2012 Happy Holidays




Wheelspin

St. Louis Region SCCA
 
 Edited by Eileen Waters 
 

 

 



December 2012        
 


 St. Louis Region Logo

 Building Partnerships 

 

Welcome to the new St. Louis SCCA Board, and thank you to all the outgoing board members. Cesare Venegoni has been very helpful in the transition from one board to the next, and so has every specialty chief and task master I've talked to. We are the same organization, with the same goal of promoting safe, fun motorsports in the St. Louis area, we just have some new players at the helm.

For those of you who know me, (insert your favorite joke here......). For those of you who don't know me, I am Peter Zekert, a member of the St. Louis region since the early 1980s and your new Regional Executive. I started working SCCA road race events in 1976, at a time when membership was not required for volunteers. I got my membership in 1982 when I went to driver's school, and since that time I have been an active member with the sole purpose of growing the sport. I am the founder of a "Foster Race Car" program to take forgotten race cars out of the garage and get them into the hands of a racer with the time, money, enough friends, tools and equipment to go racing. I've fostered 20+ seasons of SCCA club racing. Even without knowing it, I was promoting the idea of "Building Partnerships".

My plan for 2013 is to continue to build partnerships- between people, between organizations, between groups within an organization. We can do more together than we can do apart, but sometime we don't know how to "get together". That will be my job, to help facilitate the people and groups getting together. So, in 2013 you will see me attending several different events, participating in a solo, a rally, and a PDX, and then talking with our members. I may specifically seek out new members to find out what they liked and did not like about the event. As the region's ambassador, I'd like to help the new members find that niche within St. Louis Region which best fits their interest. I've also reached out to past members. I'm going to spend a LOT of time in 2013 talking and listening. To that end, I want every member to know that you can always call or email me.

As the new RE, I will constantly evaluate our business partnerships. I will continue to foster our fraternal partnership with Gateway Motorsports Park. Gateway is our part-time home for Solo [Family Arena being the other]; and full-time home for both our PDX program and our Club Racing program. Southern Illinois Region is another group I will continue to work with (SIR's RE Chris Albin is actually my neighbor). The same holds true for the Tire Rack Street Survival program. The list goes on and on.... I will approach these partnerships the same way I do with individuals, trying to take the best assets of the partners and build something greater than the sum of the parts.

- Peter Zekert, R.E. St. Louis Region SCCA
[email protected]
314-724-7098 

 

  

 

 

IN THIS ISSUE
News from the BOD and Program Chairs
Calendar
Election Results
Membership Milestones
Racing Quick Takes

News from the Board of Directors
and Program Chairs


 

2012 Snowman with gift   


Club Racing Logo 
Club Racing News  

  

By Chuck Udell
       St. Louis Club Racing Chair       

 

 

 

 

The Mid Div road race schedule for 2013 is "FINAL"!....and St Louis is back! 


We have THREE, count them, three race weekends at Gateway Motorsports Park.  They are:
  • April 19, 20 and 21 - Super School and Double Regional
  • August 3-4 - Major Showcase Event-Double National ( no Regional only Classes )
  • October 19-20 - Season Finale Double Regional

      

    One notable change from what you may have previously heard is the St Louis Region has dropped the Summer Spec Racer Festival in favor of a Majors Showcase Double National.  As a  showcase event, it will include all national classes and thus we can still count points for the "Six Race Regional Championship" we have planned for our 2013 season at Gateway.  We are still working on how we will score the Regional only classes for our Championship, but we will work it out.  The big news is a St Louis Region driver can maintain their National level competition license (four race requirement) simply by running two of our race weekends and not have to spend more money on travel expenses than on the actual race!  Also, the Majors Showcase event should bring some new drivers to Gateway which is not only a first class facility, it's one of the few where spectators can actually enjoy the whole race!  It's going to be a great season!

      

    Just in case you want to go to the "Runoffs", we are also attaching the link to the entire MiDiv schedule.  You can find the 2013 MiDiv scheduleon the MiDiv website. 

  • Don't be surprised to see a couple more Regional races added to the schedule going forward.  A couple of the other race groups are following our lead and are trying to emphasize their Regional racing programs.  We all need to build our driver base for the future, so that a good thing.    
  •   

    We are actively seeking sponsors for our overall Six Race Series, Individual Class Championships, the Driver's School, the October Fall Festival Event, workers food and tow truck for all three events. If you have any leads please contact me via email or any of the Club Racing Committee members.  We have some attractively priced opportunities.

