But it’s more than nails – The Gauntlet is under a full blown attack by an assembly of SCCA trolls
This is an odd story. Allow me to just get that part out of the way up front.
The Gauntlet is an Autocross track located in Jacksonville, FL. Each month, the track is re-born. The parking lot race track gets a new shape, keeping things fresh for their customers. They recently raised their rental rates, which in turn, caused a bit of an outrage.
SCCA had two dates scheduled for ‘The Gaunlet’. However, those dates were suddenly cancelled. Why? Safety concerns were the reason given. The track responded by issuing a statement regarding the cancellation. It went to the lengths of calling out SCCA President Chris White.
This is where things get weird. The track is currently under attack. Both digitally and in real-life sabotage.
In a matter of days, the tracks 5.0 facebook rating has plummeted to 1.4 stars. 1 star review after 1 star review, the track has been harassed with negative feedback.From who? A planned attacked. An assembly of SCCA trolls, mostly.
Recently they took a step beyond just cyber-bulling. Overnight, the track was sprayed with roofing nails. Unaware, to track officials, they sent customers out on the track. They soon become unsuspecting victims. Those customers entered the surface with new tires and left it with flat tires. Which of course… sparked more bad reviews.
How many nails? They have swept the track, twice. So far, they’ve collected 20lbs worth of nails.
These trolls spoke of family. Stating they are simply defending their SCCA family. Well, I thought we were all a part of the same family. The racing family. This is simply an attack on your own kind.
Author: Shane Walters
The Gauntlet: Cyber Bullied
When someone says “Cyber Bully” the first thing that pops in your head is probably not a group of hundreds of people joined together in membership of a Not for Profit Association. But as you read further you may have to change the definition in your head.
Recently, a Jacksonville Florida Autocross track called “The Gauntlet” was brutally mobbed by hundreds of negative (and some outright disgusting) posts to their social media page, and suffered so many negative reviews from the mob that their customer satisfaction rating went from a perfect 5.0 Star to a paltry 1.5 Star, all because they raised their daily rental rates. The group is part of the SCCA, the SCCA stands for Sports Car Club of America, and is a nationwide organization with many thousands of members, and is generally been a positive influence in the automotive industry for many years.
As an auto racing outsider, what seems to have occurred is an orchestrated attack by a group all of whom are members of the Buccaneer Region SCCA, who essentially simultaneously posted negative feedback against the Gauntlet. From what it appears, the group was unhappy with a price hike at the track, but instead of complaining about the cost increase they chose to publicly post to Facebook and auto racing chat groups that the track is now unsafe and unfit for use.
Where the story gets really interesting is when it was brought to light that the Chairman, Mr. Chris White then began simultaneously planning with the members in what was thought to be a private chat group to circumvent the leaseholder of the track by soliciting the property owners directly…after the successful take down of the current business operators by the actions of his group.
Unfortunately for Mr. White, the chat group was actually public, and screen shots were taken before the comments were later removed. At one point members of the Buccaneer group literally called upon their entire membership to attack The Gauntlet saying: “Troll Team Assemble!” giving the impression that this may not have been the first time the group has taken such cyber bully actions.
The Gauntlet customer review rating fell from a perfect 5.0 to a 1.5 in one day as a result of this cyber bully attack. In reviewing the older posts on the Gauntlet Facebook page it seems that the same SCCA members posting negative comments had a wonderful experience during their last rental of the track several months prior, and until yesterday there had never been a single complaint post on the page.
Certainly the SCCA does not and will not tolerate this sort of behavior from their members, they can’t just stand by while their members post videos of male genitals on the page of a family friendly business…right? The Gauntlet asked that we get the National SCCA to render their opinion on what had occurred, so we directed a series of questions to the SCCA asking if this sort of behavior by their members would garner any repercussions, the SCCA Communications Manager Jim Llewelln simply responded “The SCCA National Office has no comment on this matter at this time.”
So is this simply an issue of Freedom of Speech for these club members? I can only assume these non-profit organizations must have an obligation, legally or otherwise, to regulate and take action to condemn or terminate their relationships with members who launch these types of attacks or post sexually inappropriate public messages towards a business in the local community.
Reported by: Brandy Christine
[email protected]
The Gauntlet: Message to SCCA
Thank you Jax Solo – Buccaneer Region SCCA President representing SCCA Inc. for choosing to NOT book at The Gauntlet for the two dates you had reserved for months because our rate is the same as Fernandina Beach Municipal Airport, then posting that you did not book The Gauntlet due to safety concerns.
Why not tell the truth to your paying members? Why slander our course by telling people it is unsafe when Jax Solo – Buccaneer Region SCCA President Chris White designed the courses here to SCCA Inc. safety specs to begin with? Tell the truth Chris!
Update: Race track sabotaged with nails
We just want to thank the person or persons who covered nearly all 12.5 acres of The Gauntlet with roofing nails yesterday. We really appreciate you taking the time to come out to the course. Luckily, Regency Square Mall has security cameras so we should be able to get some footage to publish soon.
Well…we may not have identified the culprit(s) yet, but we have 100% identified the product used and where it came from. Approximately 20lbs of these nails were recovered so far on two sweeps. We will sweep the course again until we have them all.
The good folks at Home Depot Regency said they sell about 25 packs of these nails in 30lb bags every couple of days. For the low low price of just $35 you too can create havoc, impress your friends and disable an entire autocross track! Buy two bags and pay only $24 each while supplies last! We will post more info as it becomes available.
Author: The Gauntlet Staff
