Bulletin North Carolina Region SCCA
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January 2009 www.ncrscca.com January 2009 ® The Official Newsletter of the The Bulletin North Carolina Region SCCA REport Trans-Am Series Returns to VIR by Glenn Long ORLANDO, Fla. (Dec. 11, 2009) – After a two-year hia- I thought that it would be appropriate to start off the New tus since its last Champion was crowned, SCCA’s Trans- Year with a summary of 2008 and what the foreseeable Am® Series will return in 2009, with a planned eight- future looks like for our region. race schedule for the series which held its first race in First off I’d like to thank you all for your countless hours 1966. and dedication to not only the region, but also to your Five of the eight races were announced today at the Per- contribution in the advancement of our sport. Together formance Racing Industry show, in Orlando, Fla., as well this year we’ve endured the fastest rise in fuel prices that as the series’ title sponsor for 2009—Muscle Milk®. our country has ever seen, yet you turned out to support each other and our customers. You’ve welcomed many new members and guests and have made them feel the true sense of family that we all enjoy with each other. You have endured heat, rain and cold, yet continue to improve our events in virtually all aspects. I can sum up my appreciation by in one simple phrase… YOU ROCK! So, what did we do in ’08? Well we hosted 20 events, A joint venture between Sports Car Club of America, and had record attendance at several. We had new faces Inc. and subsidiary SCCA Pro Racing, the 2009 Muscle at almost every board meeting; we worked on tracking Milk® SCCA® Trans-Am® Series will consist of six our financials at a new level to ensure that we spent events in conjunction with some of the biggest SCCA wisely. We tried new methods to attract and retain our Club Racing events across the country, creating power- membership. We had fun. We attended and represented house SCCA weekends, and two key professional events. each other at divisional and national meetings. We sent Technical rules will be based on the SCCA Club Racing out a survey to get your feedback and input (the results of GT-1 class. which will be compiled and published here in a future issue). We had events which strictly focused on “There is a dedicated group of Trans-Am loyalists who attracting racers from other clubs and organizations. We have been working to make this happen since our last increased our advertising budget and the publications licensing agreement to operate the series expired in where we advertised, which proved beneficial in 2005,” SCCA President & CEO Jim Julow said. “The re- increasing our attendance at many events. We raced and birth of Trans-Am begins in 2009 with a grassroots- played safely. We lost some of our friends and family. based series that has the potential to grow in the coming In short, we had a very memorable year. years into a full professional racing series. How’d we do in ’08? Overall we lost money due to a “On behalf of SCCA and SCCA Pro Racing, I would like number of things, such as… increased promoter fees, to thank Jim Derhaag for his tireless efforts to help put rising costs of putting on events, more worker credit some of the critical pieces together and Muscle Milk for reimbursements and having reduced attendance at our coming on board as title sponsor to make the series a re- March event. We did see 3 major events make money ality.” though: March Memories, the Double National and the The series will begin its 42nd Championship season (Continued on page 3) (Continued on page 3) NCR Staff Listing ..................................... Page 2 Cape Fear Chapter “Bench Talk” ............. Page 6 Departments Advertising rates ....................................... Page 3 Awards Banquet coverage ........................ Page 7 West Chapter Report ................................. Page 5 Board Meeting Minutes ............... Pages 12 & 13 The Bulletin® Page 1 January 2009 NC Region SCCA Board of Directors and Contacts www.ncrscca.com 800-342-7390 www.scca.com 800-770-2055 NCR Officers NCR Officers (cont’d) Chapter Coordinators Specialty Chiefs Specialty Chiefs (cont’d) Specialty Chiefs (cont’d) Region Executive Members-at-Large (4) Cape Fear Chapter Registrar, Fire/Rescue, Medical, Flagging & Communications Office Manager Course Marshal, F&C Co-Chief DA Emergency Services Glenn Long Buddy Matthews Brad Draughon H-919-614-4797 C- 336-312-8858 C-910-233-8348 Ginny Condrey W-919-870-6558 [email protected] [email protected] H- 800-342-7390 Rick