113 replies to this topic

[Cheater]

One PM'd reply to the questions posed in my post #21, posted here anonymously with permission:
 
"#1 - Yes, I do think traveling racers who podium should have their achievements recognized, as with any other podium folks.
#2 - Without internet, photos, not nearly as much.
#3 - Racers here most certainly want to see the cars and the racers."

[Cheater]

I suggest you ask Paul L. Meiers.

Would be kind of hard to do today, as Paul passed away a few years ago.

I realize you and others may not have known this.

[Tim Wilkins]

Speaking not only for myself but probably many others, I think race reports are important along with pictures as they offer recognition to the winners and a great source of information to all who view the reports. Without them, there would be the small circle of participants who had any knowledge of what took place. With them, we can view coast to coast and even worldwide (hello, Japan) as to what's the latest news, chassis builds, gearing, etc.

 

Regarding this matter, I'm glad some photos finally appeared of the podium RetroPro and Can-Am Plus winners. They earned their recognition. Could the matter have been handled differently? Initially it did appear a bit strange that the winner of two races, an SCRRA member from the West Coast were not covered. Perhaps a volunteer could have been sought out to take pictures of these two races.  Perhaps a request for photos could have been made seeking photos of these two races (which eventually is what happened).

 

I think this has led to a healthy discussion. Bryan Warmack, Noose, and others work hard to provide all of us with excellent race reports. I think it goes without saying it's very much appreciated. A lot of planning and organizing needs to take place. Sometimes things slip by.  

 

When they do, a lot more of us need to step up and fill the gap such as taking pictures when the regular guy isn't there. Don't wait to be asked.

[Pablo]

So, do not tell me to go with camera in hand and cover IRRA^® races. Ain't my job. I understand Noose has a lot to do at their events and does a very good job at it.

 

Fiddler, I have an idea. Noose wasn't in attendance and didn't do a race report?

 

Dock his pay and garnish his wages.     (Whoops, never mind, that won't work, he doesn't get paid for it.)

 

How about this: Fire him for not doing his job.     (Whoops, that won't work either, he's a volunteer, and it's not his job.)

 

I'll retreat to my vintage cave now and nibble on my crow pie. 

[brnursebmt]

I very much enjoy the race reports and seeing pictures of winning cars still feels strange to me.

 

I grew up racing in an era when getting to even see a winning chassis after a race much less a picture was unheard of!

[MSwiss]

We out West have got a load of crud from some of the guys back East for our "lack of coverage" of our premier events. Videos, OK, we simply do not do that. But, and you know this Mike, everything at our big races gets covered.
 
So, do not tell me to go with camera in hand and cover IRRA^® races. Ain't my job. I understand Noose has a lot to do at their events and does a very good job at it. But, to tell me, "not there, no pictures," ain't buying, Mike.

  

All points here taken, just wanted to get something off my chest, I did,

I remember some disappointment from some when it was pointed out BP wouldn't be able to provide a video feed anymore. But that had to be about four years ago.

So this is just some tit for tat, real old, revenge deal. Like Tony said, "This is just stupid."

Compared to other racing, Retro racing,coast to coast, gets so much more coverage. That's why it has grown and stayed strong.

[S.O. Watt]

There were podium pics taken by the track on Thursday night after the RP and CA+ races. I was told they were not very decent pix and were not posted. I immediately forgot about them.

Get over it.
 

No one there to take podium pictures or pictures of winning cars? For your biggest race of the year, you'd think someone would have a camera and able to post results. Not blaming SpeedZone of course, they're busy enough. But, Noose, come on!

 
I now see that Matt Bruce followed up on the pics. In the age of instant gratification, one forgets that it still takes work by somebody to accomplish these tasks. Remember when it was over three months before any report or pics were published???
 
Stil l- Get over it!

[Matt Sheldon]

Heavily medicated at the moment so I will do my best to stay on topic -
 
I really enjoy the race reports! I read all that are posted here as well as the other sites that I frequent. It does not matter if it is three guys on a three-lane track in the Northwest, 35 guys on a King in New Jersey, 12 T-Jet guys on a Scorpion or eight guys on a bullring in Wisconsin. With such a small amount of enthusiasts left in North America it is interesting to see the amount of diversity in our racing and attendance at the regional level.

