Wheelspin
St. Louis Region SCCA
Edited by Eileen Waters |
December, 2011
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From the R.E.:
Congratulations and Thank You!
Congratulations to the new Board of Directors and thank you to all those St Louis Region members that took the time to send in their absentee ballots or that attended the election meeting. If you haven't heard I have been elected Regional Executive for 2012. Matt Osmoe was elected as Assistant RE, Bill Schnardthorst as Treasurer and Lynn Wilson reelected as Secretary. Elected Members At Large were Susan Anderson and first time BoD member Tim Weatherford. We will be joined on the Board by Jan Rick and Chuck DeProw. I'm honored by your votes and the show of confidence you have in me. I'm looking forward to working with this year's board and look forward to seeing all of you at our upcoming events.
Help Needed.........Fast!
St Louis Region has been blessed to have some terrific volunteers. Every racing program has them and to each and every one of them we owe our gratitude and thanks. But as I said in my election speech "it's always the same people and the numbers are growing smaller and smaller each year." This year my biggest challenge is to get our general membership to not only turn up at our events but to develop and bring in new committee people and volunteers.
If anyone is interested in serving on one of our Racing Program Committees please feel free to contact me. We need 'new" ideas and "new" people stepping forward to help in all areas of the club. It's not hard work or very time consuming. It's fun and doesn't cost anything. You'll be part of a team that benefits the entire region and its members. I am looking for committee chair people, committee members or volunteers that can help us get things down. Please step up and volunteer the Region needs your help.
Cesare Venegoni
vpeople@sbcglobal.net
Regional Executive
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Election Results
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Congratulations!
Elected to St. Louis Region office were:
R.E. - Cesare Venegoni
Asst. R.E. - Matt Osmore
Secretary - Lynn Wilson
Treasurer - Bill Schnardhorst
Members-at-Large - Susan Anderson and Tim Weatherford
Returning Members-at-Large - Chuck DeProw and Jan Rick
If you'd like to contact the board you may contact them at BOD@stlscca.org.
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News from the Program Chairs
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2011 Banquet, January 21 at Spazio's
by Charlene Lain
We're inviting everyone to please join us for the Annual Awards Banquet, to be held on Saturday, Januray 21, 2012 at Spazio's at Westport. The Banquet will begin at 6:30pm with social time in the Bistro area, a cash bar will be open and snacks available. We will then move to the Garden Room for a sit down dinner. Please choose your entree when you register on-line for your tickets at MotorsportReg.com (details available on the site). You may choose from Beef Brisket or Panko breaded Chicken Breast with asparagus and tomato. Waitresses will cirlce the room and take drink orders all evening. Dessert and coffee will also be on the menu.
Tickets are $30 for members, $35 for non-members and $13 or children under 12. You may also register by sending your check payable to St. Louis Region, SCCA to Charlene Lain, 112 Granite Way, Wentzville, MO 63385.
We are asking for pictures of the cars you race - now or past - your current car or favorite car. Include year, make, model and what races you participated in or won. These will be displayed the evening of the banquet as well as the Traveling Trophies. Please send your photos to stlbanquet@yahoo.com. An e-mail to this site will get you an answer to any questions you may have as well. If you would like to join the volunteers to help with the event, please let us know through that e-mail box as well.
We will have trivia again this year during breaks in the program - fun and games. As well as awards, we will have some attendance prizes to give away. You will also meet the new Board of Directors for 2012. St. Louis Region member and new owner of Gateway Motorsports Park Curtis Francois will be our guest speaker. It should be a great night of fun and awards. We hope you can join us for the festivities!!
Thank you so much and see you there!
Bowling Party Report
The sometimes annual Bowling Party was a blast! Congratulations to Bruce Stephens' grandson Eli who won as our youngest bowler in attendance. Dean Rhodes, our 2012 Solo Chief of Course Design, won the highest score award with 220 points!
Thanks to our hosts Cesare Venegoni and Jan Rick!
