Ben Sale's white 1990 NA6

PaulF · Postby **PaulF** » Sun Apr 10, 2011 1:15 pm

Another new user joining purely to post in this thread? Gee, Ben, aren't you popular!

I don't think he's really been "slagging/slandering/accussing" at all, and certainly not any more than is understandable given his situation.

Jeo · Postby **Jeo** » Sun Apr 10, 2011 8:36 pm

I think it's possibly a bit rich that you have to have your car dyno'd to prove it's stock and the way they went about talking to you/the club could have been a little nicer, but you have to look at it from their side of the equation too. At the end of the day, you had more mods than your class allowed and therefore broke the rules. Regardless of how insignificant they are or not, if you're going to modify things, I believe you should be in the modified class.

Having said all that, best of luck getting everything sorted.

bensale · Postby **bensale** » Sun Apr 10, 2011 8:56 pm

Oh wow, this keeps getting better..! Faceless user number two welcome =)

I would like to say that my comments have at least always been public and there for anyone to read. As opposed to the protests made behind my back by people who I thought I knew well enough that they'd have the decency to at least talk to me...

I believe in the spirit of club motorsport and that it is primarily about fun! This is the reason I have not counter protested the car I believe to have illegal modifications. I know my thoughts have been brought to the relevant peoples attention, for me this is sufficient. I acknowledge that my car was illegally modified, I don't argue that despite questioning the benefits of the mods... It is mainly the lack of respect and up frontness is the way the protests were made which is frustrating...

The post made by the faceless user Honor on the Alfa forum made (I think the same person as faceless user 2 here) was a rather hilarious personal attack against me. It's a pity it and my response were moderated... I have a screen shot of what he said... However I'm in Hobart for Tagra atm, will get it up when I can... =)

rob323 · Postby **rob323** » Tue Apr 12, 2011 9:40 am

Go rallying, less bullshit, more drinking! :mrgreen:

daffyflyer · Postby **daffyflyer** » Tue Apr 12, 2011 7:59 pm

I still think in club level motorsport some common sense needs to be applied in this kind of thing, its not F1 ferchristsakes...

I know rules are rules, but does anyone really honestly think that the front lip and airbox holes are actually going to make a noticeable performance difference? Really?

Hot Rodders · Postby **Hot Rodders** » Tue Apr 12, 2011 10:42 pm

One point that has not been raised Ben, and that is..........
Why haven't the scutineers picked up the problems with your car at the start of each and every event you have entered? Are they doing their job properley? Are they competently trained to know what they are looking for? Makes you wonder!

-alex · Postby **-alex** » Wed Apr 13, 2011 12:57 pm

rob323 wrote:Go rallying, less bullshit, more drinking!

Oh so true, Targa Bar went off on Sunday night.

little decks · Postby **little decks** » Wed Apr 13, 2011 2:18 pm

Pretty surprised by all this.
I've been to a couple of the Vic club days with my Dad as he has been running in Steven Cook's car and it seemed like a much friendlier environment then this shows.

I watched the in car videos that you have posted in the thread and you drive really quite well... after watching them its not surprise that you could manage quite a good time.

You would have to be pretty confident that you can still do at least close to the same time after your car is legal... In motorsport thats usually the best response. I remember a similar situation in Karts when i was 8 years old... it was a club level meeting and i won all 3 heats, so one of the fathers of another kid protested the length of my exhaust pipe, it turned out it was 13mm too long (the manual didnt specify the point it was to be measured from) i was DQed from the heats and had to start the final from the back.... so we made the exhaust well and truly legal and as there was only 15 karts in the field i took the lead on the last carner of the 2nd lap and won the race by a quarter of a lap, i was that dríven by emotion... needless to say they regretted protesting, no one was beating me in that final after that happened

That was one of the most satisfied feelings i have ever felt.... good luck with it mate

fattima · Postby **fattima** » Wed Apr 13, 2011 10:15 pm

Hot Rodders wrote:One point that has not been raised Ben, and that is..........
Why haven't the scutineers picked up the problems with your car at the start of each and every event you have entered? Are they doing their job properley? Are they competently trained to know what they are looking for? Makes you wonder!

