2002 Minutes

12 posts

April 2002 Minutes

April 2002

FROM THE DESK OF THE PRESIDENT

From the Prez:

Helping others in need is just part of what race fans are really. When drivers, crewmen, or track workers get hurt or even loose their life as fans we are always willing to help out.This is the case of Modified driver James Piggott who was seriously injured last September.

Jim was injured when a bumper from another car came through and nearly completely took his leg off at the knee. He has sense used up all of his insurance and will not be able to return to work because his leg doesn’t work correctly anymore. Jim worked as a trucker and is unable to drive now. We as well as the Owosso and Spartan Speedways and the Michigan Modified Association have all helped by donating and raising money to help Jim out. If you would like to help by sending a donation please use the following address: Contact any Fifty Third Bank and ask for the James Piggott Fund. As fans we need to help those who make our sport possible. I ask as many of you club members to assist in anyway you can.

Thank you for your help

Bill Barnhart
President MARFC

February Meetings
Our February meeting was held at Capers Restaurant in Mt. Clemens.  John Turnbull of the Auto Value/bumper to Bumper Michigan Legends Series had alot of information about the series.Founding member Vito Lopiccolo followed John with some club history.
John Turnbull covered a ton of information about the Michigan Legend Series.  Safety, engineering of the chassis’, and where drivers come from and where they can go after competing in the series were discussed in detail.  Mentioned also was an offer his son, John Turnbull Jr. received from Tony Stewart.  While details were sketchy, there definitely was a meeting planned.

Vito.  What can we say about Vito?? 

One of our founding fathers and always good for some laughs ran through some history for us and gave us a little glimpse of his upcoming 24th year of Motor City Motorsports.

March 2002 Minutes

FROM THE DESK OF THE PRESIDENTI invite you to join our club if you are a auto racing fan. Our club in in it’s 37th year and we have monthly meetings through out the winter months and fan club days at our membership track during the racing season. A membership is only $ 10.00 for a single person or a married couple for the year. Membership goes from January 1st to December 31st. Each month we send out our monthly newsletter via e-mail and by regular mail so you can be kept informed our what’s going on with our club. We are the second largest club in the states and hope we will soon become number #1. Just visit our membership page and fill out the form and mail it in and we will add you to our ever growing club membership.  Hope to hear from you soon.

See You at the Races!

Bill Barnhart
President MARFC
February Meetings
Our February meeting was held at the Speedway Bar & Grill just outside of Toledo Speedway.  On hand were ARCA President, Ron Drager and General Managers of the Toledo and Flat Rock Speedways, Greg Riddle and Scott Schultz.Other guest speakers were 2001 Flat Rock Speedway Street Stock Champion, Ken Knight, Flat Rock and Toledo Competitor, Robbie Loving, and Michigan Motorsports Hall of Fame and Kart 2 Kart representative, Bob Capps.
I will never know how to win a coin toss among 3 people but Scott lost the toss and spoke for Ron Drager and Greg Riddle.  Toledo will see many more changes this coming season and both tracks will focus place a significant emphasis on marketing, Announcing a “kick back” program for non-profit organizations, schools, etc.  For more information contact the tracks directly. Flat Rock and Toledo are also members of the “Late Model Alliance”, a group of tracks in Michigan, Ohio, and Indiana following a similar set of rules which will allow late model drivers to compete at all participating tracks.
Well Ken Knight is just full of surprises.  As a follow up to his marriage proposal to Talya Cronenwett at our Awards Banquet in January, Ken announced his intention to make his fellow competitors work harder to stay in front of him on the track. If successful, without too much damage to equipment and ultimately the checkbook, he plans purchase a late model in the near future.
Robbie Loving will be one very tired man when Saturday nights hit this summer.  Robbie is one of the few drivers to compete at both Flat Rock and Toledo, let alone driving in multiple divisions at each track.  It is a huge undertaking but we think he will be competitive all the way around.
Bob Capps highlighted the list of Michigan Motorsports Hall of Fame inductees for 2002 and gave a plug to Kart 2 Kart indoor racing facility in Sterling Heights, MI.  For more information, visit Kart 2 Kart’s website from our links page.
Motor City Motorsports returns for it’s 24th season on WLQV 1500am with it’s host Vito LoPiccolo on Wednesday April 3, 2002 at 7:00pm. Be sure to listen in and hear from some of Vito’s Special guest’s through out the season

February 2002 Minutes

FROM THE DESK OF THE PRESIDENT

Another great banquet!  It was great to see some of our long time charter members attend like Willis & Marian Flokstra, who along with Vito LoPiccolo, founded our club nearly 37 years ago.  Glad to see some of my old Mt. Clemens Race Track friends again.  Met so many new champions again this year it’s hard to remember them all.  Was sorry that “Bear” Ackles from the Butler Motor Speedway was unable to come and be our Master of Ceremonies this year.  At the last minute he came down with a bad flu bug.  I hope that he is feeling better.  A speedy recovery goes out to Owner/Promoter Ron Flinn of Crystal Motor Speedway.  Ron had surgery on his leg last month after a fall.

Keep checking back for more information on upcoming Fan Club Days. Many are already set and some other will be added later.

All memberships for 2002 are due now !! Please send them in as soon as possible.

See ya all after Daytona!

Bill Barnhart

President MARFC

January 19, 2002-Warren, MI—The 2002 MARFC Awards Banquet.