Everybody loves pictures! Whether it is from an artistic, engineering, technical, brand specific, etc. we all utilize those pictures to help us be a part of this great hobby as well as grow and be a part of it. It is always great to put a face with the names as well. Fifty percent or more here will probably never attend a "big" race, but what is great is that through live streams and post-race writings they can feel as if they were there and feel a connection with the participants. To me that is huge in our declining niche hobby.
 
Race reports take a lot of time to do right. Sure simple ones fit the bill, but we are part of a blog/forum after all so we cry for more. I think we need to keep in check what we choose to bitch about and be grateful for what is voluntarily provided for us. To not be there and bitch / borderline ridicule what is provided post race is pure ignorance.

I loved doing our race reports locally. I enjoyed every aspect of it, but let a few get to me and stopped. I always tried to be neutral in my reports and highlight the positives of all the competitors in someway throughout. It can be difficult when you are also a competitor and need to try to recall everyone's race and not overemphasize your own performance. Regardless of how well they are written I truly appreciate what is provided for us and thank those that go out of their way to share their story of our silly little hobby.
 
Moral of the story is we can all contribute to helping document our race days.

[The Number of]

Short answer YES.

 

Long answer, history, I started in the '60s and ended in the '60s and didn't return till 2003. In the '60s there were multiple monthly mags that gave the punters like myself access to the race reports and pics of cars and chassis building by the top guys like Steube, Ursaner, Von Ahrens, etc. These were important because they gave a lot of good info on trends, build quality, race craft, etc., etc.

 

Fast forward to 2003, last man standing Paul Meiers and Slot Car Bulletin, not quite the quality of the old mags, but still a great source of info. Unfortunately that folded and no one picked up the ball.

 

Long time in the wilderness until Keith Tanaka started reporting on the blogs from the CA races. This is where I got my inspiration for starting to photograph the cars. His groundbreaking work led to where all race reporting is today. I don't think he has ever been properly recognized and thanked for this!

 

Enter the current phase where instant gratification rules the day. In the old days you didn't get the race reports till at least two months afterwards. Paul cut that back to a month now everybody wants it yesterday. Anyone who is critical of the speed or content of a race report has not done one. For the longest time I just took pics and posted them. I have started to do race reports this year for the ORS and have a much better appreciation for the time and effort involved. The amount of time Noose puts in on his race reports boggles the mind. And this is in addition to all the other things he does for Retro. To hold him to task for an event he wasn't at is shameful.

 

Which brings us to who is responsible for pics and race reports? Somebody? Everybody? Nobody? I do it because I remember waiting for those monthly mags in the '60s to get the latest info from both coasts and everywhere in between for my next build. To me this is important, but like all of us I can't be everywhere all the time.

 

So as Tim said in an earlier post, if this is important to you and no one else is doing it step up and do it yourself. And publish at least on race report with pics before you throw stones!   

[Matt Sheldon]

Bill,

 

Your contributions to documenting the races you attend are second to none!

 

Thank you!

[Mark Wampler]

When I show up at Buena Park, I'm guaranteed a shot of the underside of my car along with my tech sheet. Who else does that? It's about passion for our hobby regardless of who shows up. 

 

And... yes, it's a thankless job!!

[MSwiss]

When I show up at Buena Park, I'm guaranteed a shot of the underside of my car along with my tech sheet. Who else does that?

 
Mark,

This thread isn't about who does the best job, but HERE you go.

You can look at the 565 pics Bill Fulmer took at the three days of Sano 10, along with the great job he does at R4 and the ORS/KOR races.

[B.C.]

Once again, rather than being grateful that there are still places to race or play or just gather with friends who share the same sport/hobby, we have those that want to complain about pictures no less. Sure they are nice, but to rail against Noose who has attended every major race in the Midwest and East Coast for years and years at his own expense and who does the thankless job of tech for every car that is raced is quite simply unacceptable to me.
 
Deal with it or do it yourself. The job is open and then maybe someone will admonish you and you will see how inane this is over pictures of toy cars.

[Noose]

It takes me around six hours to do a regular Retro East race report which is just for two classes at an event. I have a pretty defined process otherwise it would take a lot longer. Besides typing all the words there is formatting of the document as well as the pics.

Then remember one has to make sure all the results sheets are received, all the different main podium shots, the podium cars, etc.

