Whether it s Club Racing or Solo Events...

Transcription

1 May 2017 sinks pages links Open Article Open Article IN THIS ISSUE WMR Officials Page 2 Region Calendar Page 3 Membership Recognition and April Meeting Minutes Page 4 Whether it s Club Racing or Solo Events Racing Schedule Page 5 In Memoriam Larry Dent Page 6 Call for Volunteer Workers Page 8 It s Time to Come Out and Play

2 2017 WESTERN MICHIGAN REGION OFFICIALS Regional Executive and Backfire Editor Jim Washburn 2385 Cedar Park Dr. Apt 310 Holt, MI (517) Secretary Mary Ellen Sickles 513 Ash St. Lansing, MI (517) Director (Past RE) and Course Control Wayne Rogers Mile Grand Rapids, MI (616) wrogers280z73@netzero.net Webmaster Brad Watson 3267 Wheaton Rd. Charlotte, MI (517) yeldarb420@gmail.com Grid Rod & Mary Ellen Sickles 513 Ash St. Lansing, MI (517) rmsickles@comcast.net Course Control Wayne Rogers (see above) can also be reached at (616) Assistant RE Fred Hawley 4543 Eastwood Drive Okemos, MI (517) hawley.fj@sbcglobal.net Director at Large Lenny Basaj 6629 Burton Woods Dr Whitehall, MI (231) lbasaj@charter.net Competition Manager Dayle Frame 703 Pine Ridge Dr. DeWitt, MI (517) hdf3.wtr80@gmail.com Membership Chair(s) Pete & Debbie Hansen Th Ave Allendale, MI (616) hansens@altelco.net Paddock Thomas Smolenski 1010 South Harbor Dr. Grand Haven, MI (616) tsmolenskis@yahoo.com Flagging & Communications Karen Crider 6671 Ambassador Ave Apt 212 Grand Ledge, MI (813) karenjcrider@hotmail.com Treasurer Verne Wandell 3634 Pristine Ave. Kalamazoo, MI (269) verne@valleyedit.com Director (Past RE), Radios and Starter Bruce Beauvais Beardsley Greenville, MI (616) bruce.beauvais@gmail.com Solo Manager Brad Yonkers 7341 S Montcalm Ave Lowell, MI (616) bradyonkers@gmail.com Sound Control Rich Sheldon Walnut Dr. Reed City, MI (231) rich.sheldon.j0l5@statefarm.com Timing & Scoring Lorrie Gaunt-Wandell 3634 Pristine Ave. Kalamazoo, MI (269) timinggal@gmail.com Scrutineering TBA PAGE 2

3 Due To Our Heavy Racing Involvement, Our Monthly General Membership Meetings Will Be On Hiatus For The Summer --- Please Join Us Again In The Fall At The County Seat Restaurant 128 S. Jefferson Street, Hastings, MI Calendar May, 2017 LET THE RACING SEASON BEGIN (No Meetings until the end of the Racing Season) October 08, 2017 General Membership / Board of Directors Meeting at the County Seat Restaurant, 128 S Jefferson Street, Hastings, MI Dinner at 6:00pm, Meeting at 7:00pm Contributors For the off season October thru April, we typically meet the 2nd Saturday of the month with an optional dinner at 6:00pm followed by the meeting at 7:00pm. JIM WASHBURN Regional Executive and Backfire Editor MARY ELLEN SICKLES Secretary Update Info Our next meeting will be October 8, PAGE 3