Scrutineers at the club events are there to make sure cars meet safety requirements and are safe to go on the track. I doubt the majority of scrutineers at AROCA events would know the MX5 club classes and have no need to.

bensale · Postby **bensale** » Tue Apr 19, 2011 3:13 pm

Okay, thought I would do a final little wrap up post after having left this thread alone for a while so it could settle down a bit...

In summation and as I have said a few times already I accept the disqualification and that my car was illegal... I do still question the way my fellow club members went about protesting me and the need to dyno the car... I do feel that some of what has happened isn't really in the spirit of club motor sport and that there is a better way that all of this could have all happened... That being said I will certainly continue running with the MX-5 club in there events with AROCA as the way they are run is amazing to say the least. I believe they are the best club level Motorsport events in the country.

Rob Downes and the other people involved in this process did what they were required to do under the rules of the club in light of the protests. At the end of the day I don't have any issue with the way they went about what happened as they were at all stages open and transparent with me in letting me know what was happening, as was I.

I hope that from this comes some stability in the rules and an understanding within the club that from now we will impose the same scrutiny that my car was subjected to in this process to all club competitors... One of the main issues I see is that while I was excluded for 3 minor infringements people running cars which also quite likely infringe the rules are overlooked... That I was excluded and others are allowed to continue in the same specification until the end of the season for me is not an ideal solution or 100% right.

One point I would like to reiterate in response to the comments about my integrity and honesty is that all modifications I have ever made to my car have been posted in this thread for everyone to look at... I also pointed out modifications that would not have been found when the car was inspected. I am amazed that in total 3 nameless users have joined forums to discuss the topics, two of them (one here and one on AROCA) just to attack my integrity from a faceless username. I would love to post my copy of what was said on the AROCA forum but I think it's best to leave it... It was moderated from there forum for a good reason...

I would like to thank everyone who gave there support to me either here and in person, and also everyone who joined in the discussion. I think some interesting things have been said and there is a bit to think about... I guess it was good to see a bit of life in this forum too..!

little decks wrote:You would have to be pretty confident that you can still do at least close to the same time after your car is legal... In motorsport thats usually the best response. I remember a similar situation in Karts when i was 8 years old... it was a club level meeting and i won all 3 heats, so one of the fathers of another kid protested the length of my exhaust pipe, it turned out it was 13mm too long (the manual didnt specify the point it was to be measured from) i was DQed from the heats and had to start the final from the back.... so we made the exhaust well and truly legal and as there was only 15 karts in the field i took the lead on the last carner of the 2nd lap and won the race by a quarter of a lap, i was that dríven by emotion... needless to say they regretted protesting, no one was beating me in that final after that happened

Great story, really awesome ending that one =) I guess the plan is to go out and try to do similar. When i go the update on the Targa Tas adventure when I get the chance you'll see that I need to follow up a few issues with the car before hand... But at least i have until June 12th...

Thanks again, Ben

lee · Postby **lee** » Tue Apr 19, 2011 6:33 pm

Now that that little saga is over, can we go back to admiring the work you've put into your car?

RedMX · Postby **RedMX** » Tue Apr 19, 2011 8:43 pm

lee wrote:Now that that little saga is over, can we go back to admiring the work you've put into your car?

Agreed

bensale · Postby **bensale** » Tue Apr 19, 2011 10:44 pm

RedMX wrote:
lee wrote:Now that that little saga is over, can we go back to admiring the work you've put into your car?

Agreed

Thanks guys =)

Sure, the car has done 2700km in the last week or so around Tasmania and then down GOR... There are a few small issues with the car after that which I will need to fix as well as getting the car dyno'd and another diff change which I will try and document the process of with photos a little more thoroughly incase anyone wants to change one in the future... It drove through some pretty epic flooding in Tasmania and suffered a bit of paint damage as a result... Not sure if I can get insurance onside to cover it.. If not I'm thinking I may have a go at re spraying the front of the car myself in the next couple of months... Will write up some of the adventures in Tasmania tomorrow!

emexv · Postby **emexv** » Tue Apr 19, 2011 10:53 pm

Awsome stuff Ben. I've seen some of your photos. Look forward to the write up and having a chat about the trip. Has got me itching to head over to the island myself.