2007 Minutes

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December 2007 Minutes

President’s Desk

December 2007 

On behalf of the entire Board of Directors we would like to send out a “Very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year” to all of our members. My sincere hope is that you all have a great & safe holiday season and that Santa brings everyone all the things on your list. May the Good Lord Bless and Keep all those who are serving our country across the world to keep us safe and free to enjoy the holiday season. “God Bless to You All 

As Always Keep Racing! 

Bill Barnhart
President MARFC

 

November Events

NOVEMBER MEETING UPDATE:  Our meeting at the Birch Run Best Western was a great one. I would say it was very interesting with all our guest speakers that we on hand.

Up first we hand Big Ed Inloes and Chuck Darling to talk about the MSTRC fund raiser bowling tournament to be held on Saturday February 9, 2008 at Capitol Bowl in Owosso, Michigan. It was announced at the meeting that the MSTRC have selected the benefactors for the upcoming tournament. This year’s fund raising event will be held for the Sam Faur family as well as Matt Schindewolf. They have also picked the Chris Throgmartin Spirit Award winner and that is George Keen for his work with his Racing Show program and website. For information about this event you can contact Chuck Darling through the MSTRC site at www.mstrc.com.

Then Big Ed informed us about both the Spartan and Springport Motor Speedways. Then he hand a very exciting question and answer session with the group. Larry Loynes unfortunately had a little bit of a brain fade and remembered that he was to be the MC for the Michigan Traditional Sprint Car Series Banquet that night but Big Ed let us know all about Race Talk Radio. Our last speaker was the new general manager from the Owosso Speedway Bill Morris who let us know that he will be working hard to try and turn things around at the Speedway for 2008. Many thanks to all who attended and hope that next time we return to the Flint area we will have even more attend the meeting.

MT. CLEMENS CHRISTMAS PARADE

Once again on Friday November 23, 2007 MARFC was invited to participate in the 2007 Mt. Clemens Christmas Parade was cold but all who attended had a fun time. Special thanks to Terry Bogusz Jr. for having his Auto City Super Late Model car on display for the parade. Many thanks to all who helped out set up and march in the parade and pass out candy to all the children waiting to see Santa at the end of this special event. We look forward to returning back once again in 2008!

November 2007 Minutes

November 21, 2007 – The entire Board of Directors of MARFC and all our members wish to send our deepest sympathies out to Board member Larry Iacoboni for the loss of his mother Josi. She passed away early this morning after a very long illness.

Our thoughts and Prayers are with Larry and Sue and the entire Iacoboni family at this sad time. “God Bless Always”

Bill Barnhart

President MARFC

 

President’s Desk

Banquet time is here and that means it’s time to congratulate all the Champions across the state for their accomplishments for this racing season.  As we look forward to celebrating these championships we need to stop and remember those who we have lost this past season. Remember to take the time to thank and pray for our troops who are working hard to keep us safe and continue to be able to enjoy the freedoms that we have in supporting and playing in the greatest sport in the country. Remember all those who gave their lives to give us this freedom and remember to continue to pray for them and their families. 

Information on our 42nd Annual Awards & Dinner Dance Banquet! This year’s top honorees are another great group of individuals.  Our MARFC Electronic Media Award will go to “Races on the Web” & Verwayne Greenhoe. Verwayne does a great job keep many folks informed with his race show on line as well as streamlining race events for various Michigan race tracks. The MARFC Publication Award will be given to the “Marc Times Racing News”. Dick Beebe has kept us informed for 43 years on the happenings here in Michigan and was one of the first Racing Trades to come from the Michigan area. The MARFC/Eddie Sachs Memorial Lifetime Achievement Award will be presented to one of our Michigan racing Legends Artie Sommers. Eddie Sachs Jr. will be on hand to help with this presentation. Our top award the Presidents Award will go to Mr. Phil Parsons. Phil is a Michigan native who has excelled in our sport over the years and currently is one of the best color commentators on the Speed Channel today. So if you are planning on attending this event get your tickets early as there will be NO TICKETS SOLD AT THE DOOR! The date is January 19, 2008. To Purchase Tickets contact me at president@marfc.org 