4 Membership News WMR welcomes our new or returning members Ed Boyer - Kalamazoo, MI Trevor Howard - North Muskegon, MI Nicholas Kurdziel - Spring Lake. MI Aubrey Muller - Kalamazoo, MI Cliff Muller - Kalamazoo, MI Robin Muller - Kalamazoo, MI Chuck Thomas - Ada, MI Congratulations to the following who celebrated membership anniversaries last month 38 years David Ours 33 years Jeffrey Boris 33 years Edwin Maklenburg 33 years Wayne Rogers 30 years Mary Jo Ours 24 years Stephen Zelent 21 years Richard Bolt 14 years David Heinrich 14 years Ed Scott 10 years John Ruhman 8 years Patrick Risse 8 years Maria Basaj 7 years Graham Hill 4 years William DeBoer 4 years Matthew Kwiek 3 years Jon Adams 3 years John Adams 2 years Rohit Baidya 2 years Ric Green 2 years Susan Green 2 years James Doombos 2 years Andrew Bookin 1 year Kenneth Grabowski 1 year Benjamin Appold 1 year Craig Van De Kreeke 1 year David Walters 1 year Dane Nye 1 year B Clark Cambern 1 year Paul Gentilozzi 1 year Tony Gentilozzi 1 year Dr Paul Chovaz 1 year Col Stephen Barnes April Meeting Minutes April 8, 2017, 7:26 pm 16 members present County Seat Restaurant, Hastings, MI Secretary Report: Mary Ellen Sickles: Our March minutes were approved and printed in the newsletter. Regional Executive s Report: Jim Washburn: Presented a report regarding our new storage facility at My Space Self Storage on the corner of MLK and Holmes in Lansing. Jim sent Brad Yonkers the names and contact information for the purchase of additional cones for the Solo program. Duane Belisle has agreed to be our Chief of Pits and Marilyn Russell has agreed to be our Chief Registrar at both our races this summer. Treasurer's Report: Verne Wandell. Our financial situation is strong for continuing ongoing operations. Our checking balance as presented in this month s Treasurer s Report is reconciled and equal to our most recent bank statement. A copy of our monthly treasurers report is available to our members upon written request. Bruce Beauvais made a motion to approve the Treasurer s report, Lenny Basaj seconded, approved. Competition Director s Report: Dayle Frame: Verne Wandell reported that we have filed for our sanction number with SCCA. Our ambulances, food, and tent are secured. Trophy s: We will hand out flags, similar to the ones that were given at the Majors. Andi Hansen will sew and staple them. The estimate is up to $ Mary Ellen Sickles made a motion to proceed. Lenny Basaj seconded, approved. Solo Report: Brad Yonkers: Not present. Dayle Frame reports that he and Brad will be going through all the Solo items at the storage unit, and throw out the stuff not needed anymore. The remaining items are to be labeled. Newsletter Report: Jim Washburn: Newsletter deadline is April 24. Chief of Specialty Reports: Flagging & Communications: Karen Crider: - No report Radios: Bruce Beauvais: He bought a radio for the pace car for $ He has a bid in for an intercom for Sound on ebay Start: Bruce Beauvais: - No report Grid & Pit: Rod and Mary Ellen Sickles: - No report Timing & Scoring: Lorrie Gaunt-Wandell: Lorrie informed us that this is her last year to be Chief or Timing & Scoring, she will do WMR events only for the year following. Sound: Matt Otte: Matt would like the tent further back from the track. The microphone needs to be 50 from the track and 5-6 high. Course: Wayne Rogers: Not present. Verne reports that Wayne is back in the U.S. Gary will be doing Fire-Rescue. They will look into the possibility of a skid-rig for the back of a pickup truck (holds a tank, pump, fire hose, etc.) Old Business: Worker and Incentive Program: No update, the committee would like direction from the board. WMR Trailer Storage Facility: Dayle Frame reported that all items are in the storage unit, except for the fire bottles (which are due to be checked) and that the trailer is in front of his shop. Dayle will develop a check list for Club Racing and Solo Racing for the packing of the trailer. We are working on cataloguing all equipment. Membership: Pete & Deb Hansen: No Update WMR Region website: Joe Perri Digital Media is our new website host. We have signed the contract. We also have a Facebook page. New Business: Preparations for our 2017 WMR events are going smoothly. Dayle Frame is the race chairman for the regional. Verne Wandell is the race chairman for the Majors. We will be ordering helmet stickers, registration forms and Summit Racing Equipment stickers (to replace the SafeRacer sticker). We will need a new Chief of Driver Information this year also. Weekend memberships are now $10.00, was announced by Bruce Beauvais. We will let Brad Yonkers know for Solo. Announcements: None Adjournment: Verne Wandell made a motion which was seconded by Dayle Frame, approved. Adjournment at 9:21 pm Respectfully submitted, Mary Ellen Sickles, Recording Secretary PAGE 4

