post Sebring review

[smcorolla]

just wanted to post this link

less than complimentary article on our series to say the least

Motorsport.com: News channel

rick

[fanta]

I could barely make it through that one. Not sure what his beef is with the ALMS, but making 3 year old jabs at the series is pretty weak.

[John Thawley]

For the most part he's a NASCAR writer. With that background, I'm surprised he'd have the nerve to bring up "rules." LOL

JT

[Todd Benne]

I can tell you that if you want a good read from anyone at Motorsport.com, read John Dagys. That kid has his act together. Good investigative journalism from John.

Now if we could just work on getting him to loosen up a bit at dinner.

T

[Hallen]

Wow, now that is really a poor article... even if it is just a "review" which means "opinion".

I decided to send him an email...


Why do you have such a peevish attitude towards the ALMS? Is the ALMS doing something to you? Why the childish attitude about this? Criticism is fine, but your article seems more like child rationalizing of why something is bad when it really isn’t.


Oh, I understand now, you write about GA. You don’t like ALMS because your bread & butter is the GA series. I’ll tell you what, you stick with GA since you obviously have an affinity to that series and leave the ALMS to the professionals, k?

If you were not biased you would have pointed out the huge number of fans who attended, way more fans than the Rolex got. You might mention there were 4 cars on the lead lap at the end, and this was done with no contrived yellow flags like what you get at Daytona. You might have mentioned the difficult track that pounds cars and drivers into submission as opposed to a seriously dull roval like Daytona. You might have mentioned that even the GT2 cars, the lowest class in ALMS, are just about as fast as the DP’s you so obviously admire.

But no, you decided to twist things around and try and show things in as poor a light as you could. That is not a review, that is just a childish rant. I hope the France family pays you well. I am not sure I could take that money and just dismiss my ethics and honor. I am glad you are OK with it.

Have a nice day.

[Hallen]

He replied... sort of.
You can tell that he probably sends out the same email to dozens of people who send him nastygrams. He knows that I'm not "Ralph". I like the way he tries to establish his credentials be referencing going to Sebring many years ago. I am sure he was there. Some of us use our experience to better judge and evaluate situations. Others simply pine away for the old days even if the old days were not nearly as wonderful as our memories tell us they were. DC is one of the latter I think. This guy has a sarcastic and scathing writing style that is reminiscent of the Bear... but I know he isn't the Bear.

I particularly like his take on why Huston got cancelled.

"Ralph? Is that you?

Man, you come up with some of the best stuff!

I opened yours up just after I finished another e-mail that was, like, the best kick:

"DC,
"I come to motorsport.com to casually skim the headlines for racing news, but today I found my self engrossed in and entertained by your ALMS columns. I hope the powers that be regognize your ability to captivate.

"I tip my hat to you sir,"

Now, wasn't that cool? Actually, I got about a dozen more pretty much just like it, with all sorts of positive vibes. I got so many my "anti-spammer" was going whacko, of course, and had to dig 'em out. As you can see, it was worth it.

Then I got yours. It was going to be the last one before I go to bed so I'm like, man, what a bummer and then it hit me, "Eric." Uh-huh, sure. whatever. Ralph you're a gas, man! You really had me going there for a moment.

But, I've caught on to you man. You just gotta know that a song can only be sung for so long before the lyrics are known to everyone.

Still, you're the best! I get some great laughs when I read your stuff, Ralph. You are something else.

I was hoping to see you in Houston and watch those LMPs haul butt through the city streets. But, evidently, the ALMS couldn't draw enough of a crowd on its own. Too bad they had to shut down the race. From what I heard the Houston people called Grand-Am and asked them if they'd come out but when the ALMS got wind of it they flat-out killed it because the Houston people were going to give Grand-Am the Sunday primetime slot. Reminds me of Long Beach when Michaellian tried to put both shows together, there. Man, there should be enough to go around.

Then again, ALMS had 35 cars entered at Sebring and started the race with what, 33 cars spread over four classes? Wow. That's down bigtime from 2003 - more than half, isn't it? Well, it is an improvement over the 29 cars they had last year.

Man, I can remember when you and I were pups going there. Sleeping in a pup tent behind what was the original hairpin. Remember that? Shelby with his Fords, Jim Hall with his 2-D one year (65, wasn't it?), then a 2-F and 2-D the next. Man, they'd have 90-car fields, hands down.

Gosh, those were some cool times.

Maybe things will get better sometime soon. Maybe I'll see you in Salt Lake City, you going to that, too, aren't you?

Okay. It's been a long day. Time for bed. But you sure brightened it up when I opened your - uh, "Eric's" e-mail. I started laughing so damn hard the wife came out madder than hell. I woke her up. Then, when she saw it was from you, she started reading it and laughing her ass off, too.

You're the greatest, Ralph, uh, "Eric."

Love Ya Man!"

[smcorolla]

and it continues!


Motorsport.com: News channel

rick

[fanta]

That guy isn't worth the time or effort.

[John Thawley]

Originally Posted by fanta

That guy isn't worth the time or effort.

Exactly! He's one of those jaded "writers" who's only interest is showing up at "the Speedway," drawing a check and sucking up to the NASCAR bosses.

[Hallen]

Originally Posted by John Thawley

Exactly! He's one of those jaded "writers" who's only interest is showing up at "the Speedway," drawing a check and sucking up to the NASCAR bosses.

And that is exactly what he is doing. I am sure somebody in the France family of companies nudged him and inferred that a derogatory series of articles on ALMS, specifically targeting Corvette mostly, would be much appreciated.

I think they are targeting Corvette and GM because in this time of major struggle for the big car companies, those advertising and development dollars are hard to come by. Anything that might help to shift money from ALMS programs to France family programs would be welcomed (and rewarded).

If GM is evaluating any of its NASCAR or GA commitments (if any), then I bet the France family is grasping at any straws to keep GM there. What they don't understand is that development of technology is still important to do in lean times if you ever want to get to better times. Pure marketing, like NASCAR and GA, can easily go away without too much pain. So, our rambling, self absorbed hack DC, proffers these personal attacks at ALMS and Corvette. I am sure he is happy to pocket the bonuses and not lose a wink of sleep over his prostitution.