Monday, February 03, 2020

4 and a half years ago, I posted this cool car, and made a remark - in the post - "I would love to see this in the Optima Ultimate Street Car Challenge" well... somehow, Optima saw that this morning, and replied, in the comments, that it won't. Ummmmm, really? Why? Because it's open wheel, they replied. OH REALLY?


so, https://justacarguy.blogspot.com/2015/10/looks-cool-to-me.html?showComment=1580752147634#c6930594943882945078 is the original post.

Might just be a troll... after all, I suppose it's not likely that Optima has made a profile on blogger to make comments... and in 9 years has only had 15 views of their profile

But if it's on the level, lets look at the issue

Any open wheel... has an inherent safety issue? So, Those will not be allowed to compete.

Really?

You mean this didn't happen? :


that's the Ridetech owner, and Ridetech was the sponsor of the 2009 Optima Ultimate Street Car Invitational presented by Ridetech

So. Now I'm waiting to see it Optima responds and clarifies the statement they made, out of the blue, 4 years after I mentioned I'd like to see that Aaron Beck design, James Schwartz built 1930 Model A.

Did they mean, we did allow open wheel cars, in 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012 and 2013?



But not anymore, unless you're going to sponsor the series?

Just asking... you know, for a friend.

https://www.ridetech.com/info/bret-voelkel-is-the-autocross-champion/
https://justacarguy.blogspot.com/2015/11/the-ultimate-street-car-challenge-why.html

Update, Nov 2021

so this, isn't that open wheel inherent safety issue? 

Really? 

at
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6 comments:

  1. jsfury10:31 AM

    I think someone's full of shit in that reply. Sure sounds like a cop out to me Jesse.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Jesse12:04 PM

      Seems pretty weird to me that without any prompting, suddenly this morning they popped into my comments for the first time ever, without ever making a peep about the coverage I've given them for the past 10 years, and said something about an issue that has never been raised.

      Delete
    2. Al Bergstrazer4:13 PM

      I agree, an inherent bullshit issue.

      Delete
  2. jsfury8:46 PM

    You know Jesse, you have been coving this for a long time, and that's fine. I like to read and see the photos you do, and collect. But you're right. They never made any comments to you in your comments section, until now. Wtf? Pretty sad brother. Pretty damn sad. And it's a BS comment like Al said.

    ReplyDelete
  3. OPTIMA Batteries, Inc.7:21 AM

    Not a troll at all. It just showed up in a recent search and we saw an opportunity to respond to an issue that was raised at that time (if it's showing up in a search for us, it may for others). Bret Voelkel's Coupe was the last open-wheeled car allowed to compete (we've had others before that one as well). It's a safety & insurance issue regarding exposed tires making contact with other tires or vehicles on the track. Another example of a safety-related rule change would be competitors now being required to use neck restraints, when that wasn't required in the past.

    While we haven't commented on any of your other stories (or any of the stories a multitude of other blogs, websites and news outlets have posted about the OUSCI), links to that coverage is routinely shared on the OUSCI Facebook page with our fans there.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Jesse12:08 PM

      All right... insurance said no way. I still have yet to be convinced that safety on a race track, with over 100 mph track speed, has anything to benefit by fenders. It's a race track... not a pillow fight. There are things that can be addressed for increased safety, but this is a racing car situation, and there are no safe spaces on the track.
      What an open wheel car is unsafe about, you haven't said, as ALL tires making contact with other tires or vehicles is an immediate problem... because those cars have momentum, velocity, mass, gasoline, batteries with around 1000 amps, spinning parts in the engine and transmission, and 170 degree liquids.
      Cars are an inherently dangerous way for us to commute, transport, or race. They don't bite and kick like the horses they replaced, but they certainly are mobile human directed 1-6 thousand pound guided missiles.
      We all forget the amount of power, explosive fumes, electrical potential, and possible fire they simply are by existing when able to move under their own power.
      So, open wheel? That's unsafe? So much that the insurance company Optima pays assessed the racing, and drew a line? Lol, okay. Sure. First time I've heard of it when it's never been something I've noticed before.
      But allright. I'm still shocked that someone from Optima is out commenting on websites, instead of emailing me about it, as I've been impressed for about a decade that Optima simply has little to no online presence, outsources PR, outsources interacting with media, etc etc.
      I don't think anyone from Optima has talked to me for 6 or 7 years, when it seemed that PR companies were brought in to handle media.
      So, are you employed by Johnson Controls? Or a PR company?
      And why didn't you simply say, http://driveusca.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/USCA-2020-Rules_v19.6_final.pdf rule 2?

      Delete

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