|
|
Post by David C on Mar 18, 2023 11:38:34 GMT -7
I am curious as to why there is a "racing committee"?
When was it created? because when this club was officially formed and I wrote practically all the "RMSCC Rules and Regs", there was and, I still don't see anything about a "racing committee".
Who is on this Committee? Or is it privileged information?
Were they voted on by the membership? or were they "selected" by one person in leadership?
And why were they selected/chosen;?
1. Because of their knowledge and experience of racing 1/32 slot cars?
2. Long standing members of this club?
3. They own a slot car track that is used by the membership?
4. They race real 1 to 1 race cars?
Please enlighten me...
|
|
dkmura
Administrator
Posts: 421 
|
Post by dkmura on Mar 21, 2023 7:05:02 GMT -7
Since nobody else has responded to this question, I'll take it on. The RMSCC "racing committee" is currently made up of Jim Weikum, Robert Sullivan, John Parker and myself. Jim is the senior member of this group, and the rest of us were invited by him to help with scheduling, writing/discussing rules and doing the housekeeping chores (tech, points keeping, updating website, etc.) that keep the club moving forward.
Personally, I don't pretend to have a wealth of knowledge and experience of racing 1/32 slot cars. But I try to keep an even keel in listening to, and contributing to the committee's discussions on keeping us on track with respect to having fun and being fair with our model cars. Having a background in racing makes me a bit of a historian in keeping the cars, series and eras at least somewhat in line with what those cars were like on track. And while I don't have a track myself, we try to listen to each of the track owners to incorporate their wishes into our racing.
Is the "racing committee" perfect? Not even close! But as a regular competitor, I have some time to contribute to help develop rules to make the racing fair and fun. I hope our work allows RMSCC members to be freed of the myriad details that it takes to keep our series going. We continue to listen to, and poll members to get their ideas and wishes incorporated into the race series.
|
|
|
|
Post by grenade10 on Mar 22, 2023 7:07:23 GMT -7
David,
Thanks for the work you and the other members are doing for this club. I know from firsthand experience, what it takes, and you will never make everyone happy.
But I think it would be good for the club to state and agree what it is trying to accomplish.
I am fully enjoying the racing, mostly like the classes of cars we are running but I would just like to see some better planning. I think that if we are going to race once or twice a month at Colpar and as it exists currently, this would only be Saturday. We set the full year schedule. We then fill in the other dates with racers tracks. I know when I ran the RC track, it was easy for racers to know what is coming up if you have a consistent schedule. I also think it would be easier with Colpar to not schedule other events at the same time we are trying to race if they have our schedule for the year.
|
|
|
|
Post by Tom Dolan on Mar 22, 2023 7:33:37 GMT -7
David, Thanks for the work you and the other members are doing for this club. I know from firsthand experience, what it takes, and you will never make everyone happy. But I think it would be good for the club to state and agree what it is trying to accomplish. I am fully enjoying the racing, mostly like the classes of cars we are running but I would just like to see some better planning. I think that if we are going to race once or twice a month at Colpar and as it exists currently, this would only be Saturday. We set the full year schedule. We then fill in the other dates with racers tracks. I know when I ran the RC track, it was easy for racers to know what is coming up if you have a consistent schedule. I also think it would be easier with Colpar to not schedule other events at the same time we are trying to race if they have our schedule for the year. The club needs to schedule around Colpar's schedule, not the other way around. The owner schedules events based on his schedule. Did I use "schedule" enough? lol Tom  |
|
Jim W
Administrator
Posts: 1,644
|
Post by Jim W on Mar 22, 2023 10:00:47 GMT -7
The idea of a Race Committe was to help with the guidance of this Club. It became an issue with some of the cars that were being used in our racing. The cars were not being inspected before racing and there became a question of what the rules for a class was.
Since at the time, I was the only person with Admen rights, so I approached some members that were willing to help with keeping this Club running. The first thing we did was return the 1/16th inch ride height rule. We had seen or heard the results of a car that wouldn't meet the 1/16th inch minimum and we decided we didn't want this to happen in our racing. We were going to run the NSR "F1" cars next, so we also needed to establish some rules for the cars. We decided to limit the track width to prevent some car from being too wide. We were going to be running this class as Box Stock plus, so the width was established by looking at multiple cars and making a Maximum track width for the cars. David M also came up with the idea of running "teammates" for the series and using those points for the "Championship". Some members have quit the Club because we were going to inspect cars before the racing.