5 2017 GREAT LAKES DIVISION SOLO SERIES SCHEDULE 2016 GREAT LAKES DIVISION CLUB RACING SCHEDULE May July 1-2 July 9 October 8 TBD SVR - Oscoda-Wurtsmith Airport, Oscoda, MI (2 Days, 2 Events) Indianapolis Region - Grissom Aeroplex, Peru, IN (2 Days, 2 Events) Fort Wayne Region - Allen County War Memorial Coliseum, Fort Wayne, IN Kentucky Region - Kentucky Expo Center, Louisville, KY Awards - TBD For more information and to Register for a specific event go to * * * * 2017 WMR SOLO SCHEDULE May 20 September 4 WMR at Michigan Adventure, 1198 W Riley-Thompson Rd, Muskegon, MI WMR - Labor Day Event at Grattan April 8 April May 4-7 May June 2-4 June June July 8-9 July August 4 August 5-6 August August Sept 25 - Oct 1 October 13 October GLDiv/WHRRI Driver s School (classroom) at Waterford Hills GLDiv/WHRRI Driver s School (track time) at Waterford Hills VSCDA Gingerman Spring Brake Drivers School & Races at Gingerman SBR/DET/WOR Double Regional at Gingerman OVR Race of Champions Majors Double Event at Mid- Ohio SVRA Vintage Grand Prix of Mid-Ohio at Mid-Ohio WMR Unrestricted Double Regional at Grattan SBR / DET Bert Olson Majors Double Event at GingerMan OVR Double Regional at Mid- Ohio Cincinnati Region PDX at Mid-Ohio Cincinnati Region Double Regional at Mid-Ohio WMR Majors Double Event at Grattan VSCDA Vintage Grand Prix Au Grattan XXX at Grattan 2017 SCCA National Runoffs at Indianapolis Motor Speedway OVR PDX at Mid-Ohio OVR Double Sprint Classic Regional at Mid-Ohio TBD TBD Contact Brad Yonkers at bradyonkers@gmail.com for more information. For more information and to Register for a specific event go to PAGE 5

6 In Memoriam --- Lawrence W. (Larry) Dent 1934 ~ 2017 Larry Dent, 83, of Auburn passed away peacefully at home Monday April 10, Born in Ashland, Ky., he was the son of the late Leo and Martha Dent. He was preceded in death by one brother, Leo Dent II. Surviving are his wife Linda Dent and one sister, Judy O Connor. Larry worked at WKJG as a TV weatherman. He was the Vice President of K&K Insurance. He retired from 3M as a technical sales representative for the printing products division. For five years, he was Executive Director of the NATMUS (collector cars) Museum in Auburn Indiana, as well as, a volunteer for the Northern Indiana Junior Achievement Program. Larry loved Sports Cars and was a 55 year member of Sports Car Club of America. A member of the Fort Wayne Region, Larry began his involvement in the Club as a racer, where he and Linda met. Over the years, Larry and his wife Linda designed the SCCA Safety Steward program, a vital initiative that improved motorsports safety as a whole. Larry s legacy is absolutely immeasurable, said Lee Hill, SCCA s Board of Directors Chairman. There is so much he did for this Club on both the national and regional level. He made an impact on the way we conduct events, and acted as a mentor for so many people. Larry was just a great person. So many great experiences to share, and a great storyteller to boot. Saying he ll be missed is truly an understatement. Since the late 1960s, Larry had been an SCCA Chief Steward. He also served the SCCA for nine years as a member of the Board of Directors, and was a member of the Executive Committee, serving as liaison to the Competition Board. Also, Larry served three years as Chairman of the Board for the SCCA Foundation, during which time he significantly improved the Foundation s financial standing. In 2008, Larry received the Woolf Barnato award, the top award for service to the Sports Car Club of America. And while Larry is the one that held the official titles, make no mistake that he and Linda worked as a team over the years to advance the Club. This past January, Larry and his wife, Linda, were both inducted into the Sports Car Club of America Hall of Fame. It was a shock when we learned about being inducted into the Hall of Fame. It means so much to have my wife inducted with me, Larry said. The one thing we want to emphasize above everything else, you get out of this Club what you put into it. My wife and I put a lot into it, and we re proud of that. Memorial contributions can be made to Junior Achievement of Northern Indiana, Hope for Animals in Fort Wayne, IN or the Black Pines Animal Sanctuary in Albion, IN In Larry s memory, the Western Michigan Region of the SCCA has made a memorial contribution to the Junior Achievement Program of Northern Indiana. PAGE 6

