It is coming, racing season is not that far away now. Once Daytona is behind us and the regular weekly NASCAR races are starting up tells us that the engines will be firing and the tires squealing before long. We as fans need to pull together and support not just our local tracks but all of our tracks. Times have gotten a bit better but the sport is still struggling at the grass roots level so we need to get out there and support all of our tracks. With your MARFC membership you get the opportunity to go to many tracks for free and while that is great, we need to help out those tracks too by buying some concession food or souvenirs and better yet, going back on a regular night and supporting their show. 2013 membership cards were sent out with the March newsletter. If you did not receive your membership card and your newsletter is highlighted in orange it means that your membership for 2013 has not been paid yet. To remain a member you need to send in your yearly dues as soon as you can so that you don’t miss any of the great events on tap for the 2013 racing season.
March 16, 2013 will see the club at the Toledo Speedway Bar & Grille for the Old Timers Meeting from noon to 5:30 PM with the MARFC monthly meeting following at 5:45 PM. The Bar is located at the Speedway and is reached from the Alexis Road exit off of I-75 (exit 210). It is the first exit in Ohio after leaving Michigan. Admission to the day’s events are free with Ron Drager and Scott Schultz on hand to give you an update on the 2013 racing season at the Toledo and Flat Rock Speedways as well as share some of the highlights of the 2012 ARCA Series and information On the 2013 ARCA Series presented by Menards that has had its first big show of the season at Daytona. Come early and enjoy the many pictures and displays as well as the great food at the Toledo Speedway Bar & Grille.
April 20, 2013: Details are being finalized for this meeting which will begin at 7:00 PM at the DeCarlo’s Banquet Center in Warren, Mi. Our bi-annual elections will be held at this meeting and if you are interested in becoming a MARFC Board Member the requirements are listed below. If you have any questions please do not hesitate to contact me at president@marfc.org. There will be some openings on the Board so please give it some careful consideration.
The requirements to be a Board Member are as follows: 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 accept 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 February meeting was held on the 23rd at the DeCarlos Banquet Center. First up was Joel Hershoren of Waterford Hills Raceway located off of Sashabaw Road in Oakland County. Joel shared his passion for motorsports and for the last remaining race track in Oakland County, Waterford Hills. Joel shared the history of not only the race track but also his history with the track going back to his Dad taking him and his brother to the track way back in 1968, which started his love of road racing and the Waterford Hills circuit. Not many know this but Waterford Hills is the most demanding road course in the country with its 1 ½ mile length featuring 13 turns and 6 elevation changes. Joel also shared how fan friendly the track is and that from nearly every viewing area, one can see 85–90% of the race track and in only one area the track visibility is about 60% which is the best of every road course in the country which really makes it feel like a short track to all of us oval track fans. Waterford does have sound restrictions on its race cars as it needs to co-exist with the suburban area that has built itself up to nearly the edge of the race track in a few areas but even with the 70 decibel limit, it provides for some fantastic racing action. The club will have its fan club day there in July during the Vintage Racing Weekend which is Waterford’s biggest event of the year. Joel also spoke a bit about the quarter midget track that is also located on the grounds which has churned out many of our top racers today not only at the local level but on a national level as well. Next up were the promotional team of Rick and Jennie Miracle, promoters of the Owosso Speedway located between Owosso and Ovid on M-21. Rick and Jennie have been at the helm of the speedway for the past five years and are now headed into the sixth year of promotion and management at this historic venue. Rick and Jennie spoke about how when they took over the speedway it was literally on life support with only about 25 cars in the 
pits and less than 300 spectators in the stands. Finishing up the 2012 season they were averaging 79 cars in the pits for a regular night and just over 850 spectators in the stands. Still small numbers when compared to what we used to see at ALL tracks in the 80’s but for these days, that is a respectable number and shows how people will come out and support a speedway when the promoters put family values along with consistent and fair teching in the forefront along with some great racing. Rick and Jennie shared how these days when promoting a racing venue it is so very important to not only be a good neighbor but to also get to know the area, the township in which the track is located and work to become an integral part of that community and while it has taken time, they have been able to accomplish that goal and while they had some very tough times in 2012, they were able to continue on with much support from the racers and the racing community and will be there in 2013. The schedule for Owosso Speedway is still in the hands of the city council awaiting approval but should be out very soon and early indications are for some very good racing and a few specials along with “The Nationals” which last season saw 150 racing machines in the pits ready for action. (Above: Joel Hershoren Below: Jennie & Rick Miracle)