[Brian Baker]

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-title">quote:</div><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-content">Originally posted by GTO 4MA:
Quote Brian Baker:

"Other than the skin they're wrapped in, there isn't a single Pontiac in any form of Pro class racing that shares anything with we enjoy personally within the hobby."

Who's we? You?

"You make it sound as if POCI officers were involved from the first one, but they weren't. It was the hard work of members that wanted racing with the convention that got all of the ducks in a row."

You seem to know a lot about the drag racing event history of POCI. Just who were the members that supported and helped organize the drag races prior to 2004?

"POCI never brought up the inclusion of GMC's until GM merged the sales divisions of Pontiac and GMC. Prior to this, the idea of inclusion wasn't even a fart in the wind."

So you're saying including GMC in POCI was never discussed prior to the merger of the sales divisions. How do you know this?

"but has it really swelled the membership ranks?"

Who said it would swell the membership ranks?

"POCI is a great organization, but even great ones have flaws."

As a member of POCI, don't you think it would be more productive to put your efforts towards helping out rather than bashing POCI on an internet web site? Do you plan on attending and participating in this year's drag event at Atlanta Dragway? </div></BLOCKQUOTE>

Your question "who's we, you?" further proves your ignorance towards Pontiac involvement in Pro racing. Aside from the few diehards that race traditional Pontiac powered cars in NHRA Stock and Super Stock classes, there is nothing in any form of Pro class racing that even remotely resembles or shares anything within the hobby...the hobby that POCI is built around.

Prior to Arnie Beswick speaking at one of POCI's get-togethers two years ago, POCI officers were reluctant to include drag racing in with the convention. I don't know any members personally that got these races together prior to 2004, but I do know that those in "managerial" positions at POCI (ie - officers) certainly weren't involved. It was made clear every year that the race was not part of the convention, but held seperately "in conjunction with". I'm just glad to see that POCI has heeded Arnie's advice.

Let me rephrase about the GMC inclusion issue. It was brought up at least once before since 1990, and it was shot down. After GM brought the Pontiac and GMC sales divisions together, it was brought back up again, and for some reason this time, it was voted in. I need to look no further than my back issues of Smoke Signals for the club officers reasonings behind the inclusion, and number one on their list was to increase membership. I don't disagree with that reasoning, all I am saying is, it didn't work as well as they had hoped.

I'd like to get to another convention someday, especially now that there's racing directly involved, but it won't happen this year as my going away plans for Pontiac events are already occupied with Jim Zeek's race at VMP and the biggie at Norwalk. As for making POCI better? I've pulled my fair share of helping with POCI on a local level, as well as with other organizations, and frankly, it's a thankless job that you're never appreciated in. That's why I rarely help anymore.

I would have sent this reply to you via email, but you don't have one in your profile.