7 GingerMan Track Night for all SCCA Members Mothers Day - May 14, 2017 Photo by Jon K Yep, another track night at GingerMan. The only difference is that this one is open to all SCCA members, not just SBR members. Spend the day with your mother and come on out to the track after your afternoon meal. Tell mom you have to cut the grass or help your kids with their homework. Please note this is NOT a South Bend Region or SCCA sanctioned event- this is a special track night open only to SCCA members. You will be subject to the rules of Gingerman Raceway for their track night events and the additional supplemental rules listed below. Open to SCCA members only. Run groups for novice (0-3 track events), intermediate ( 4-8 track events), and experienced (9+ track events) Limited to 60 cars. Mandatory drivers meeting at 5:00 pm. First car off at 5:30 pm. Closed-wheel cars only. SA2005 or M2005 helmets or newer. Minimum 3-point belts. Convertibles must have roll-over protection. Three 20 minute sessions. Run rain or shine. Cost is $50.00 Drivers are encouraged to preregister to save their spot. Questions: contact Jeff Luckritz at race@sbrscca.org Please sign up here for the appropriate run group based on your experience. enjoyable for everyone in the run groups. Doing so will make the event more PAGE 7

8 Get Involved A Call for Volunteer Workers for the Upcoming Racing Season How can I help? Don't worry, there are lots of ways Motorsports is more than just driving, and there are a million-and-one ways to get involved. Running an event requires the talents of a wide variety of dedicated individuals. Our members enjoy serving in all types of exciting positions. If you ever thought you might like to give racing a try... working races can give you valuable insights into driving, preparation, and the race tracks themselves. Getting involved as a race worker or an official is as easy as going to a local event and volunteering to help. There are lots of jobs to do... One of these might be just for you. Those wanting to lend a hand are welcomed with open arms, and are rewarded with adventure, camaraderie, and friendship. Volunteers can register at any event even if they have no prior experience. We will provide the basic training and pair you up with an experienced worker. Over time you will grow into the position you like. Of course, if your first choice doesn't meet your expectations there are many more to choose from. Workers are issued a license just like the competition drivers, and can work their way up through the four levels of licenses by participating at different events and gaining the knowledge and experience necessary to hold a National License. In addition to local events, SCCA licensed workers help staff most of the professional motor-sport events held in the United States including SCCA Pro Racing, IndyCar, IMSA, NASCAR, and Formula One. If you are still unsure about which type of volunteer work you would like to do, just contact one of our Specialty Chiefs. The brief summary below is aimed at shaping your impression of what may fit your style and desire. Registration The Registrar is the intake person for our Club Racing events. The Registrar is responsible for checking in drivers, crew and workers for the event. The registration team work just outside the track entrance at a registration station or desk where race credentials are verified, insurance waivers are signed, entry fees are collected, and information and schedules for the race weekend are distributed. Be the first official face they see, point them to where they need to be and make sure everyone gets started on the right track. If you have good organizational skills this could be the place for you. For more information on this Specialty please contact: Marilyn Russell, Chief of Registration, at ( rotaryracer@comcast.net ) or call her at PAGE 8

