Open apology letter to Bret and Air Ride Technologies:

[TitoJones]

Bret-

I know I come off on the boards as abrasive, arrogant, and even hostile at times, and to outsiders I can see how this reflects on me and my company. I am not perfect, and emotion surpasses my rational thought more often than not when it comes time to hit the 'Post Reply' button.



Basically I wanted to let you know that I am sorry for my hostile approach toward your company and its product line. I am unfairly attacking you because of your chosen relationships with Fatman. While I disagree with most everything he has ever said, I cannot lump you in with him just because you have a working relationship with each other.

I initially disagreed with your company's approach to the spindle situation. I know it is not remotely my place to tell you how it should be handled, and I again apologize for coming in and sh*tting all over your build thread. It was the wrong thing to do and I acted in a horrible manner. Even today I caught myself continuing this behavior in the Year One thread, and the Alston's Gbar thread. Hind sight is 20/20 and I can see why you chose to handle it the way you did. That you even put up with me and my post shows what stand up guys you and your crew at air ride really are.

Bottom line is my animosity is toward Brent from Fatman, and I've been taking it out on you unfairly.

I know it doesn't mean much this late in the game, but I have received over 45 PM's and 5 calls from vendors and mods alike telling me to stop doing this sh*t. The one that hit home most for me was Steve Chryssos of Twist Machine reaming me on the phone for what I knew I deserved, but didn't want to admit to. He brought up some very valid points, and I see things from your and his perspective. I'm again disgusted with my actions, and wished I handled it differently looking back.

I don't play the politics game very well, and I never have. The end result is always the same- I end up looking like the a$$hole I tend represent my self as, and I end up eating my words three fold.

So to the members, moderators, and other vendors of this board I just wanted to public say that I can be a jacka$$, and that I've treated a fellow vendor unfairly. I am humbled by my own stupidity, and wish to terminate my participation on this board for the time being. I'm doing more harm to this board by being here vs doing good by providing tech to our members.

All the best.

Tyler Beauregard

[Johnny Blaze]

I didn't read the htreads, but it is very big of you to admit your mistakes.

[Rybar]

I think your a stand up guy Tyler, a young entreprenuer like myself. Your the only vendor that picked up the phone and called me personally about certain products. Not often you get the owner calling you to help out.

It's definatley hard sometimes to build a small business from the ground up and I am in the same process as you. Building a small furniture business among a sea of big fish box stores aint easy by any means. It's also very easy to be proud of your accomplishments.

Your right that its not the greatest idea to harp on competition, just work hard on your own lines and products, provide good service and value and you will succeed.

[Steve1968LS2]

Good move on the appology, but I don't think it's best to "retreat" from the board. Instead you should learn for this and move forward.

Never easy to admit a mistake, but it does show character when you do.

[70 Chevelle]

While everyone loses their temper now and then, I'm also guilty, apologizing on a public forum is never easy. I for one would be extremely disappointed to see you leave because evertime I look through threads trying to find some info I tend to look for certain members to chime in on the subject that includes everyone from your shop. While I realize your purpose in life is not to personally help me I'm sure a lot of members have learned from you and the members of your shop. So the apology is up to the members of air ride to accept and none of my busniess but as far as you saying you would like to provide valuable tech for members I have personally benefitted greatly from your membership and products

Tony

[killer69]

way to eat crow.
i know i have let my fingers do the talking more than a couple times and guess what....... every time it bites you in the ass!!!

it is amazing how right your elders can be some times, i remember the saying " if you have nothing nice to say.........

but having said that.......... this would be a very lame place if everyone only said nice things.

i applaud you on actually speaking your mind, and for comming to the realization that maybeeeeeeeeee you shouldn't have spoken your entire mind..

thanks for keeping us on our toes

man your not going anywhere!!!!!

[EFI69Cam]

Tyler,

Its not often that I feel moved to post on threads like this. I do have to say that you and your company have won my extreme respect. This is due not just to your fantasic products, but also your willingness to give tech advice on other vendors products.

Case in point, you spent time on the phone with me helping me get started on my "three-vendor" t56 install. This is appreciated alot. So I will join the others in saying, Please don't feel like you need to leave.

[ZZ430]

Tyler, you've come a long way since you helped me with a few things back in 2001.

When I see the progress of your company, I say to myself: "That guy is going places!"

Keep being on the cutting edge of development!

Don

[hotrdblder]

way to go tyler, steve is always good for a spanking or two, god knows i have gotten some.lol
i will agree i have been hard on air ride, but whether i like or agree with the way they do things, it is pretty damn hard to argue with them when they are doing umpteen autocross's a year and have there cars out on road atlanta all day long hot lapping 20-30mph faster then anyone else. I think the best thing to do is get out to these awesome events, talk to the other manufacturers and just be car guys, theres enough business to go all around, and its way easier to be buddies then enemys.
bret and air ride drive the **** out of there cars, perfect geometry or not.
I have a plan to do more of these events so i do not get to cocky behind the keyboard, these events really have a way of getting you to sit back and think about what this hobby is all about.
bret, sorry for bustin balls, but it was good talking to you at year one and i am sure we will talk more, btw killer velocity camaro.

