| Skids, it's really not a question of the individual participants in Desmodue not being good club members or contributors. I've got to know quite a few people taking part and without exception they're all sound people. Individually, they absolutely embody all the qualities that makes this club a good place to be and I know that they get involved in all the club activities, not just the racing.
On the other hand, however humble it's original intent, desmodue is fast becoming the 'sexy' end of the DSC's activities. Far more glamorous than organising other stuff in the club calendar. Increased interest from Ducati UK, Ducati dealers, other parts of the trade and the possibility of getting onto Ducati's own web site, let alone the press attention. All very seductive for a club that wants to raise it's profile.
It may be nobody's intention to give off false "them and us" signals, but "closed door" meetings at the AGM, "secret" emails for participants eyes only, and suggestions from some quarters that there should be a desmodue entrants only web area all start to give off the impression that the desmodue entrants are the elite and the rest of us are the great unwashed.
Don't get me wrong. I think Desmodue is a great idea and would be doing it myself but for lack of funds and wifely hostility. I also appreciate that for the idea to fly, the management team need to put a lot of their time and attention into it. I just want a couple of things to be remembered.
First, that getting a race series going is just ONE of the things that the DSC does, not the only thing that gets attention.
Second, It's just that I want it to be OUR series...all six hundred and whatever members not just the thirty odd racers.
I'm quite prepared to stand back and leave the racers decisions (like tyre choices) to the racers - quite plainly it's daft to put those decisions to all members. But for goodness sake let's have all the race discussions open to everyone to look in on  |