It really bothers me that there are so many people throwing negative judgment around about SCTA and why they haven't said anything. While you are all sitting around in your homes with your families this weekend, my husband is driving up to Bonneville with his team to check it out and give the report when he gets there. He hasn't forgotten, and people won't let him forget, how he was treated when he made a call to cancel a race at El Mirage this year based on someone else's veteran observations... So he goes himself now. I am very disappointed with the lack of professionalism I see on this forum bagging on SCTA about this, from people purported to represent SCTA. I guess he's damned if he does and damned if he doesn't. Nothing has been said because they've been in California wrapping things up, and even having a Board meeting Friday night until 11. Hard to give a salt report when you're not on the salt.
Sandee -
After reading your comment, it troubled me so I went back to the beginning of this thread to see if someone had pooped on SCTA and/or Scott unfairly. Other than someone asking about an update on the SCTA FB page I could discern no barbs, slights or denigration of the organization or your husband.
The tone of this thread is that of VERY WORRIED people who have to make hard decisions, often in advance of when the call is made about the viability of an event moving forward. This is especially true for our European racing family that must ship this speed machines weeks in advance, and the eastern racers who have at least 3 full days of driving, sometimes more.
That we are in the second year of rainouts sharpens the attention to the situation. As for professionalism, this is an amateur sport populated by racing teams using shoestring budgets, not the like the pro crowd that often has a meteorologist on retainer to give teams updates on temp, density altitude and other critical weather data for tuning purposes.
It seems the vast majority of comments are bits and pieces of small facts deposited in the forum for all to read. Of course the sanctioning body has the last word, it is their budget being blown when the meet is called. For all the trouble it will cause SCTA if World Finals is a washout, it is equally, if not more burdensome for Mike Cook in terms of economy of scale.
My troubles are nothing in comparison: 6 assigned land speed stories by major National and international newspapers and magazines. The editors and I have already juggled the deadlines and focus three times this year and I am woefully hopeful to be able to sing the record-setting praises of any land speed racers. Millions of eyeballs will NOT see what ingenious, brave and charming people come to the salt to churn out speed. For a photojournalist and storyteller it is like blowing up 6 engines in one week. Too bad. That's racing. We all gotta be pliable enough to bend when all our grand plans get blown away.
MOST land speed racers are VERY grateful for the volunteer efforts of everyone at SCTA, USFRA and the BMST that labor long and doggedly to craft an event on whys left of the Bonneville Salt Flats. Yes, it is often a thankless job, but the joy comes in pulling together to do what cannot be done alone. I tell you these things because throughout the past 20 years of chronicling this heartwarming and invigorating sport the racers and their families have told me the same things over and over again. There is more gratitude than there is ineptitude.
Unfortunately, we often chaff at the small people with big mouths when our well-intended labors are dumped on. For this thread, it is not the case.