First Nationals Trophy in Open?

Not entirely sure how I’m supposed to feel right now.

I’ve been told the software calculated the number of trophies incorrectly. I haven’t done the math by hand yet.

I was awarded my trophy today for 10th place.

At the end of the awards ceremony I was approached and my trophy was taken away.

At the banquet tonight I was awarded a trophy for 11th place.

Not going to lie it feels like a “Shut up don’t make a big stink about it here’s a piece of plastic you did not earn”.

Forever my first open trophy at nationals will feel incredibly tainted.

The way we hand out trophies in impound before results are final is incredibly broken. Why are we awarding trophies 20 mins after last car and marking results final after 30 mins.

I watched the final cars. I stressed. I celebrated my first open trophy. I cried I was so happy.

I was handed the trophy. It was in my hands. Photos were taken. I was so excited to celebrate tonight with my friends and crack the Octomore I brought as a celebratory drink if I accomplished the goal I set out for.

Then it was taken away. To say I was incredibly crushed and distraught is a complete understatement.

I filed a protest against 8.6, 8.7, 8.8

After filing the protest I was told it was founded and that filing the protest would just waste everyone’s time. I actually think against my better judgement I withdrew my protest. I feel now that I should have went forward with my protest to hopefully inspire change to the process. Why are protests discouraged in this sport so much?

I was handed an 11th place trophy at the banquet tonight. A trophy I should have been celebrating since this morning. I was served an absolute rollercoaster of a day today from a club a have devoted my life to since 2008.

I’m not sure how I’ll feel about events going forward. Perhaps I need a break.

East Course
West Course