Chocolate Thunder Closed

[bawz]

Chocolate thunder is NOT closed, Thanks for your attention.

Most of you do not yet know me or my team, but we have been in this game for long time. We are the first to stand up for safety concerns, broken rules and un-sportsmanship like conduct. I know a few promoters and event officials who will hopefully speak up as to just how helpful (irritating to them) we have been over the years.
I am one of the guilty that took the high line at CT. It is regrettable that it appears I put my friends, fellow racers and sponsors in a negative exposure. I admit I was sick after watching the videos of the first few to run up that line. We didn't see any attemts of the first few from the our driver’s seat and co driver’s seat, we were covered in sand and dust. When the dust cleared we simply went for it with the reasoning that it was a clear line within 50ft of the course, and no officials were stopping anyone. We later learned the line was talked about in the drivers meeting and it was off limits. I am sure it was said, but we just didn't hear it for whatever reasons, no excuses to offer.
I think things could have gone a lot different on many different levels. Admit ably as a driver I did not have a safety alarm going off in my head. As experienced competitive rock crawler for many years we are accustomed to being in close proximity to the spectators, which is not appropriate in this type of environment.
I thank Dave Cole for calling me to discuss the incident and to get our perspective. I think he and his team gave the problem and penalties careful consideration and the results ARE more than fair for some. We except responsibility for our actions and consider everyone involved to be lucky no one was harmed.
I only have this to offer, assume all drivers are capable making really dumb decisions even after clear explanation. Put it in writing and mark the safety hot spots with wrong way or caution tape.
I hope everyone can accept our deepest apologies. We pride ourselves on being a professional and reputable team. We look forward to earning our forgiveness at the next event we attend. I offer myself and my team to the efforts of marking safety hot spots and making sure we all have a clear uncompromised understanding of these areas.
Sincerely
Alan Woodson
Axis Motorsports

[HeavyMetalXJ]

Thats a great post Alan, good on you. See you at RC

[1951M38]

Well said!...See you at Rausch!

[seeyouonthetrail]

-Props-
Racing happens! Anyone got that steeker yet?

[Provelogear]

Stand up!

[ISDTBower]

"I only have this to offer, assume all drivers are capable making really dumb decisions even after clear explanation."

Mechanicals can happen at any time. No, the drivers are not under control.

Words to continue living by.


And early-on...I was accused of using bottlenecked bikes for traction also......Early-on.
OP accepted in my book.

[bawz]

Originally Posted by HeavyMetalXJ

Thats a great post Alan, good on you. See you at RC

Originally Posted by 1951M38

Well said!...See you at Rausch!

Can wait, thanks guys

Originally Posted by seeyouonthetrail

-Props-
Racing happens! Anyone got that steeker yet?

What steeker

Originally Posted by Provelogear

Stand up!

Thanks

Originally Posted by ISDTBower

"I only have this to offer, assume all drivers are capable making really dumb decisions even after clear explanation."

Mechanicals can happen at any time. No, the drivers are not under control.

Words to continue living by.


And early-on...I was accused of using bottlenecked bikes for traction also......Early-on.
OP accepted in my book.

Your right. and thanks

[bawz]

Originally Posted by seeyouonthetrail

-Props-
Racing happens! Anyone got that steeker yet?

Duh, I got it!!

[MT4Runner]

Stand-up response.

[MADMATZ BigBlkjeep]

Well said!!

[JeepRecoveryTeam]

The whole situation was a learning lesson for all the racers, myself personally, and our orginization. I honestly believe that we don't have a single racer that has ever made a concious decision to put someone else in harms way.

Alan and his team are a class act and I'm looking forward to seeing him race in the near future.

[broncolou]

Well stated Alan

[SuperRanger]

Originally Posted by JeepRecoveryTeam

I honestly believe that we don't have a single racer that has ever made a concious decision to put someone else in harms way.

Amen. Red mist

[Kurtuleas]

Very well put, and VERY stand-up!

[Stephen]

Originally Posted by bawz

I only have this to offer, assume all drivers are capable making really dumb decisions even after clear explanation.

Years of competing in other dangerous sports (pistols) show me that we really need to live by this statement above. I practice all the dumb motor skills with the gun a rigorous amount so that when I'm under stress the right things happen without thinking about them. This is because we KNOW that under stress we're going to miss the obvious, screw up the easy, etc and have to stay safe. Lesson is we need to assume that all drivers and co-dogs (ourselves, ME specifically included) need everything to be ridiculously obvious to know it's going to work out right. Not saying we can all blow off thinking in the car, just recognize that it's not always going to happen and try to plan for it.

Way to step up Alan, look forward to meeting you some race.

[bawz]

Originally Posted by SuperRanger

Amen. Red mist

Need a address to ship you a horn!!!!

[bawz]

Originally Posted by MT4Runner

Stand-up response.

Originally Posted by MADMATZ BigBlkjeep

Well said!!

Hey Matt, thanks

Originally Posted by broncolou

Well stated Alan

you are so in trouble now. see you at RC I'll bring that bag you ordered

Originally Posted by Kurtuleas

Very well put, and VERY stand-up!

Thanks

[QUOTE=Stephen;14055041

Way to step up Alan, look forward to meeting you some race.[/QUOTE]

Look forward to it, I'll be the guy that looks angry and doesn't talk much.......at first.

[IamNonStop]

Great job to you and your team, Alan. We were watching online back in Cville hoping to catch a glimpse of you here and there. It was awesome hearing your interview after you finished. We were team Axis all day.

Not knowing any of the rules about 50' from center, distance from spectators, or drivers meeting stuff, we had a blast watching you (and others) take that high line. It looked steep, loose and required hammer down = fun to watch.

We saw you a couple other times and the room got very loud as though you would be able to hear us from the other side of the country.

[Shady TJ]

Man now I need to be nice to Alan for doing the right thing with this post

Pick up your phone when I call damn it

[bawz]

Originally Posted by IamNonStop

Great job to you and your team, Alan. We were watching online back in Cville hoping to catch a glimpse of you here and there. It was awesome hearing your interview after you finished. We were team Axis all day.

Not knowing any of the rules about 50' from center, distance from spectators, or drivers meeting stuff, we had a blast watching you (and others) take that high line. It looked steep, loose and required hammer down = fun to watch.

We saw you a couple other times and the room got very loud as though you would be able to hear us from the other side of the country.

That awesome mike thanks. We heard Ya!!

[bawz]

Originally Posted by Shady TJ

Man now I need to be nice to Alan for doing the right thing with this post

Pick up your phone when I call damn it

Sorry, I am avoiding you when you call

[imagineer]

Well Said Alan.

Congratulations on a great finish. No matter what you finished the hardest single day offroad race in the world and no one can take that from you.

I look forward to racing against you this season.

-Lucas

[bawz]

Originally Posted by imagineer

Well Said Alan.

Congratulations on a great finish. No matter what you finished the hardest single day offroad race in the world and no one can take that from you.

I look forward to racing against you this season.

-Lucas

That's pretty much how we feel about it.

Can't wait.

[RedBullJeep]

A true competitor AND sportsman!

Have a great season Alan.

[matzell]

Way to step up Alan! I saw your buggy this week at Indy4x, wow it looks wore out, and it should be. I can not wait to see it cleaned up and racing again at RC. Let me know if you need anything. Congrats on finishing the race.