Post by Brad Wunder on Sept 8, 2010 12:30:55 GMT -5
Over the course of nearly every race weekend there are certain events that take place which just can’t be ignored. Effective immediately the NFRA is implementing its very own Kangaroo Court. What is a Kangaroo Court you ask? Well, a Kangaroo Court is where the perpetrators of incidents of sillyness, hilarity and general amusement are brought up on charges in front of a jury of their peers. The NFRA Kangaroo Court (henceforth known as the KC) is now operational and is accepting changes against those individuals who commit certain “infractions”.
Examples of KC infractions cited below have occurred at an NFRA race at some point or another. Infractions may include, but not limited to, the following:
Gross Vehicular Ineptitude
Causing Large-Scale Hilarity in the Pits
Wanton Environmental Destruction
Inciting Track Mayhem
Excessive Whining & Sniveling
The KC is intended to be strictly for fun and is entirely voluntary. Simply respond to this thread or tell me in person that you want to participate and you are “in”. Once a member of the court you will be able to file charges, but also, be subject to the findings of the court. Fines for being found guilty of an infraction will be as follows: Major-$5, Minor-$2. All proceeds generated from fines will be used for year-end awards and/or banquet.
This is how the process works…. As stated above, any member of the court can bring any of the charges listed above against any other member of the court. After a race weekend a new thread will be added to this section of the forum. If you feel charges are warranted, you can file charges in the appropriate thread. Statements from witnesses are welcomed and encouraged. Nothing like swaying the court of public opinion before the defendant has an opportunity to defend him/herself.
At the next schedule race day, during the tons of downtime typical of race days, we will convene the KC. The plaintiffs will have 30 seconds to state their case. The defendant will have 30 seconds to defend themselves (unless they plead guilty). Once the cases are made, the jury of KC members will deliberate and render judgement. If found guilty, the KC chit will be updated with the fine amount. At the end of the season we will tally the chit for each KC member and collect fines levied by the KC.
Kangaroo Court Legal Standards
"Beyond a reasonable doubt" - This means that the proposition being presented by the prosecution must be proven to the extent that there is no "reasonable doubt" in the mind of a reasonable person that the defendant is guilty. There can still be a doubt, but only to the extent that it would not affect a "reasonable person's" belief regarding whether or not the defendant is guilty. Does this standard apply to the Kanagroo Court? Ah, no.
"Preponderance of the evidence" - The standard is met if the proposition is more likely to be true than not true. Effectively, the standard is satisfied if there is greater than 50 percent chance that the proposition is true. Does this standard apply to the Kangaroo Court? Ah, no.
"Yeah, that could have happened" - This standard states that a jurist must simply be able to say, with good conscience, that yes, the infraction could have happened. Variants on this standard are, I've seen that happen before, I bet that will happen again, or, I hope that doesn't happen to me. All variants are considered valid cause to find the defendant guilty.
;D
Drivers currently "in"
Brad W.
Rich
Karl
Terri
Scott S.
Andy
Paul
Tom
Jason
Simon
Examples of KC infractions cited below have occurred at an NFRA race at some point or another. Infractions may include, but not limited to, the following:
Gross Vehicular Ineptitude
- Major-Driver of the #19 not attaching his motor to his kart and not discovering it until he was on the starting grid with the external starter already engaged (Dixon). I felt terrible for the driver, knowing that he was going to miss the race. But I have to admit, I was LMAO inside my helmet because, well, it was pretty d**n funny.
- Minor-Driver of the #9 not checking his throttle cable and whinning all afternoon about his motor running like crap (Atwater). Two words. How embarrassing.
Causing Large-Scale Hilarity in the Pits
- Major-Driver of the #18 starting her kart in the pits only to have it drive itself off into the desert (Reno). This is the stuff of legend. Without getting into detail, let’s just say once that sucker took off and went under the fence leaving the track facilities, it would have gone across the high desert until it ran outta gas. Luckily that gully caught it. I still smile every time I think about that incident.
