Post by Roger on Jan 30, 2013 15:27:09 GMT -8
Salem Indoor Speedway
Formal Results for BK5
1/30/2013
On January 29, 2013 a post was made on Facebook by Wayne Felch that included text and a picture describing how he violated the Red Flag rule of “no work can be done to any kart during a Red Flag”. This post of Felch’s generated numerous emails, text messages and phone calls both demanding he be DQ’ed and that the Final Finishing Order stand.
Over the last 24 hours since this was brought to my attention I have spoken to numerous racers and people I consider expert consultants in racing rules and enforcement.
FACTS:
1. BK5 final finishing order was certified at approximately 9:15pm on Saturday, January 26th, 2013.
2. No protests were filed during or after the Main Event in question.
3. On Tuesday, January 29th, 2013 Wayne Felch posted on Facebook a picture and text describing how he violated Salem Indoor Rules.
4. After the Facebook posting both verbal and written protests were filed.
RULING:
The Finishing order as certified on January 26th, 2013 will stand. Felch will maintain his 1st place finish.
COMMENTARY:
This incident has cast a dark shadow over the BK Race, UAS, UAS Administrators, Salem Indoor and Officials; it’s going to take a long time to let this go. Both UAS and Salem rules state that Race Officials Decisions are final and it is implied that this means at the end of the race. The unique factors in this incident are that a UAS Administrator/competitor posted, using social media, 2 days after the race results were certified as to how he violated a well-known rule at nearly every track in the world. Given that Felch posted this the ideal outcome I was hoping for was that he would see the ramifications of his actions and DQ himself from the race, this is not going to happen according to Felch. Mark Bergfelt, President of UAS is now considering administrative sanctions against Felch for violation of UAS’s “Integrity” and “Sportsman” guidelines.
The determining factor to leave the finishing order stand was the time delay of 48 hours and the use of internet tools and setting precedence as to the use of internet tools to overturn UAS race results in the future, after a race is officially certified.
Salem indoor is in no way condoning Felch’s actions in fact we are condemning his actions. With his years of experience and holding the position of Oregon UAS Administrator we feel he knew what he did was illegal pertaining to competition and moral guidelines. Furthermore as a UAS Administrator he should hold himself to a higher standard.
Personally, I make mistakes at the track, I admit to most of them and I take the heat and ramifications for them. I can only hope that those who decide to race in the UAS do the same. I will publically say that I feel that the 2013 BK5 trophy means nothing good, it does not signify a win. I hope that we are able to get past this dark incident and individually and collectively hold ourselves to higher standards than have been exhibited in the last 24 hours.
I now see a need to write an addendum to both Salem’s and UAS’s rules pertaining to the use of internet tools to determine race results after the fact.
Sincerely,
Roger Freeborn
Race Director
Salem Indoor Speedway
Formal Results for BK5
1/30/2013
On January 29, 2013 a post was made on Facebook by Wayne Felch that included text and a picture describing how he violated the Red Flag rule of “no work can be done to any kart during a Red Flag”. This post of Felch’s generated numerous emails, text messages and phone calls both demanding he be DQ’ed and that the Final Finishing Order stand.
Over the last 24 hours since this was brought to my attention I have spoken to numerous racers and people I consider expert consultants in racing rules and enforcement.
FACTS:
1. BK5 final finishing order was certified at approximately 9:15pm on Saturday, January 26th, 2013.
2. No protests were filed during or after the Main Event in question.
3. On Tuesday, January 29th, 2013 Wayne Felch posted on Facebook a picture and text describing how he violated Salem Indoor Rules.
4. After the Facebook posting both verbal and written protests were filed.
RULING:
The Finishing order as certified on January 26th, 2013 will stand. Felch will maintain his 1st place finish.
COMMENTARY:
This incident has cast a dark shadow over the BK Race, UAS, UAS Administrators, Salem Indoor and Officials; it’s going to take a long time to let this go. Both UAS and Salem rules state that Race Officials Decisions are final and it is implied that this means at the end of the race. The unique factors in this incident are that a UAS Administrator/competitor posted, using social media, 2 days after the race results were certified as to how he violated a well-known rule at nearly every track in the world. Given that Felch posted this the ideal outcome I was hoping for was that he would see the ramifications of his actions and DQ himself from the race, this is not going to happen according to Felch. Mark Bergfelt, President of UAS is now considering administrative sanctions against Felch for violation of UAS’s “Integrity” and “Sportsman” guidelines.
The determining factor to leave the finishing order stand was the time delay of 48 hours and the use of internet tools and setting precedence as to the use of internet tools to overturn UAS race results in the future, after a race is officially certified.
Salem indoor is in no way condoning Felch’s actions in fact we are condemning his actions. With his years of experience and holding the position of Oregon UAS Administrator we feel he knew what he did was illegal pertaining to competition and moral guidelines. Furthermore as a UAS Administrator he should hold himself to a higher standard.
Personally, I make mistakes at the track, I admit to most of them and I take the heat and ramifications for them. I can only hope that those who decide to race in the UAS do the same. I will publically say that I feel that the 2013 BK5 trophy means nothing good, it does not signify a win. I hope that we are able to get past this dark incident and individually and collectively hold ourselves to higher standards than have been exhibited in the last 24 hours.
I now see a need to write an addendum to both Salem’s and UAS’s rules pertaining to the use of internet tools to determine race results after the fact.
Sincerely,
Roger Freeborn
Race Director
Salem Indoor Speedway