Yearly Archives: 2021

32 posts

4th Annual MARFC Charity Bowling Event in the Books for 2021!

Despite having to utilize a new venue and still in the midst of a “pandemic”, the 4th Annual Michigan Automobile Racing Fan Club (MARFC) Presented by Northside Towing and Service Bowling Tournament can be considered a rousing success!  32 bowlers made their way to the Royal Scot Golf and Bowling center in Lansing, MI on Saturday March 20th to gather and raise funds for the Randall Ginter Memorial Benevolent Fund and the Wounded Warrior Project. Bowlers and bench racers were greeted at sign in with a raffle table full of prizes to be won courtesy of the generosity of race fans, drivers, track owners and series officials from around the state of Michigan.  All bowlers who competed were also given a free pass for any one of their house shows or Eve of Destruction events held at Birch Run’s Dixie Speedway.  Other forms of revenue generating for the benefactors came in the form of a 50/50 cash raffle, a Tony Stewart autographed die-cast auction and a Jimmie Johnson jacket auction. With the total raised from the bowlers, donations from Northside Towing and Service, Midwest Classic Racers, Horsepower Happenings, prize table raffle sales, the 50/50 cash raffle, with winners Becca and Zach Hiser’s donated it back, and the Tony Stewart die-cast auction the event raised $1,268! After the announcement of the totals raised, the bowling awards were handed out. Speedway Convenience Stores $25 gift cards and a trophy were awarded to the Men’s High Score (Jeffrey Brennan 266) and the Team High Score (Jeffrey Brennan and Theresa Beckner 984) while the Women’s High Score (Theresa Beckner 257) would receive the trophy and gift card as well as an extra $50 donated by Cindy Kramer.  The Greg Yost Never Give Up Award for the lowest score (Sophia Curtis with a 10) received a trophy as well as $50 donated by Cindy Kramer. The Chris Throgmartin Spirit Award Presented by Talin RV was awarded to Kevin England earlier in the day for his work at Galesburg Speedway.  Kevin’s encouragement of racers from “The Burg” to visit other tracks while they were shut down showed true passion for the sport.  Dave and Dora Howe of Beacon Sales and Service presented $25 to the two farthest travelers who were Rich Frantz and John Jackson. “Big” Ed Inloes was the first guest speaker for the March MARFC general meeting, where he gave an update on working at Birch Run’s Dixie Speedway on Friday’s and the Owosso Speedway on Saturday’s.  Sean Sprague came up next to talk about his switch from the dirt of I-96 Speedway to being back to where it all started for him at Corrigan Oil Speedway.  Zach Hiser and Rich Frantz then spoke about their podcast on Monday nights as well as the coverage they plan to give local and national auto racing from around Michigan and the Great Lakes region.  Jeff Finley was on hand and told of how his family got involved in racing as well as the Northside Towing business and going from being a driver to seeing his son transition from the local short tracks to NASCAR and then back to switch to dirt racing.  The Michigan Motorsports Hall of Fame was represented by Dave DeHem as he talked about the history of the organization as well as planning for this year’s banquet to be held in Mt. Pleasant in November. (Photo Top Left: Chuck Darling & Kevin England)(Photo Top Right: Bill Barnhart, Theresa Beckner, Jeffrey Brennan, Chuck Darling) (Photo Center: Bill Barnhart, Sophia Curtis, Cindy Kramer, Chuck Darling) (Photo next: Sean Sprague,  Zach Hiser & Rich Frantz, Big Ed Inloes, Jeff Finley, and Dave DeHem) ( Story by: Chuck Darling)

MARCH GENERAL MEETING & Bowling Tournament set for 2021!

Our General Meeting will be held on March 20, 2021 at the Royal Scot/ Golf & Bowling located at 4722 Grand River Ave Lansing, MI 48906 phone 517-321-3071, www.royalscot.net. This event helps raise money for the Wounded Warrior Project as well as those in the racing world who need a helping hand during a time of sickness or hardship. Our meeting will begin right after the tournament at 4:00 pm. We are also helping this event by volunteering to help with donations and raffle prizes and those who like to bowl can bowl to help out too. So, come out and help MARFC support this event. Below is the list of starting times: 12 pm: Doors open/Sign in starts 12:45 pm: Sign in ends/Draw for teams 1 pm: National Anthem/Bowling Start 3 pm: Awards ceremony/MARFC meeting. COST $ 12.00 per person to bowl two games & shoes included. MARFC has our PayPal link for those that want to donate but cannot attend. We ask for your help in sharing this event! We encourage everyone that has attended in the past or has been a benefactor of the tournament to come out and support the Wounded Warrior Project and the MARFC/Randall Ginter Memorial Benevolent Fund. For more information, or for any companies, race tracks, drivers, or individuals that have items to donate (apparel, tickets, certificates, etc.) please get with Chuck Darling mstrcceo88@gmail.com, Ed Inloes gb48507@yahoo.com, Wild Bill Barnhart president@marfc.org, or Elaine Crosby kaycorbgm@yahoo.com

MARFC April Meeting date set for 2021!

 

 

APRIL MARFC GENERAL MEETING: Will be our election meeting and will be held on April 10, 2021 at the Kart2Kart indoor Karting facility located at 42705 Van Dyke, Sterling Heights, MI 48314 phone 586-997-8800 at 6:00pm. Still working on our guest for the evening. If you wish to ride the karts after the meeting you will still have time to do so. I will have more information in the April newsletter. 

 

Thoughts & Prayers from MARFC!

We here at MARFC are sending out our thoughts & prayers to the family of George Lane founder of LANE Automotive. A legend in the racing world and Michigan native he was a tremendous force in supporting auto racing in the state of Michigan with products and sponsorships for many. George was inducted in the Michigan Motorsports Hall of Fame in 2001 and was awarded our MARFC Presidents Award in January of 2020. Condolences to his family, friends and staff and this time. We are also saddened by the news of the passing of Board member John Jackson’s mother-in-law Polly Martinson, and at a 102 she had a long and full life, and our sympathies are with Jean & John and the entire Jackson family. Then longtime member Steve Lindahl’s wife Monica passed away after a very brief illness. She will be missed by all who knew her. We send our prayers to the entire Lindahl family as they deal with this very sudden loss. There have been so many losses to many families these past months our thoughts and prayers are that all these folks are in “God’s” care now and the thought of seeing them again one day is what will see us all through these uncertain times. May the “Lord “Bless & Keep us all now and in future!