If there is a problem with the current "Race Committee", as to who is on it or how it came about, we could hold a meeting and review and revise any problems that we have.
The "Rules" for this Club were revised maybe 9 years ago by the members of this Club at that time. There was about 11 members present and we went over each rule and made some changes at that time. We all didn't agree on every rule or change, but we all agreed that those would be "Club's" new rules. There have not been any changes to the Rules since that time. If we wanted to make a change, we don't have the "key" to open the rules and make a change.
If someone would question something like the race committee, we do have a "search" function and may bring up information and a date that someone posted about that subject.
Jim W
|
|
Jim W
Administrator
Posts: 1,644
|
Post by Jim W on Sept 19, 2023 8:45:25 GMT -7
Since this Club has not had a President in at least 12 years and now there seems to be a problem of what is happening at our racing events, we should elect members, so everyone knows who to talk to. The Last President of the Club was David Crosby, by an election. We had a meeting for a new President, Vice President and Treasure then. Since only three people showed up, they were the new and the last elected officials. Jerry has been the Treasurer since that date and the President and Vice President both stepped down after 2 years. Put up a Poll and schedule a meeting and elect new officers.
Jim W
After the election, then you could create a "Race Committee" or whatever you think you may need to help get this club going in a new direction or not.
|
|
|
|
Post by David C on Sept 19, 2023 9:13:44 GMT -7
Since this Club has not had a President in at least 12 years and now there seems to be a problem of what is happening at our racing events, we should elect members, so everyone knows who to talk to. The Last President of the Club was David Crosby, by an election. We had a meeting for a new President, Vice President and Treasure then. Since only three people showed up, they were the new and the last elected officials. Jerry has been the Treasurer since that date and the President and Vice President both stepped down after 2 years. Put up a Poll and schedule a meeting and elect new officers. Jim W After the election, then you could create a "Race Committee" or whatever you think you may need to help get this club going in a new direction or not. The club "by-laws" (article 8) does specify "Nominations and applications for club officers shall be made at the 4th Quatar meeting OR VIA THE MESSAGE BOARD." So if anyone would like to nominate someone or nominate themselves next month (October- beginning of the fourth quarter), start thinking about it and create a thread on nominations and have a in person meeting or create pole/voting on the message board. |
|
|
|
Post by chris on Sept 19, 2023 10:19:08 GMT -7
I'm my opinion the Race Committee has done a good job with the club business.
Yeah maybe it hasn't been perfect in the eyes of some, but overall good and we have had some great races and friendships.
Chris
|
|
|
|
Post by Tom Dolan on Sept 19, 2023 10:44:44 GMT -7
Since this Club has not had a President in at least 12 years and now there seems to be a problem of what is happening at our racing events, we should elect members, so everyone knows who to talk to. The Last President of the Club was David Crosby, by an election. We had a meeting for a new President, Vice President and Treasure then. Since only three people showed up, they were the new and the last elected officials. Jerry has been the Treasurer since that date and the President and Vice President both stepped down after 2 years. Put up a Poll and schedule a meeting and elect new officers. Jim W After the election, then you could create a "Race Committee" or whatever you think you may need to help get this club going in a new direction or not. I agree with this. Tom |
|
phlash
Administrator
Posts: 660
|
Post by phlash on Sept 19, 2023 22:32:07 GMT -7
Speaking for myself alone, and as a member chosen for the committee, I first saw David Crosby's post that started this thread back on March 18th of this year; over 6 months ago! I found it suspiciously provocative and chose not to dignify it with a reply. The answers were all self-evident, but for some unfathomable reason (to me anyway), Dave Muramoto chose to take the 'high road' 3 days later and indulge David Crosby's inquiries. It was obvious from the outset that David Crosby's questions were aimed at Jim, since it was he who chose the committee members.
While David C's questions were legitimate, they had a distinct air of suspicion and dissatisfaction that I thought unfairly maligned us. Yet another day passed before Jim chose to respond with a thoughtful and historically contextual explanation for his actions and decisions. He even offered to "hold a meeting and review and revise any problems that we have."
