USAC Racing Forum

It looked like a ticket broker selling tickets to the Colts game, the number of proxy votes that were being counted out was rediculus :o.  The same people had many proxy votes each.  It looks like some deals were reached with people for these votes.  Mini Indy voted stictly for QMA with no dual membership.  It will be interesting to see how many of these who voted for QMA will show up to run at Gasoline Alley.  The kicker is that there will be qualifying races that must be ran in order to participate at the national event.  Hopefully USAC will schedule the qualifying races against Reg. 4 races to let them really choose.  It looks like the Reg. 4 loyalist will be having a lot of windshield time going back and forth to Michigan.  Maybe Michigan will get a deal for them on gas and hotels, as much as they will be there.  LOL ::) :D 

Setting the record straight!

I have been waiting and figured something like this was eventually going to be posted on this forum as well as others.

I just want to provide those that are questioning the vote the facts. 

The meeting at  Mini Indy was structured in a professional way.  All members were notified of the meeting and its importance.  It was stressed to each individual, on the notice, that could not attend to provide a proxy to an attending member.  This special meeting was called by the membership where 51% of the membership had to be present in person or by proxy to constitute a quarom (valid meeting).  Each member had to register (verifying that you are member in good standing), themselves and proxies, with the election committee at the door to receive their ballots.  No new memberships were allowed the right to vote if they were not a member at the time of the initial vote.

There were a total of 75 votes total, 52 members in person, and 23 proxies.

The first vote:
Is the original vote (QMA or USAC) valid?

48 Yes
27 No

Thus, resulting that our club will be QMA sanctioned.

The second vote:
Move for CIQMA to dual charter with QMA and USAC?

51 No
24 Yes

Obviously there were proxies for both sides.  However, even if all proxies would have been for 100% QMA it still would not have passed (28 No 24 Yes). 

The club also appointed a chair person to research, gather a commitee, and prepare a proposal for the 2010 Eastern Grands.

It is unfortunate that this is taking place for the sport of Quarter Midgets.  The members listened to the issues, voted, and now the Mini Indy family will move on.

We wish those clubs that have choosen to go QMA or USAC the best in 2009.

Thanks for caring!

Jason and Heather Thomas

I believe it. Dangle Grands races infront of someone and they're bound to forget about their dignity and word. Oh well, both clubs with thrive.

Grands or USAC nationals were not mentioned at this meeting AT ALL until after the votes and debates had taken place.  USAC mentioned their national race taking place at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway in 2009.

Sorry, USAC mentioned their "talk" of USAC nationals at IMS.

Fair enough, gotta take your word for it, I wasn't there. My question is, how are the members going to feel if you don't get the grands and Buckeye goes USAC? Will you still feel your 3 track region was worth it?

Mini Indy will be fine.

First thing, it was not just the proxy votes. There were deals that were made between people to vote a certain way. If you didn't see that then you must be blind. Second thing, are all the people who voted QMA not going to be joining Kokomo's USAC club? I would hope thats the case seeing the way they made voting dual charter such a big deal. But I have a hard time believeing that all of those people will not show up at a Kokomo, Gasloine Alley, or any other special event that USAC decides to throw(ex. the night before the 500 midgets at ORP). There were also many people that were at the meeting that may only race one club race a year if that, who did a lot of the talking, which makes no sense. There was even an ex promoter from Putnamville who was there wanting to badmouth USAC.

Haha, I think I know what ex promoter you're talking about. Did he have a hard time paying his bills?

[ All clubs wishing to bid for a Grand National must submit copies of their proposals
to the QMA National office and the QMA National Secretary, postmarked on or
before Oct 15. ]


A rule is a rule, right?

no bidders on the 2010 Eastern Grands yet.

http://www.quartermidgets.org/Article_View_Page.asp?ID=1073

So, since no track bid on the Grands what would you do?  Not have an Eastern Grands?  Don't think that is an option....

So a rule is a rule when it will limit the involvment of or punish members and the rules will be ignored when it will finacialy harm QMA or the board. You are ok with that?