[novanutcase]

Don't beat yourself up about it! You have much to offer this board and it would actually be a disservice to us if you left. Just try and choose your words a little more carefully and you should be fine!

John

[7TSS]

Takes a real standup guy to come on a public forum and apologize like you did. As everyone else said you have a lot of good advice to offer and will be missed, so please rethink about not participating.

[trapin]

Tyler get the hell outta here....you ain't going nowhere.

You're feistiness is just who you are...we still love ya, bro.

Don't sweat it...we're all friends here.

[XLexusTech]

Tyler. I didn' read the threads but if its worth anything its always good for folks to throw things around. Their are far far too many people who will simply line up and eat up whatever is being served up.
So thanks form many of us who would rather use the info that comes out of threads that sometimes get heated.
Thanks again

[vp23271]

Tyler, I truly hope you reconsider.

Similar to what 70 Chevelle said, certain vendors and members on this board have helped me tremendously with their posts. You being one of them. As I look for information on this forum, I have been able to decipher credible information from hunches/opinion by simply looking at who is posting the info and has that persons info been accurate in the past.

Take what has happen as a lessons learned. We all make blunders and if I truly spoke my mind at work, I would be unemployed lol!

[Mr.VENGEANCE]

hahah

sucks when you owned yourself!

no worries bro.. at least you apologized.. best you can do.

other than that.. its a shame you feel as if you need to fall back from PT.com.. actually there are folks on here that need useful info that you have.. and for all those faults.. there are positives.. lots of em.

and anyway.. i actually dont mind that some folks on here call out companies that have bull isht products... this may not have been the company.. but i think that the better part of time on this board has been putting those guys in check and keeping the newer pt guys outta harms way..

so..


holler!

[BonzoHansen]

Good move on the appology, but I don't think it's best to "retreat" from the board. Instead you should learn for this and move forward.

Never easy to admit a mistake, but it does show character when you do.

+1 We've all put our foot in our mouth from time to time. Takes a real stand up guy to step up & deal with it.

[Turbo67camaro]

I'm a noob here, but my original model G-Bar being installed this week will be welded in (probably bolted too for good measure) ! I think that's good advice. It is an extra bit of safety, and I thank everyone who pushed me in that direction, including you, because it could save my life.

Granted, your tone was more antagonistic than necessary to get that point across, but people tend to do that when debating important issues. So, consider yourself a normal, imperfect person like the rest of us.

I come to this site specifically looking for advice from people like you. I make a point of sending my business to those industry leaders, like you, who are contributing on this site, as a thank you for helping me make better choices in my build. Not only would your absence here, decrease the value of this site, it will affect your business, as I'm sure many other people think like me.

Disagreement and debate are normal, healthy, and are crucial to the process at which progress is made. A little extra emotion is inevitable at times.

I'm glad you realize that you're not perfect like the rest of us, and that other people have valid input, often when you least expect it.

IMHO, you're not an a$$. A$$es are the people who can't ever bring themselves to apologize.

We noobs need you here !

P.S. If they changed their install instructions to recommend bolting it and welding it, well that would be progress imho.

[James OLC]

Tyler,

I understand your feelings about this and your post here is far more open and honest that many others would be. I don't think that there is anyone here who can honestly say that they have not regretted a post here or on another site at one time or another. Your passion for this hobby and your desire to have everybody produce products of the same outstanding quality as yours is appreciated more than you know. I have said many times that one of the things that differentiate many of the vendors here from the masses is that many, such as yourself, are enthusiasts first and vendors second. That, to me, is an extremely important distinction and has guided many of my buying decisions over the last three years.

All of that said, while I understand your consideration of self exile, I truly think that your contributions here are far more valuable than your silence.

[compos mentis]

My temper has cost me a lot trouble plus money, and after putting my family and myself in an less then ideal situation again because of how I responded to being ripped off, I vowed I would let my wife read my responses to certain people before I contact them. It just depends how important change is to us. Anger is like any addiction. We have to walk away from certain situations, just like an alcoholic has to stop spending time with his drinkin' buddies.

[MrQuick]

You know Tyler I was trying to call you too but your phone was busy.

I know you take this at a personal level and its uderstandable. Like my father told me many years ago. " son, If no one stirs the pot the rest will burn or get burnt, so if you need to step in and stir because no one eles will...remember to do it with two hands"

I have no idea what he means but I believe it applies here.....keep up the work and the questioning Tyler cause its what hobby passion is all about.
Oh and quit being a pusss and get back on board!!!!