The Road Racing Committee Report
by Bryon Prokopf:
Our planning for 2012 continues to progress and we are still looking for help. We would like more people to join the road race committee and we are looking for a Chief of Tech. We have experienced people that are willing to help out anybody who is interested in helping us fill these positions. If anybody has any interest, they can contact me and we can further discuss it and see if this is something that could work out for both parties. If you'd rather call, my number is (618) 660-6174.
The Solo Program has a new mission statement from their December Solo Advisory Committee (SAC) meeting: Provide fair, fun, competitive and safe events with excellent customer service to bring increased and sustained participation in events and developing leadership in the Solo Program.
Two individuals, Jan Rick and April Schnardhorst, applied for the position of 2012 Solo Chair. R.E. Cesare Venegoni appointed Rick to the position. Venegoni stated that this was a very hard decision as April has done a fine job as chairman for the last two years.
Vicki Moellenbeck will become the new treasurer for the SAC. Jim Van Horn is the SAC secretary. The six Members-at-Large are Tom DeYoung, John Powell, April and David Schnardhorst, Clarkson Wells, and Lynn Wilson. Proposed members include Jose Hernandez, Matt Osmoe, and Aimie Ruth.
Here's the lineup of 2012 Solo Chiefs:
Course - Dean Rhodes
Equipment - Chris Mertens
Facility Liasion - Jan Rick
Grid - Robert Zander
IT - John Powell
Novices - Tom Sotiropoulos
Radios - Vicky Moellenbeck
Registration - Aimie Ruth
Safety - Lynn Wilson
Sound - James Bass
Tech Inspection - Bob Ploof
Timing and Scoring - Tom DeYoung
Waivers - Sean Grear
Worker Chief - Kaylee Hanson
Novice School Chair - Mike Kenney
The 100 Acre Wood Performance Rally Group
by Tom vonHatten
The 100 Acre Wood rally will be held Friday, February 24 and Saturday, February 25, 2012. Rally HQ is the Holiday Inn in Salem, MO. The event starts Friday in Steelville at 1 p.m. Saturday's start time is 10 a.m. on 4th Street in downtown Salem. Both starts include a Parc Expose where you can walk up to the teams to chat, pose for photos, ask for autographs and just be a part of the scene. The Potosi Super Special (one special stage contained in an area where you can watch it completely from start to finish) will run Saturday afternoon and there will be two back-to-back passes. This event is totally FREE (other than the cost of your gas to get there, any lodging you might need and your food).
Registration for volunteers is now open online. Between 3-400 volunteers are needed over the course of the weekend to staff this event. As a volunteer you'll receive a bevy of goodies for helping. Please be certain to register online before the end of January as this makes things smoother come rally week. We are always looking for individuals with a Ham Radio license.
Follow all the updates (these will become more frequent the closer we get to the event) at 100AW.org. You will also find online copies of the Spectator Guides (which includes directions to all the spectator points), information to keep one and all safe (please follow the directions provided to the spectator points) and info on the teams.
Our thanks to the communities of Salem, Steelville, Potosi, and Viburnum for their warm welcome and friendliness each year.
Last year's winner Antoine L'Estage is sure to return.
If you have comments or suggestions for the Board they may be reached at BOD@stlscca.org.
Was there something you wanted to see in WHEELSPIN, but didn't find it.? Submissions for WHEELSPIN may be sent to wheelspin@stlscca.org.
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Coming Events
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Editor's note: This is not a complete listing of the Region's 2012 events. More events will be added. St. Louis Region Solo Advisory Committee (SAC) meetings are held the first Monday of the month, the St. Louis Region board meetings are held the second Monday of the month and general membership meetings are held on the third Monday of the month at Spazio's in Westport Plaza.
● Monday, December 19, 2011 - general membership meeting at Spazio's in Westport Plaza at 7 p.m. There is a social before beginning at 6 p.m.