Huh?? :)

No I think it is just providing an option for clubs to re-evaluate or in this case now feel ready to explore putting on a grands.

Doesn't seem shady or out of line to me. 

I should explain better.
All of the R4 RCPs were thrown out last year because they wern't sent "certified" mail. A rule is a rule. (They were heard from the floor and that's a problem too.) This year a couple of resumes were thrown out because even though the national office got properly postmarked copies the ones the Nat'l Sec. got were postmarked a day late. A rule is a rule, she said. I'm sure it wouldn't be hard to find a bunch more examples but the point is, where is the limit? Who decides what rules are real or when they need enforced? If it is up to the board when and what rules they will follow then what say do we have at all?

Deals?  No.  It was more like folks lobbying their position to others in hopes of making sure everyone has a better understanding.  The way a great democracy works.

Would it be bad for folks that didn't feel USAC or dual chartering was right for Mini Indy to go join Kokomo also?  No.  Not at all.  What is not good for one club may be good for another.  I see this as a opportunity for Kokomo to gain needed membership.  On the contrary if Mini Indy would have gone dual charter,  then that would have opened the door for Kokomo to loose members becuase hey with Mini Indy you could have had the best of both.   

As for Mini Indy not dual chartering,   I feel that the club membership made the right choice.   I was in support of  Mini Indy going to USAC and still am,  but I am not in support of dual charter.     Why.  Because it is not in the best interest of our club.  I have a list of reason,  but the  biggest reasons I was not in support of dual charter was because it would have limited the number of races our club could hold at its track.   Every year we have to schedule our club races around  state series, regional and national races (including Gasoline Alley).    With  4 state series, 9 regional’s,  four national races,  and the State Fair (where the track is closed),  that always left us with 10 races to try to schedule.   With dual chartering,  that will probably leave us with even less dates to pick from.    Now with less regional’s,  we can schedule more club races.  Who benefits?   The club.

As for the ex promoter at the meeting.  Well he is a member in good standing with the club and as such has the right to voice his opinion and vote.   It was good to see folks that have been a big part of the history of Mini Indy be there and be heard.

Like the drivers who race neck and neck with each other to the finish,  a lot of folks walked out of the meeting with no hard feelings and in some cases with more respect for each other.  Rumor has it board of director members (present and future) were seen mixing it up afterwards with membership.   Mini Indy should stand tall and proud.   Great job. 

This anonymous poster is moving on.   Not becuase it is in trouble, but becuase it was just time to do so.  Thanks for the memories.

Signed,

A Mini Indy Member that enjoyed the ride.

Uhhh.......Bob? Anonymous?  :D  Have fun on the flip side buddy. Hope to see you guys sometime.

Yea he does have a right to voice his opinion, but the fact that if he's the promoter I'm thinking of, he may need to tell the entire story, not just how he doesn't like USAC. Maybe it's because he had a hard time paying them the money he owed them, and because of that, they stopped going there. But it's whatever, Mini Indy will thrive either way. But just to set the record straight, Kokomo didn't make it's decision based on what it will do next year, especially not on members we thought we might gain. We made our decision for the future, in the past two months USAC has done more to market and promote the sport than QMA ever did.

But I mean, they do brag about QMA being the "best kept secret." Why brag about that? Why keep it a secret? The bigger the sport gets, the better it is for everyone.

Dang.  Exposed.    ;D

Thanks.    I will keep in touch.    You may see me at the Indoors yet this winter.   I still got stuff to sell.

I guess that I just don't understand how a dual sanction would limit your racing opportunities.  

Let me explain...

Track XXX decides to go USAC and QMA.  They run their normal points series (since neither QMA nor USAC care about local points) then when the "big races" come along those that joined under QMA can go run the regionals and the USAC families can run fun races.  Those that want to run the USAC nationals can do it and the QMA families can run the Grands...

Nobody has to lose opportunities only gain them.  By having a dual sanction it opens up more doors for racing to more families.  

Brad

But it essentially doubles the number of races you have to schedule points races around. Fun races are good and all, but it would be a little harder to cram 12 points races into a season with the extra limitations. Plus it's not fiscally responsible.

