Originally posted by el chubbo
Can someone give me a quick history lesson as to who is JI and why he is apparently liked as much a ruptured boil? Why is TRA getting slammed?
I am not interested in hashing out whatever they are trying to hash out on the other forum...I would just like the history and background of the conflict...
less opinions and more facts would work nicely for me....
Here's the story in a nutshell, as brief and opinion-free as possible:
Jerry was one of the early high power manufacturers (motors and kits). His company was U.S. Rockets. He sponsored some of the largest early HPR launches, at Lucerne dry lake. He also published a mag called California Model Rocketry. He had some kind of business relationships with a variety of other people in the hobby, such as Frank Kosdon, Chuck Rogers, Fred Brennion, Gary Rosenfield, etc.
When I got into high power back in 1987 and started going to organized launches, the first time I met any other rocket hobbyists I was warned to avoid Jerry and USR. Apparently a number of folks had had some bad dealings with him. I bought motors from him at launches but never paid cash in advance. Most of his motors (that I tried) worked ok, when they didn't he was always good about replacing them.
At some point, by the end of the 80's, Jerry had a falling out with just about everyone who ever had been in business with him. Kosdon sued him for fraud, and won. Jerry sued Kosdon (and various other people) and lost. I've been told that Jerry can no longer sue anyone, because the court declared him a "vexatious litigant".
When someone else started running the launches at Lucerne in the early 90's, they discovered that Jerry had not always had the waivers that he claimed to have. TRA conducted an investigation and suspended his membership.
In the mid-90's, TRA had to tighten the rules for manufacturers wishing to have their motors certified. Motor manufacturers now had to submit proof that they were in compliance with all regulations covering the manufacture and shipping of motors. Jerry submitted various documents at various times, which were either in someone else's name, had been altered, or were otherwise invalid. As a result TRA was unable to renew the certs on his motors. The standard three year grace period was allowed, for flyers to use up previously certed motors. Then it was discovered that Jerry was back-dating new motors to make them look like previously certified motors. TRA was forced to immediately pull the certification on all his motors.
Since that time Jerry has done little more than rant endlessly against TRA/NAR, his various former associates, etc while trying to convince everyone of his greatness. He is either unable or unwilling to get his act together so he can have his motors legitimately certified. At various times, he claims he: Is a manufacturer, is not a manufacturer, is only a consultant, is a just a distributor, etc. He blames TRA/NAR for his inability to have his motors certified, and also blames them for every regulation of rocketry ever create, and pretty much anything else in the world that he dislikes.
In 2001 he applied to have his membership in TRA reinstated, but refused to accept responsibility for his actions and dodged or refused to answers most direct questions.
