VRA Dwarf Car Racing Association Bulletin Board

Lippert58 · Joined: 25 Sep 2007 Posts: 19

Well, I was not at the races and it was probably a good thing. It is a sad affair when my grandkids come home from the race track and when I asked how they did all they could talk about was Kim Lewis yelling and cursing at Ricky and fighting with other parents!!! I think you (Mrs. Lewis) need to take a step back and try and just have some fun. Not sure what you are trying to teach your child but I am tired of explaining to my grandkids why you ALWAYS seem to get upset when Ricky does not win. We are so lucky to have a race track like Ventura that promotes our little cars. We, as parents, need to teach our kids good sportsmanship, not the art of taking out other competitors! These kids are very young and with the support of the parents and the help they get from the track, who knows what they will accomplish! I know I am probably in the minority but I think the points are a very bad thing….. The kids that keep winning go out and think they need to win every race no matter who is in their way! Not a good thing…..It also makes those who NEVER win feel very bad. Some of the winners brag about how good they are, and how many points ahead they are to those who do try but do not win. I am lucky that my grandkids know not to listen to that kind of “bologna” . I am sure it does upset them but they shrug it off and just try and have a good time with their friends. Not sure why the officials do not do something with the parents who act like this…they should be banned from the pits. We do NOT need this kind of stuff going on in ANY pits, but especially the kids…..Come on folks lets just have some fun out there, if you feel you can not control yourself then stay in the stands!

Fran Lippert car#'s 8,24,27 & 58

tcrrace · Joined: 22 Jun 2008 Posts: 1

Fran please get your facts straight before posting on a public message board.

Lippert58 · Joined: 25 Sep 2007 Posts: 19

Not sure who you are but these are the facts.....no one ever seems to want to stir the pot or make waves, but I do not come to the races to listen to the garbage in the pits. It happens at EVERY race. Maybe you do not listen or you just turn your back or maybe you are the noise maker, sorry if this has upset people but It will continue until something is done. No one should have to witness this EVERY week, especially the kids. The facts are, these are children LEARNING the art of driving a race car...it is OPEN wheel and things happen......We can ONLY hope it is NOT done on purpose! As for the facts stated above.....Yes I was not there June 21st BUT I have been to ALL the other races and have witnessed this first hand. There is no reason to make this stuff up. Just get your act together and LET THE KIDS HAVE FUN!

SIGNED
Fran Lippert

speedhead2 · Joined: 25 Jun 2008 Posts: 1

Fran,
I have to say you DO NOT have your facts straight at all. Kim Lewis was not yelling and cursing at all nor was she fighting with parents. I WAS THERE in the pits. Sure she was upset as she had every right to be after seeing what happened on the first lap of both races the race should have been restarted. We see this happening week after week rough driving and inconsistant calls. Believe me there were more upset parents because of the calls. You also mention We, as parents need to teach our kids good sportsmanship not the art of taking out other competitors. not quite sure who you are talking about here but Ricky is one of the cleanest drivers out there & he shows great patience & sportsmanship week after week as we see it from the stands and the pits! Fran, maybe you need to take a step back and get your facts straight before blasting someone! Remember you weren't even there! End of story.

madmitch · Joined: 15 May 2008 Posts: 4

I was at the race too and watched the home video several times. I saw nothing other than kids having fun driving race cars. I can still see pretty well and there wasn't any rough driving out of the norm. My opinion.

vraracefan · Joined: 26 Jun 2008 Posts: 2

I am a long time fan of the race track and I have never seen such chaos in the pits as I saw on Saturday night. After coming down from the stands after the kids raced, there was a group of people standing in front of the pit fence watching someone go beserk. I am not sure who the mom was but she was pretty upset. There were several kids watching this happen through the pit fence, not to mention the numerous children in the pit area. Frankly, I was embarrassed by the commotion that was going on, mainly for the other parents who had to subject their children to this behavior.

I am not sure what the track policy is but it makes me wonder if this particular incident will be handled in a manner that will spare the children from witnessing such a thing again. This is not racing, folks. It appears that a fun sport has turned into something way too competitive.

Parents, your kids will remember things like this and will affect them in the future. Something must be done to bring the fun back to a special sport that not everyone can afford to do or enjoy.

Just a few thoughts of mine

Dutifully signed,
One of your fans...Bill

Lippert58 · Joined: 25 Sep 2007 Posts: 19

OK Speedhead2, I have been doing this for over 40 years and if you think that behavior like that in the pits is OK, then your name says it all! It is one thing when the track misses a call. It happens and always will happen, but you absolutely can not take your dissatisfaction back to the pits. The kids would have completely forgotten what happened on the track and just talk about how much fun they had if the parents would just leave it alone. Trouncing back to the pits all ticked off does no good what so ever! I have seen firsthand the way parents act in the pits and it is shameful. I think the track does a good job with the kids. We all need to remember they are just kids and are learning. It is what they are seeing, hearing and learning in the pits before and after the races that is very upsetting. The kids need to be told how great they did and if they had problems on the track tell them what they can do to make it better. This is open wheel racing and the contact will always be there. Understanding that and learning from has happened here will hopefully get everyone back to enjoying our time racing and spending this fun time with our kids and families.

Signed
Fran Lippert

madmitch · Joined: 15 May 2008 Posts: 4

I'm with you Fran. Now let's get over it and get back to racing!

Peacemaker · Joined: 27 Jun 2008 Posts: 1

Wasn't that long ago the OP, was complaining about the same thing as KL..

http://vradwarfs.myfreeforum.org/about97.html

And is wasnt' that long ago that the OP was very upset in the Pits, also. because of scoring & Track Calls... Mini and Pro Dwarfs Pits...

Emotions run high in ALL Classes of Racing, No exception here...

The kids are learning you say; heck the parents are learning just a well. Most of these parents have never done anything like this...

If you've been doing this for 40 years, fueling the fire sure doesn't help...
Maybe you could help KL with some advice on how she is supposed to act, one on one, versus blast her here for all to see... Very Big of you!

That's right, Mitch, lets get on with the racing. And focus on the good stuff.

How come it's always negative posts here. What about the Great Racing, every weekend from the Kids. My family comes to the races for the Kids, (and the Sprints)... the 5 car and the 50 car, both seem to week after week show patience and class, with the way they drive and the way they act before and after the races...

I've seen that 50 car driver, sit in the middle after a tangle for the whole race, and still he's out leading the WMCA for the crowd for the Sprint Main Event... What ever his parents are teacing him, his sportsmanship seems to shine through the most... Win or Lose he's always having fun.

Try focusing on the Good stuff, it won't make you Seem so Bitter.

Ladies and Gents
"Start your Engines"
Emily

vraracefan · Joined: 26 Jun 2008 Posts: 2

Emily,

You have made some great points about being positive, however, I think the main point here is that the children (fans and drivers) have to witness this behavior from another parent. That is the worst part of all. Whether talking to the parents involved to get them to "learn" how to behave will help or is the issue remains to be seen but I wouldn't want my grandchildren subjected to witness that. They don't at home and shouldn't have to endure it anywhere else.

I hope you all as a group can move past this and make things better for the kids sake.

Bill