FROM THE DESK OF THE PRESIDENT
We here at the Michigan Automobile Racing Fan Club would like to take this opportunity to send out a VERY SPECIAL THANK YOU to our membership tracks for making it another great racing season for our members. Without their continuing support of our club we would not be here. For nearly 37 years our club has had many race tracks that have supported our club through out the State of Michigan. We once again thank the following tracks for their
support:
FLAT ROCK SPEEDWAY
CRYSTAL MOTOR SPEEDWAY
OWOSSO SPEEDWAY
BUTLER SPEEDWAY
TOLEDO SPEEDWAY
SPARTAN SPEEDWAY
AUTO CITY SPEEDWAY
CHERRY SPEEDWAY
MID-MICHIGAN RACEWAY PARK
MT. PLEASANT SPEEDWAY
MERRITT SPEEDWAY
KINROSS SPEEDWAY
MICHIGAN INTERNATIONAL SPEEDWAY
As members, remember to thanks these tracks for being apart of our club.
As Always,
Bill Barnhart
President MARFC
| July Meetings/Fan Club Days |
| Auto City Speedway |
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Great night for racing. The weather was nice and had a packed pit area. We presented the MARFC/Uniform and Helmet Bag to the #96 Street Stock of Keith Speers. Keith is a good sportsman, and lends his car for charity events.The winner of the 50/50 raffle was a club member James Thomason. James donated $ 50 back to the Injured Driver Fund. We thank him for that and we even meet up with Tim O’Berry a driver who we helped out after a crash at the Owosso Speedway back in 1997 when he broke both legs and heard he is able to be back racing again. Very Special Thanks to Dr. Bob and Joe DeWitt and all their staff for making the night possible for our members to return to the Auto City Speedway after many years. Many thanks to Greg Yost for your great support of our club. Helpers for the evening (pictured below in no particular order) were: Al & Kyle Peltier, Larry & Sue Iacoboni, Sue Ginter, Steve & Cory Russell, Cathie Rohloff, Bill Walters, Jim & Bob Buckley, Suzie Maxson and Special Thanks to Doug Long for running the show for me since I personally could not attend.
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| Cherry Speedway |
| Great weather with awesome racing on the dirt for our first trip to the Cherry Speedway. Bomber driver #18 Chris Knapp received the MARFC/Uniform Helmet Bag for being the 6th place qualifier in the bomber division. Chris suffered a house fire the week before and lost everything and was grateful for the bag. Many thanks to Jim & Sandy Coil for becoming part of the MARFC membership family and inviting us to their fantastic racing facility and to Tom Maxwell and Alan Lardie for the great PR job during the event. Those who lent a helping hand were Kenny and Larry Letts and great to see others like Robert & Pat Wolfe. |
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| Mid Michigan Speedway |
| Another outstanding dirt track just added to our membership. They had plenty of cars, fantastic racing and many loyal race fans. Mod 4 Driver Joe Eller was presented our MARFC/Uniform Helmet Bag by board member Dave DeHem. Joe was selected because he hasn’t missed a week but has been in the wrong place on the track so many times that hard luck might be his nickname. Many thanks to Gene & Linda Hendrickson and their staff for joining our club and having our members into their track for the first time. We know it will be a great venue again next year. Volunteers in attendance were Dave, Julie, and Melissa DeHem, Doug Jakeway and Wayne Bitner.
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| Mt. Pleasant Speedway |
| Great weather once again and a large crowd on hand with over 100 cars in the pit area. Dave DeHem and myself were on hand and presented the MARFC/Uniform Helmet Bag to Mini Stock drvier # 91 Adam Thrush just 12 years old and currently leading the points in his division. Many thanks to Richard & Betty Crook for having us and to “Chief” for once again doing a fine job recruiting members. Thanks to Larry and Kenny Letts and Clyde & Hermina Wright and Bob & Pat Wolfe for stopping by.
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John Nece was unable to attend however our president was able to visit his owner’s race shop and video tape a tour and a sit down chat session with John, his car owner, Joe Tranchida, and Crew Chief, Chip Minich.
Dr. Bob DuCharme from Auto City Speedway updated happenings at Auto City along with some detailed history of his racing career, beginning with motorcycles all the way to being co-owner of Auto City. One of the most interesting facts revealed was his close friendship with Bob, Kay, and Ron Keselowski.
The highlight of the evening had to be Jack Goodwin, by the time he was finished, I wondered if he wasn’t part clown. He and his brother David, and former crew chief/car owner, Danny Mancini recapped some of their racing moments in a most entertaining fashion.