 

All Photographs on this page courtesy of Paul Anton Racing Photos

 

HONOREES

Michigan Auto Racing Personality of the YearTim Culbertson

Dodge Motorsports Winston Cup Program Manager,Tim Culbertson (l),  received MARFC’s top honors as Michigan’s Auto Racing Personality of the Year.  Bill Barnhart(r)-MARFC President.

Lifetime AchievementBenny Rapp

Benny Rapp(l), Bill Barnhart-MARFC President (r)

Electronic Media AwardThe Inside Lane-WJR 760 AM

Hosts Jeff DeFran and Jim Meuller accept the award, thanking the fans and behind the scenes co-workers for the show’s success.

Jeff DeFran (l), Jim Mueller (m), and Bill Barnhart-MARFC President (r)

Motorsports Writer of the YearSteve Kaminski of the Grand Rapids Press

Steve Kaminski (l), Bill Barnhart-MARFC President (r)

 
Special AppreciationAn emotional Sandy Crowe explained how important this award is to her and the memory of her late husband, Steve Crowe.  We learned that Steve gained a genuine love for auto racing by first covering tennis, finding that unlike tennis, racing is not just a sport, but a way of life.  Something no other sport enjoys.

Promoter of the YearButler Motor Speedway

Joe and Sandy Dorer

Accepting the award on their behalf was Butler Street Stock Champion, Eric Wilson (l)

Bill Barnhart-MARFC President (r)

Michigan Auto Racing Fan of the YearCathie Rohloff

Cathie Rohloff (l), Bill Barnhart-MARFC President (r)

CHAMPIONS

Quarter Midget
Crystal Motor Speedway Champs
Pictured left to right: Rob Michon-MARFC Vice-President, Jeff Reist-Pro Stock, Mike Kresnak-Pro Truck, IMCA Modified Co-Champions- John McClure and Scott Fisk, Jay Chlebeck-Hobby Stock
Flat Rock Speedway Champs
Pictured left to right:  Rob Michon-MARFC Vice-President, Rick Knowles-Late Model, Ken Knight-Street Stock A, Aram Zadigian-Street Stock B, Greg Studt-Figure 8
Spartan Speedway Champs
Pictured left to right:  Rob Michon-MARFC Vice-President, Jeff Finley-Late Model, Jeff Hackworth-MMA Modifieds, Cathy Clingan- Pony Stock, Rob Marten-Street Stock, Lonny Hill- Figure 8
Butler Motor Speedway ChampsPictured left to right:  Rob Michon-MARFC Vice-President, Terry Sroufe-UMP Late Model, Eric Wilson-Street Stock
Toledo Speedway Champs
Pictured left to right:  Rob Michon-MARFC Vice-President, Dennis Strickland-Late Model, Ron Allen-Sportsman, Paul Duffin-Factory Stock, Greg Studt-Figure 8
Owosso Speedway Champs
Pictured left to right:  Rob Michon-MARFC Vice-President, Phil Massuch-Super Late Model, Ed Young Jr.-Limited Late Model, Tim Brodd-Street Stock
ARCA Series Champs
Pictured left to right:  Rob Michon-MARFC Vice-President, ARCA President Ron Drager representing Frank Kimmell-ARCA RE/Max Series, A.J. Davis-Midget Series, Robbin Slaughter-Truck Series, Dave Kuhlman-Late Model Gold Cup Series
Michigan Legends Series
Pictured left to right:  Rob Michon-MARFC Vice-President, John Turnbull Sr.-Series and Pro Division, Steve Jancar-Masters Champion, Shun Jennison-Pro Series and Rookie
Special Appreciation Awards

Bob Capps- Michigan Motorsports Hall of Fame.  Also accepted the award for Kart-2-Kart.

 

John and Suzanne MacDonald

For their contribution to the annual Children’s Christmas Party.

 

Jim Buckley-Former President and VP

 

 

Special thanks to the race teams of Kevin Feeney and Bob Keselowski for preparing and bringing their rides to display at the banquet.

 

And last but not least, the 2002 MARFC awards enjoyed a “first ever” moment. After accepting his award, Ken Knight called Talya Cronenwett to the stage where he knelt before her and proposed.  Talya joyfully accepted!!  Congratulations!!

January 2002 Minutes

FROM THE DESK OF THE PRESIDENT

Welcome everyone to a fantastic new year and I know it will be an outstanding racing season.  With many drivers, crew members and sponsor changes in all the racing divisions, it will truly be an interesting season.  I sincerely hope that all have made the decision to make safety a major part of their rebuilding process for the upcoming season.

We are in the process of scheduling our 2002 MARFC Fan Club Days at our membership tracks.  Be sure to check out the Events page for dates and information for those, and the rest of our general meetings throughout the 2002 season.

Don’t forget our 36th Annual Awards Banquet will be on January 19, 2002.  Be sure to get your tickets soon.  Contact me for more information at president@marfc.org.

Deadline to purchase tickets is January 16, 2002.

Have a great racing season.

Bill Barnhart

President MARFC

Meetings

December

As usual, the Children’s Christmas Party was the December Meeting with a brief board meeting held afterwards.

The kids were entertained by Fidget the Clown and Willie the Clown while anxiously awaiting Santa’s arrival.
Our Vice-president just could not stay out of the way and was snagged by Fidget to assist with the show.

 

Fitget put on a wonderful show of magic and other tricks for the kiddies.  This young lady was convinced that all attempts to restore a glove to its original size had failed.

 

From the MARFC Family, Here’s hoping all your Holiday Wishes came true!