● Saturday, January 21, 2012 - St. Louis Region Awards Banquet - if you're interested in helping with this contact the banquet Co-Chairs Charlene Lain and Julia Briggen at stlbanquet@yahoo.com. To attend this event register at Motorsportsreg.com. You may also register by sending your check payable to St. Louis Region, SCCA to Charlene Lain, 112 Granite Way, Wentzville, MO 63385.
● Friday-Sunday, February 3-5, 2012 - MiDiv Convention at the Ramada Oasis in Springfield, MO. The last day to register online is January 30. Registration is available at this link.
● Friday and Saturday, February 24-25, 2012 - The Rally in the 100 Acre Wood in Salem, MO. For the latest news, volunteer information, spectator guides, and hotel availability check 100AW.org.
● Thursday-Saturday, March 1-3, 2012 - SCCA National Convention at the South Point Hotel in Las Vegas, NV. The registration form is available here. Early registration rates are available before February 9.
● Saturday, March 3, 2012 - Clean up weekend at Gateway Motorsports Park.
● Saturday, March 10, 2012 - Tech event at Gateway Motorsports Park.
● Sunday, April 1, 2012 - Solo event #1 at Gateway Motorsports Park.
● Sunday, April 15, 2012 - Solo event #2 at Family Arena.
● Sunday, May 6, 2012 - Solo event #3 at Gateway Motorsports Park.
● Saturday, May 12, 2012 - Street Survival School at Gateway Motorsports Park.
● Wednesday, May 16, 2012 - PDX at Gateway Motorsports Park.
● Saturday-Sunday May 19-20, 2012 - Regional/National/IT Club Racing at Gateway Motorsports Park.
● Sunday, May 20, 2012 - Solo event #4 at Gateway Motorsports Park.
● Sunday, June 17, 2012 - Solo EVO School at Gateway Motorsports Park.
● Wednesday, June 20, 2012 - PDX at Gateway Motorsports Park.
● Saturday, June 23, 2012 - Solo Novice School at Family Arena.
● Sunday, June 24, 2012 - Solo event #5 at Family Arena.
● Sunday, July 8, 2012 - Solo event #6 at Family Arena.
● Sunday, July 22, 2012 - Solo event #7 at Gateway Motorsports Park.
● Saturday-Sunday July 28-29, 2012 - Regional/National/IT Club Racing at Gateway Motorsports Park.
● Sunday, August 12, 2012 - Solo event #8 at Family Arena.
● Saturday, August 18, 2012 - PDX full day at Gateway Motorsports Park.
● Sunday, August 19, 2012 - Solo Test & Tune at Gateway Motorsports Park.
● Wednesday, August 22, 2012 - PDX at Gateway Motorsports Park.
● Sunday, September 16, 2012 - Solo event #9 at Family Arena.
● Wednesday, September 19, 2012 - PDX at Gateway Motorsports Park.
● Saturday, September 29, 2012 - Street Survival School at Family Arena.
● Sunday, September 30, 2012 - Solo event #10 at Family Arena.
● Saturday, October 27, 2012 - Solo event #11 Blytheville, Arkansas.
● Sunday, October 28, 2012 - Solo event #12 Blytheville, Arkansas.
● Friday-Monday, November 9-12 - Solo Track Tour at Gateway Motorsports Park.
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Did you know?
by Eileen Waters
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Here's several interesting tidbits of motorsports news for your holiday reading and viewing pleasure.
1. Gateway Motorsports Park's dragstrip has been repaved. Check out the video.
2. Thanks to the Huebbe family, parents Tom and Carolyn in the pickup ("Rallying through a wintry forest") and the twins John and Mark (waving) with their performance rally VW Bug, for participating in the annual Salem, MO Christmas parade. Note the tote between their feet.....it WAS filled with candy when they started the parade. Also on hand at the parade were "Map Guy" Mike Houser and his salsa recipe winning wife Sue in their pickup. Photos courtesy of Rob Benowitz.
