2015 Minutes

ATTENTION ALL MARFC MEMBERS!   Don’t forget that on Sunday October 25, 2015 is our first fall general meeting and our cheer raffle drawing will be held at Papio’s Food & Spirits, 2280 S. Reese Rd., Reese, and Mi. 48757. This will be a Sunday afternoon meeting and will be getting started at 2:00 pm. We will be drawing our MARFC Raffle winners at this meeting. Our speakers will be Leo “The Chef” Pego & “Shut Up” Roger Williams along with both the Hilliker brothers Dave & Steve. So come and join us for a great meeting. Directions are take I-75 from the north or south to exit 151 (M-81 E). Take M-81 east 9.3 miles to S. Reese Rd. and turn right (South) to 2280 Reese Rd.

As I sit here thinking about how the fan club got its start 50 years ago I have to recall the stories that I have been told by our club founders. On September 25, 1965 six people who enjoyed our sport of auto racing sat down and put to paper the guide lines of what we now call our bylaws and formed the Michigan Automobile Racing Fan Club. They never believed that the club would go on for more than a few years not only to see it get to fifty. Those six people were Vito & Barbara LoPiccolo, Willis & Marian Floskstra and Bob & Norma Lewis. With their leadership they built the club up and had some great people volunteer to help keep it going all these years. I for one am glad to have the chance to see it become what it is today and give thanks to those six individuals for their foresight in creating our club and enjoy helping to keep it moving forward and into the future. So HAPPY 50^th ANNIVERSARY MARFC and here’s to the next fifty years! To see more about our clubs history go to the links page and click on history.

Mother Nature tried to make the day a wash but track official’s and workers pulled it off with just a short delay and the Glass City Late Model 200 was underway. Just before the event both Gary Lindahl and Rich Frantz were on hand to PR our auction and Gary did a great job as auctioneer for the day. We are very thankful for the speedway to help us raise some extra funds to help us celebrate our 50^th anniversary banquet coming up in January 2016. Thanks to all who gave the winning bids for the great items we had on hand. Many thanks to the Late Joy Fair for the autographed door donation so many years ago and to Vito LoPiccolo for the Autographed Ricky Rudd jacket! Our surprise items were from our friend Walter Czarnecki from the Penske Corporation for the two 1/24 die-cast cars and hats both autographed by Brad Keslowski and Joey Logano. We say THANK YOU once again to all these great supporters of our club. (Top Photo: MARFC Vice-President Dave DeHem & Board member Rand Thompson at MARFC auction items table) ( Bottom Photo: All four winners of the auction with their winning auction items)

Attention all MARFC Members & Race Fans! The Toledo Speedway will give all MARFC Members $ 5.00 off general admission tickets for this event by showing your current 2015 membership card. Also the Michigan Automobile Racing Fan Club will be holding a fund raising auction at the Toledo Speedway on September 19, 2015 around 4:30pm during the Glass City Late Model 200. There will be three items up for bidding at this event. (1) An Autographed body panel off the ARCA # 1 Late Model Legend Joy Fair. (2) A autographed Ricky Rudd Havoline Racing Jacket and (3) will be one other surprise item. Get their early and check them out and be ready to bid big for these great pieces of racing history. So coming on down and help support our club and see some of the best Late Model auto racing in the area.

Thanks for all your support! Bill Barnhart MARFC President