When Bill and I are at an event together we work as a team. I'm doing tech and takes the pics of the car and tech sheet.

I have been to every Premier event and, as Tony noted, I have only missed two races since we started Retro East. That's two out of 310 races.

Remember I am there to race. Sometimes I'm still awake to do so.

[Mark Wampler]

I'll just say that Bryan does the best job. I'm biased, so there you go.

[MSwiss]

Mark,

Bryan does a wonderful job, but go look at the multiple pics Bill takes of the top three cars.

But I guess I should learn to expect the pointless tangents of your posts.

[Mark Wampler]

Well lets see, every monthly Retro race, which are two events are featured with what I just mentioned. Not only is your car and tech sheet visible to everyone, but each main racers are visible as a group shot. Three concours winning cars are shot. Each main podium winners are also featured along with qualifying and race standings of each race main. I haven't seen that anywhere else on a regular monthly basis but as I said, I'm biased. Case closed.

 

Well, not quite. A Main podium cars are taken in at least three separate pics. Top and bottom of chassis and one to include body.   Happens every month. That's a lot of work.

 

Oh I forgot, there is a typical tech table shot, mostly horsing around, one or more pics each for F1 and Can-Am. I'm bound to forget something else. 

[tonyp]

I can attest to what Mr. Noose said. I did all the Retro East reports when I was still in NJ, we had a lot less entries and it still took a long time typing everything in and editing pictures where necessary. Honestly I am surprised he is not burned-out doing them.

[Noose]

I think what makes mine unique is that you can print them out and it's in a newsletter/newspaper format. You can keep them then.

I have two binders of them filled so far.

[Matt Sheldon]

Jesus, who does it the best is not/should not even be part of the discussion! Just say SlotCar Steve does a great job and thank you, and move on.

[Jason Holmes]

Bryan And Noose (Joe) both do a great job. If you want short and sweet, it's Bryan; if you want big and long with lots of detail, it's Joe.
 
Jason

[Matt Sheldon]

Well lets see,  EVERY monthly Retro race, which are two events are featured with what I just mentioned.  Not only is your car and tech sheet visible to everyone, but each main racers are visible as a group shot. Three concours winning cars are shot.  Each main podium winners are also featured along with qualifying and race standings of each race main.  I haven't seen  that anywhere else on a regular monthly basis but as I said,  I'm biased.  Case closed.
 
Well, not quite.  "A"main podium cars are taken in at least 3 separate pics.  Top and bottom of  chassis and one to include body.   Happens EVERY month.  That's a lot of work.
 
Oh I forgot, there is a typical tech table shot, mostly horsing around, one or more pics each for F-1 and CanAm.  I'm bound to forget something else.

While our group is not as disciplined as the BPR racers with regards to filling out tech sheets, we slowly were getting better. If you pay attention, there are many local and regional series posting their results and providing the pictures as you stated.
 
RMRRA Championship Round 1 Results Jan 1, Longmont, CO

[DPmax]

My apologies to you for my claim that Bryan does it all in post #10.

 

Absolutely no apology needed.

 

I've done a handful of race reports in the past few years (only been racing that long), they take time, thanks to all that do them on a regular basis!

 

I can't imagine how people like Warmack, Noose, and others handle tech and everything an event might toss at them, RACE their own race... and then get pictures/info to do a report.

 

Personally I like reports, gives me a chance to see other cars, put faces to names, and so on.

Who's "responsibility" is it? Damned if I can answer that one, guess it's whoever wants to step up and do the often impossible.

 

As for video... I've done some video tests at BPR, the internet connection saturates too quick, upload bandwidth isn't great (I make my living doing IT BTW) so I've never done a set-up there. They have some limited success doing drags via FaceBook, but seeing cars launch at a starting line is really different from seeing cars go around an entire track the size of a King or even the Flat track.

[The Number of]

Jesus, who does it the best is not/should not even be part of the discussion! Just say SlotCar Steve does a great job and thank you, and move on.

Yeah when did this turn into a competition and what is the prize?

[MSwiss]

pointless tangents

  

Jesus, who does it the best is not/should not even be part of the discussion! Just say SlotCar Steve does a great job and thank you, and move on.

Matt,

Maybe Mr. Pointless Tangent Guy will notice Bryan endorsed your assertion. LOL.