3. Eight-time Solo National Champ Ron Flier drove a ChumpCar. Here's his recap from Hallett. "My friend Clancy Schmidt has been after me to drive one of his "Chump" race cars, and I signed on for a seven hour enduro race at Hallett last week (ed. note: in mid-October) (one of my least favorite tracks due to rough surface). I drove the Chump Honda for one two hour stint on Saturday, and a hour and forty five stint on Sunday. We actually finished sixth of twenty cars, and only suffered a slipping clutch and no brakes at the end of fourteen hours of racing! Had a great team of people, and will do it again." Photo Courtesy of Team Honda.
4. Congratulations to Ron Ferris who won the United States Road Rally Championship in the Equipped Class with John Sears. Well actually, to quote one national expert, "he cleaned up, it was quite an achievement". Photo courtesy of Jim Heine.
5. Ranken Technical College has a High Performance Racing Technology (HPRT) program. They offer the Arnie Knepper Memorial Scholarship to a fourth or fifth semester student working towards an Associate's Degree in High Performance Racing Technology (HPRT) or a student entering HPRT after completing an Associate's Degree from the Automotive Maintenance Technology (AMT) Program. The $500 scholarship can be used for tuition, tools or books.
6. If you stop by World Rally Championship competitor Ken Block's home you'll find this sink. This is a picture from an event he's won five times! Yep, that would be the 100 Acre Wood. Pretty cool sink and it's pretty cool it features the Show-Me State! Photo courtesy of Alex Gelsomino.
7. The Rusty Wallace Experience will make three stops at Gateway Motorsports Park in 2012. They have dates set for July 14-15, August 25-26 and October 20-21. For a complete schedule visit this link. Here's the information they have on GMP. They offer eight different experiences to choose from and those details (including prices) can be found here. They are offering a holiday deal. If you need that information or anything else visit racewithrusty.com.
8. Check out the new Gateway Motorsports logo. It's awesome, don't you think!
9. Are you looking for a sponsorship? Be sure to check out the Champion Auto Parts Facebook page for all the details on their "Search for a Champion Video Contest". You have until the end of the year to submit your video. You'll find the contest rules here.
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2011 Midwest Division Racing Recap
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Congratulations to Brian Schafer and Chris Albin for winning their Mid-Am Championships in the Spec Racer Ford and ITB classes respectively. Albin's six wins earned him his 19th consecutive ITB crown as well as his 12th Driver of the Year award.
The Driver of the Year award was a tight battle between two former winners, Albin and Nebraska Region's Ralph Woodard (in ITR). They both won all six of their events. The tiebreaker was decided by the fact that Albin was the outright winner in all of his races while Woodard had just four outright wins.
In Midwest Divisional National racing earning trophies were Sean Maloney in Super Touring O (first place), Chris Albin in H Production (first place), Dan Layton in Formula F (2nd in his Van Diemen), and Richard Wiese in Spec Racer Ford (also 2nd).
Over in the I.T. Tour picking up first place trophies were Chris Albin (in ITB) and Curt Weilandich (in ITC). This is Albin's 14th such title in 15 years while Weilandich has won four of the last five titles in his class.
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It's that time of year.....to say Thank You!
By Eileen Waters
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 It's a magical time of the year and it isn't magic that makes St. Louis Region or its events successful. It's the people who give of their time and energy to support a passion.
THANK YOU to all of the individuals* whose dedication helped all of us enjoy the fun we have with our favorite people and automobiles.
Thanks to the board (both old and new)...........Steve Burkett, Dave Jones, Lynn Wilson, Lon Friesenborg, Susan Anderson, Chuck DeProw, Dana Hullinger, Matt Osmoe, Jan Rick, Bill Schnardhorst, Steve Slotten, Cesare Venegoni and Tim Weatherford.
Thanks to the Program Chairs and their committees:
Club Racing: Bryon Prokopf and Steve Burkett, Bob Burnham, Carol Cohn, Dave Jones, Paul Nittel, Diane Prokopf and Tim Weatherford.