For all of that, he never received a reply, an acknowledgement or a simple 'thank you' for the explanation.
That was the last post in this thread, 6 MONTHS AGO until today when Jim posted what is essentially a forced response to an unspoken ultimatum.
An acknowledgment of political nature; the need to present and elect a president or director of the club for the next 'term' which will apparently be determined with discussions.
The political undertones have been apparent and recurrent to even the more casual reader on this site. Flareups are followed by relative calm only to flareup again and again.
Since this has now gained more traction since the advent of "entry fees" and has devolved into an obvious "power struggle", I feel unfortunately it is about time to try and quell the inevitable discord that surely will follow. For it is in the way this has been handled or mishandled that becomes divisive and puts certain people off. I worry about losing membership and new potential member interest that we have worked hard to encourage and increase. We have grown our membership through efforts which are welcoming and inclusive regardless of ability or former knowledge of the club's hobby. Some people are disillusioned with what they are seeing developing just in the last week.
For the interests of this club, a unifying understanding will have to occur or it may well fracture to the detriment of all.
|
|
|
|
Post by David C on Sept 25, 2023 12:09:11 GMT -7
I'm sorry especially to Jim and the racing committee he created. I was just trying to understand who, what and why it was formed and what their scope of operation and what type of subjects they are involved in within the club was. I didn't see it posted anywhere out in a "Racing Committee" type section on the message board. If I ever have ANY questions again I wont post them on the message board but willask a member of the "racing committee" in a message.
|
|
|
|
Post by Tom Dolan on Sept 25, 2023 14:56:13 GMT -7
"Since this has now gained more traction since the advent of "entry fees" and has devolved into an obvious "power struggle", I feel unfortunately it is about time to try and quell the inevitable discord that surely will follow. For it is in the way this has been handled or mishandled that becomes divisive and puts certain people off. I worry about losing membership and new potential member interest that we have worked hard to encourage and increase. We have grown our membership through efforts which are welcoming and inclusive regardless of ability or former knowledge of the club's hobby. Some people are disillusioned with what they are seeing developing just in the last week.
For the interests of this club, a unifying understanding will have to occur or it may well fracture to the detriment of all."
The entry fee post was a SUGGESTION, NOT A REQUEST OR ULTIMATUM Robert. I never would have started it if I knew it would grow into this much shit.
Tom
|
|
|
|
Post by Tom Dolan on Sept 26, 2023 8:14:42 GMT -7
As senior member of the club along with Jerry--we were both there when the club was formed in 2005 at Walter's house--I wonder why I wasn't chosen for the committee? I have pretty good knowledge of slot cars and have helped several members of the club with their cars as far as set up and given advice to others. I was president 3 times and an admin from the get-go until the committee said I wasn't. I also take care of the club track at Colpar. Please enlighten me. Thanks.
Tom
Not that I want to be on the committee, just curious.
|
|
Jim W
Administrator
Posts: 1,644
|
Post by Jim W on Sept 28, 2023 10:06:54 GMT -7
As I responded to your private message, you were not racing with the Club and I am not sure if it was the time, you said you quit and were going to devote your time to the Vintage club or not. As an Administrator of the board, I did what I thought was needed to keep this Club going. I didn't want to be the only person that was making all of the deciding as had been done before. I asked some members if they would help with keeping the Club going. They were people that showed an interest in the Club and were willing to help. They may not have had the longest experience in the Club but would be there to help keep the Club going.
Jim W
|
|
|
|
Post by Tom Dolan on Sept 28, 2023 16:17:16 GMT -7
As I responded to your private message, you were not racing with the Club and I am not sure if it was the time, you said you quit and were going to devote your time to the Vintage club or not. As an Administrator of the board, I did what I thought was needed to keep this Club going. I didn't want to be the only person that was making all of the deciding as had been done before. I asked some members if they would help with keeping the Club going. They were people that showed an interest in the Club and were willing to help. They may not have had the longest experience in the Club but would be there to help keep the Club going. Jim W I didn't quit the club, I just quit racing with them, I still hosted if my memory serves me right. Tom |
|
