A PRESS RELEASE AND ALL IS OK?
author: Leon Botha
The fact that the Board of Motorsport South Africa found it necessary to issue the following press release is worrying rather than pacifying.
Francois Pretorius has been involved in a number on controversies since his appointment firstly as Managing Director of MSA a title that was later changed to CEO for reasons we do not know?
Many questions were asked about appointments made or even "forced" onto the competitors and also where all the money came from to pay for inter alia flights and accommodation of certain people who did not miss an event?
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OG MAN OG
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Anyway – a while ago rumours started flying around that Mr Pretorius was in a spot of bother allegedly in connection with the selling of a very expensive consignment Porsche or two by his defunct company “John Abbot Kyalami? Then as rumours go it had it that the police rocked up at MSA to talk to the man, but “luckily” he was on a trip to an Off-Road event? As I say, all rumours.
Not to be outdone by the normal trend of rumours those surrounding him picked up momentum and more competitors and role players became worried – hush-hush of course because rumour also had it that he is a very difficult customer when upset?
Then luckily, yesterday as the stories peaked the Board of Motorsport South Africa issued a Media Release on allegations regarding their Chief Executive Officer Mr Francois Pretorius stating as follows – (forgive me for adding a question or two to the release which I hope will be answered.)
With regards to allegations surrounding Motorsport South Africa’s (MSA) Chief Executive Officer, Mr Francois Pretorius, MSA wishes to inform as follows:
• Mr Pretorius has informed the Board of MSA of events which transpired prior to his employment by MSA when he was serving as a Director of a private company which was placed in liquidation during 2009; [Does this mean he did not inform them when he applied for the position?]
• Mr Pretorius co-operated with the liquidators of the company in the winding-up process. No claims were proven in the insolvent estate and the liquidators of the company filed a report with the Master of the High Court; [If no claims were proven, why did the liquidation process go ahead?]
• Mr Pretorius has assured the Board of MSA that he has appointed attorneys and Counsel to deal with all matters and to co-operate with any SAPS investigation to bring these matters to finality;
• there is no criminal case pending in any Court of law against Mr Pretorius, he has not been arrested, and he is not “out on bail”; [Would all appointments and co-operation have been necessary if there is no criminal case PENDING in any Court of Law? I am only asking?]
• MSA recognises the Constitutional rights of all persons and in particular the right of persons to be presumed innocent until proven guilty in a Court of law; [I suppose that goes for everybody’s rights?]
• until such time that there is a criminal prosecution against Mr Pretorius, or he is convicted in a Court of law, his appointment as the Chief Executive Officer of MSA is supported by the Board. This seems to be the trend in South Africa – so we are no exception to the rule?
I suppose we will all just have to sit back and see what the outcome of this is but while we are on a roll I believe the article published in the Business Day Motor News last Thursday – in Charl Wilken’s column can also be added to this matter as the appointment of the management was a direct result of MSA interference in rallying?
EATING DUST: Let’s have clear-cut rules applied fairly to all...
The organisers of rallying in SA come under fire
ALL in all it has been a terrific year for rallying in SA, extremely exciting and very competitive. With so many top names competing and super expensive machinery the crowds were constantly treated to jaw-dropping action and close competition.
At the beginning of the year rallying was turned on its head when the management team underwent a major facelift. Lots of promises were made and we as competitors were excited to see where they will be taking the sport, but sadly I believe they haven’t delivered in important areas. Two rallies were replaced with two brand-new events where we were promised huge crowds, but their marketing was exceptionally poor and consequently the attendance was disappointing. From inside the car, some of the roads used were even more disappointing and far from suitable for the super expensive machinery we are using .
They still cannot come up with a series sponsor for this awesome sport, and unfortunately without money it’s understandable that their marketing efforts are simply not up to standard. They need to wake up and start performing and delivering on their promises or we will be in trouble very soon. However I am sure there is some light at the end of the tunnel, as I believe that they know they are under performing and have set some plans in place for next year.
Although rallying must have been spectacular to watch throughout the year, behind the scenes it is a very different picture almost resembling a circus. Chaos and laughable decisions are mostly the order of the day and therefore I have lost a great deal of respect for these people.
Those making and enforcing rules just have no clue. Rules are written poorly and changed as they please — for the worse I must add. But worst of all, they struggle even to enforce their own rules.
