Post by ProQuest on Jan 20, 2008 17:56:08 GMT -6
Greetings Fellow Racers:
Ever since pictures of my cars were posted in the "Car Photos" sub-board last week I have received a barrage of messages asking about the "little white things" on the wheels. Some of the messages have merely asked what they are , some have assumed that they are bushings .
First, the rules in this league prohibit bushings in the Limited and Novice Classes. All other classes in this league permit the use of bushings. If you are a skilled machinist with a lathe, or you have a friend who is a skilled machinist with a lathe, or you have lots of money and can hire a skilled machinist with a lathe to make bushings for your wheels -- knock yourself out. But not in the Limited or Novice Classes. Any and all cars, including mine, that are equipped with bushings will be disqualified from the Limited and Novice Classes.
I would hazard a guess that Warren Kalsow has more experience running races and inspecting pinewood derby cars than any other person on the face of the earth (literally), bar none!!! He wrote the rules (with help from Lucky and a few friends) and knows a bushing when he sees one. Neither I nor anyone else will slip a Limited or Novice class car with bushings past Warren.
Second, the little white things on my cars, are NOT bushings. Now that you know what they are not, look at the pictures again, and I'll bet that with a minimum expenditure of brain power you will figure out what they are. If you look closely and can't figure it out send me a PM and I will throw you a couple of not-so-subtle hints.
Here is where the "Ethical Dilemma" comes in:
I love sharing anything I do, or know (or rather think I know) about pinewood derby racing, with anyone who asks. For reasons I don't fully understand myself, it makes me feel awesome. But there is one, and only one, situation where I don't like to share. This situation is where someone gives me a tip in confidence, with the expectation that I not share it with others. This is the case with the "little white things." A fellow builder, a very good friend, told me about them and suggested I try them on my cars, but also suggested that I not advertise what I'm doing. He didn't specifically say "don't tell anyone" but I believe it was implied. Because it was a tip given to me with the expectation that I not tell, I find myself in an ethical dilemma. I want to clear the air, and let everyone know exactly what the "little white things" are so I can put to rest once and for all any speculation that I might have violated the rules by using bushings on my Limited car. On the other hand, if I tell, I will violate the trust placed in me by a fellow builder. I am devastated to admit that I already have violated that trust by telling those who confronted me privately. I am not making excuses, but at the time I thought the disclosure was justified to defend my integrity. I didn't want to be secretive and thus appear to have something to hide. I have rethought that and I realize I was very wrong. My integrity is less important than the trust placed in me by a friend. To the very good friend who trusted me with this information, I apologize from the bottom of my heart. I will never again violate your (or anyone else's) trust.
In the future, as in the past, I will happily share anything I know that I taught myself and anything that was told to me without the expectation of privacy. Just ask.
I said all of that in the hope that you will understand why I don't just come out and say publicly what the "little white things" are. Again, the pictures are there (with excellent resolution), and you now know what they are not. Trust me, you will figure it out.
I hope this message doesn't come across as angry, upset or defensive. I just want to put it out there. I want to win as bad as the next guy, but if I had to choose between coming in last in every race for the rest of my life or giving up the friendships and goodwill of my fellow racers, that's a no brainer (I hate that phrase) -- I'll take the friendships and goodwill every time.
Best of luck to all,
Steve
Ever since pictures of my cars were posted in the "Car Photos" sub-board last week I have received a barrage of messages asking about the "little white things" on the wheels. Some of the messages have merely asked what they are , some have assumed that they are bushings .
First, the rules in this league prohibit bushings in the Limited and Novice Classes. All other classes in this league permit the use of bushings. If you are a skilled machinist with a lathe, or you have a friend who is a skilled machinist with a lathe, or you have lots of money and can hire a skilled machinist with a lathe to make bushings for your wheels -- knock yourself out. But not in the Limited or Novice Classes. Any and all cars, including mine, that are equipped with bushings will be disqualified from the Limited and Novice Classes.
I would hazard a guess that Warren Kalsow has more experience running races and inspecting pinewood derby cars than any other person on the face of the earth (literally), bar none!!! He wrote the rules (with help from Lucky and a few friends) and knows a bushing when he sees one. Neither I nor anyone else will slip a Limited or Novice class car with bushings past Warren.
Second, the little white things on my cars, are NOT bushings. Now that you know what they are not, look at the pictures again, and I'll bet that with a minimum expenditure of brain power you will figure out what they are. If you look closely and can't figure it out send me a PM and I will throw you a couple of not-so-subtle hints.
Here is where the "Ethical Dilemma" comes in:
I love sharing anything I do, or know (or rather think I know) about pinewood derby racing, with anyone who asks. For reasons I don't fully understand myself, it makes me feel awesome. But there is one, and only one, situation where I don't like to share. This situation is where someone gives me a tip in confidence, with the expectation that I not share it with others. This is the case with the "little white things." A fellow builder, a very good friend, told me about them and suggested I try them on my cars, but also suggested that I not advertise what I'm doing. He didn't specifically say "don't tell anyone" but I believe it was implied. Because it was a tip given to me with the expectation that I not tell, I find myself in an ethical dilemma. I want to clear the air, and let everyone know exactly what the "little white things" are so I can put to rest once and for all any speculation that I might have violated the rules by using bushings on my Limited car. On the other hand, if I tell, I will violate the trust placed in me by a fellow builder. I am devastated to admit that I already have violated that trust by telling those who confronted me privately. I am not making excuses, but at the time I thought the disclosure was justified to defend my integrity. I didn't want to be secretive and thus appear to have something to hide. I have rethought that and I realize I was very wrong. My integrity is less important than the trust placed in me by a friend. To the very good friend who trusted me with this information, I apologize from the bottom of my heart. I will never again violate your (or anyone else's) trust.
In the future, as in the past, I will happily share anything I know that I taught myself and anything that was told to me without the expectation of privacy. Just ask.
I said all of that in the hope that you will understand why I don't just come out and say publicly what the "little white things" are. Again, the pictures are there (with excellent resolution), and you now know what they are not. Trust me, you will figure it out.
I hope this message doesn't come across as angry, upset or defensive. I just want to put it out there. I want to win as bad as the next guy, but if I had to choose between coming in last in every race for the rest of my life or giving up the friendships and goodwill of my fellow racers, that's a no brainer (I hate that phrase) -- I'll take the friendships and goodwill every time.
Best of luck to all,
Steve