That's not actually true. I'm a fairly outspoken person, which is why I'm sticking my neck out and offering a contrarian point of view in this thread. I have no doubt that there are plenty of people who agree with my point of view, but they won't say so in this thread.

The more significant difference between you and me is that I'm more selective in picking my battles. I have a LOT of weight on my shoulders in my real non-online life, and am just not in a position to fight about everything that bothers me. I would consider it a luxury to be able to do that.

So then why am I expending time and energy to post in this thread? Because I feel bad for what's happened to you, and because my PCA experience has been important part of my life and I think the thread should be fair to PCA also, since they aren't really represented here.

 

(The?) PCA is aware of this thread, and free to air their side.
They would surely have an Ad Hoc committee to address PR nightmares....

 

I thought about that, but I can see why they wouldn't do it, for a bunch of reasonable reasons, some good and some not so good. Again, try to put yourself in their shoes.

The situation really sucks, no winners here.

 

This thread has definitely gotten goofy, and I have certainly played a small part in that. I think it's important to separate Todd's issues, and how the back and forth between him and PCA was handled, from the club racing program overall. IMO, you would be hard pressed to find another amateur racing program offering more track time over a 2 or 3 (or 4, like Road America later this week) weekend. While it's fair to offer criticism where it is due, it's also necessary to recognize the good that's there.

 

I 100% agree and you would also be hard pressed to find any series where you agree with everything. PCA CR gets it right far far more than they get it wrong and I am grateful for my experience with them for the last ten years.

 

The Children. The World.

You are on fire The Peter. Keep the it going......

 

Then maybe try make peace with them and renew your license? Maybe both sides could offer an apology and take some blame? Everyone likes a 'happy ending'.

 

For the love of G-d, there's children in here.....

 

FIFY

 

I offered several times, as recently as a month ago, only to have my hand slapped away by Dave Rodenroth, the club race chair.

What did he think was going to happen when he suspended me for a year? I would go sulk quietly in the corner?

There was a solution at hand and instead he gave a stupid emotional response no doubt egged on by others at PCA. The problem is that there are no adults in the room and his decision was not in the best interest of PCA or PCA CR.

PCA can paint me as the bad guy all they want but it is actions like this that caused me to react the way I did. They seem to want this public fight so who is to blame going forward?

 

I didn't realize that until you posted. j/k

 

Having not been witness to your discussions with PCA, I guess I don't know what to suggest. But continuing this fight in public, with PCA not really in a position to speak for themselves, doesn't seem to be helping your situation or theirs. I really doubt they want this fight to be public.

 

Of course they have a position to speak for themselves.

 

I am not pretending to be a sleep specialist nor a physician specializing in sleep disorder. I am just a 50+ guy, overweight, that has recently been diagnosed with sleep apnea . I sort of have known I had it for a long time but foolishly choose to ignore it. My physician, after the results of a one (1) nights recent sleep study were known, prescribed a CPAP device that is now on order, free to those qualified for Medicare. Another option, serving the same purpose, is the "Inspire" device that requires a minor surgical implant, but NOT applicable to obese patients. This is a regal solution and is not cheap.

You will be issued a scrip for a CPAP after your sleep has been evaluated with a sleep monitoring device, and have been subsequently diagnosed with breathing irregularities while sleeping. Patient's age of 50+ and overweight (Obesity with 40% of us there these days) are predictors of nocturnal breathing problems. Most people do not experience breathing problems while awake, and those who do, are chronically ill and will not be seen out on the track. A potential problem for those experiencing irregular breathing while sleeping is precipitation of a stroke, from mild to terminal, cardio events can also be precipitated by irregular nocturnal breathing. Ergo, those who have adopted the CPAP regimen are proactively optimizing their health. I would think that CPAP utilization would be a positive sign by the PCA Medical Committee, being that those whose nocturnal breathing problems are ignored, consciously or otherwise, are putting themselves and their fellow drivers at risk. See *** below. Doing otherwise is just encouraging drivers to be less than candid about their health. The "word is out" it would seem, at least across the RENNLIST RACING and DE FORUM, that CPAP is not to be disclosed on one's annual PCA physical Form in spite of CPAP's documented role as a sleep optimization device.

Where am I going with this? If PCA were to seriously care about a race driver's health, they would have done the research, which clearly they haven't , and would applaud driver's utilization of a CPAP device. Doing otherwise is shear ignorance and stupidity.

*** Results of an AI search, "Obesity and obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) are both common health problems that share many risk factors, including age, sex, genetics, and lifestyle factors like diet and physical inactivity. Obesity can increase the risk of OSA by narrowing the airway through fat deposits in the tissues around the upper airway. When this happens, the airway becomes smaller and more likely to collapse, which can lead to apnea. Additionally, when people with obesity fall asleep, they may not have as much muscle control as they do when they're awake, which can cause their tongue to slide back into their throat.

According to the Wisconsin Sleep Cohort Study, a 10% weight gain can increase the risk of developing moderate to severe OSA by six times.Conversely, a 10% weight loss can decrease the risk by 26%. Weight loss can also help with other conditions associated with obesity and sleep apnea, but it may not be the only factor in a treatment plan. Other options include CPAP therapy, which keeps airways open during sleep, and obesity drugs, which can help get rid of fat in the tongue."

 

Right, almost 2200 posts of immature dribble and "I'm taking my toys and leaving the sandbox", "you can't play with us anymore", and "you're not playing fair", and "you called me a bad name", and I"M THE CHILD here? lol