Newspaper Story about the All-American

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I have been in derby since I was 10 years old. I am now 45 and have a child racing. I am also one of derbies premier builders. The biggest problem I have seen with derby is a crude dictatorship that has survived since the 70's. There are 2 programs and the other is National Derby Rallies Inc. It was formed in 1977 because the format was not fair and the sport needed uniformity. I reside as an executive on this board of directors as well as my company Zero Error Racing Inc. is a national sponsor. Our race is called the REAL RACE not the WHEEL RACE.... because we run a wheel swap ,lane swap with a timer to determine the winner. The AA has done everything within their power to kill this organzation but it has survived because the sport deserves a true champion. The AA gives you 4 wheels and a lane and wishes you luck. The fastest cars in derby hardly ever win the AA because of this. We also carry insurance and run rallies and our insurance only costs $25,000 a year unlike the $180,000 that the AA pays for insurance to a broker that has also been CEO. This money problem comes within. Also I own a manfacturing facility and I manufacture tools for soap box racing as well as quarter midgets, karting and jr dragsters. These other organizations have outside vendors and manufacturers. The derby does not. Many times I have made things only to have them ruled illegal which forced me to manufacture for other venues. I have never seen a monopoly like this before. In my professional opinion this organaztion needs reorganized with a new management team. Akron locals have stolen the organazation blind by not having competitive bidding and jobs are being done within without cost control. A visciuos cycle that is blowing up in their face.,
About 5 years ago I started a forum where the derby world could be heard because there was no means and balance system in place for the rules. Our innovative cars were ruled illegal and the sport suffered many times because all cars were made illegal. In my forum, are archieved posts and new posts about problems from within the organization. I cater to the hardcore derby racers and builders.
The sport has also lived a lie. It was said that the contestants must build their cars and it was never enforced only selectively against the toughest competition. Many in this sport have seen their kids crushed because of this unbalanced enforcement system. Just like the Billy Blakely kid that was disqualified a few years back. I have taken a stand against this organazation years ago and have refused to be bullied or quit because I know what's right! My website is www.zero-error.com if anyone would like to view my forums.

Derek Fitzgerald
CEO Zero Error Racing,Inc.
NDR Sponsor
1977 Derby Champion

THE TRUTH & NOTHING BUT THE TRUTH. THEY MADE IT THAT WAY. LATER,HAL

In 1992, the derby began to require racers in the stock car division to buy car kits from the Akron organization. Eventually, it followed suit with racers in the super stock and masters divisions, too.

Not only did this put racers on a more even playing field, but it also provided a steady stream of revenue for the organization and made the sport more appealing to families who did not have the time or talent to build a car from scratch.

Now drink your coolaide and all will be fine.

Hey I'm no Jim Jones follower. Just like Jim Jones though the derby has followers of whatever they say. The PROBLEM is: The money is not spent on the kids but put in locals pockets you idiot. I'm a leader not a follower so if you wish you drink the koolaide dumbass then do so. It will not be fine because bankruptcy is around the corner. Maybe derby should pay Hartz $300,000.00 for insurance, CEO a whopping 180,000.00 and lying Eddie who knows what then what will be left for the kids................NOTHING like it is now dumbass!!
DEREK

Derek,
You weren't the target of the comment. At all! God ,I know your no follower. I was making fun of the even playing field and dumbing down of parents. I agree that they are going to bankrupt it, if they stay the course. Everything needs to change and adapt over time. They are holding on to a tradition of patonage and bad bussiness.

You better get your blood pressure checked, the cute little racer girl needs you around.

Hey Derek! Don't listen to non, she's a non factor. Been spouting venom. If she knew what we accomplished in the real nations... NDR... , it would blow her mind. But I guess everyone cheats, from her posting about bucks. Don was the man.

New posting:
AASB Regional Directory Position Open
REGION VIII: Delaware, District of Columbia, Maryland, New Jersey, Pennsylvania and Virginia

Okay I'll calm down but......even playing field??? Now more than ever its not a even playing field. The old timers ,politcal cheaters ,derby officials etc...... have been giving newbies the shaft for quite sometime. Just look at this forum. I've lived up here 18 years and during that time I have seen more corruption in a kids sport than you could imagine. These so called stock and SS cars that are suppose to be even is a joke. Akronites are notorious for getting superior parts for these cars.....ask Endress he's the local director. Floorboard dimensions have been changed making certain parts FASTER,Shells with thick noses move cars further up the hill....and the list goes on. Yes I am upset over this as the sport that some of us grew up in is managed only for personal gain. The fact all the things that used to be important to the champs has changed. The fact we have 2 stock classes is cool but this piece of crap masters car is a joke. There was a place for the hardcore builder in racing but now its down to once a year in Ultimate.

