Karma's A Wonderful Thing.....

[GarysZ24]

Last weekend at the Fontana D7 points race I had some good luck two times over at the race. Out of 68 cars I qualified 67th with a 15.815 on my 15.60 DF/S index. My first round opponent should've beaten me, because I was only able to improve to a 15.680. However, I helped my cause by having an .048 to .060rt advantage over him. However, he crossed the finish line .0754 ahead of me, which gave him some slowdown room. Fortunately for me he slowed down .007 too late allowing me to advance past 1st round. However, the true Karma race was in rnd 2!

Since there was already a tailwind that aided me in rnd 1, I was watching the flags and noticing that as we were getting ready to run rnd 2, that it increased about 4-6mph. I go to the water box, because my new to me tires needed a burnout to heat them up. I do my burnout, and go up to the line to stage, however my opponent hadn't even started his burnout yet. I went to the sat there on the line not sure what was going on but I figured, I'm good I made it past rnd 1, so whatever happens was going to happen. I was prepared to turn off my engine, but something told me not to, so I just let my car idle while I waited to see if my opponent would show up. Apparently the starter must've gestured to him that he better get it going and get up to the line, or he was going to send me on a broke bye single. Was the guy trying to burndown my car? Perhaps, but this is where it got interesting....although he got an .021 to .098rt advantage over me, the same God that we pray to for ill or fallen loved ones, was watching and seemingly didn't like what my opponent was doing, so that tailwind pushed my car to a 15.635 (which was not only my quickest run of the event, but only .035sec. from my index. This must have forced him to get on his breaks too late, because although he crossed the finish line .1207 ahead of me, he also crossed it .008 too soon, which made my win light come on, and sent him and his car to the trailer!

Thanks to that snafu, I was able to earn 50pts., and make a vault in the D7 points standings to date from 47th to 17th (in a tie with several others for 16th), in the Stock Eliminator standings! As for him, well to pour salt on his (beating his-self wound), he inherited my now former position in the standings! I guess Karma can and does bite people who may have intentions like that in their mindset.

Morale of the Story....There's more eyes on us than we think, so if you want to play games with other racers like that, then be prepared for the possible consequences of your actions....

[Greg Reimer 7376]

That's a life lesson that applies to more than just drag racing. We have had a few in our ranks that started out OK, but as time went along, they got to where nobody could stand them, they're gone now. There's no excuse for not getting along, especially in the racing family.

[HR9121]

I don't know if it was karma or the racing Gods but I just say it was some piss poor driving to take .12 especially coming from behind.

[Mark Yacavone]

No sense belittling another racer here. He knows he f-ed up .
The next time he races a slow car, ( so very few out there), he'll lift at the back bumper and ease out in front, instead of scrubbing ET after getting in front.

(Hope this thread is on page eight by tomorrow) ;-)

[HR9121]

You are right Mark, I guess the point I was trying to make is that I don't go for all this crap someone was trying to screw with me or burn me down conspiracy. No karma he just screwed up.

[Mark Yacavone]

Originally Posted by HR9121

You are right Mark, I guess the point I was trying to make is that I don't go for all this crap someone was trying to screw with me or burn me down conspiracy. No karma he just screwed up.

James, Always two sides to a story. We haven't heard the other one. But can't imagine intentionally burning down a guy who can't even run the index.
(and I just bumped up this thread. :-( )

[1320racer]

Originally Posted by HR9121

I don't go for all this crap someone was trying to screw with me or burn me down conspiracy. No karma he just screwed up.

this^^^ and judging by his words and glee at his opponents bad driving, Gary don't turn on too many win lights.

[GarysZ24]

Originally Posted by GarysZ24

Was the guy trying to burndown my car?

Now that I've seen what Chuck had to say about what really happened, let me say that I feel better knowing that he didn't try to burn my car down, he truly had an issue with it. Sorry for your misfortune Chuck, but I thought about why I posted this thread, and based on the replies I got from Mark, James W. & P., Keith, 1320, Hacksaw, Jeff, and Brian, here's my replies to all of you:

1. Chuck, I'm glad you came on here and offered your side of the story, and I'm sorry for your cars issue(s). I couldn't see what was going on with your car, only others who were there watching us, can speak to that. We'll race again, and hopefully it's a better race next time.

2. Now as for you Mark Y., and James W., if you want to know about belittling another racer, let me take you back to the '98 Mile High Nationals where my 1st rnd opponent knew I wasn't able to run the index there, so when he caught me prior to the 1000ft clocks, he clicked his motor and coasted to the finish line. Trouble for him was, I didn't lift just because he passed me, and "Winston Vision" showed me gaining back the lead he got on me, and nipping him at the stripe by .003! Call it lucky, call it karma, call it whatever you want but that guy got what he flipping deserved for disrespecting me like that! As for this situation, why wouldn't someone try to burn down another racer, the benefit would be if he/she was within a tenth of their dial, this would make them further away from it, and don't tell me that it's BS or a conspiracy that racers do it, because I've seen it with my own eyes, and not just from the pros, or on t.v.!

3. As for you Keith, was I too harsh? Now that I know what Chucks side of it was, I'll take him on his word and admit that I was a bit harsh, but since he also brought a comment into this thread that doesn't belong in this forum, but in "The Lounge", make of that what you will, but it had no place here!

4. As for you 1320 & Hacksaw, let me say that I know I've lost a lot of 1st rounds, but I've won several too starting with comment #2 above. As for my words and glee, of course I'm going to be happy to win, and especially if someone tried to do something underhanded to get an unfair advantage, instead of us both being fair racers with each other. Again, now that I've read what Chuck had to say I'll take my win light, and be grateful for my luck (Brian).

5. To you Jeff, no I don't feel I jinxed myself, because when I go to race someone I will do my best to race them the way I hope they would race me, and both my 1st and 3rd round opponent's did that. Chuck had good intentions, but his car didn't cooperate. I apply the "Golden Rule" to my opponent, and I want to believe he/she will do the same.

6. James Perrone, my luck won't run out, because I keep trying to get better at racing my car, and each racer I line up against. You make your luck by putting forth the effort.

7. Brian, I took my win lights, and I plan to take more of them, but this was a credible thread to post, because although it wasn't relevant in the mentioned race with Chuck, there's a reason why the 7sec. staging rule was implemented, and NHRA has seen plenty of them, and as I said earlier, the pros were not the only ones giving just cause to it.

Thank you all for the comments, and Dave was pretty much spot on.

[Keith 944]

Unfortunately now that people know it gets into your head you will probably face this issue many more times
don’t let it bother you take a deep breath and do your own thing, good luck

[nhramnl]

A whole lot of drama, over nothing...