SoCal Oldtimers MX Club Minutes September 7, 2011 Well, I missed the last couple meetings, but I was pretty hungry so I figured I d make it to this month s meeting. Probably should ve saved the drive. But that s a story we ll get to shortly. AND NOW BROUGHT TO YOU BY THE FINE FOLKS WHO MAKE huh? THE NEW EAR PLUG FOR 2-STOKE RIDERS --- THE MINUTES! Thank you for that great introduction. I m Paul Lax, the recording secretary of this outfit and I m here with the minutes of the September meeting. First, the important stuff. NEW MEMBER FRED MAYNARD Fred is a former LAOTMX member who has decided to come out and ride with SoCal. In fact, Fred is probably a former lots of things, as he will be riding in the 80+ class. That s right, no more meandering around the track for John Webb. It ll be all elbows and footpegs in the first corner from now on in the 80+ class. We also had a sort of new member. You ll be pleased to know that Board Member and Race Director Randy Blevins paid his 2011 dues. You ve paid yours, right? There was a brief Steve Probst sighting. Some claimed it was swamp gas, but I don t recall seeing swamp gas with gray hair before. There were about 25 in attendance. It was hard to be sure as there was substantial wandering in and out. That happens. Maybe from now on I ll take roll by counting how many plates are used. Nah, that won t work. I d miss counting the guys who just eat right out of the serving trays. And probably miss counting Kurt, but that s a story for a little later.
The meeting was called more or less to order at 8:32. Roger, who hasn t been out to race with us in about a year was present. He probably thought, as I did, that we were having fried chicken. (But that s a story for later) He reluctantly introduced himself. He really didn t think it was necessary, but I didn t know him. Treasurer s Report SoCal OTMX has about $1670 in the bank. We apparently have $5000+ buried in an old cigar box under the first turn at Piru. Not sure why. Something about setting it aside to fund the International. President s Report Rich Stulke, our esteemed leader, announced that our monthly news letter has now been promoted. It is now the SoCal OTMX News Magazine. Now instead of getting a monthly news letter 8 times a year, and usually late, we will get a quarterly News Magazine that will come out about 3 times a year and will have the same Rider of the Month on sort of a semi-annual basis. International Report Rich Kastner, our International Representative had an excused absence. When one runs an HVAC service in real life, and has been out of town a few days, and comes back in the middle of a heat wave, getting out there and taking care of business comes before getting to the meeting. (especially if there is no chicken but that s a story for later) However, there was a lot to report and since we were privileged to have the International Reps of the Las Vegas and L.A. Clubs present, they presented the report on Congress. Here are the highlights: Master B class will be reinstated for next year. Starting next year there will be no 2 zone requirement. Run 4 events and you re eligible for whatever. And starting next year, clubs can chose to put a box on the pre-entry forms to let those who pre-enter vote on whether that event will run 4 or 5 motos for an International. o This is part one in a plan to increase attendance at Internationals. o Step two will be to replace the two motos on Saturday with a 30 minute GP, then on Sunday, we will talk about the GP. o Step three will eliminate the racing altogether, but offer 90 minute practice sessions to all classes. o Finally, step 4 will dispense with the motorcycles altogether, we ll just all put our gear on and lean on a fence. Of course, by that time attendance will be so huge we will have to have the Internationals at major stadiums. (The previous entry in these minutes does not necessarily reflect the views of the management)
There were some comments about the fact that the start was delayed at Fernley on Saturday because the EMTs didn t show. Racing finally started at about 12:30 on Saturday. We heard a couple stories of what happened, but whatever it was, nothing we can do about it now, except make sure it doesn t happen again. Race Director s Report Randy Blevins reported that there was not much to report. Secretary s Report [See Race Director s Report] Dinner Report Just the facts here. No opinion, no bias, no pre-conceived notions. Just reporting what happened. Pulled pork and beans. We ate it. No one requested that we have it again. Twenty-five guys, plus or minus a few, and no one called for an encore. Kurt was discovered eating a good look n burrito instead of what we enlisted guys ate. What does that tell you? Vice-President s Report It turns out there will be local races in September after all. September 18 Hillside Track, Comp Edge September 25 Vet Track, Cahuilla There was a little grumbling about the Vet Track at Cahuilla. Kurt says we will get a race on the main track at some point in the future, but we will have a $20 gate for that race. No charge for spectators. October 10 & 15 SoCal International, Glen Helen, Main Track October 22 &23 Carlsbad International at? (My fault, they said it, I just forgot) November 13 Glen Helen National Track November 20 The Ranch December 18 REM It as also announced that next year we will be on REM once a month. Let me try that again. Next year, we will race the REM track at Glen Helen every month!! Naw, just like lipstick on a pig still sounds lame.
[Editor s note: I know its tough to deal with the tracks, but one thing that killed the LAOTMX chapter was racing all the time at LACR. There are lots of tracks we can go to. To take the alternate track at one of the facilities for half our local races isn t likely to build up a lot of excitement. But, that s not my job.] Anyway, to continue January 8 Glen Helen National Track January 15 Banquet at Foxfire January 29 REM February 5? Some of next year s International dates Central Valley March 3 & 4 Arizona March 10 & 11 Los Angeles March 31 & April 1 (April Fools!!) Vegas, Baby April 14 & 15 Sierra May 5 & 6 We are all reminded to patronize our sponsors. Yoshimura will be strongly supporting our International with their semi out there full of loud goodies. Also, MTA West, X-Brand goggles, O Neal, DeCal Works, Scorpion Helmets, MB1 Suspension, Provalve, Orange County Honda, Shock Therapy, ProRide, Troy Lee Designs, AC Racing, John Burr Cycles, Dio Vonti, and Moto Dude Apparel. Our VP and President go through a lot to sell sponsors on the idea of supporting Oldtimer racing. It is important that we visibly support the sponsors. This means, buy their shit. And when you do, let them know you are a SoCal Oldtimer and that you appreciate the support for our racing. I am going to personally make a change just so I can support a sponsor. I ve been wearing Spy goggles ever since I started racing again in 03. But I m going to try the X-Brand Goggles just because they are a sponsor. By the way, it you need a bunch of Spy lenses and tear-offs, come see me. It was mentioned that we will be looking for help with the serving of dinner at the SoCal International. Some of those guys who only run 2 motos on Saturday, and you know who you are, will have to hustle down the road and hijack a truckload of spaghetti, bring it back to the track, and help serve. IMPORTANT IMPORTANT IMPORTANT IMPORTANT IMPORTANT Nominations for officers are next month, and voting will be at the November meeting. I m thinking about running for treasurer. Put a little personal touch in the financials. After all, if you can t trust a lawyer to watch your money.
OK, that s about it, and then we realized that we could be there all night. John Webb was not there is move we adjourn. After a brief caucus of the Board, we devised a solution. As second ranking member by age, Chuck Ramsey stepped up and moved we adjourn, after it was noted in the minutes that he had been awake through the entire meeting. It is noted and we were adjourned at 9:28