A new direction for me in 2014

[Bill Howell]

It is after much thought that I make this post. I have tried to touch on this in a recent post about plans for 2014. I have talked with partners, vendors, supporters and participants about this and why I am doing this post/email.
I have been involved from a very personal level in the development of this nitch we call Protouring. I have lead the charge, drove the train and cheerlead all I know to do. I did it in the beginning for the fun, at some point, it did become a part time business. Never designed to be my day job, but did help with me being able to afford my new found, very expensive hobby.
That is the ground work. We went from cruises, to drag racing to autocrossing and finally moved into full fledged, all out Road Coarse Racing. Call it what you like, but when you strap into a car with a 5 point harness, pull onto a track, run it as hard as you feel your are talented to do, be that understood or perceived, whether or not it has a tag, insurance or proper racing equipment, YOU ARE RACING! Now, as the sport grew, and as more and more came on board, joined the ranks, built more cars, faster cars and even now special purpose built cars, there is one thing that needed to happen that didn't. I blame myself for that, regardless if you were running in my events or elsewhere. I am writing this right now to say that as far as I, Bill Howell is concerned....NO MAS!
This hobby is growing now exponentially, cars are getting stupid fast, every year we read or witness more and more horsepower, more and more speed, with no or very little attention to driver talent or enough safety equipment.
Guys, Girls, participants, vendors and promoters. This is a TRAINWRECK just looking for a place to happen. I am no longer willing to be the or one of the conductors. Now that we have cars with more horsepower than NASCAR being driven by people that have very little training or track time it is just a matter of time before the so far minor incidents turn into something far worse. This year I can name at least 5 separate times that sheet metal was bent this year. Only one of those involved injuries. The clock is ticking guys, I have to bring it to the surface. It has been the white elephant in the room for a while, I am just the one that is pointing at it and saying lets fix it before it eats us.
Three reasons I am screaming this.
1. From a personal standpoint I could not live with myself knowing I was responsible in anyway for one of my friends being injured or killed.
2. From a business point of view, no amount of money, fame or recognition is worth the pain a bad accident would do for the business.
3. As a very good friend told me just yesterday, most personal injury attorneys can not even spell liability wavier. To them it doesn't exist. I can sign anything to release the promoter, the vendors and others from my stupidity. However, if I die due to my self destructive actions, all Melinda needs is a good attorney and one hint of negligence on anyone's part and it is all over.
All that said, lets move on to 2014.
1. As a participant and one with the need for speed, yes, I will very privately attend some events as a private person, running my private car, and have a blast.
2. As Bill Howell the promoter, until I am comfortable that I have CMA with all my current concerns and issues, don't expect to see my name attached to any event that I KNOW is unsafe. This will probably mean as a company, I will not be involved in many or any Road Coarse Events. As a company I will change my focus on what I consider Fun and Safe. This doesn't mean I am going anywhere, it simply means look for a different direction. Autocrossing has it's areas of concern also, but as a promoter there are things I can do to insure the most you can do is get some cone rash on your quarter panels.

Does this mean no Road Coarse anymore. Absolutely not. However, it will mean lead follow laps for people that can not prove to me they and their car are ready to be turned loose. This still won't cure all problems, but know that the rules, requirements and qualifications are going to be stiff.
Will this hurt my business plan? It may in the short term but I feel the long term results will be both understood by most and appreciated by all.

The first and immediate fall out from this and has already been agreed by the principles of ASCS is unfortunately with the closing of El Toro, we will not have a RTTC this spring. I hate it, I know people have already planned for this event. We have invested a lot of time and money to make it happen but in the end, we feel this is the right call. I will promise now though that there will be something in California this summer. Announcement coming soon.

There are plenty venues if you have the need for speed and I wish everyone well, I just can not any longer avoid that elephant that has been staring at me for over a year now.

Please be sure to share this anywhere you can.

[Flash68]

Originally Posted by Bill Howell

It has been the white elephant in the room for a while, I am just the one that is pointing at it and saying lets fix it before it eats us.

Many people, small and large, insiders and outsiders, have been saying this for awhile. Not a new discussion.

With you being an organizer, many will be glad you are doing something about it regarding your group.

[GregWeld]

Well said Bill!


