this bit ? will read it in a bit . copyed it incase it gets deleted
copy and others if it kicks off mazzer
. rite off to the pub ,. yum yum
I may do 'politics' on here, but I tend
not to do 'VW politics'. But when my event business partner for 17
years and one of my best friends tells me that he's parking his car and
stepping out of the event promotions, and both decisions are a result
of 'the politics', I have to say something.
Successful event promoters have to have an absolute enthusiasm for VWs
and VW shows, and a very thick skin. Others get 'found out' as
bandwagon jumpers, run out of drive, or even if perfectly well
intentioned, get worn down by negativity and criticism.
When criticism is valid and constructive, you have to be big enough to
take it. You can't please all the people all the time, but it is a
worthy ambition. When something which you have planned and committed
thought, time, money, and general blood sweat and tears disappoints
even a few, you need to face them knowing that you made an honest
attempt to produce a memorable and problem free experience. When
criticism is personal, vitriolic and devisive, it becomes harder to
take. Hardest of all, is when you have absolutely not in any sense done
what you are being accused of, and spiteful, unjustified slurs are
directed at you.
Ritchie Webb ran a 9.33 in the States recently. Now instead of posting
a news/congratulations thread here, John Maher posted to the effect
that there must be an obvious conspiracy of silence, that Ritchie must
be 'damnatio memoraiae', or worse. And that the architect of this
situation must be Brian. The truth could not be simpler. The plain fact
is that no-one had mentioned it because no-one had mentioned it. Had
John's post begun 'I haven't seen it mentioned on VZi anywhere, but
Ritchie Webb ran a 9.33 in the States', I imagine the responses would
mostly have been positive praise for the achievement. 9.33 is fucking
quick and very noteworthy, whoever is behind the wheel.
This spat, along with other contributing situations and experiences was
directly linked to Brian's reaction/decision to pack it in. That such a
negative outcome (IMHO) arose from negative posts and negative events
and situations is not a suprise to me. What is a surprise is that
someone like John Maher, who commands huge respect should begin their
post with an assumption of guilt, and seem so reluctant to accept that
they were wrong.
But it's not about just this. The entire VWDRC/OFF situation has been
driven in large part by a personal dislike of Brian amongst in
particular, some of the 'leading lights' of OFF. As happens in disputes
and disagreements, parties have told each other exactly how they feel
about each other. Brian can be abrasive, but in my 20+ years experience
of the man, could not be accused of being 'two faced'. He's a sometimes
'obnoxious scouse git' who will always say exactly what he thinks,
perhaps even if to his 'cost', in personal situations. But there are
many on here who will know from direct experience he will unselfishly
offer help or perhaps support 'just because he can'.
And when you know in your heart that you are 'well meaning' and
committed to adding whatever you can to the sum of the VW 'scene', it
fucking hurts when people talk about you as if you are the antichrist.
Actually that's not true... it fucking hurts when you understand that
others actually buy into and believe the bile.
It remains the case that any OFF members, or of course the entire club
are and have always been welcome at 'our' events, running in their own
format. If individuals have acted in ways which might reasonably
attract a degree of criticism 'in their private lives, that's something
they can reasonably expect criticism for... and nothing to do with VW
drag racing.
I'm sure that not everyone 'gets on' in any large group of people,
whatever their interests. But not taking every opportunity to 'do what
you do' for personal 'political' reasons is sad... sad for the
thousands of people who love to watch all forms of VW drag racing, and
smacks of 'cutting of your nose to spite your face'.
There is a very english obsession with sniping at people who are
'successful' in whatever field of endeavour they have 'achieved'. The
VW community will be poorer overall without Brian's committment,
enthusiasm, and sheer hard work. Whatever you feel about him
personally, and whether or not those feelings are in any way justified.
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) i dont know the fella but it is a shame after the hard work and effort he has put in over the years to Vee Dubs that the fella has to end it this way, two faced fuckers...