On Saturday January 26, 2008 there will be the second Mt. Clemens Race Track party at Kart 2 Kart located on Van Dyke just south of 19 mile Rd. if they are not into their new location in Madison Heights at that time. There will be kart racing for those who wish to participate in hot laps, qualifying, & running a feature. They will need to know if you are attending to ride the karts so they can schedule the reservation time. We invite anyone who has photos or items that they would like to share with others or if you just wish to come and bench race that is fine too. For more information you can contact me at president@marfc.org 

As Always Keep Racing! 

Bill Barnhart
President MARFC

November 21, 2007 – The entire Board of Directors of MARFC and all our members wish to send our deepest sympathies out to Board member Larry Iacoboni for the loss of his mother Josi. She passed away early this morning after a very long illness.

 

Our thoughts and Prayers are with Larry and Sue and the entire Iacoboni family at this sad time. “God Bless Always”

Bill Barnhart

President MARFC

October Events

OCTOBER MEETING UPDATE: It was our first time meeting at the Hooters Restaurant in Troy and those who came had a good time.

Our first guest speaker was Bob Capps from Kart 2 Kart who informed us of the new location to soon be opened shortly after the first of the year located at 800 East 14 Mile Road, Madison Heights, MI. This new facility will be in the old Sam’s Club building it will host two race courses as well as many other great features. They will be using electric karts so that they can be controlled for our younger race fans and the new name will be the APEX Conference & Karting Center. We will be holding our February general meeting at this new location so keep checking on updates.

 

Then we had Michael Simko on hand who told us of his back ground in racing along with some great Simko family stories. Michael also informed us all on his 2007 season and what 2008 will bring for him and his team.

October 2007 Minutes

President’s Desk

September 2007

Once again we here at MARFC have lost a member of our club. Jill DeBash lost her long fight with cancer on September 21, 2007. Jill and her husband Dave have been long time supporters of our fund raiser raffles and Children’s Christmas raffles. Our thoughts and Prayers are with the entire DeBash family. We also send out our condolences to Valarie Drager for the loss of her mother last month also. Valarie is the wife of ARCA President Ron Drager. Our deepest sympathies to Val and her family during this sad time!

I know it is only October but it’s never too early to think about renewing your membership for 2008. Do it now and you won’t miss a thing that our club will be up too in the up coming year. Also remember to e-mail me if you wish to have your monthly newsletter sent by e-mail. If you have changed your e-mail please let me know so we can get it changed in our address book.

There is still time to order your new style MARFC shirts using the enclosed order form and receive them to give out at Christmas gifts. Order now and ovoid the rush later!

We now have on sale tickets to our 42nd Annual Awards & Dinner Dance. Plan early and come and enjoy an evening with your fellow members and many champions from across the state. We should have a sell out this year as last year we were very close to being sold out. For more information about the banquet see the enclosed Banquet listing here in this newsletter.

Congratulations to all the 2007 inductees into the Michigan Motor Sports Hall of Fame. To be held on November 4, 2007 in Mt. Pleasant, MI. They are: Andy Bozell, Ron Drager, Ron Flinn, Sam Gianino, Bob Hanes, Don Holben, Rusty Kelley, Ken Mackey, Artie Sommers, Tom Straley, and Brian Tyler. For more information or to attend this great event check out this site: www.mmshof.org

Bill Barnhart
President MARFC

September Events

TOLEDO SPEEDWAY

We would like to thank the Toledo Speedway for the special discount price ticket for all our club members who attended the Glass City 200 last month. I know those who came saw a lot of great racing rolled into a one night deal. Many thanks again to the Speedway. Photo by Robert Michon/Performance Images

September 2007 Minutes

President’s Desk

September 2007

Here it is again nearly the end of another racing season. Seems like we just got started going and it is now time to think about Championships and Banquets. Congratulations to all the Champions across the state and to those who are just about there.

