Hallett ULW Endurance Protest Results!!

Subject:
Technical Protest filed against Team FellonKnee by Redline Racing following the ULW Endurance Race held at Hallett Motor Racing Circuit on September 14, 2019

Action:
Machine disassembly and measurements performed by Jim Cambora and Steve Upchurch at the request of the CMRA Director of Competition. A dyno run was also performed to establish a performance baseline at the request of the CMRA Director of Competition.

Observations:
Inconsistencies that fall outside of CMRA Superstock rules and allowances were found during the inspection.
1) Left velocity stack had been replaced with a short Right velocity stack. (OEM parts used in a non OEM location)
2) Throttle bodies inside diameter have been resized. (throttle bodies were compared to unmodified throttle bodies and found to have a larger inside diameter)

Result:
1)Team FellonKnee has been disqualified from the ULW Endurance race held on September 14, 2019.
2) $500 protest fee will be returned to Redline Racing.
3) Results and season points will be amended to reflect the disqualification
4) An affidavit of fact from the technician that reassembles the Team FellonKnee engine stating that the engine has been reassembled in accordance with CMRA technical rules will be required.
5) Post Tech Inspection of the airbox and throttle bodies will be performed following the final round of the CMRA ULW Endurance Series to be held at MSR Houston on October 26, 2019.

Attachment 1952

So are we still mad at David Rice? I vote yes! Lol

I took a lot of heat for about a week or two. Several comments and posts removed from social media... Crickets now. Gonna bite my tongue and go racing instead.

I ran out of popcorn about a week ago��

Hallett results and points have been updated.

IMO the team should be disqualified from the tournament and not just one race.
They knew exactly what they were doing... this was intentional...
If you don't set the record straight this will continue to happen over and over again...
I think if the punishment was more severe, such as a fine to be paid to the club, suspension of the racing license and an written apology to the club members, they would refrain from even trying to think about doing such thing.
I also think that the tournament winning bikes, per each class, should be subjected to the same protest inspections before the final results are placed for the season.
You all know very well the amount of money and effort involved to prep the bike, travel expenses, entry fees and so on...
It's unfair to the rest of the teams and club members that are playing by the rules.

Just my 2 cents...

Respectfully, I disagree, Rod. The rules are effective, folks have always had the option to protest. This is just the first I’ve actually witnessed. Like with my children, lay out the [sensible] consequences for actions, and enforce them as advertised. No reason to over-inflate consequences. Further, this consequence is substantial: the championship is effectively lost when it was nearly won. Now that folks see the consequence enacted, it’s a deterrent.

I agree with Josh. The Race Director is taking the proper actions per rulebook.
I will and have proposed an idea tho..Back when I used to take a certain young fella to the AMA/DMG rounds when he podiumed I had to go to tech with my tools and remove the tank and airbox, 20mins...I suggested that TOP 3 in endurance do this after trophy presentation, and Race Director can pull X-amount of sprint bikes at say lunch time for this.
Throw pitchforks …….now!

I will be happy to bring my (Redline Racing) bike to post-tech inspection after trophy presentation. Thank you.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Danny Dominguez

I agree with Josh. The Race Director is taking the proper actions per rulebook.
I will and have proposed an idea tho..Back when I used to take a certain young fella to the AMA/DMG rounds when he podiumed I had to go to tech with my tools and remove the tank and airbox, 20mins...I suggested that TOP 3 in endurance do this after trophy presentation, and Race Director can pull X-amount of sprint bikes at say lunch time for this.
Throw pitchforks …….now!

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Touching tools after touching beer is never a good idea :D :D

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Danny Dominguez

I agree with Josh. The Race Director is taking the proper actions per rulebook.
I will and have proposed an idea tho..Back when I used to take a certain young fella to the AMA/DMG rounds when he podiumed I had to go to tech with my tools and remove the tank and airbox, 20mins...I suggested that TOP 3 in endurance do this after trophy presentation, and Race Director can pull X-amount of sprint bikes at say lunch time for this.
Throw pitchforks …….now!

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That's what I'm talking about Danny.
I know we all can pitch in with good ideas and remedy the problem, and change the mentality to think that it's OK to cheat as long you don't get caught...

Now we are cooking on the front burner!!!

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Josh Henke

Respectfully, I disagree, Rod. The rules are effective, folks have always had the option to protest. This is just the first I’ve actually witnessed. Like with my children, lay out the [sensible] consequences for actions, and enforce them as advertised. No reason to over-inflate consequences. Further, this consequence is substantial: the championship is effectively lost when it was nearly won. Now that folks see the consequence enacted, it’s a deterrent.

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Is there a limit to how many times a team or a racer can be protested during the race season?
And if the team or racer get caught cheating more than once through the season after the protest results, are there any consequences?
I another words, what is the incentive for the rest of us to play by the rules?

Incentives? We place higher. We earn more points. We keep our trophy. We’re not in the news.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Josh Henke

... This is just the first I’ve actually witnessed. Like with my children, lay out the [sensible] consequences for actions, and enforce them as advertised. No reason to over-inflate consequences. Further, this consequence is substantial: the championship is effectively lost when it was nearly won. Now that folks see the consequence enacted, it’s a deterrent.

