Put a fork in Level 5 | Page 24 | FerrariChat

Put a fork in Level 5

Discussion in 'Other Racing' started by PCA Hack, Apr 4, 2012.

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  1. apex97

    apex97 Formula Junior
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    Nov 25, 2006
    593
    Stockbridge, GA
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    Edward Zabinski
    "West" is the manufacturer of the Sports racer we used as the basis for the DSR project, Scott owned the company for awhile, as for the rest, I am finished commenting about it, the hatred out there is surprising and frighting and I don't want to encourage more threats. You'd be amazed what people have said to me just because I took an un popular position and defended a friend in public. We are an ugly species.
     
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  2. rob lay

    rob lay Administrator
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    Dec 1, 2000
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    well Scott was behind some ugly things. as for those who benefited, what is the term, blood money?

    ahh, I found his old 430 Challenge. It was called West Fund. Everyone was like, what the heck is that.

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  3. BartonWorkman

    BartonWorkman F1 Veteran
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    Thanks for your perspective Ed.

    I've got no dog in the fight one way or the other, having half-way watched this thread and read news stories
    when they came out.

    But, you're well within your right to finish commenting. As we saw in the Florida section a couple of years ago,
    when there was a bit of a blow up, there are those whom are just as willing to crucify the messengers as they
    are the perpetrator.

    I may have missed it in the news and on the documentary but has there been any mention of restitution for victims
    or are the attorneys soaking up all the fines?

    BHW
     
  4. GuyIncognito

    GuyIncognito Nine Time F1 World Champ
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    Jun 30, 2007
    91,687
    WestFund was Tucker's "private equity firm", although it appears their principal business activity was to make high interest rate loans to small businesses.
     
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  5. PDX_214

    PDX_214 Formula Junior

    Apr 25, 2010
    767
    Portland, OR
    Full Name:
    J
    I can't believe anyone would defend this guy. Scam artist through and through. I know people like that, and if they're nice to you, its because they want something from you, they don't give a flying f*** about you. Trying to say he was on the tech side and didn't know what was going on... come on, does he really think we're that stupid? No, he just doesn't care.

    Rot in jail scum bag. I don't care how much of a nice guy he was to some people, his entire business was focused on ripping people off and destroying lives for monetary gain. F him. As part of my degree I had to take a class called "business ethics", clearly he missed that one.
     
  6. Lotaz

    Lotaz Formula 3

    Nov 18, 2016
    1,537
    Las Vegas
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    Scott
    I liked your comment because you did come back and make a statement. I know many times when something like this happens we, the general public, don't have all sides of the tail. Like Rob said you seem like a nice enough guy so I won't be apart of any bashing put towards you. My pitch fork is put away.
     
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  7. the_stig

    the_stig F1 Rookie

    Sep 19, 2005
    3,477
    West Fund was the prop company that Tucker's bio featured back in the beginning when he was being portrayed as a wiz private equity guy - which didn't ring true to anybody in the paddock who was paying any attention at all. No information could be found back then on West Fund. Zero. Nobody in the investment world had ever heard of it.

    As for the camera crew - I forget the name of the company but the "reporter" was Diana Binks - who was better known in England than here - and the goal was his film "Daytona Dream". Narrator was Jason Priestley. Nothing but the best for Scotty.
     
  8. rob lay

    rob lay Administrator
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    was anything ever released?
     
  9. the_stig

    the_stig F1 Rookie

    Sep 19, 2005
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  10. Nuvolari

    Nuvolari F1 Veteran
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    Sep 3, 2002
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    Rob C.
    I saw Daytona Dream on TV in Canada and it was actually quite well made. It tells the story of Level5 working together with Steve Dinan to make a Ferrari F430 based engine to run in a DP car at Daytona for the 24. After extensive testing and multiple failures they could not get the engines reliable so the second half of the documentary shows Level5 entering two DP's with proven engines (I cant remember if it was BMW or Ford) and full pro drivers. ST was entered in both cars (something I always thought was absurd to be allowed) and I think they finished on the podium. I can't find the film anywhere and would actually not mind seeing it again.
     
  11. the_stig

    the_stig F1 Rookie

    Sep 19, 2005
    3,477
    I've looked and looked for it and have never found it. Perhaps I'll contact Drive Motion Pictures and see if there is a way to get a copy.

    I wonder how close IMDB is with their estimate of $1,500,000 for production? LOL
     
  12. Gran Drewismo

    Gran Drewismo F1 Rookie

    Jan 24, 2005
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    This is really random, but does anyone know the particulars of their sponsorship with/by Microsoft for Microsoft Office? I know at least in 2010 they had their logo emblazoned on the cars. Was it a really good deal or was it a minor amount of money with ST funding the bulk of the program?
     
  13. the_stig

    the_stig F1 Rookie

    Sep 19, 2005
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    My guess is that Microsoft provided free enterprise software and no cash. Probably smoke and mirrors.
     
  14. GuyIncognito

    GuyIncognito Nine Time F1 World Champ
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    that was my guess too....somehow involved in ST's purchase of a lot of computer equipment/software, not a true sponsorship.

    but even in 2010 everyone knew what he was up to, surprised MSFT's lawyers let that continue.
     
  15. the_stig

    the_stig F1 Rookie

    Sep 19, 2005
    3,477
    Surprised at the continued appearance in Forza Motorsport too!

    As for Office - the sponsorship also showed "Azure" sometimes which is Microsoft's enterprise cloud computing platform so presumably Level 5 were using that for data.
     
  16. Gran Drewismo

    Gran Drewismo F1 Rookie

    Jan 24, 2005
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    All makes sense. Me being an IT guy seeing that caused my Spidey Senses tingle that something wasn't as it seemed. The Microsoft I know doesn't sponsor race teams, especially sports car racing ones that will reach a niche audience.
     
  17. the_stig

    the_stig F1 Rookie

    Sep 19, 2005
    3,477
    I was always curious about the Prairie Sun Casino sponsorship displayed in 2013 and I recall seeing some other sponsor associated with a tribal nation. Anyone know what the relationship was with Siemens? Free watches from Alpina?
     
  18. apex97

    apex97 Formula Junior
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    Nov 25, 2006
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    Edward Zabinski
    West the race car manufacturer and West Fund are different and unrelated companies.


    Sent from my iPhone using FerrariChat.com mobile app
     
  19. apex97

    apex97 Formula Junior
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    Nov 25, 2006
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    Edward Zabinski
    Maybe if Nathan were unblocked?;)


    Sent from my iPhone using FerrariChat.com mobile app
     
  20. rob lay

    rob lay Administrator
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    He has still posted under the Boardwalk account. Nathan is a piece of work.
     
  21. BartonWorkman

    BartonWorkman F1 Veteran
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    Perhaps a stupid question...

    It occurs that if ST shows no remorse to his victims and makes no apologies, but has he ever shown
    any (what's the word here...) appreciation for his racing competitors?

    BHW
     
  22. the_stig

    the_stig F1 Rookie

    Sep 19, 2005
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    Don't think that was ever in question. I certainly never mentioned the car manufacturer that Tucker bought to buy an amateur sportscar championship.
     
  23. rob lay

    rob lay Administrator
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    Ed did when I had been talking about the "equity" company, I knew what I was talking about.
     
  24. the_stig

    the_stig F1 Rookie

    Sep 19, 2005
    3,477
    Ed missed that or just misunderstood it. "West" did appear on the ALMS car around 2010 but that had nothing to do with what you were talking about. ;-)
     
  25. rob lay

    rob lay Administrator
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    Yep, this was 2006-2008 or so SCCA.
     

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