I ‘d like to take the time again as always and say a very grateful and sincere Thank You to all our membership tracks who have supported us with hosting a fan club day event this past season. Please help me send out our thanks again to the following tracks: Auto City, Berlin, Butler, Cherry, Crystal, Flat Rock, Galesburg, I-96, Kalamazoo, Kinross, Merritt, Mt. Pleasant, M.I.S., Spartan, Springport, and Toledo Speedways. With out these great racing facilities we as fans would not enjoy the best auto racing in the state of Michigan. Thanks once again to you all and hope to continue our relationship with each and every one of you in the 2008 racing season.

We would like to send out our deepest sympathies to the family of Don Kotarski who lost his life in a practice crash in his NAMRA Indy Series car at the Whittemore Speedway last month. Don was a well liked through out the series and will deeply be missed by his family and friends. We would also like to send out a very speedy recovery to club member and figure “8” driver Joe Whisman who received a broken arm and wrist during a race at Flat Rock.  We hear that his is doing fine but, will be out of action for quite awhile.  “Get Well Soon Joey”!

Wild Bill

MARFC President

 

MARFC HISTORY SEGMENT: Our first Banquet by: Vito LoPiccolo

As we approach nearer to our 42nd Dinner-Dance and Awards Banquet, my thoughts go back to our first banquet in January 1967. My mother had passed away just two weeks before and thank God for the banquet coming up. It kept me busy and had no time to think about my loss.

That day we had a nine inch snow fall and the phone kept ringing to find out if we were cancelling the banquet, the answer was a resounding NO. That night the people started to stagger in one by one and two by two, before long the Embassy Hall on Harper was full. What really pleased me was that the people who came in from Grand Rapids. They met at a certain location and with Willy Flokstra leading, arrived in time. We had a sell out. With Barb and I leading along with my father we lead the Grand March that someone had suggested. The food was plentiful and delicious. Our main honoree was the Weinberger Racing Team which included Gordon Johncock. As usual many people helped to make it a success. A good time was had by all, and out first banquet was history.

 

August Events

SPRINGPORT MOTOR SPEEDWAY

Very warm but dry night for racing. Our MARFC Uniform/Helmet bag was given to a special individual for his dedication to the Speedway ever since it was built years ago. Bob Cantine is the tracks photographer and he has supported the racers, fans and speedway from day one and we applaud him for that. Many thanks to Maurice and crew for a inviting us back this season. Many Thanks to Big Ed for all his help with the great PR job.Photo by Bob Cantine

 

KINROSS SPEEDPARK

Our trek up to the U.P. was great as usual with the biggest crowd on the season on hand to see some very special racing. Our MARFC Uniform/Helmet Bag was presented to Kary Saddison who has made Kinross Speedpark his home track this season and thus far has 2 feature wins to his credit. He is definitely an up and coming driver in Northern Michigan. Many thanks to Bill Cryderman and Gerry Liscumb Jr. for all their help in making
our night a fantastic one.

 

 

MERRITT SPEEDWAY: Another outstanding night of dirt track racing with lots of cars in the pit area made for exciting fields of racing. Street Stock # 15 driver Jerry Mynick was given our MARFC Uniform/Helmet bag for his continuous support of his division at the Speedway. A big thank you to “Chief” Leo Pego for the great PR for the night and our hosts Rod & Johnna Ancel for having us back again this season.

 

MIS SPEEDWAY: Great weather and fun time had by all members who took advantage of the generosity of the Michigan International Speedway. Plenty of things to see and do before watching Cup qualifying and then Busch.  Unfortunately, Mother Nature sure made a mess of the rest of the weekend.  Special thank you to Dennis Worden, Sammie Lukaskiewicz and Speedway President Roger Curtis for continuing to be apart of our club and supporting us with this great free day for our members. Looking forward to the 2008 season.