Dedicated to the Betterment and Benefit of Auto Racing and Those Engaged Therein

From the President – May 2010

I am ready to go to the track once again. By the time you read this Michigan’s race tracks will be open and in full swing for the 2010 season. Winter was too long and as this is written in mid April I am looking forward to this upcoming weekend and hitting one of our great member tracks for their opening night. I can smell the burning paint, the freshly warmed up rubber and the sweet smell of racing fuel. It will be great to see friends that I have not seen either since last year or at our banquet last January. As I look forward to the upcoming season I see that we will be very busy once again with eighteen events on tap for the club as well as the annual picnic on July 11th at Stoney Creek. There is an RSVP form included so make your plans now and let us know so we can have enough pop and food for you to enjoy on this special day in July. We have 5 fan club days in May so get on out and support the club and the tracks that are hosting us. As always, stop by the table and sign in for a chance at a MARFC Member door prize and just so we can say Hi and get to know all of our members. I have included a profile on our new P.R. Director Rand Thompson and will include a profile on Chuck Horan next month. Rand’s profile follows and “We’ll See You at The Races”.

Dave

My name is Rand Thompson and I wanted to take the opportunity to introduce myself as the MARFC Public Relations Director for the upcoming year.  I have been a member of the Fan Club for over 15 years, but my love of racing goes back to the early 70’s.  My parents had absolutely no interest in racing, so I didn’t grow up in the sport, but one year I finally convinced my dad to take me to the Indy 500, and the rest was history.  I initially only went to Indy and MIS, but soon discovered the thrills of short track racing.

I grew up in Pontiac, but always enjoyed the Irish Hills area while attending MIS, and moved out there in the early 90’s. My wife, Lori, and I live just a few miles from MIS with our two dogs Maggie and Dixie. Professionally, I have worked as a Quality Engineer for auto suppliers, but like many, I am currently unemployed and looking for a new opportunity.

Besides MIS, my favorite tracks have always been Flat Rock and Toledo, and that’s where I spend most of my time during the summer weekends.  In case you are curious, my all time favorite Michigan drivers are Joy Fair, Chuck Roumell, Joe Ruttman, Butch Miller, Terry Cook and Bob Keselowski.  I have the great pleasure to be friends with Joy and Chuck, and try to stop in and chat with them every few weeks or so.  Lori and I are both very excited to see both Brad Keselowski and Justin Allgaier racing in NASCAR in 2010.  I have spent the vast majority of my time as a race fan buying tickets and sitting in the stands, but have been privileged to be able to work as a volunteer at MIS for the last ten years giving pre race pit road and garage tours for the MIS Hospitality Dept.  In addition, some of you may recognize me from last year as a weekly columnist for the MARC Times, covering Flat Rock, Toledo, and MIS.

I have really enjoyed being a member of MARFC over the years and am looking forward to working with everyone to aid communications with our existing and potential new members, as well as promote the club and our member tracks. I believe our Fan Club is easily the best value in racing and my goal is to spread the word and be able to take things to a new level.  Our mission of course, is to serve you, the members, so I welcome any ideas, comments or suggestions, and hopefully I will get to meet many of you this season.

Thanks & enjoy the races,

Rand