A long and tedious hearing was settled months after one incident occurred although I now hear it is actually still ongoing. Although appearing clear cut, the outcome showed they always seem to crack under pressure, especially if it is from the rich or powerful teams. Different people tend to get different penalties, some severe or some not at all for the same offence. Surely rules are written to be obeyed, and that counts for everyone.
In the last event of the year, the MTN Polokwane Rally, at the start of day two we were instructed that the timing of the event had changed and we needed to adhere to this. As the rules state, the Clerk of the Course had to post a signed bulletin for this to become legitimate, which was done. Unfortunately the first car on the road then made a mistake by still following the old timing, as did the second car on the road. Thus they clocked in six and three minutes early at one of the check points and the penalty for this is a very clear minute for each minute early. At the end of the rally they did not get their penalties. After inquiring about this we were told that it is in the interest of the sport not to penalise them. In the interest of who?
If the penalties were applied according to the regulations it would have been a 1-2-3 for Ford, and apparently that is not good for the sport. Surely for the sake of the sport it is far better simply to apply the rules.
As I was writing this article the following written explanation came from Motorsport SA: "With regard to the alleged infringement at the TC at SS12, the following. There was some unclarity regarding instructions in the road book and a bulletin, amending the instructions in the road book was released to prevent confusion. Only two co-drivers interpreted the amendment correctly: Pierre Arries and Elvene Coetzee.
Their alleged infringement was in fact the only correct interpretation of the amendment to the road book. This means that only Fekken/Arries and Poulter/Coetzee had grounds for protest and had they elected this option the rest of the field would be penalised. There was a protest in the process of being lodged, but after reading the bulletin containing the amendment the protest was withdrawn. No other protests were lodged. MSA is in the process of revising the white book to ensure and aid in clarity of interpretation."
Now I am totally confused by the fact that all the navigators competing in the rally were apparently wrong by following the written instructions posted in a bulletin by the Clerk of the Course, and the only two that did not follow the instructions are correct. So why did one of the navigators, after being told by a fellow competitor that he has made a mistake, stop clocking in early at the following control if he indeed interpreted the rule correctly. To me it looks like he admitted he was wrong and didn’t want to incur further penalties.
Personally it looks more like a cover up, but that’s my opinion. It sounds like another cleverly thought- out rule is going to be changed. No right or wrong here, no black or white, but rather just a nice grey area open for interpretation, it seems.
Imagine if the rules were applied like that in rugby or cricket.
Maybe they won’t dismiss Graeme Smith on 99 as it might not be good for the sport. Or maybe there is one rule that counteracts that rule and another that counteracts that one. Or maybe the umpire interprets the rule differently to all the other umpires.
In rallying we are expected to take it on the chin and walk away. Well I am sorry, I believe in right and wrong and I think it is about time the people enforcing the rules in rallying start doing the same. Just do your job and that’s it. Don’t try to be clever, because clearly you aren’t. And please stop allowing the powerful to bend rules to their advantage.
We as competitors spend huge amounts of money and need to keep our sponsors constantly happy, under pressure to ensure that we can continue in the sport in the future.
So all we ask is, supply some clear- cut rules and some competent people to enforce them properly. It’s not rocket science at all.
I was thinking of trading in my racing overalls for a clown suit, but instead I have decided as a competitor that I will do my very best with all my fellow competitors to make sure these people wake up and start performing their duties properly.
We as competitors have made huge investments in the sport and if we have something to say we are going to say it — we will not allow this circus to carry on into the 2012 season. Let’s be honest, we have the most competitive and arguably the best national rally championship in the world, so we need the best marketing and management we can get in 2012 to ensure that our sport gets the credit it deserves.
• The views in this column are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Motor News or its editorial team.
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Oi, Oi?? and I thought they were all happy?
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There you have it – now all we need is for MSA to talk to a few of us about certain happenings over the past year and while we discuss that maybe we should also investigate the meaning of “vested interests” in the sport?
To think that the previous management was guilty of “not communicating sufficiently” – but they had sponsors for the series, for every event, a champion was announced every year for something like 11 years, we introduced S2000 and had a much better thing going..?
“MSA these are your customers calling, come in MSA!” “allo’ allo’ anyone listening?”
The sad thing is that they believe we are all happy - because competitors are too scared to open their mouths, manufacturers do understandably not want to be involved in stupid fights and sponsors are frowning on their investments - so we are all hanging on to the reputation and excitement of motorsport?
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Oh my they are going to take away my licence or make me drive over rocks?
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I sincerely believe that a few resignations will be in order to save us all probable further embarrassment?
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