      

    Our first event is the Driver's School.  I know that those of us that did our driver's schools here in St Louis remember them with fond memories.  I even remember many of the drivers that "graduated" in my class and that Mark Weber was my instructor!  They are a great experience.  If you know anyone who is interested or that might have a car available to rent, have them contact Steve Burkett.

      

    I will close with the request that each of you first plan to get back on track, come work, or just come watch....and bring the kids!   
  •  

    If you need additional information about what it takes to become a Club Racer check out this informational meeting.  An RSVP is requested so that they can plan for refreshments.

      

     

       2012 Club Racing Dec 9 mtg     

      

          

      SCCA RallyCross Logio 

      

    RallyX Report

      

    By Brian Schwantner

    RallyCross Chair  

      

      

      

    2012 Let It Snow

    The St. Louis Region will hold its final RallyCross of the season on Sunday, December 23.  This figure-8 event is titled, "Let's Hope It Snows".  It is being held at the same location in Salem, MO as the rallycross in March.  That location is the Privett Farm 2753 County Road 5380.  Registration begins at 7 a.m.  Entry fee is $30 for members and $40 for non-members.  Remember to bring your helmet and check the Region's Rallycross website at StlRallyX.org for additional information.  

                                           

                                                                                        

     

    Solo Report

    By Tom DeYoung, Solo Chair 
     

    What a Season!

      

    Solo had a great season in 2012!  We had twelve points events - the last two took place at the National Tour in Blytheville, Arkansas and over 35 St. Louis Region members attended.  All of whom received a special t-shirt for attending.

     

    The Solo group hosted a National Road Tour event the second weekend of November at Gateway Motorsports Park.  A Road Tour is an autocross held on a road course, and this was the second such event put on by the National Office.  While a little low on attendance (80, likely due to how late in the season) everyone there said it was a HUGE success we got A+ for organization and fun.

      

    Other Highlights in 2012:

      

    The mantra of MORE SEAT TIME FOR ALL - was embraced by our outstanding membership.  It focused on eliminating delays and working together to make event run quicker, the reward being more time spent driving.  The result was an average of 5.3 runs in 2012 vs. 4 runs in 2011 (that's 13 extra runs over a 10 event season, or the equivalent of nearly three events!).

      

    T-shirt giveaway for all attendees of 6 or more events.

      

    For the second year on a row members from the St. Louis Region organized an autocross for the Electric Vehicle Convention in Cape Girardeau, MO.

      

    Our average attendance was slightly down (110 in 2012 vs. 111 in 2011) and down a total of 17 drivers from 2011.  We attribute this to the record heat this

    summer.  We still had over 300 unique drivers come to one or more of our events.

     

    You'll find more solo news at the Region's Solo website stlsolo.org.  

        

     

    2012 Award   

     

     

    Awards Banquet Report

     

    By Charlene Lain, Chairman 

     

     

    Plans are underway for the 2012 season ending awards celebration.  Arrangements are not finalized at this time.  Please check the next edition of Wheelspin, the Region's Facebook page or website for updates.

     

     

     

     

     

    If you have comments or suggestions for the Board they may be reached at [email protected].

     

     

     Was there something you wanted to see in WHEELSPIN, but didn't find it.?  Submissions for WHEELSPIN may be sent to [email protected].   

     

     

                        
    St. Louis Region Calendar

    Editor's note:  This is not a complete listing of the Region's 2012 or 2013 events.  The St. Louis Region board meetings are held the second Monday of the month. 

       

     
    ●  Sunday, December 9 -  Club Racing informational meeting at 2710 Lafayette Blvd.

        

      Sunday, December 23 - RallyCross in Salem, MO

      Tuesday, December 25 - "Happy Christmas to all, and to all a good-night!"

