John Memmer has an itch ? Niflis Flip

Al Pierce · 6/29/09, 3:30 PM

I was there in the stands. Not in the pits. I did see the whole show and Memmer's actions on the track. He has been severely beaten about the head and shoulders on this forum and no doubt many others. He has that coming. It was extremely juvenille and uncalled for. If he is suspended from further MSCS and VCS events, he will have earned that too. We go to unwinged sprint car events to see racing, not this kind of stuff. Having said all that, I believe Memmer has some talent and can become a good sprint car driver. First and foremost, he has to show contrition. He must use every opportunity to apologize to the fans in attendance, other drivers, and those who suppport his sport. A good place to start would be on this board as did Ballou. I'm thinking, and hoping, he'll find some understanding and forgiving fans. Who among us hasn't had to do that, whether we were 18 or 48? Then he has to back it up with more mature driving and public actions. It will take a while for many people to accept his apologies, but it will eventually be worth it if he is serious and refrains from further actions both on and off the track. There are ample opportunities for drivers to show their personalities in a positive manner. He can do this. So c'mon John, or Jon, whatever. Now's your chance to become respected as a man rather than be forever thought of as a child.

6/29/09, 3:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SpRiNtBeBe

Your right I am not at the 30 mark I am only 21 years old and I am also a girl. That being said I am no being rude or crude in my comment of old men but look at the age of most of the people posting and bashing on here and I am sure you are over that 30 mark that you hold so highly in regards. I'm sure that your era of growing up you wouldn't dream of acting that way that Memmer did. Again even though he is my friend I did not excuse his actions in anyways. I am merely making a point that at sometime in you life you have gotten that upset. I know my dad has and he is almost 60. This is not the first time you have seen some racer act in an obscene way. As my dad did post Jack Hewitt throwing a fit at the flagman and then going back to the pits and talking sh**. It is not uncommon for people to lose their temper especially with something with such adrenaline pumping as sprint car racing.
Someone else brought up that I commented on his young age. Yes legally you are an adult but most people that are under that age of 30 still act like fools. I have not will I ever excuse his actions but defending him to such people who either were not there or didn’t see what happened in the pits I will do. Again he is my friend and I will always back my friends and tell them when they are wrong. His actions were wrong and he is aware of that.

What? DO, you're almost 60?

Steve

PJ Wright · 6/29/09, 3:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by AERO410SCJA

Unless SPIKER changed his mind HE IS NOT BANNED FROM VCS.The last thing I heard Spiker say to Jon and his Dad was "COME BACK ANY TIME"

I wonder what the offical that had to dodge Memmer's car thinks about that.

6/29/09, 4:12 PM

I've read thru the posts on Mr. Memmer's itch - I've laughed, cried and gotten mad. My husband Jack has been a car owner and racer since the 1950's. Our family has 4 generations in racing. I've seen it from all sides starting as a fan, driver's wife, mother and grandmother. I've been a crew member, car owner and official. Currently we own a four car team (running 2 at this time) of 600 sidewinder and upright cars. We have raced sprints and midgets and won a few Championships. That's just for background.
As an official - yes we make mistakes. If your're old enough to run the big cars, then your're old enough to take a bad call and learn from it. The next one will probably go your way and someone else will be mad. Working in the tower now at our home track, I know that our perspective is different than that of the officials in the infield. We don't always agree on calls but the one closest with the best view makes the decision. I have been both places and also in the flagbox. Scorers do the best they can but even with computerized scoring -there can still be mistakes. If anyone wants to - let them come on and take over.
As a crew member and owner I know that it is easy to get mad and react without thinking. Jack used to have a habit of throwing steering wheels towards the trailer until our track owner started confiscating any that missed the open door. The most important thing we have always TRIED to teach all of our drivers was attitude. A good one will get you more and farther than a bad one.
As a fan - I want to watch racing!!! Not cars driving in circles under yellow while someone throws a tantrum.
Some have tried to blame his age - if that is the case then maybe we do need an age limit and keep the tantrum throwing children down in the smaller cars or even quarter-midgets until they grow up. Thanks DO for the Hewitt video - a favorite of mine (Jack and the tape). Unfortunately my brother-in-law is the official Jack is mad at on the video. Bill is family but he is not perfect either. Jack Hewitt is still a great friend and we laugh about the incident now.
I guess what it all boils down to is that the fans are paying to watch us do something that we love. We should respect them enough to give them the BEST racing show that we can. We should also respect ourselves, the other racers and crews and the officials enough to never intentionally harm one of them or the sport.
Thanks,
Gloria Shipman
#14 & 14Jr
Bakersfield Raceway Park

Mud Packer · 6/29/09, 4:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by PJ Wright

I wonder what the offical that had to dodge Memmer's car thinks about that.

