also a team who receives help. I believe the help comes in getting reimbursed for the costs, and not really just cutting a monthly check to those running a Protege. I believe the amount of help Mazda gives to each competitor/team varies, but I knew of at least one driver who had all his bills paid. I'm sure Roger and his team were getting some help, but apparently not enough. And yes, it's a shame that mazda did not support more its own POINTS leader this year.

 

Here's some inside dope for you:

Roger acheived his results this year typically buying just ONE new set of tires per weekend!

At $900 a set he simply couldn't afford more than that.

Scott, who knows that that's more impressive than most people can appreciate considering the implications for testing and setup...

 

All said above is true, including the one set of tires per weekend. You look at what Turner and RTR are spending per weekend and its unbelievable. Everytime those guys go out on track they've got fresh rubber. I crewed for Roger at Road America and we (the crew) had the same discussion, running on old rubber most of the weekend affected the set up for the race with the fresh rubber.

Roger actually does seem to have a great business head on his shoulders. Pro Racing is definately a business. They actually weren't even sure they'd financially make it to Road America or the rest of the season, and only decided to do so based on Roger's points standings. They'd hoped to finish second, maybe third for the season. The results at RA were slightly disappointing, finishing 11th, and staying 4th in points. With the DNF at Laguna, the points race is basically lost, so there's no sense in going into major debt to keep running.

Even at RA, I was told many of the items were for sale, though I wasn't offerend the cars, just the trailer and truck.

I too find it amazing what Roger's done with his limited budget compared to what we see Tripoint, RTR, Turner and even now King dumping into the sport. Still, there were drivers there with less of an investment and less crew also having a go at it, including one RSX driver (don't know the name) who only had one additional crew and slept in a cot in the trailer.

 

Ack!! No spoilers!