    2013

      Saturday - Sunday, February 9 - 10 - SCCA Midwest Division Convention at the Holiday Inn Ameristar in Council Bluffs, Iowa

      Thursday - Saturday, February 28 - March 2 - SCCA National Convention at the South Point Hotel, Casino and Spa in Las Vegas

      Friday - Sunday, April 19 - 21 - Club Racing Super School and Double Regional at Gateway Motorsports Park   

     

      Saturday - Sunday, August 3 - 4 - SCCA Club Racing Majors Showcase double National at Gateway Motorsports Park

     

      Monday - Sunday, September 16 - 22 - SCCA National Championship Runoffs at Road America in Elkhart Lake, WI 

     

      Saturday - Sunday, October 19 -20 - Club Racing Season Finale Double Regional at Gateway Motorsports Park   

        

    Editor's note:  The dates for the 2013 Tire Rack SCCA Solo National Championships, the 2013 Unites States Road Rally Championships, and the 2013 RallyCross National Championships have not been announced yet.  

        

    A complete calendar of events can be found on the Region's website

     

    2012 Election results      
     
    St. Louis
      Region Election
    Results  

    The St. Louis Region Annual Election Meeting was held at Patrick's in Westport on November 19.  Following a summary of the Region's 2012 accomplishments, speeches by the candidates, and the counting of the ballots the following members were elected to office:

     

    Regional Executive - Peter Zekert

    Assistant R.E. - Chuck Udell

    Secretary - Eileen Waters

    Treasurer - Bill Schnardhorst

    Members-at-Large - Tom DeYoung, Charlene Lain, and Steve Slotten

      

    Those board members whose terms were not up for election this year were Jose Hernandez, and Tim Weatherford.  As the outgoing R.E. Cesare Venegoni remains on the board as the Ex-Officio (or "Ex-Facto" in Cesare terms).

       


    CONGRATULATIONS!


    2012 Congratulations balloon  

    Congratulations to these St. Louis Region members who are celebrating milestone anniversaries:

     

    Four-time SCCA National Champion and President's Award winner Terry McKenna marks 40 years of membership!  Deane Todd likewise has reached the 40 years milestone.  Chuck Udell and his lovely wife Bonita celebrate their 25th anniversary of Sports Car fun! 

     

    Thanks for being a part of our motorsports family!

     

    Membership news:  SCCA has four categories/sizes of regions:  Jumbo (800+), Large (401-799), Medium (200-400), and Small (less than 200).  St. Louis Region currently leads the Large category with 12.9% growth and a 79% retention rate.

     

     

     

    Editor's Note:  If you know of a St. Louis Region member (past or present) we need to congratulate please send an email to the Wheelspin Editor.  Whether it is a personal motorsports milestone, anniversary, induction, new baby, marriage, etc. please contact us.


     


    Racing Quick Takes

     
    •  St. Louis Region R.E. Peter Zekert was a guest on WBGZ's "Let's Talk Racing" on Monday, November 26.  You can listen to the broadcast at the Alton Daily News website, click on the Listen tab, and then find the 11/26 "Let's Talk Racing" listing.  Zekert and the SCCA were featured in the last segment (10 minutes) of the show.    
    • Don't forget the Region has a Facebook page.  Be sure to like it to keep up with late breaking news.
    • Region Member Alex Furla made a generous donation to the Kemp Auto Museum by donation a 1983 Porsche 944 and a 1993 M2012 Christmas Bentleyercedes-Benz 300D 2.5 Turbo.  The Porsche is a first year 944 and the Mercedes is a rare model with a five cylinder turbocharged diesel engine.
    • Your kids might enjoy a trip to the Kemp Auto Museum to see Herbie the Love Bug. This particular reproduction is fashioned in Herbie Goes to Monte Carlo (1977) attire, along with recreations of the Disney made hi-back seats, and movie correct Carello driving lights.  Herbie is at the Kemp through January 2013. 
    • The St. Louis Sports Hall of Fame recently held their fourth annual induction ceremony.  Congratulations to powerboat legend Bill Seebold on becoming only the second motorsports inductee.  He joins Rusty Wallace. You'll find the St. Louis Sports Hall of Fame inside the Scott Trade Center outside of Section 103.
    • Be sure to check out the January edition of Popular Mechanics (page 56).  It features local Rally America competitors Matthew Conte and Ron Erickson and their adventures at Sno*Drift.  You can catch them February 22-23 at the Rally in the 100 Acre Wood headquartered in Salem, MO.  Visit 100AW.org for all the info.  

      2013 Happy New Year  

    __________________________________________________________________________________________________

    Special thanks to the photographers who supplied photos for this edition of Wheelspin:

     

       

    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,

    2013 BoD
    St. Louis Region SCCA
    St. Louis Region BoD