Team Pro Motion @ NHIS

nhfirefighter13 · 07-31-2006, 12:25 PM

To look at their website, these guys seem to have it down pretty good. To see them in person reminds me of when the 929 came out and Honda said it had 150hp.

Good on paper...not so much in real life.

These guys suck. Maybe they're better at their regular venues but here at NHIS, they suck.

I was supposed to be there shooting the event for them today. I say supposed to be because when I got there and introduced myself, I was informed that they had never spoken to me before and that I wasn't supposed to be there. Funny, as I still have a copy of the email they sent me from May 8, 2006 telling me to show up for photo duty.

I ask if they want me there or not, cuz I'll leave and go do something productive if the answer is no. They tell me to wait until after the rider meeting because they're too busy to talk to me right now. Fine. Whatever. I'll wait.

Their tech inspection is a joke. Their meeting was horrible. Nobody from TPM actually knew anything about the track! There were a handful of locals that along with myself were just staring in disbelief at what these people were telling the riders to do (most of the riders were not familiar with NHIS). Some started interjecting with more reasonable and safe suggestions of how things should be done in regards to flagging, pit-in/pit-out, etc etc.

There had to be roughly 100 or so people there and I think 50 of em are in the "advanced" group. Very few of them seemed to actually belong there.

No track walk. No follow the leader laps (none of their control riders know the track remember?). Nothing!

Finally, they come get me and say, yeah, go ahead and be the photographer. (gee, thanks). I start talking to the corner workers and then I notice another photographer walking towards my direction.

We chat for a few and I decided to give up and leave (my choice). It just wasn't going to be worth competing against each other.

So, needless to say, I met Team Pro Motion for the first time today and my first impression is that they suck.

I'll be amazed if somebody doesnt get killed today.

sheepofblue · 07-31-2006, 12:34 PM

Sorry you wasted your time but why didn't you print the email and bring it? In a normal situation (read competent people) they might have an honest miscommunication within the ranks. A copy of the email would have them going "oh well let me get XXXX as he can take care of you" Just a thought, though in this case they were just incompetent

nhfirefighter13 · 07-31-2006, 12:58 PM

I should have ellaborated a bit on "they". I was speaking to the person who told me by email to come up and shoot. She said she had never had such a conversation with me and basically said I was lying to her. It wasn't a "Gee, I'm sorry but I don't recall that email" it was "I never spoke anyone about photographing this event." At that point I did consider running back to the shop which is just 2 miles from the track and printing up a copy of the email.

sheepofblue · 07-31-2006, 1:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by nhfirefighter13

I should have ellaborated a bit on "they". I was speaking to the person who told me by email to come up and shoot. She said she had never had such a conversation with me and basically said I was lying to her. It wasn't a "Gee, I'm sorry but I don't recall that email" it was "I never spoke anyone about photographing this event." At that point I did consider running back to the shop which is just 2 miles from the track and printing up a copy of the email.

got you didn't realize it was the SAME person

Of course I would still get in the habit of bringing it. I ALWAYS bring my hotel confirmation (and flight) emails when traveling. I have not had to break one out yet but will be ready when the time comes.

nhfirefighter13 · 07-31-2006, 1:47 PM

Well, I didn't know it was the same person until she said "I'm Linda and I have never spoken to you before." Does she really think that I'd make that up?

I've never had this problem before. I talk to the organizers, show up, intorduce myself and go to work. It's really quite simple so I don't know why they're so difficult.

sheepofblue · 07-31-2006, 2:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by nhfirefighter13

Well, I didn't know it was the same person until she said "I'm Linda and I have never spoken to you before." Does she really think that I'd make that up?

I've never had this problem before. I talk to the organizers, show up, intorduce myself and go to work. It's really quite simple so I don't know why they're so difficult.

Incompetence.

CBR929RE · 07-31-2006, 7:46 PM

well good to hear. about a month and half ago I was gonna see if I could buy all necessary safety gear and try to make the event. well I didn't fell like rushing stuff so I didn't even make the attempt. now I'm glad I didn't. I'll just wait for a Tony's or Penguin trackday as they run the track all the time so they should know whats going on.

nhfirefighter13 · 07-31-2006, 8:07 PM

Good call. Did I mention that they suck?