- Minor-Driver of the #4 freaking because he thought all of his keys were locked in his trailer(Atwater). Nothing sucks more that thinking you lost your keys (or wallet) hours from home. When the driver of the #4 realized what he thought happened while we were eating dinner at the restaurant, we all felt his pain. But after returning to the track and discovering his keys really were there in his unlocked trailer it caused at least a minor chuckle.
Wanton Environmental Destruction
- Major-Driver of the #19 continuously pouring motor oil all over the pits (too many locations to list). We’re not talking about just a little bit of oil here. At one point the driver of the #42 stepped up to the plate and started carrying a bag of kitty litter for the hazmat event that was sure to come. The problem with those new fangled measuring cup/funnel combo sort of do-dads is that at least some drivers can easily spill their entire load of 16-18 ozs real quick. In the 19’s case, it wasn’t unusual to see a good 10-12 ozs either on his tee shirt or on the ground (or both). Travis, our friend in the NNKC, be afraid, very afraid.
Inciting Track Mayhem
- Major-Driver of the #10 tried to snag P2 from P3 at the start of the race, got into turn 1 WAY too hot, quasi lost control, then fully lost control in turn 2 resulting in mass panic and carnage behind him (Prairie City). Seems like this happens quite a bit. Can’t we all just play nice and get through at least the first lap? LOL
- Minor-Driver of the #64 looping his kart (all by himself) coming onto the straight taking out the race leader (Prairie City). Ahhhhh the single kart incident that turns into the multi-kart accident...Doesn’t that happen at just about every race?
Excessive Whining & Sniveling
- Major/Minor (completely at the discretion of the court) – Driver of the #19 WHENEVER he starts in the outside row. Granted, starting positions are always important. But the driver of the #19 has set the bar when it comes to EW&S about starting positions. Like telling someone they have BO, no one in the NFRA has had the heart to tell the driver of the #19 that there is a very simple remedy for his continuing and ongoing problem of starting on the outside row…drive faster!
The KC is intended to be strictly for fun and is entirely voluntary. Simply respond to this thread or tell me in person that you want to participate and you are “in”. Once a member of the court you will be able to file charges, but also, be subject to the findings of the court. Fines for being found guilty of an infraction will be as follows: Major-$5, Minor-$2. All proceeds generated from fines will be used for year-end awards and/or banquet.
This is how the process works…. As stated above, any member of the court can bring any of the charges listed above against any other member of the court. After a race weekend a new thread will be added to this section of the forum. If you feel charges are warranted, you can file charges in the appropriate thread. Statements from witnesses are welcomed and encouraged. Nothing like swaying the court of public opinion before the defendant has an opportunity to defend him/herself.
At the next schedule race day, during the tons of downtime typical of race days, we will convene the KC. The plaintiffs will have 30 seconds to state their case. The defendant will have 30 seconds to defend themselves (unless they plead guilty). Once the cases are made, the jury of KC members will deliberate and render judgement. If found guilty, the KC chit will be updated with the fine amount. At the end of the season we will tally the chit for each KC member and collect fines levied by the KC.
Kangaroo Court Legal Standards
"Beyond a reasonable doubt" - This means that the proposition being presented by the prosecution must be proven to the extent that there is no "reasonable doubt" in the mind of a reasonable person that the defendant is guilty. There can still be a doubt, but only to the extent that it would not affect a "reasonable person's" belief regarding whether or not the defendant is guilty. Does this standard apply to the Kanagroo Court? Ah, no.
"Preponderance of the evidence" - The standard is met if the proposition is more likely to be true than not true. Effectively, the standard is satisfied if there is greater than 50 percent chance that the proposition is true. Does this standard apply to the Kangaroo Court? Ah, no.
"Yeah, that could have happened" - This standard states that a jurist must simply be able to say, with good conscience, that yes, the infraction could have happened. Variants on this standard are, I've seen that happen before, I bet that will happen again, or, I hope that doesn't happen to me. All variants are considered valid cause to find the defendant guilty.
;D
Drivers currently "in"
Brad W.
Rich
Karl
Terri
Scott S.
Andy
Paul
Tom
Jason
Simon