PJ,

I believe it was a MSCS official not a VCS track worker that he swerved the car towards.

PJ Wright · 6/29/09, 4:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mud Packer

PJ,

I believe it was a MSCS official not a VCS track worker that he swerved the car towards.

Thanks for the clarification.

sp6967 · 6/29/09, 4:57 PM

it is totally inexcusable to swerve at an official.as for him playing with himself ,i understand that all men do it ,but usually in the privacy of their own home,maybe back in the trailer but not on the front stretch.

IndyBound · 6/29/09, 6:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jg27race

I've read thru the posts on Mr. Memmer's itch - I've laughed, cried and gotten mad. My husband Jack has been a car owner and racer since the 1950's. Our family has 4 generations in racing. I've seen it from all sides starting as a fan, driver's wife, mother and grandmother. I've been a crew member, car owner and official. Currently we own a four car team (running 2 at this time) of 600 sidewinder and upright cars. We have raced sprints and midgets and won a few Championships. That's just for background.
As an official - yes we make mistakes. If your're old enough to run the big cars, then your're old enough to take a bad call and learn from it. The next one will probably go your way and someone else will be mad. Working in the tower now at our home track, I know that our perspective is different than that of the officials in the infield. We don't always agree on calls but the one closest with the best view makes the decision. I have been both places and also in the flagbox. Scorers do the best they can but even with computerized scoring -there can still be mistakes. If anyone wants to - let them come on and take over.
As a crew member and owner I know that it is easy to get mad and react without thinking. Jack used to have a habit of throwing steering wheels towards the trailer until our track owner started confiscating any that missed the open door. The most important thing we have always TRIED to teach all of our drivers was attitude. A good one will get you more and farther than a bad one.
As a fan - I want to watch racing!!! Not cars driving in circles under yellow while someone throws a tantrum.
Some have tried to blame his age - if that is the case then maybe we do need an age limit and keep the tantrum throwing children down in the smaller cars or even quarter-midgets until they grow up. Thanks DO for the Hewitt video - a favorite of mine (Jack and the tape). Unfortunately my brother-in-law is the official Jack is mad at on the video. Bill is family but he is not perfect either. Jack Hewitt is still a great friend and we laugh about the incident now.
I guess what it all boils down to is that the fans are paying to watch us do something that we love. We should respect them enough to give them the BEST racing show that we can. We should also respect ourselves, the other racers and crews and the officials enough to never intentionally harm one of them or the sport.
Thanks,
Gloria Shipman
#14 & 14Jr
Bakersfield Raceway Park

Well worded first post Gloria, welcome to the board.

Patti

Big Willy · 6/29/09, 6:45 PM

WOW am i ever fixin' to get torched here but after carefully watching the video of the "race" (not the antics) I think quite a bit of blame should also fall on the MSCS for trying to impose a judgement call which has no place in racing. The only people who know exactly what goes on in a race car in any altercation are the drivers involved. What appears to an onlooker as a blatent attempt to wreck someone may only be a driver mising his line or perhaps the lead car checking up or approaching a corner differently that can cause a problem. You cannont decide intent from the flag stand nor the scoring tower. As for the call for rough driving, we miss the entry to 3 on the video but Memmer did get slightly chopped and if he was not expecting that and had to get on the brake the car could have easily picked up a push which must have been cunstrued by officials as an attempt to wreck the other car. However as the video progresses Memmer could have easily squeezed the white car coming off of 2 the following lap or for that matter taken a shot at him when they traded lines going into one yet he didn't. I did see the white car ride the red car up and over the burm which didn't look aggressive either but certainly if you asked the driver of the red car his thoughts i believe he would think the white car also should have been docked a couple of spots for his actions. My point is that you cannot make those calls ever or you'll set yourselves up for things like this to happen again.

I do not agree with John's actions and am quite disappointed in his behavior. However having been 18 once myself i must admit a time or two of stupidity in my past. The most disappointing part for me is John's dad not coming to his defense and what i mean by that is not coming to get control of his son before he lost all control. I know he may have been held up and refused entry to the track by personell but if that was my son out there i don't know if a pit steward would have been able to stop me - my feelings are that they would not have.

illinisprintfan · 6/29/09, 7:49 PM

The antics once he got out the car was just plain stupid, but IMO not enough to get him supended for very long. However, swerving and almost taking out an official IS enough to get his rear end suspended for quite a while. If that official had tripped or slipped, Memmer could have easily ran him over, hurting him or possibly even killing him. It was inexcusable and he deserves to be punished. I understand he is young and needs to grow up, but getting a hefty punishment for this might speed up the process.

