I am hearing some very very disturbing reports coming from the Buddh circuit in Dehli, where the SupraSAE event is being run this weekend .

I will make no further comment until I have confirmed details, but I fear the consequences for the Indian teams will be catastrophic!

More news when it comes to hand.

Pat

From what I hear a certain individual, Mr. K.C. VORA from the management committee known to run the event to his whims is responsible for this decision.

Catastrophic would be an understatement.

If the news is true, it is very disheartening.
After such efforts into the car, we were expecting to get in some real and good advise for the next year car. All that seems to be gone.

After having followed/participated in the SAE events in India, i seem to have lost hope. Baja and Supra, both.

I just hope that the news is not true.

i dont know what went wrong between vora and claude! cause at the very start of formula sae here in India (design challenge virtual FSAE 2009) where KC vora and Cluade had judged together! hopefully there should be misunderstanding.

i request all the students to sign and submit an apology to claude sir. At no point of time have students been involved with Dr Vora in doing this and the teams participating internationally should not suffer.

Could someone tell the rest of us, what has happened there?

+1 on what happened?! It sounds pretty big!

*EDIT* has it got to do with the driver training requirement?

Claude was not allowed to enter the premises of the Buddh Circuit where SupraSAE (the Indian version of FS/FSAE) is being held this year.

He was denied access by Dr.K.C.Vora for reasons unknown.

Here's a link to the ongoing Facebook discussion,
http:/ /www .face book .com/photo.php?fbid=420090394714100&set=o.286092748756&type=1&relevant_count=1&ref=nf

News is that Claude was denied access to the Supra competition after reaching the track.

The OptimumG seminar in India, has been cancelled as a result.

It's a real shame on part of the organizers to have done such a thing, if it is true.

We all do apologise to Claude on behalf of Supra SAE India.
But I really hope the Indian teams do not suffer as a result of this.
The students have no part in the decision and they have been robbed of an excellent learning opportunity based on the illogical decision of one single person.
Indian FSAE teams suffering because of this would take away whatever chance the students have at learning the proper engineering and team values that only FSAE can teach.
Because Supra, if continued, will not help the students progress to the International level.
We need the participation in International Competitions for that.

Pat has told me the whole story and to say that this is a scandal does not really cover the story. I have never experienced such a respectless behaviour and I think this will influence the entire Indian FS/FSAE community for years.

If someone like this guy is able to reach such a high position and nobody in the organization prevents him from acting like this, something is totally wrong and changing this will not happen over night.
Therefore I think it may take several years until people like Claude, Pat or Steve will think again about offering help and I totally understand and support this.

This already makes waves and I am sure that it is only a question of hours to some days until every core organization member of each international FS/FSAE event knows about this incident.

This is very bad news and the only people who will suffer are the Indian students. I dont know the reason behind this stupid decision but I can venture a calculated guess.

When Claude conducted his last seminar in India, he did it at ARAI(Automotive Research Association of India) of which KC Vora is deputy director and head. And the ARAI of course got a share of the profits. However this year, Claude wanted to organize the seminar without the help of ARAI. This must have angered Vora and he decided to snub Claude by not allowing him inside the BIC. This is classic Indian politics and Claude is an innocent victim of that.

This was a stupid decision taken by an egotistical individual who obviously doesnt care about students. The real victims of this are the students. I think it will be almost impossible to get Claude back to India unless Vora apologizes.

This is beyond words...

I don't know the whole story, but I wouldn't take part in such a competition... What about a boycott until this person leaves the organisation?

I am quite sure, that Pat and/or Claude will tell the whole story soon.

quote:

Originally posted by JulianH:
This is beyond words...

I don't know the whole story, but I wouldn't take part in such a competition... What about a boycott until this person leaves the organisation?

There are too many teams here in India, of which most don't know about this forum also. Some may not also realize the gravity of this incident.

It will be only a few teams that may stop participating in it, but the numbers would be very few to really call it a protest/boycott. Judging by the number of teams applying, it wouldn't really affect them.
I hope the organizers here in India take serious note of the incident, even though the damage seems irreversible.

If someone is interested in writing this guy... :D

vora.pga@araiindia.com

source

Is this the same bozo that decided students going wheel to wheel was a good idea?

quote:

Originally posted by AngryIndian:
This is classic Indian politics and Claude is an innocent victim of that.

Apart from the severity of this incident, I hope that this sentence is not true!

Has anyone else from the international judges been denied access?

Particularly anyone on this forum, who has been saying (on their own experience and authority) how corrupt the Indian system is in the Indian thread? this may be a reason.

I await the full story, although this is just... i really just can't find a word to describe how shameful it is.

In essence, what has been reported is true.

Claude is currently applying the '24 hour rule' before replying.

This is a political issue and has occurred after 6 months of dialogue and discussion between the Supra organisers and Steve Fox, Claude and myself. Neither Steve or I are in India this weekend either!

I will wait for Claude's comments.

Pat