9 Scrutineer / Tech If you have interest in inspecting race cars and poking around under the hood, this might be an ideal place for you. There are two primary functions of tech. The first entails a complete pre-race visual inspection of all the safety equipment including driver suits, helmets, seat belts, shoulder belts, the roll cage, the fire system, and the general integrity and race worthiness of the car. The second function is to impound cars at the end of a race to determine their legality with respect to the General Competition Rules and the specifications for their class (often times, the car s minimum weight). The Scrutineer is also responsible for post-race inspections possibly including mechanical teardown s due to a competitor protest For more information on this Specialty please contact: Ed Maklenburg, Chief Scrutineer, at ( emaklenburg@frontier.com ) or call him at Start All eyes are on the Starter holding the flag at the beginning and the end of the race, but waving the green and the checker flags is just a small part of what Starters do. The Starter communicates the Chief Steward's instructions to the drivers through a series of colored flags, beginning with the green flag to start the race. In addition, the Starters maintain the lap count, the elapsed time for the session, and must follow the race order by charting the race as it unfolds. Throughout the race, the Starter also uses other flags, including: blue, black, red, yellow, white, and of course, the flag every leading driver eagerly awaits, the checkered flag For more information on this Specialty please contact: Bruce Beauvais, Chief of Start, at ( bruce.beauvais@gmail.com ) or call him at Timing and Scoring If you want to have the best viewing seat on the course, stay out of the weather and have first hand knowledge of whose who and whose winning, then, Timing and Scoring is for you. The function of Timing and Scoring (T&S) is to report the race by recording each competitor s speed, scoring him/her according to the number of laps completed and the order in which the car crossed the start/finish line; and to produce accurate results of the race. In earlier days stopwatches were used to track driver s lap times. Each timer was assigned one or more cars to record lap times on time cards. Things have changed a lot since then and now this is tracked electronically with computers and in-car transponders. Join us and be a part of a great team that documents and generates the official results for the race. You will find working in Timing and Scoring is both fun and rewarding. For more information on this Specialty please contact: Lorrie SCORING Wandell, Chief of Timing and Scoring, at ( timinggal@gmail.com ) or call her at PAGE 9

10 Flagging and Communications Workers in F&C are the eyes, ears and hands of those in charge. One of the most visible specialties, these are the corner workers whom you see dressed in white at every race track in the United States. This specialty is actually made up of three subspecialties. Flagging, Communications, and Safety. The F&C worker takes a position along the course and uses flags and hand signals to communicate track conditions to each driver. They use an array of colored flags to communicate to the drivers about the condition of the track, and radio s or land lines to communicate with Race Control about incidents on the portion of track for which they are responsible. The third part of this specialty is Safety and as such they are the first responders to most incidents on the track. They are the first ones to arrive at an incident and help the unfortunate driver get out of harm s way. They also lend a hand and assist in cleaning up the mess left behind. For more information on this Specialty please contact: Karen Crider, Chief of Flagging and Communications, at ( karenjcrider@hotmail.com ) Grid Worker s and Pit Marshal s Grid worker s line up cars at the beginning of each session and are responsible for insuring that the race cars are placed in the proper order for the beginning of the race. They also check the driver s safety gear, and make sure they have their belts fastened, their helmet strapped, their gloves on, their window net is up, their arm restraints are on, and that they re ready to go Lastly, they are responsible for traffic control as cars are released to the track. For more information on this Specialty please contact: Mary is lined up in the proper order before they Ellen Sickles, Chief of Grid, at( rmsickles@comcast.net )or call The Pit Marshal s control action in the Pit lane... they serve as traffic cops and fire control personnel during practice, qualifying, and the race. They ensure that conditions in the Pits are safe at all times and make sure all personnel in the Pits follow the rules and procedures outlined in the General Competition Rules book. During the racing event, the Pit Marshal s are there to ensure the competitor s entry to and exit from the Pit area is done in a safe manner and to oversee the safety of car crews servicing the car. For more information on this Specialty please contact: Duane Belisle, Chief of Pit, at ( mazdaman86@msn.com )or call PAGE 10

11 Course Control The Course Marshal s main responsibility is the clearing the track of disabled and stopped vehicles. Some of these cars may have a mechanical problem or they may simply have run out of gas and they need to be towed back to their paddock area. Course Marshal s may also assist in clean-up of the track during and after events in the event of fluid spills or other situations that may leave debris on the track surface. In addition, the Course Marshal s may assist in the distribution of corner equipment and the maintenance of corner equipment, including fire extinguishing equipment between events. For more information on this Specialty contact: Wayne Rogers, Chief of Course Control, at ( wrogers280z73@netzero.net ) or call him at Sound Control Want to get close to the action, but don t want to be in the action? If so, Sound Control could be for you. Those who staff Sound Control get to be out near the track and the action, but since their duty is to read the sound meter, they don t go out on the track like the F&C workers do. Racing noise may be music to a fans ears, but to the nearby landowner it may not be so pleasant. On a race track with noise regulations, SCCA Sound Control officials monitor the sound level of passing race vehicles during all practice, qualifying and race sessions. The sound output of the cars is recorded during practice, qualifying and the race to ensure compliance with a set level, usually 103 decibels. These readings are logged by car number and class every lap when the car is clear of traffic that could interfere with the reading. Cars that exceed the maximum allowable level are reported to the operating Steward so that appropriate action can be taken to correct the problem and allow the car to return to the track. Regular sound level meter calibrations as well as various weather conditions such as temperature, humidity, wind speed and direction, and barometric pressure, are checked and recorded. As weather conditions change, they are again recorded and adjustments are made as necessary. For more information on this Specialty contact: Matt Otte, Chief of Sound Control, at ( mootte@mtu.edu ). First time volunteers can sign up at the Registration desk at the race event. Even though you will not be turned away at the track... we are asking returning volunteers to sign up in the (workers) section at ( wmr-scca.motorsportreg.com ) before coming to the event. This gives us a better idea of staffing levels for each of the specialties and allows us to better plan for the provided lunches, worker gifts, and the Saturday dinner party. PAGE 11