6/29/09, 4:12 PM	#104 Re: John Memmer has an itch ? Niflis Flip
jg27race Posts: n/a	I've read thru the posts on Mr. Memmer's itch - I've laughed, cried and gotten mad. My husband Jack has been a car owner and racer since the 1950's. Our family has 4 generations in racing. I've seen it from all sides starting as a fan, driver's wife, mother and grandmother. I've been a crew member, car owner and official. Currently we own a four car team (running 2 at this time) of 600 sidewinder and upright cars. We have raced sprints and midgets and won a few Championships. That's just for background. As an official - yes we make mistakes. If your're old enough to run the big cars, then your're old enough to take a bad call and learn from it. The next one will probably go your way and someone else will be mad. Working in the tower now at our home track, I know that our perspective is different than that of the officials in the infield. We don't always agree on calls but the one closest with the best view makes the decision. I have been both places and also in the flagbox. Scorers do the best they can but even with computerized scoring -there can still be mistakes. If anyone wants to - let them come on and take over. As a crew member and owner I know that it is easy to get mad and react without thinking. Jack used to have a habit of throwing steering wheels towards the trailer until our track owner started confiscating any that missed the open door. The most important thing we have always TRIED to teach all of our drivers was attitude. A good one will get you more and farther than a bad one. As a fan - I want to watch racing!!! Not cars driving in circles under yellow while someone throws a tantrum. Some have tried to blame his age - if that is the case then maybe we do need an age limit and keep the tantrum throwing children down in the smaller cars or even quarter-midgets until they grow up. Thanks DO for the Hewitt video - a favorite of mine (Jack and the tape). Unfortunately my brother-in-law is the official Jack is mad at on the video. Bill is family but he is not perfect either. Jack Hewitt is still a great friend and we laugh about the incident now. I guess what it all boils down to is that the fans are paying to watch us do something that we love. We should respect them enough to give them the BEST racing show that we can. We should also respect ourselves, the other racers and crews and the officials enough to never intentionally harm one of them or the sport. Thanks, Gloria Shipman #14 & 14Jr Bakersfield Raceway Park

6/29/09, 4:57 PM	#107 Re: John Memmer has an itch ? Niflis Flip
sp6967 Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Posts: 902	it is totally inexcusable to swerve at an official.as for him playing with himself ,i understand that all men do it ,but usually in the privacy of their own home,maybe back in the trailer but not on the front stretch.

6/29/09, 6:45 PM	#109 Re: John Memmer has an itch ? Niflis Flip
Big Willy Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Posts: 105	WOW am i ever fixin' to get torched here but after carefully watching the video of the "race" (not the antics) I think quite a bit of blame should also fall on the MSCS for trying to impose a judgement call which has no place in racing. The only people who know exactly what goes on in a race car in any altercation are the drivers involved. What appears to an onlooker as a blatent attempt to wreck someone may only be a driver mising his line or perhaps the lead car checking up or approaching a corner differently that can cause a problem. You cannont decide intent from the flag stand nor the scoring tower. As for the call for rough driving, we miss the entry to 3 on the video but Memmer did get slightly chopped and if he was not expecting that and had to get on the brake the car could have easily picked up a push which must have been cunstrued by officials as an attempt to wreck the other car. However as the video progresses Memmer could have easily squeezed the white car coming off of 2 the following lap or for that matter taken a shot at him when they traded lines going into one yet he didn't. I did see the white car ride the red car up and over the burm which didn't look aggressive either but certainly if you asked the driver of the red car his thoughts i believe he would think the white car also should have been docked a couple of spots for his actions. My point is that you cannot make those calls ever or you'll set yourselves up for things like this to happen again. I do not agree with John's actions and am quite disappointed in his behavior. However having been 18 once myself i must admit a time or two of stupidity in my past. The most disappointing part for me is John's dad not coming to his defense and what i mean by that is not coming to get control of his son before he lost all control. I know he may have been held up and refused entry to the track by personell but if that was my son out there i don't know if a pit steward would have been able to stop me - my feelings are that they would not have.

6/29/09, 7:49 PM	#110 Re: John Memmer has an itch ? Niflis Flip
illinisprintfan Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Posts: 884	The antics once he got out the car was just plain stupid, but IMO not enough to get him supended for very long. However, swerving and almost taking out an official IS enough to get his rear end suspended for quite a while. If that official had tripped or slipped, Memmer could have easily ran him over, hurting him or possibly even killing him. It was inexcusable and he deserves to be punished. I understand he is young and needs to grow up, but getting a hefty punishment for this might speed up the process.