Owning br00d is not conflict......products have approval processes that go through the entire EXcomm....I think there needs to be STRICTER rules on approvals and notice to the members.....
And please keep in mind, br00d is an OEM company.....other than a few tools (last I checked these don't fall under ROAR), we don't make anything. We buy it from trinity, smc, reedy, orion, checkpoint, etc....
From my understanding, Mike Queller is a distributor and Carl supposedly is (I may be wrong on this, but thats what I was told.).....a distributor can basically control a product more than I can.......look no further than Great Planes with OS Engines, Futaba, or Checkpoint......or Horizon with Losi......regardless of which of us wins, you are going to have someone from the business side of the industry.....please also keep in mind, that the ROAR glory days were during the time when Mike Reedy was president......it worked before, would work again.
I rarely ever build a motor or anything for my company.....I do some ordering and bring in new products.....and handle the money.....the rest is done by my employees. I am also hiring Mike Dumas to come up an assist with the day to day operations. I only build motors at the big races......and if I am there doing that, suddenly your ROAR president is at the big events.
As for my positions.....well, I have been on the ONROAD Comittee for over a year......as well as almost a year as regional director. I have been racing for over 15 years. My day job has me working for a non-profit with over 550 employees. One that I took over as CEO in 2000 with revenues around 5.5 million and have increased to over 20 million a year not counting the casino, which pushes them over 65 million....yeah, I think I have the qualifications.
The regional race system will work......the World trips was more of show of how the TCS system works. I think the awards should be done at regionals for both privateers and pros.....sending our champs to these races is hardly a waste though, winning a world championship for your IFMAR block can be used a big tool in advertising and prestige to the organization. Ask any college football recruiter.....any team winning from their confrence helps in recruiting for ALL the schools.....people want to play with the champs.......in this case, they will get to race with them.
As for the National Qualifying system......we will have to have a waiver system....just like they use at Worlds, but however in the end, people who qualified will have first shot, but I am pretty sure this will rarely happen. This also plays more into having minor races sanctioned......so we can develop a point system, as another means to qualify for regionals.
National Tracks is an idea that will work. Clubs all over the country have managed to scrap up volunteers off limited funds....ROAR stepping in and buying a piece of property for a track will work......and if it doesn't, land holds value and can be sold as an asset if the plan doesn't work.
I would hope people are voting for me because of my ideas and experience, not because of my popularity.....all I know, you see some pretty heavy hitters already posting they are voting for me......ones with a lot to lose if I do a bad job.....that should say something to a lot of you.
Later EddieO