What do you mean by not fiscally responsible? (Thats a real question) One of the first things that had to be delt with in discussing doing a dual charter was insurance. The insurance company is willing to do a blanket policy that wold cover all races regardless of sanction for a lot less than having dual insurance. QMA is demanding seperate coverage.

many good facts swartz  people need to listen

That's what I mean. Essentially going dual charter would be close to double the money. Now I know USAC was willing to extend a hand to QMA to figure out some sort of blanket policy, but QMA wants nothing of it. That's why until QMA gets a new board, a dual charter is just too expensive for most tracks. This is one of the reasons I endorse Brad Tribble for President.

I'm curious what the national board representitives told mini indy they had to do for insurance if they would of went dual charter.

It is about $1000 extra per year for the blanket coverage. So lets talk fiscally responsible. The blanket coverage would not only cover all the races and racers it would alow for unlimited events. The QMA insurance limits you to 1 off site event and 1 arive and drive event. Really opens up some possibilities. I think a club like Columbus could really bennifit in not having to get separate coverage for the indoors. Also, a spec tire would save me way more than $1000 a year alone. I would chip in.

I know, but is QMA going to allow the blanket coverage? From what I understand they're not. That's why clubs like Kokomo are sticking with USAC. I completely agree that dual charter with blanket coverage is fiscally responsible and a good idea. But I don't think QMA will ever allow it, not with the current board anyway. USAC has a better relationship with K&K and has opened up better opportunities for clubs. I know now at Kokomo we are free to have as many pay to drive days as we want. We also get two off site events a season. With QMA we didn't get any. We had to pay for our one downtown race we had.

I would also like to note, that the promoter I was talking about isn't the one you were talking about. I don't know much about the one you were talking about but from the e-mail he sent me, he seems like a stand up guy. Just don't want someone's name being tarnished for no reason.

Mr Birdcage

I would like to respond to your original post "Another Shady vote at Mini Indy" but inorder to address you properly please post your full name and the Club you are currenly a member of.


Thanks

Glenn Fountain
Lansing CQMA

Just some information.


Sec. 6 INSURANCE

1 K & K Insurance will be the only insurance carrier approved by

QMA.

2 All insurance renewals will cover one calendar year (Jan 1–Dec. 31).

Page

Insurance is due 10/31 and late after 12/31. These forms must

be kept on file at the club level. Clubs should automatically send

payments before January 1st of each year. Memberships will not

be processed after 12/31 without insurance verification from K&K.

(Club checks only). All clubs are to have their members sign K&K

forms (parent/waiver) at time of renewal. K&K forms will be mailed

out from the National office with their applications by August

31st.

3 Insurance carrier will issue verification of all paid insurance to QMA

National Office.

4 QMA National Office will not issue a charter to Clubs without proof

of payment.

5 Insurance Carrier will notify QMA of any Club’s insurance that is

cancelled.

6 Before the insurance company will pay any claim, a claim form

must be obtained from a Club Official and filled out. When it is

complete, it is to be returned to the Club Official who will then sign

it and forward it to the QMA Safety Director. The Safety Director

will then verify cause and date of accident with Club Official and

forward original claim form to the insurance agent for disposition. All

claims must be sent to the National Safety Director via the above

procedure within 30 days.

7 You must, be a member of a home Club and QMA to get Drivers’/

Handlers’ accident insurance. Accident insurance covers all drivers

and handlers who are regular or an alternate handler of QMA.

7 (1) Flagger and Pit Stewart must be 16 years of age.

8 Anyone issued a QMA card will have insurance until the QMA

card expires or the QMA card is revoked by the QMA Board of

Directors.

9 ANY MEMBER IN GOOD STANDING IS ALLOWED TO RACE

AT ANY CLUB OR EVENT IN QMA.

10 All QMA members must show picture ID’s or proof of (gold copy)

membership application, must sign the QMA Release & Waiver

Form at each QMA Event. (Drivers and handlers).

11 One offsite and one adult race per calendar year. Form must be

filled out and submitted to National Safety Director and K&K for

approval prior to the event.

 
Heather Thomas