Martin Clan
-----Original Message-----
From: Martin Clan [mailto:mar-@hevanet.com]
Sent: Monday, February 14, 2000 9:50 PM
To: damp-@pond.net
Subject: RE: In defense of....
Ian,
It is unfortunate that my letter was carried over from the RBR without the
audience having seen the two weeks or so of posts that Mike had placed
referring to the OBRA model as as easy to duplicate as "making one phone
call and using one's home computer to print up memberships". Which just
simply not true. It is also unfortunate that I worded my statement in such
a way that it has been construed as implying that the Murray's were
"profiteering" from cycling. That too isn't the case, as anyone in the
peloton can recognize. Unfortunately, the emphasis should have been
strictly been on the time spent.
Per your reference to the me, me, me, and the Junior race series. In 1998 I
did indeed piggyback some 14 LAJORS races for Northwest Juniors, however not
for the reasons that you imply. The reason was not for my own son's fame
and glory but because for the previous two years he had been the recipient
of specific grants from Lance Armstrong to facilitate his racing OUTSIDE of
the region. Why? Because in all the Northwest there had been for the
previous 4 years only one dedicated racing weekend, Memorial Day when both
Twin Rivers and Best in the West put on their race venues--all other junior
specific races were over a thousand miles from home roundtrip. My son was
the "fortunate one" in receiving Lance's generous grants, but, didn't all of
the Northwest Juniors deserve similar opportunities? I didn't whine, I
didn't complain, and, I didn't pat myself on the back, I just went out and
fixed a problem that I felt needed fixing.
Thus as my payback for Lance's generosity to our family I made it my quest
to unite local promoters in a common cause. In doing so however, I didn't
just stop at making phone calls but also arranged and paid for prizes and
ribbons for several events and medals for the series final. All of which
led me to realizing just how important it was to encourage the USAC to at
the minimum provide ribbons and awards (which they did in 1999 and will
again in 2000) for Junior series races and to find a substantial sponsor for
the series that would relieve the cost to promoters for running said races.
A substantial partner was found and presentations were successfully made via
teleconferencing and personal presentations in Orlando (slipped in as part
of another business trip) for a three year contract of $10,000 per year to
benefit NW Junior racing alone--$5000 per year to be divided amongst
promoters ($1000 of which was earmarked specifically for Best in the West)
per Mike's formula regarding the cost of racing, as well as printing and
mailing costs with and an additional $5000 going primarily to the Junior
competitors to offset transportation costs for each of the age group winners
for the following season. All that was needed was a definite schedule and
final blessing from the Federation with the deadline set for the signing
being no later than the end of February 1999. (The original note to Ian
mistakenly stated "February 2000".)
Then, history happened, and now it's not just the ambitious juniors that
have to travel to be recognized, but anyone in Oregon with ambition, no
matter their age. C'est la vie. And, no, one can't just go back and say
"I'm sorry, I have a different program I'm pushing now--give me the money".
What's lost is lost.
Regarding Candi's post and the poor framing of my argument, it is
understandable how you would come to the conclusions that you have, however
it is my policy to attack problems not people, unfortunately, the Murray's
and OBRA are so intertwined that it is difficult to separate the two. As
Mike said to me in our follow-up conversation, he would have rathered that I
had called him an ego-maniac than in it to profit from the sport. But, Mike
is anything but an ego-maniac, just as I am not in the sport just to benefit
my son--who by the way is spending his Senior year of high school on a small
athletic scholarship from Collin County Community College in Frisco, Texas,
home of the Supredrome--when the "fun" is gone however, there will be no
riding. As the old saying goes, where there is a will, there is a way.
My long standing issue with Mike has been one of truth in advertising. Like
Mike I agree that there are many issues with the Federation that stunk and
still stink, however as per OBRA, aside from the issues of "recognized
competition" OBRA is what it is not because it was so easy to construct but
because of the indefatigable efforts and resources of one family. Take the
Murray's out of the picture and what do you have? Theirs is not a model for
the nation to follow.
Had you been privy to the entire picture, as I am sure that you were not at
least in my regard, you may have understood. My position is not to be
construed as taking sides. Nor, were my statements meant to imply that Mike
or OBRA should stop what it's doing or that Candi and Mike should just
disappear, but that the arguments presented by Mike in public forums such as
rec.bicycle.racing, which were for the most part specifically directed at
regions that are satisfied with what the USCF was doing for them, should be
presented as a complete picture, that being, that it takes a hell of a lot
more than just a simple telephone call and a home computer to make something
like OBRA happen.
Bonnie
P.S. Per your P.S., I had to travel from Salem to Sacramento to ride my
first women's race, a crit, during college in the 70's. Who showed up at
the line? None other than Shila Young and Sue Navara (SP?) I think. All I
remember is that it was my first race ever and there were two Olympians, two
or three other women, and me. At least I got my feet in the cleats before
they lapped me!
-----Original Message-----
From: Ian & Ann Fuller [mailto:damp-@pond.net]
Sent: Monday, February 14, 2000 8:06 PM
To: ob-@topica.com
Subject: In defense of....
It is sad. The non-promoters complaining about the folks that help make
things happen. In my 45 years in bike racing I am still surprised to hear
the strident complaints of people like the Martins. Such whining almost
always comes from people that are NOT making things happen for the larger
community. Usually from little people that cannot see beyond their ego
enlarged noses. Me, me, me. They rarely are the givers -- just takers.
And talkers.
Let's hear about the Martins promoting a junior race series in which
they can make oodles of money (as they suggest is there for the taking) and
their son can be a star and win all the races or, perhaps, be just another
rider competing and having fun.
If they really want to help their son then perhaps setting a good
example of hard work, helping others, not complaining but pitching in to
solve problems and THANKING those that are doing the lion's share of the
work might be a good start. Quit being an embarrasment to your son and
everyone else. I feel sorry for him.
I have only the highest admiration and give thanks for people like the
Murrays. Oregon cycling would be the great looser were they not here. Mike
and Candi, it's a shame you are subjected to this kind of piss ant, small
minded stuff.
Sincerely, Ian Fuller (really old bike rider)
PS. When I was 15 there were no junior races -- just senior men. I
still had fun and had some pretty good races. When I was 16 I rode the
state road championship (in Calif) and was at the starting line with Jack
Disney, then National Champion! Come on.
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