[RallyGTX]

It seems a certain Mr. Spitzners brand-spanking-new Focus was test driven at Pike's Peak this past weekend by a Mr. Havas.

Tested to the point where it visited the local Ford dealer via FLATBED after being 'thrashed up and down the mid hill service area during Friday practice'

It seems that the cooling fan fuse popped and the engine overheated.

The first Kurt knew of it was when Andrew did a handbrake turn past him.

Rumor has it that Andrew will be in Seattle early next week. Anyone want to join me in buying him the beverage of his choice???

This is *almost* too good to be true.....but is !!!

BWAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA

Matt Manspeaker
Seattle, WA USA
89 323GTX - OPEN
97 Escort Cosworth - WIDE OPEN

 

[jandreini]

Let's see, now... Grand Theft Auto. If anyone did that to me, I'd have his license and membership(permanently), after he was released from prison & made restitution. This is NOT OK behavior - EVER. I've had(and have) my differences of opinion with Kurt. I'd like to think we have remained civil despite these differences. Sometimes it can be hard to remember that, like it or not, Kurt has always worked toward the advancement of our sport. You may or may not agree with his methods, but if you can put away your dislike for a few minutes, you'll have to agree. It beats all to hell the Craw/Bassett/Duncan triumvirate, whose actions nearly brought an end to ProRally.

 

[RallyGTX]

It is my understanding that the keys were 'handed over' not taken.

Matt Manspeaker
Seattle, WA USA
89 323GTX - OPEN
97 Escort Cosworth - WIDE OPEN

 

[AlanPerry]

>Let's see, now... Grand Theft Auto. If anyone did that to
>me, I'd have his license and membership(permanently), after
>he was released from prison & made restitution. This is NOT
>OK behavior - EVER. I've had(and have) my differences of
>opinion with Kurt. I'd like to think we have remained civil
>despite these differences. Sometimes it can be hard to
>remember that, like it or not, Kurt has always worked toward
>the advancement of our sport. You may or may not agree with
>his methods, but if you can put away your dislike for a few
>minutes, you'll have to agree. It beats all to hell the
>Craw/Bassett/Duncan triumvirate, whose actions nearly
>brought an end to ProRally.

I just got off the phone with Andrew. I told him that I would not post a correction to the rumor and leave this to the Andrew Havas mystique, but, with someone already talking about pulling his license and membership, I think this needs to be nipped in the bud.

Andrew was not driving the car; he was the passenger. Andrew did not even know whose car it was until they drove past Kurt and the driver made some comment to that effect.

I am not going to say who the driver was.

alan

 

[jandreini]

Didn't mention any names in my post, nor did I even suggest that this actually happened. However, someone seemed to think that it was funny and implied that Kurt's new car was trashed without his knowledge. It is not funny, if it happened, nor is it acceptable behavior.

 

[TNT]

You can tell by reading it that Kurt handed over the keys....I think it was all made out to be a joke and someone took it a little too serious.

 

[RallyGTX]

I'm only to be taken seriously on very rare occasions

Matt Manspeaker
Seattle, WA USA
89 323GTX - OPEN
97 Escort Cosworth - WIDE OPEN

 

[jandreini]

You are right. I apologize for overreacting. I misunderstood the tenor of the original post.

 

[Trevor Donison]

>You are right. I apologize for overreacting. I misunderstood
>the tenor of the original post.

Its not like quite a few individuals on this board haven't taken every opportinity to say something negative about KS. Its happened so often that nobody is able to come up with anything new or origional, just retread matierial from last 5-6 years.

 

[RallyGTX]

While that may be true.....his perpetual silence speaks volumes

Matt Manspeaker
Seattle, WA USA
89 323GTX - OPEN
97 Escort Cosworth - WIDE OPEN

 

[Trevor Donison]

>While that may be true.....his perpetual silence speaks
>volumes
>
>Matt Manspeaker
>Seattle, WA USA
>89 323GTX - OPEN
>97 Escort Cosworth - WIDE OPEN


If I were him I would never post anything on this board. This is not a place where constructive conversations could ever take place. He was on here some a couple of years ago, but it quickly degenerated into a very non-productive situation so he did the right thing and stayed off here completely.

This is not an endorsement of him, just the reality of the situation.

I've always found him more than willing to take a few minutes to talk about most anything Performance rally related. He does listen, and I've also had him bring up things I had brought up to him.

This doesn't mean I agree with where the sport is, and where it is headed. Costs are absolutely increasing to fast.

Its just not realistic to expect SCCA or anyone on the PRB board to regularly comment on any topic. We will get press release notifications, but past that I would not expect much more.

Is this a bad thing? I think it would be a bad thing for them to come on the board and get beat up continuously by many people who have not ever participated in a Performance rally and have no real life experience. Playing video games or watching WRC on Television does not make one a Performance rally expert.

Flame on

 

[mayhem83]

>Is this a bad thing? I think it would be a bad thing for
>them to come on the board and get beat up continuously by
>many people who have not ever participated in a Performance
>rally and have no real life experience. Playing video games
>or watching WRC on Television does not make one a
>Performance rally expert.
>
>Flame on

Trevor,

You are 100% spot on. Here's a little electronic dry ice to offset the flames.

Mark Utecht

 

[RallyGTX]

On the two occasions where I had spoken with him in person, I did not have a similar (positive) experience either time.

His tone was very condescending and dictatorial

Matt Manspeaker
Seattle, WA USA
89 323GTX - OPEN
97 Escort Cosworth - WIDE OPEN

 

[Trevor Donison]

>On the two occasions where I had spoken with him in person,
>I did not have a similar (positive) experience either time.
>
>His tone was very condescending and dictatorial
>
>Matt Manspeaker
>Seattle, WA USA
>89 323GTX - OPEN
>97 Escort Cosworth - WIDE OPEN

I would generally leave him alone when he's at an event. He has a million things going, not a condusive time to try and talk to him.

Between events, his email works, and I've even had him pick up the phone.

 

[rallymerkur]

>by
>many people who have not ever participated in a Performance
>rally and have no real life experience. Playing video games
>or watching WRC on Television does not make one a
>Performance rally expert.
>
>Flame on

Apparently what ever "real life experiences" the members of the PRB have gained, it has done little to make them "Performance rally experts" either.

 

[Rallychick from Oregon]

Several of our PRB members, including the chairman, are competitors. I'd say that makes them pretty good at knowing the sport.

Of course, they only know it from one side, when they really need to get out there and learn all facets: working, organizing, AND competing. Lots of us could get a lot of good things out of rally if we learned all there is to know about all sides of rally.

Yes, Kurt hasn't ever competed or worked or organized. But he's not here to do any of that, he was originally a marketing guy.