DEREK

I heard DelFerro gets a salary plus paid to build axles and floorboards on the side using AA overhead.
DEREK

O.K. I'VE HAD MY HEAD IN THE SAND,BEING SLAMMED WITH E-MAILS THIS MORNING IN REGARDS TO THE MAS EXODUS OF LONG TERM DERBY WORKERS AND THE PLIGHT OF THE A/A. WHO HIRED JIM HUNTSMAN AND WHO CAN GET RID OF HIM? REMEMBER IN ALL OF YOUR ANGER GUYS IT IS ABOUT THE KIDS! THE NDR NATIONALS AT AKRON HAS A NICE RING TO IT?

STEVE,YOU KNOW AS WELL AS I DO , THAT CAN NEVER HAPPEN. IT WOULD BE A ''REAL RACE'' THEN .WHAT WOULD THE ''aa'' HAVE TO OFFER THEN? FOR INSTANCE, THE 1st PLACE FINISHER FROM THE''aa''NOT EVEN QUALIFING FOR THE ''NDR CHAMPIONSHIP RACE'' , THE NEWS -MEDIA WOULD HAVE A FIELD DAY. HOW COULD THEY BE CONSIDERED A REAL WORLD CHAMPION?WHEN THEY ARE NOT FAST ENOUGH TO MAKE THE'' NATIONALS''.LIKE SOMEONE ELSE SAID IT WOULD BE WHEN PIGS FLY.IT MOST DEFINETLY IS A LOTTERY. FOR ALL FIRST TIMERS ENJOY THE TRIP,JUST REMEMBER ''eddie lied''.GOODLUCK,HAL P.S. I KNOW-I KNOW.THEY WOULD HAVE TO RACE DIFFERENT CAR BUT WHAT THE HELL (SAME POINT ANY TOP 9 CAR)

AASBD has not increased the winnings to the Champ in 40 years!

What would happen to race fields if the winnings were raised to 50K for Masters 30 for Super stock and 15 for Stock Champs

National Spelling bee champ recieves 40K and event has 280 qualifying events sponsored by Newspapers

Turn-Key first year cost for a Stock Car is close to $800. Kit-Wheels-ballast- shipping-tax race entry fee

Cubmobile first year Turn Key is 1/10 the cost. Adopt Cubmobile as a race division. No champ tho. Race cubmobile to 125 to 150 feet. Cubmobile is closer to the orginal idea of Soap Box Derby anyway SPORTY FEEDBACK PLease!

Consider allowing kids 6 and 7 participate in the new Cubmobile class. Karting and Autocross allow kids to participate why not AASBD! Loosing kids 5-7 year olds to other sports!

Market to the 1 million scouts. AASBD used to advertise in Boys life

Kits are too expensive. Need to reduce turn-key costs of the kits

Start with

Contract out the wheels to Ohio Based Northwest Molded Plastics They manufacture wheels for Wheel Chairs. Used on many Cubmobiles too. At least Northwest Molded Plastics have QA/QC and ISO standards they follow.

Consider marketing offical starting ramps, certified timing that provides ET as well previous phase recall. ET start could be incorporated into the ramps!

Time Difference confuses new participants. Some do not come back due to the confusion in understanding Time Difference. .

Provide website templates and host local web sites.

Host the creation of on-line event registeration tool for Locals and National event to use.

A national sponsor that provided free shipping would reduce the cost of the kits.

Create several positions in the AASBD office for graduates or interns who major/ed in sports marketing

AASBD Board should have members from Scouting, 4H, Sports Marketing majors

To make the annual show a race cut the trees down that shade the track place viewing stands in the space that has trees that shade the track

Cubmobile, (MPH)

I am not sure where to add in at on the cubmobile suggestion. There are alot of different cubmobile designs out there. their is the new LCG.

I think this would be a great idea and addition into a 5 to 7 year old into racing, following the current cub scout guide book recommendations, on ramp and distance.

It certainly could be achieved with working with The Boy Scouts and Cub scouts of America, It would also be something to finally work into the Girl Scouts of America also.

But there is alot of variables that would need to be worked out. Certainly a option that could be looked at.

I also realize, that there is a need to work on and fix the already three classes of racing in AASBD. With the 4th being the ultimate race.

So, looking at adding in a additional class my or may not help resolve the current issues. Due to partially appearing to be a marketing and finance issue then trickling down to the more common issues that have been mentioned previously.

Most articles I read, is that numbers are up, but sponsorship and fan base is down.

Getting the costs down in the kit area's, fees that the rallies and locals have to pay. lowering them is a plus to make it easier for more rallies to be held and so forth.

Sporty

www.derbytalk.com

(cubmobile)