See "fragility" comment above.


While it is true that everyone had the ABS disabled, I think it's worth noting that the ABS in the Solstice is probably closer to the system in the LS1 Camaro, where if it's disabled, the brakes become hypersensitive. Even someone who is used to threshold braking is going to be caught off guard by that. I know that doesn't excuse the move, but what I'm saying is that what Mike and everyone else had to deal with in terms of the ABS sensitivity is hardly a "real world" scenario. Mike got bit by it. So did the team that tried to work around it by "modifying" their brake pads.

The constantly rules "modifications" were a huge disappointment in my book. I would have given up long before the final race, as I find such conditions frustrating and not worth the headache. The rules don't change on a whim in real world situations, so what's the point of doing it here except to induce drama? I agree with those who've said that the term "setup" is really what's being done to the "contestants," and not the car. Did Junior deserve to win? Maybe, maybe not. There were a couple of guys there that were probably better overall drivers than the guy who won. Mike at least got to show his ability on TV, though, and that will be worth something, I'm sure.

Never said he locked them up 50 feet...more like 30....but regardless if he locked them up 2 feet, or none at all, he still was in a "bad position" and took another guy out.

It IS kinda hard to tell for sure however due the the FREAKIN STUPID way the scenes were cut together on the show allowing only a second or two glimpse of ANY move and/or incident....


Now I agree with the jackassery way the whole show was run...no doubt about it.

In this instance I think taking a long look at your self and what happened would be the IDEAL thing to do. I AM SURE Mike is a great guy. I am also sure he is a good driver. He made a mistake however. Own up to it, learn from it, and move on. I am sure that is most likely how he is dealing with it.

In a "real race series" the whole drama wouldn't have mattered about him losing his car anyway....he would have been DQ'd and all the drama would have been for naught.

I bet the Set-Up CCR had so many mark-throughs, erasures and pencil marks that it was as thin as Costco toilet paper at the end.

Moves made that involved body contact would have been dealt with swiftly and severly in my regional series. There was inconsistencies in the way penalties (or the lack thereof) were handed out.

In the end, Mike's penalty very well could be the result of the ultimate prize ... knocking folks off track for $100K might not have set too well with sponsors. drama ...

The problem is, this whole "set-up" was a "set-up" to "set-up" a dramatic finish. Maybe the producers realized that Mike was the man and there would be a boring race for $100K? drama ...

It's pretty easy to arm chair Qb this one. Most of us will never be in that predicamant. So it's hard, for me any way, to point a finger.

What would you do for $100K?

First of all, you have to ASSume there was a CCR on that show. Seemed to me Scott was making things up as he went, and if he happened to be in a bad mood, which seemed often, the penalties were much more bizarre and/or extreme.

You are very much correct about the "true meaning" of Set Up though....hit the nail on the head....

As much as I bash on the SCCA and their crazy rulebook I will have to admit that this show is example of what happens when the rules are UNCLEAR and CHANGE at a moments notice. Junior DID go in too hot into that corner, but there were OTHER cars there that the other driver could have been put into and he could have restarted ahead of junior. They COULD have done the NASCAR "Freeze the field" thing -- but that wasn't in the rules OR the cards...

The show would be fine if the enforcement of a static set of rules was clear and consistent. I'm sorry Junior lost, but we all know, he got screwed.

....sigh....

Was Mike screwed?

The decision to give his car away is a debatable point ... so, maybe Scott screwed him.

But, Mike put himself in that position. I think that is where our differing experiences come into play.

Those of us W2W racing, we have had race directors all across the country pounding into our heads to be patient, have the line before passing and be under control while doing it.

What convicted Mike in this instance, were all wheels were locked up which is not in control. Something someone said on the show was that there was no way he could've made that turn at that speed. The evidence taped supports that as he hit the other guy. When the tires began sliding he was no where near at the guy's door. His momentum carried him there as the other guy was under braking.

For those who AX, consider for a moment having an additional set of cones on track that move and you have to avoid. That's kind of like W2W racing.

So, Mike screwed himself by putting himself in that position.

BTW What form of racing GIVES the guy who got punted a new ride and takes the guy who punted him out of the race? Local circle tracks will put a guy to the back of the field if he does what JR did but they don't give the guy with a broken car the guys car who punted him! That's the only BS I could see in that whole deal.

Honestly I can understand what he did and probably would have done the same thing. It's pass or be passed, granted waiting a tad longer to make the move would have been better but the producers put all this BS in your head and $100K in front of you, what do they REALLY WANT?

Bret

Karen makes a good point about "drama" - this mixed up with really skilled drivers and an educated audience like us who understand rules and road racing etiquette made this whole affair really frustrating to watch.

Shouldn't the sponsers of Mikes car been allowed a voice regarding who was going to drive? As I said earlier, the guy who won it seems like a nice enough sort. Does anyone here know him?

I was talking with Brady yesterday about the show and he said Chris does have quite a bit of experience, some professional driving including factory testing. He did not a have a good grasp of what the flags mean though (restarts in particular), so it makes me wonder if his experience is more with an empty track vs. W2W.

BTW I was talking with my GM source about Set-up a couple months ago and he said he and some other VIPs had an opportunity to buy these Solstices used in the show for $1 each. This got poo-pooed by brass, something about using pre-production parts and past lawsuits, and the cars went to the crusher.

I will say it again. Mike WAS DONE the minute he "chose poorly" and over drove the car in that instance. Period....end of story.

ANY "form of racing"....assuming of course we are not talking about a trumped up show such as this or NECKCAR series....would have DQ'd them man RIGHT THEN AND THERE.

Therefore the disposition of his car was a mute point! Yes, giving it to the other guy was a big showy, dramatic mess....but it HAD NO BEARING on what the outcome would have been to Mike in any legitimate "form of racing"

I would say the crusher had a pretty easy job as most of the cars were "pre-crushed"

You know, I was really waiting, (and wishing), for them to try a LeMans start by the end of the show.

That would have been cool!

....perfect....