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In my time with the club (8 years) i've seen 3 protest. Someone protested conner blevins probably 6 or 7 years ago at ECR.. Conner is just stupid fast and his bike was legal. Someone protested Manny for using a 300 engine in a 250 chassis and running the bike in E class (250s) and it was pretty obvious that it was in fact a 300 engine in a 250 frame...and the one we just did. I'd like to give the riders on the team the benefit of the doubt and i feel bad for those guys cause they could have been riding what they thought was a legal bike. Had patrick done that to me i already told him i wouldn't be riding his bike from that point forward and he would be SOL for the last round. But this protest should stick in everyone memory for a while and i hope others think twice before building a bike outside its class. A team that went 4 straight wins will be lucky to get 3rd because of it and thats a solid right cross and a fair punishment if you ask me.

Rodrigo, please note that Rule 8.1 Protests does not limit the number of protests filed against a racer or team. Nor does that section prescribe a penalty to be imposed by the Director of Competition for any instance of infraction.

The range of penalties available to the DoC in response to any given infraction, or series of infractions even if different in detail or substance, are presented in Rule 7.1; section 7.2 provides one particular structrue available to the DoC for documenting repetitious / flagrant infractions.

My point is that the DoC has tools to 'address' repeat offenders. Anyone who really knows your current DoC rests assured that his tolerance for such ongoing behavior, in what he considers the sacred arena of motorcycle competition, approaches zero and he will apply those tools firmly to make that fully understood by even the slowest of learners in short order.

Ultimately the incentive to play by the rules lies in one's basic character. "Education" is a part of the club's mission, so even in regard to "character" one may be provided an opportunity to learn, apply those lessons, and grow. But if one demonstrates an unrepentant, unimproved lack of the character expected of CMRA participation, the Rules allow permanent loss of that privilege.

IMO / IME folks who need that degree of sanction probably aren't motivated to good character by any "incentive", but bottom line there's definitely a "consequence" for those rare deeply flawed individuals which protects the competitive environment of the CMRA for everyone else.

Just sayin'

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Matthew Palmore

In my time with the club (8 years) i've seen 3 protest. Someone protested conner blevins probably 6 or 7 years ago at ECR.. Conner is just stupid fast and his bike was legal. Someone protested Manny for using a 300 engine in a 250 chassis and running the bike in E class (250s) and it was pretty obvious that it was in fact a 300 engine in a 250 frame...and the one we just did. I'd like to give the riders on the team the benefit of the doubt and i feel bad for those guys cause they could have been riding what they thought was a legal bike. Had patrick done that to me i already told him i wouldn't be riding his bike from that point forward and he would be SOL for the last round. But this protest should stick in everyone memory for a while and i hope others think twice before building a bike outside its class. A team that went 4 straight wins will be lucky to get 3rd because of it and thats a solid right cross and a fair punishment if you ask me.

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I think you have it backwards. Connor’s dad protested Clealand @ ECR in 2014 which the bike was deemed legal and the protest lost.

What do you do when you buy a race bike 2nd, 3rd or even 4th hand?

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Michael Klesel

I think you have it backwards. Connor’s dad protested Clealand @ ECR in 2014 which the bike was deemed legal and the protest lost.

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ahh..you are correct. my memory is foggy from those days.. crashed at least 6 times since then. :bannana:

Quote:

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Originally Posted by jamesl73

What do you do when you buy a race bike 2nd, 3rd or even 4th hand?

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You go over it with a fine tooth comb. Most everyone will tell you if its got engine work because they can bump the price at that point.

Does anyone know if the modified bike was used in all of the rounds? Seems like if it was, an interview with the team captain/owner would be in order. If so, a chance to own up to it and removal of other points would be in order. These types of deals are bad for business, bad for sponsors, bad for the club in a sport that is struggling. Line boring throttle bodies to a factory finish isn't something you do with a dremel tool. Or...bring back superbike/gp rules.

Greg,

The procedure for the protest of a machine, rider, team, etc. is well delineated in the rule book and starts on page 39 and includes appeals, arbitration’s, fees, etc. Best I can read there is nothing in there about retroactively protesting any and all other previous events that the machine may or may not have participated in. Certainly you can appreciate the amount of forensic work that would be involved in delivering what you are asking. And as written, the rules do not seem to call for or allow for that. A protest is to be made within 30 minutes of the event/posting of the results and thats basically it. The protest is event specific.

As far as this event is concerned, it has been handled within the rules set forth and the appeal period has expired, therefore, the matter should be considered closed. The race directors findings, conclusions and actions as well as subsequent actions have been posted. Thank you again Walter for handling this so professionally.

Not to dismiss your concerns as they are valid but there is simply no mechanism in place to determine what you are asking.

If people were really concerned(not implying that you Greg are not) about the perception and well being of the club they would not air this dirty laundry on social media and try this matter in the court of public approval. (This is my personal opinion and should not be misconstrued as representing the thoughts of the CMRA, its officials, or any other member or entity associated with the CMRA).

Let’s move on, shall we?

Hope to see you at the last round.

-Joe

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Greg Wanless

Does anyone know if the modified bike was used in all of the rounds? Seems like if it was, an interview with the team captain/owner would be in order. If so, a chance to own up to it and removal of other points would be in order. These types of deals are bad for business, bad for sponsors, bad for the club in a sport that is struggling. Line boring throttle bodies to a factory finish isn't something you do with a dremel tool. Or...bring back superbike/gp rules.

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There is no way to know about the machines legality at previous events. With that in mind we have no choice but to give the team the benefit of the doubt.

Yep, joe and Walter I get it and understand the rule book. Maybe it’s something to be considered to be modified in the future. I was just saying an interview wouldn’t hurt... even if it didn’t change the outcome based on the rule book. Maybe something could be learned that would prompt a change in the rules for 2020 and beyond.