[Cglrcng]

Next up, my deep dive back at my pit spot into the rulebook.I jump in find Race Proceedures Section 2, and everything is covered (well, all except of course not the Compulink Sure Start System that was put into affect 15 years ago, which jumbled up the whole ball of wax). As you no longer have to actually stage a car to foul out. You don't have to actually stage a car (if the system is used as designed), to make a legal qualifying attempt and break your car, roll in too far, roll back once prestaged, or fail to stage as long as your competition in the other lane on the pass turns on bulb 3 after the Compulink Sure Start System is armed to ON by the starter.

I have zero idea at this point where that will leave me. (I feel terrible for him, since 1975, I can be a fierce competitive racer. From Ready line to finish line), but everywhere else, we are family folks. I was ready to dive in and get dirty to help him ready his car for Sunday morning, and no way we can fix it in 3 hrs, but having all day and night (except for lane call of C1 I was his if he wanted, and everything I could help him with).

Ok, I wait, read the rules, go see him again, and his car was next to the motor home in his pit, he is not there, so I go to base of the tower and donate to RFC for the Q1 sheet, the Q1 incrementals sheet, and the Pairings sheet for Stock class, turn to Incrementals and it is there O'Connor entry number, name, class, and no incrementals but broke at the end w/ the time. Look at the Q1 qualifying order, his entry and pass do not appear there at all, then look at the Class pairings sheet for Stock and I appear all alone in EF/S. (His entry is no longer listed).

I now assume that he approached the Div. Director Matt, and pled his case and he allowed him to withdraw.

Book says. Sometimes a D.D. needs to make decisions at the event and we have to accept them, their decision, without fail, without question, and it is non-appealable. (Though there is an official appeal process available later...at a $1,000.00 posting).

So, I arrive 3rd car to the C1 lane call, I am told by lanemaster Ron, I have Mr. Snow, fastest car in the Auto Combo, vs my now slowest car in Auto Combo of 6 cars. I ask Ron. If O'Connor was granted the withdrawl from the event, Ron says I have no idea what you are talking about.

I state there were 2 of us in EF/S, until Q1, he broke inches from the stage beam, but was prestaged, fouled out, and I now appear alone on the pairings sheet in EF/S, was he allowed to withdraw.and he said Matt could tell you, but he laddered you in the Auto Combo, so it appears so.

Find your dance partner and pair up. I did (while I had something for another EF/S car at Vegas 3/10ths quicker), this time i had nothing for Mr. Snow at -.500 under, did my best, cut a decently good .012 light, ran -.166 under, lost to his -.475 under .117 light. A good race but out after C1.

Sunday was a much better day, there was no EF/S Wally winner at the D74 race for 2024 sadly for both of us. (Worse for him no doubt, broken transaxle).

I accept that bad situation, but I still do not understand why he was not assigned a 28.00 second time on Q1, left on the sheet, and allowed to fix his car, must accept the fact that he was allowed to withdraw and must accept that decision made on the fly by the rules by the Division Director, and held by the same race proceedures rules to not argue with the decisions made.

Disappointed am I, but rules are rules...Or, are they?