2013 Minutes

Our friends over at Must See Racing have extended an offer to all of our 2013 MARFC members in good standing for the May 19, 2013 races at the famed Winchester Speedway in Winchester, Indiana. All members that attend will receive $5.00 off an Adult or Senior admission plus a free souvenir program from those races ($25.00 value). If you are headed overt that way be sure to take advantage of this offer. A big Thank You to Jim Hanks of Must See Racing and a MARFC Member. Recent Eddies Sachs Jr. Memorial Lifetime Achievement Award winner Tom Bigelow does the color commentary for the series along with leading broadcaster Rick Benjamin. 

The 2013 National Association of Auto Racing Fan Club’s 61st Annual Convention will be held on Saturday May 25, 2013 at 8:00 am! Location of this event will be at the Clarion Waterfront Plaza Hotel located at 2930 Waterfront Parkway, Indianapolis, Indiana. Tickets are $17.00 each and can be obtained by contacting: Susannah Stapp  at:363 Vinewood Drive South, Brownsburg, In. 46112

We here at MARFC express our condolences to the Colpean Family on the loss of MARFC Member, Michael Colpean. Mike was also the Brother and Son of Jack Colpean Sr. and Jack Colpean Jr.. Mike was an avid racing fan and supporter of MARFC as well as a former “SuperPro” official. Gods Speed Mike.

The MARFC Family Picnic will be held on Sunday July 7, 2013 at Waterford Hills Raceway in Clarkston, Mi. from 11:00 am until about 5:00 pm. We will have games & prizes for both kids and adults. The Club will be providing the hot dogs, hamburgers, and fixens for all. If you would like to bring a passing dish please let me know but it is not required. If you wish to bring something special other than hot dogs & burgers for your family you are more the welcome to do so. An RSVP needs to be e-mailed & returned to me no later than July 3, 2013 so we can get the food, prizes and games ordered in time for the picnic. We will have a map of the park and picnic site in the June and July newsletters. The races will be going on during the picnic and all attendees will receive free admission to the races that day as well. If you have never been to Waterford and witnessed what they have to offer, this will be a golden opportunity to see local Road Racing at the only race track in Oakland County. Please RSVP me at: president@marfc.org

Yours in Racing, Dave DeHem MARFC President

Our April meeting saw Nick Hoonhout, one of the new owners of Silver Bullet Speedway come and talk about the changes that are underway at the former Owendale Speedway located in the heart of Michigan’s Thumb. Nick and his brother Matt along with their father Case are the new owners of the speedway and have begun extensive renovations to the facility which at this time includes new drainage, removal of the old wooden grandstands and hill along with a relocation of the first turn grandstands to a new place in front of the announcer’s tower. Picnic tables will be placed over where the first turn grandstands were and the concessions are being re-built along with a newly renovated front entrance. Pit slabs will be poured along with a transponder scoring system being installed. Plans are to enlarge the track to being a 3/8 mile instead of the present ¼ mile configuration. They will be running UMP rules and will stay on Saturday nights as they have been for many years. The track will allow free camping with paid admission and projected grandstand admission is going to be $12.00 with $25.00 for the pits. They have some great specials on tap along with the Fall Shootout in the latter part of September. The Hoonhout family along with Mike Spencer has some big plans for Silver Bullett Speedway and look forward to seeing as many fans as possible every week at this hidden gem. One other exciting thing is that Nick let us know that they will be offering not just your usual fare of food at the track but have some special additions to the menu that have something to do with smoke and slow cooking.

NOMINATIONS/ELECTIONS    Nominations for Executive Board and 8 Board members were held at the April meeting. “Wild Bill” Barnhart was nominated for the office of President, Dave DeHem was nominated for the office of Vice-President, and Sue Ginter was nominated for the office of Secretary/Treasurer. Since there were no other nominations this will be the Executive Board for the term of office beginning June 1, 2013 through May 31, 2015. Board Members  Cory Russell, Dennis Trinklien, Chuck Horan, and Dennis Schalm had indicated that they would not be seeking re-election to the office of Board Member so the following seven individuals were nominated and will begin their term of office on June 1, 2013. Continuing are Fran Russo, Jeff Horan, Bill Walters, and Larry Iacoboni.  Jack Lecot, and Al Peltier return to the Board after having served on previous occasions while Barbara Gullett and Rand Thompson will serve as Board members for the first time. Thompson will retain his position as P.R. Director.  Since there were eight positions available and only seven nominations were made, the elections were voted by all in attendance to be final. Barbara is the spouse of Jimmy Gullett and they have been sponsoring our Fan of the Year and Promoter of the Year Awards at our annual banquet for a number of years as well as providing food and drink at the Kid’s Christmas Party. Both Barbara and Rand will make fine additions to the Board of Directors. Just a note of clarity for those that attended the meeting. Fran Russo was not able to be in attendance as she was hospitalized and after having conversation with her a few days later she stated that she had intended to run for the Board and wished to retain her seat. Based upon that and the direction given to Me by those present at the meeting to fill the remaining eighth spot, I have appointed and continued Fran Russo’s term as MARFC Board Member as most certainly, Fran would have been nominated had she not been hospitalized. Incidentally, Fran says she is feeling well and will do whatever she can to continue her work with the club and looks forward to seeing members at the tracks she attends.

