[JAM614]

Tema Obsolete now has a new Message board up and running. (AHRMA's was shut down). Looks like the butting of heads is still ongoing. I just joined AHRMA this year and am wondering how much longer they (we)are going to be around.
http://www.teamobsoleteforum.com/


Jeff

 

[bfd]

Jeff
What are the lawsuits about? Any idea? It sounds like all of these AHRMA members already know the back story but I couldn't pull it out.
bfd

 

[craig641]

BFD,

Here's the way I understand it. But I could be wrong so if anyone knows more than I do please speak up.

Way back when, Ianucci was one of the original creators of AHRMA. Then Jeff Smith came into the group and took AHRMA from being a for profit into a non-profit organization. One in which he (Jeff Smith) took a salary. And Ianucci was left looking from the outside in. So Ianucci started (or continued) promoting vintage races. As part of the promotion Ianucci used the AHRMA copywritted "BEARS" term for British, American, European Racing Series as one of the classes of races he was promoting. So AHRMA sued for protection of the copywrite. And won. And then kicked Ianucci out of AHRMA. But as part of that they also kicked out anyone that was a part of Team Obsolete, aka Roper, Eric Green, Vesco, Duhamel, Redman, etc. So Ianucci appealed and lost the appeal. He then sued AHRMA. That lawsuit has been joined by an AHRMA countersuit for lawyer fees. Which brings us to today.

Basically this thing is a clash between two big egos. Smith's and Ianucci's.

Craig

 

[JAM614]

That's it in a nutshell.
The sad thing is that Ianucchi has rumured to have stated that he intends to bankrupt AHRMA by dragging them through the judicial system, a slow painfull death. Maybe he intends to stage a new vintage race organization?

In Ianucchi's defense though, I don't think the leadership of AHRMA has come out and stated all of the facts to the members to fully understand what has transpired. Maybe their hands are legally tied from disclosing any information at this stage... I don't know.

At any rate, it makes me appreciate the work that Bob Coy has done and providing all of us in the Northeast an avenue to race. Since joining the USCRA I have met many people that are very supportive and just outright great folks. I basically just have showed up and raced. I really have no idea what it takes to run an organization and the planning behind the scenes to make it all run smoothly.

 

[bfd]

It sounds like staying small has some definate advantages for us.

I had no idea that was going on with AHRMA. The biggest losers in this are the guys that just want to race.
bfd

 

[UngaWunga]

http://www.nonprofitissues.com/public/features/leadfree/2006aug1-IS.html

http://forums.13x.com/showthread.php?t=123948


Edited by - UngaWunga on Nov 03 2006 5:30:29 PM

 

[magnetoczar]

Anybody here ever met Ianucci in person, or had any dealings with him? I have, and while I admire his fervor for vintage racing and his willingness to allow extremely valuable machines he owns out on the track, he's not exactly the kind of guy you'd have over to your house for an evening. Very abrasive and self-centered. And there's not a few bad stories about him, whether true or not I don't know, but then there's more than a few about Jeff Smith. Bob Coy I know, and he's a pure soul who simply loves the sport and its people.

Dgy

 

[joe c]

ive met rob. not exactly the nicest guy. but hey, hes from ny, so he was probably blowing me in his own way. actually, i didnt get any impression of him either way. just seemed like the guy of guy whos all business. which i guess is ok. just leads to burning people on a regular basis. i do know olmstead donated some cb550's to him a long time ago, and i know rob has the largest collection of pt boats in ny. apparently thats his thing, touring the east river playing kennedy or something.


jc

 

[magnetoczar]

One of the AHRMA officials who had had it dealing with him said, "All lawyers should be shot, and all lawyers from NYC should be shot twice".

hee, hee,
Dgy

 

[krapfever]

Anybody else find the acronym BEARS funny in a hairy-old-dudes-who like-little-boys kinda way?

Honda go sideways!

 

[joe c]

ok, lets keep the teddys out of it. im going to guess, less than half the people here know what youre talking about. rob would be a shoe in.


jc

 

[JAM614]

Pandas, total homos.

Interesting reading on the other boards. Not sure who is to believe but, damn there is (or was) alot of money involved. Why should the board members be making 6 figures?