I can tell you I personally just paid Mister Hobaugh's repair shop 15 grand to repair the very minor damage done when my son Alex put it into the tires in turn 5 of Laguna Seca. That car (Lotus 2 Eleven) is "cheap" to repair as the body panels are all made to just hang off the chassis.

I was mostly really happy to hear the words "I'm OK"…


The speeds I am hitting in my Mustang down the front stretch there are holy cow fast… and it wouldn't take much of anything to have a very serious wreck just after the bridge. Just some tranny fluid or coolant from the guy in front of me and I'm going off there big time…


Safe, and fun, are not mutually exclusive. We can have both. Glad to hear you're IN FRONT of it before it's too late.

[Bill Howell]

Originally Posted by GregWeld

Well said Bill!


I can tell you I personally just paid Mister Hobaugh's repair shop 15 grand to repair the very minor damage done when my son Alex put it into the tires in turn 5 of Laguna Seca. That car (Lotus 2 Eleven) is "cheap" to repair as the body panels are all made to just hang off the chassis.

I was mostly really happy to hear the words "I'm OK"…


The speeds I am hitting in my Mustang down the front stretch there are holy cow fast… and it wouldn't take much of anything to have a very serious wreck just after the bridge. Just some tranny fluid or coolant from the guy in front of me and I'm going off there big time…


Safe, and fun, are not mutually exclusive. We can have both. Glad to hear you're IN FRONT of it before it's too late.

Thanks for the validation Greg from someone that understands what I am trying to say here. Yes, there will be those that don't like our decision as a company to slow it down a bit before the train wreck happens. Everyone has their own point of view as to why I need to do one thing or another. I have tried very hard to explain it in a way that most get it. However, if you have your own agenda, this is a big wide world we live in, feel free to create any event with any safety, rules, mission statements or whatever you like. Bottom line is I am unwilling to risk my friends' safety, even if the friend doesn't like my reasons or it's effect on their event plans.

[Stuart Adams]

That's why I'm a sissy cruiser. I know I have limited repair skills and driving talent. Its been on my mind for years as well as most here I'm sure. Good post Bill.

[Bill Howell]

Originally Posted by Stuart Adams

That's why I'm a sissy cruiser. I know I have limited repair skills and driving talent. Its been on my mind for years as well as most here I'm sure. Good post Bill.

You are in luck then Stuart, you are my new target market demographic. If I can just figure out what that term means. Saw it earlier somewhere....lol

[SSLance]

Relative newcomer here Bill, but have followed along for a while. I don't blame you one bit for standing up and getting in front of this very important issue.

I myself passed on my second 2 day HPDE event of 2013 I had planned on attending at HPT this October because I was learning that my car is getting faster, yet the safety devices in the car were not keeping pace. I just couldn't do it...no matter HOW much fun it is from the driver's seat at the time.

Can't imagine anyone not understanding where you are coming from on this, I know I do. Please keep us posted on what your plans are for the rest of the year and beyond as you figure them out.

[camcojb]

Thanks for posting Bill. Being self-employed liability is always something I'm aware of. No matter how much fun this stuff is, and regardless of how good a driver is behind the wheel, stuff can and will happen. I'm waiting to hear more about your new direction.

[onevoice]

Originally Posted by Bill Howell

This is a TRAINWRECK just looking for a place to happen..

Thanks for taking a stand Bill. The vast majority of people who have done real racing are 100% behind you.

Real racing is dangerous enough without doing it with the equivalent of 1965 safety equipment, and the comprises of being street legal.

I have been saying for years that it is cheaper, faster, and safer to do your racing in a real race car instead of a street car.

[TheJDMan]

The very definition of Pro-Touring is that you take an old muscle car and improve the power, handeling and braking to the point it compares with modern sports cars. I think it is pretty safe to say we have been doing that almost without a second thought.

Thankfully Ron and Bill are turning the attention to the overlooked subject of building safety into our cars. I too feel that the safety equipment of our cars needs some serious attention and I am following the safety threads closely to make sure my car is safe. But I would like to see this safety discussion go one step further and include the subject of Driver Training on the level of a Bondurant or Skip Barber.

I would like to see events which include some serious performance Driver Training classes offered by experienced instructiors where the students could take the class driving their personal vehicle. I doubt anyone would argue the benefit of a Bonderant or Barber level driving class, but not everyone can easily afford the price. I think offering a performance Driving School event would attract a huge number of participants.