It is almost time to go racing again. The race cars are just about finished up and the smell of paint is everywhere as the lettering is getting done and the set-ups are being tweaked. Practice days have begun and the sound and smell of exhaust permeates the air at our local tracks. I can hardly wait for that first green flag of the season. Enclosed in your regular mailed newsletter are your 2013 pocket schedules and once again, we are asking those who have an e-mail address to contact us and let us know if you would like to be put on the e-mail list only. If you can send me a quick note by e-mail at president@marfc.org so I will be sure and have your e-mail address and name just in case it has changed. While you are at it please include “Wild Bill” at vicepresident@marfc.org as well. Our first MARFC Day is April 27th at I-96 Speedway so get ready, get set, let’s go racing. On another note, I feel it is proper to let you all know that I will not be seeking the office of MARFC President at the April General membership meeting and elections. I have totally enjoyed my time at the helm of the club and don’t regret any part of it but it is time to make room for someone else as I move into a different phase of my life. I thought it only fair to announce this now rather than have everyone find out in the next newsletter when we post the results. I intend to stay on the board in some capacity but no longer have the time to be able to perform the duties of the office as they need to be performed and this club means too much to me to not give it my all. I am continuing my association with Michigan Legends and will be at many of the fan club days so you will still be seeing me. There will also be a few positions opening up on the board so please consider your participation to continue this club into its future.

April Meeting:  Our April meeting will be held on April 13, 2013 at the DeCarlo’s Banquet Center in Warren, located at 6015 E. Ten Mile Rd. The April meeting will be our last monthly meeting until we get back together in the fall and is also when we will be holding nominations/elections for our next slate of Executive Officers and Board Members. The meeting gets the green flag at 7:00 PM. Our guest speakers will be the new owners of the Owendale Speedway located on Sebewaing Rd. in Owendale located in the heart of Michigan’s Thumb. This new team has many exciting plans in store for the speedway as well as a re-naming of the speedway which is now known as “Silver Bullett Speedway”. Stay tuned as there are many positive things coming up to further enhance dirt track stock car racing in the thumb.    If you have the desire to serve on the MARFC Board you will need to be present at that meeting in order to accept the nomination. The requirements for serving on the board are as outlined:

MICHIGAN AUTOMOBILE RACING FAN CLUB Officer and Board of Directors 1. Person must be a current club member in good standing. 2. Must be willing to commit to the office taken. 3. Must be present at 2/3 of the set board meetings and regular monthly meetings. 4. Must be willing to take charge of a club function such as a fan club day or chair any other event. 5. Willing to take part with all other officers for the Annual Awards Banquet 6. Must be present at the April meeting in order to be nominated and except the nomination. 7. Should be willing to follow the above for mentioned items for your two-year term of office.

Yours in Racing Dave DeHem  MARFC President

Our annual trek to the Toledo Speedway Bar & Grille for our March general meeting was once again well attended. ARCA President Ron Drager was on hand and shared the highlights of the 2013 ARCA season prior to watching the year in review video from the 2012 ARCA season that is shown at the ARCA banquet. Then next we had General Manager Scott Schultz who gave us an informative rundown of the upcoming and exciting seasons coming up at both the Toledo & Flat Rock Speedways. To start out the night, I had the pleasure of sitting down with leading historian and championship winning driver Brian Norton. Brian has long been a staple at the Toledo and Flat Rock Speedways as well as taking his talents on the road to some of the tri-state areas race tracks.  Brian shared about his first start in an enduro car way back at the Butler Motor Speedway. Brian spent some time in the Enduro’s before moving up into the more powerful Street Stocks Division at Flat Rock where He achieved much success in winning races and championships.  Brian also shared that one of the highlights of his driving career was to be able to step into the famed school bus yellow number one of the legendary Joy Fair and take a turn in the wheel house of the driver that has done so much not only in the mid west but all over the country as well. Brian shared a bit about some of his favorite races and even more about his vast collection of racing pictures and memorabilia. Brian is also the driving forces behind the annual Racers Re-Union that is held at the Toledo Speedway Bar & Grille each March and is also the site of the MARFC March Meeting every year. A great time was had by all and a big Thank You to Ron Drager and Scott Schultz for hosting the event as well as adding in some door prizes along with Dan Markey. Suzie Drager won the MARFC 50/50 and donated her share back to the Randall Ginter Memorial Injured Driver’s Fund. Thank You Suzie for your generosity and support of the club.