Performance Rally: Tom vonHatten and Curt Faigle Co-Chairs and Susan Anderson, Joe Anthes, Rob Benowitz, Kim and Margaret DeMotte, Bill Headrick, Mark Herzog, Lee Hilliard, Mike and Sue Houser, Chris Hrabik, John and Mark Huebbe, Steve Kleinman, Jim Lougeay, Mike McCrann, John McReynolds, Harry and Theresa Schramm, Randy Stroebe, Abby and Doug Thomas, Grace and Rose vonHatten, Eileen Waters, Rob Wright
PDX: Jose Hernandez and Kevin Brown, Tom Dutton, Tim Finley, Glen Johnson and Carla Russo
RallyCross: Brian Schwantner and Julia Briggen, Kim DeMotte, Curt Faigle, Steve Slotten, Doug Voss, and Rob Wright
Road Rally: Ron Ferris and Dave Jones and Grace, Rose and Tom vonHatten, and Eileen Waters
Solo: April Schnardhorst and Tom DeYoung, Vicky Moellenbeck, John Powell, Jan Rick, Carla Russo, Dave Schnardhorst, Clarkson Wells and Lynn Wilson
Thanks to all the Committees and their assistants:
Awards Nominating Committee: Bill Schnardhorst, and Steve Burkett, Chuck DeProw, Ron Ferris, Bryon Prokopf, Jan Rick, April Schnardhorst, Brian Schwantner, and Tom vonHatten
Banquets: Julia Briggen, Dave Jones, Charlene Lain, Cesare Venegoni, and Eileen Waters
Bowling: Jan Rick and Cesare Venegoni
Cards/Cheer: Carol Cohn
Membership: Steve Slotten
Nominating Committee: Dave Jones and Cesare Venegoni and Chris Albin, Julia Briggen, Kevin Brown, Bob Burnham, Curt Faigle, Ken King, Charlene Lain, Paul Nittel, Matt Osmoe, David Schnardhorst, Bruce Stephens, Eileen Waters, Tim Weatherford, and Kevin Wiegers
Street Survival School: Chuck DeProw and Jose Hernandez, Jan Rick , Carla Russo, and Rich Wise
Tech-o-Rama: Dave Jones and Julia Briggen and Steve Burkett, Ron Ferris, Charlene Lain, Jim Lynch, Mike Majors, Paul Nittel, Kristy Reiss, Bruce Stephens, and Tim Weatherford
Website: Jaimie Leavell
WHEELSPIN: Steve Burkett and Eileen Waters
Thanks to all those who serve the Midwest Division or National SCCA:
Club Racing Board/National: Chris Albin
Time Trial Admin Council/Midwest Division: Chuck DeProw
Chief Driving Instructor/Midwest Division: Tim Finley
Deputy Steward/Midwest Division: Barrett Braun
Divisional Administrator Grid/Pit for Midwest Division: Tim Weatherford
Time Trial Divisional Program Manager/Midwest Division: Ed Settle
RallyCross Rules: Mike Byington
Solo Modified Committee: Dave Whitworth
Solo Safety Committee and Divisional Safety Steward: Jan Rick
Thanks for making a 2012 season possible at Gateway Motorsports Park: Curtis Francois and Rod Wolters
And of course we can't forget all the competitors and volunteers who came from far and wide to participate, enjoy, and share in the memories! Thank you!
Don't forget to say your own thanks to all those who make your favorite sport (in all it's wonderful forms) possible.
* If anyone was overlooked and left off this list PLEASE send an email to the Editor so she can remedy the error in the next edition of Wheelspin.
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Wheelspin is sent on behalf of the Board of Directors of the St. Louis Region Sports Car Club of America. You are receiving this because you are a member of the region, or have expressed an interest in the region and SCCA. If you don't wish to receive e-mail from the region in the future, please follow the unsubscribe link below. Past issues of Wheelspin can be viewed by visiting www.stlscca.org.
Thank you for reading, and our thanks to each of you for your support of the St. Louis Region SCCA!
Sincerely,
2011 BoD
St. Louis Region SCCA |
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