Out of the 30+ men and women who gridded up for NovU and NovO, my guess is only a couple racers apply to Dave's beef. Most of us, I think anyway, are going out there with realistic goals that are much different than winning a championship. It's great to be racing in a series that IS a championship, but I would guess most of us are racing for pride, improving our racecraft, a chance at a top 10 finish or two this season, or finishing in the top 10 overall to get a white plate.

Do some racers walk away because they aren't as competitive as they had hoped? Sure, a few racers might be dreaming winning it all, and when they realize they can't, they walk away. But look at the other racers in the grid who have been racing at a medium pace for years and keep coming back.

Do others rack up too much debt and have to bail out due to a lack of funds? No doubt. But, again, look at the other racers in the grid who have been racing on a sustainable budget for years and keep coming back.

Rather than paint with a broad stroke that characterizes the Novice races and racers as a problem, why not look at the actual outcome from, let's say, last year. The overall top 10 racers from last year typically all finished in the top 15 each race, so they were at least somewhat competitive with each other all year. At least 8 out of the top 10 guys from NovU last year raced this past weekend, that's not so bad. It seems like a 10 ten finish in NovU (and hence a shot at a white plate) didn't keep racers from coming back this year.

I guess I am with a few others who are sure what your true issue is, Dave, as you've made some broad statements. You state you are directing your comments toward "the culture we as a race organization have created where being the fastest novice is as important as being the fastest racer." For a good number of us, that ISN'T the case. The culture some (most?) of us subscribe to is in line with the mission of the MRA. What's important to more than a few of us is to get out there, improve our craft, learn about technique and the technical side of things, have some safe, spirited fun on and off the track, and be able to brag up our meager accomplishments to our friends and family who think we're crazy for doing what we do.

It seems like your issue is with the minority and may be limited to a small handful of racers. Maybe I was just too far back in the pack to see what the problem was - I am willing to admit that being 'back there' may have left me clueless as to what all the fuss is about. But that's ok since I plan to be back at each race to have some fun and try to achieve the goals I set for myself coming into the season - on my "state-of-the-art" '03 R6, my very limited race budget, and doing so while sleeping in the back of my Jeep when necessary. Good times!

If the guys in the first few rows new week have the latest and greatest technology and can flog me, that only means I get to keep trying to improve with what I have. The only one I am out there to beat is me - that and maybe a few other guys that race at a similar medium pace.

I look forward to racing with this club in whichever classes I can afford to do while I can still do it. I said it elsewhere and I will reiterate it here - Congrats to all my competitors this weekend. Whether you finished in front of me or behind me, it was a pleasure to race with you. See you all at PPIR, whether you're on a cheater bike or a beater bike.

Cheers,
Jamie