12 I Need Someone to Help Me in Drivers Information at our June 25 th - 26 th Event at Grattan Do you wish to stand out in the hot sun all day or weather that torrential downpour of cold rain with nothing but a wide brim hat to protect you? If so, working in Drivers Information is not for you. If on the other hand, you wish to be close to all the activities in the upper paddock, yet out of the elements, in a sheltered area with a nice cool breeze blowing through, and a comfortable chair to sit on Drivers Information might be just the spot for you. It is our job to post the Grid Sheets and Race Results and make copies of them available to the drivers. After the results are final, we hand out the trophies. We also try to answer any questions that the drivers might have, or, at least, to direct them to the right person for an answer. If you can help me, please contact me at jwashburn.us@gmail.com or give me a call at Jim Washburn Regional Executive Western Michigan Region PAGE 12

13 B of AMERICA ership 805 WMR Backfire Editor Jim Washburn Cedar Chestnut Park Street Dr. Apt 310 Holt, MI Inside: 2017 Regional Calendar, Membership Recognition, BoD Meeting Minutes, 2017 Racing Schedule, Call for Volunteers Dr. Trenz A Pruca III 4321 First Street Apt.21 Anytown, State ZIP First Class Mail facebook.wmr-scca.org twitter.wmr-scca.org ADDRESS CORRECTION REQUESTED "#$%&'() #*+,-./ ,8619:;:;,:5<2419:=:<1:53>./9.?03(:? :@*251<$05$-+,24#;:5./0A "#"$%"&'())*' BCDC@:0<23 '319.<.<<+:V =>(E44./.0-< ()F12,:G(0;,-.3?< J:11:5452;19:)7.125 '3$2;.3?E44./:5".2?50*9.:< #-:11:5452;19:2+1?2.3?@2-2>030?:5 "03O+:1'3P Q'3425;01.23 *B *H6*I *I6*K *L6*M *N *R >:;,:5#33.P:5<05.:< U:3:50->:;,:5<9.*>::1.3?>.3+1:< S:T1;::1.3?.3425;01.23 T REGION UB of AMERICA BACKFIRE AUGUST, 2012 WHATEVER YOUR MARQUE... *DC *DC *DC *DD *DB Dr. Trenz A Pruca III 4321 First Street Apt.21 Anytown, State ZIP Backfire is publication is a publication of the of Western the Michigan Region of the Sports Car Club Western of America. Michigan Region of the Sports Car Club of America. The editor welcomes letters, articles and The opinions editor welcomes of our members letters, articles to be included and opinions this of publication our members provided to be that included 1. The in this items publication are edited provided for grammar that: 1) The and items improper are edited expletives. for 2. grammar The content and improper is not libelous expletives nor and unsupportable. 2) The content is The not items libelous must nor be received no later than the 15th of the unsupportable. The items must be month to be included in the next issue received when no and later where than the space 15th is of the available. month to be included in the next issue when and where space is Submit available. articles to: Jim Washburn, 2385 Cedar Park Dr. Apt 310, Holt, MI Submit articles Microsoft to: Jim Word Washburn, documents 1972 Chestnut and St., pictures Holt, MI can be ed to Jwashburn.us@gmail.com Microsoft Word documents, PDF files and pictures can be ed to Jwashburn.us@gmail.com