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| Press Release |
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The
CASA Chronicles (No. 19) |
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January 27, 2006...San Jose, CA.Rumor, rumor, anyone heard a rumor?
Beware: I may end up on my soapbox!
The California
Asphalt Sprintcar Association, like every racing organization, is preparing for
the upcoming 2006 season. Like every other organization, there are a tremendous
number of things to be worked out – schedules, which revolve around every race
track considered for the season, potential rule changes including safety
updates, manufacturer input, insurance, fees and more. With the state of racing in the west, and California in
particular, all clubs, tracks, and divisions are jockeying for position, looking
to build alliances. Absolutely everyone is looking to better their previous
campaign and build for a 2006 season and beyond. The Reno RPM show serves as a
general starting point for many and the process continues well into the winter,
sometimes into the early spring, before all the complicated details can be
secured. Secured is the operative word here. While I appreciate
everyone wanting to know what’s coming and trust me, as an owner/driver I
fully understand safeguarding one’s investment, wanting to see a schedule,
knowing the latest potential rule change or track addition or deletion, certain
things must be aligned before any of that information can be offered - either to
the public or to the stakeholders (members, racers, owners, crews). It seems at every juncture of this complicated process,
many people are hungry for “inside” information. They ask around at the
speed shops, probe those they believe might be “in the know”, talking to
vendors and suppliers, making phone calls, searching the web and looking under
every rock for clues. Hey, I understand, it’s the off-season. And I fully
appreciated the passion behind the search, but just like the weeks leading up to
baseball spring training, everyone wants to know how the team is expected to do
this season. But like those “Hot Stove Leagues” the most common thing that
happens is arguments based on all the rumors and half-truths that participants
find and/or unwittingly fabricate. CASA has been working very hard this off-season to bring
the best possible racing season to its partner tracks, fans, and participants.
And in servicing that commitment we take in a great deal of feedback from
everyone we deem important to the process. We work on the details, which means
we often look beyond the scope of the detail to find its rightful place in the
big picture. We sometimes need to open dialog with different players, we
research the pros and cons of everything relevant, and we must sometimes, like
all the other racing organizations, play our cards close to the vest. Face it,
sometimes its just plain politics. But, because information is not being posted does not mean
nothing is happening. Quite the opposite is true, but until all the excruciating
details are worked out, up to and including the signing of legal documents,
anything that might be published would only be a rumor or half-truth at best,
and this potentially misleading information would just serve as fodder for those
who might not recognize the difference. I know everyone wants to know everything, and be the first
– so do I, but until things become published fact, I suppose the rumor mill
will continue to churn out its product. It’s just frustrating putting out
fires that detract from working towards our goal. As the CASA PR guy I expect
some of the heat, but as a participant in the process I’m not going to
compromise CASA, or myself personally, by divulging information not yet
substantiated by fact. So, I’m not withholding anything and I AM doing my job
– by ensuring what I do publish is the whole truth, when it becomes so, and
not before. Keep in touch with all CASA racing activity through the CASA website: www.casaracing.com |