Moser Mark Biamonte [email protected] H- 919-542-5388 (local) 704-591-2792 919-303-2306 F- 919-542-5384 [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] Triangle Chapter, Assistant RE Membership Chair Sound Control F&C Co-Chief Pits Ron Gentry H- 704- 892-3972 [email protected] Heather Powers James Shanks H- 336-691-0127 Eric Danielsen 919-571-2913 Looking for a volunteer... C- 336-707-1344 H- 540-366-7841 [email protected] [email protected] Looking for a volunteer... Who wants to step up? Who wants to step up? C- 540-527-3742 [email protected] Secretary West Chapter, Timing & Scoring Pace Car Chief Grid F&C Co-Chief We seem to have Replacement to be misplaced our Grid Chief. Does anybody appointed by BoD know the whereabouts of Jon Messick? Jerry Pell Member-at-Large and SEDiv Anna Crissman H- 336-855-6419 Ed Wentz Jon Messick? 919-215-7255 SARRC Rep. David Turner C- 336-312-9312 336-643-9356 H- [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] @.com 336-667-2557 [email protected] Paddock Marshall Treasurer Web Master Scrutineer/Tech Starter, Bulletin Editor Blair “Pepe” Stitt 919-231-0701 [email protected] Steve Keadle Looking for a volunteer... John Uftring Jeff Lengel, Co-Chief 919-601-5544 Who wants to step up? Bruce Dover 919-641-2118 with Buddy Matthews [email protected] C- 919-423-6015 [email protected] H- 919-469-9739 [email protected] C- 919-614-1018 [email protected] Licensing Chair Peter Krause 919-740-1871 [email protected] The Bulletin® Page 2 January 2009 REport Trans-Am Returns to VIR (Continued from page 1) (Continued from page 1) Goblins Go. The other road racing events lost money as March 21-22 at Road Atlanta as part of the Atlanta Re- did our solo program. gion SCCA’s season-opening National race. The series What’s planned for ’09? A balanced budget and lots of has previously visited Road Atlanta 12 times from 1973 great events. I have asked the Budget and Finance through 2002, with race winners including former series committee, with help from the specialty chiefs and Champions Peter Gregg, Pete Halsmer, Dorsey Schroe- committee chairs, to create a budget that reflects a 15% der, Tommy Kendall, Scott Pruett and Boris Said. reduction in revenue, and yet projects a break even 2009. One month later, April 17-19, the series heads from the Given the current economic picture; we are anticipating a rolling hills of Georgia North to the rolling hills of Vir- reduction in event participation numbers, thus the 15% ginia, as part of North Carolina Region’s Oak Tree Dou- reduction in revenue. We would be remiss if we entered ble National weekend at VIRginia International Race- the year without a zero based budget, and based on lots way. It is only the third time the historic series has vis- of folks’ hard work, we have achieved that goal with ited the historic racetrack, joining 1966 and 2002. minimal impact to our events. The series treks north of the border May 15-17 to return Speaking of events, we still have a full schedule of solo to Mosport International Raceway for the 25th time as and club races that include two PDXs and an inter-club part of the Victoria Day Weekend with the SPEED challenge race at Rockingham in June. We will have our World Challenge Championships—reuniting SCCA Pro good MARRS friends returning for the Al Fairer Racing’s top series from the last 20 years. Pruett won the SARRC/MARRS Challenge in March. And, as you may last series appearance at Mosport in 2003. have heard, with the resurrection of the Trans-Am series, The series’ lone visit to the left coast is a big one, joining we will be hosting one of the premier Trans-Am races of the Rose Cup Festival June 12-14 at Portland Interna- the year at VIR during the Oak Tree Double National tional Raceway. The huge, traditional event played host weekend. It’s looking like its going to be another to many Trans-Am Classic races, the last being in 1995, outstanding year for the North Carolina Region. won by Ron Fellows. From 1975-2005, the race circuit In closing, I’d again like to say thank you for your help held 21 Trans-Am Series races. and support to the region and ask that you bring new One month later, it’s back east to the Finger Lakes Re- friends to each event. Please let your Chapter gion’s National at historic Watkins Glen Raceway, July Coordinators and your Board members know what 11-12. From 1968-1998, The Glen held 25 Trans-Am you’re thinking. And whenever possible, please participate in whatever way you can in ’09. (Continued on page 4) MEMBERSHIP INFORMATION Advertising rates for The Bulletin Number of Insertions / Cost ® Ad size 11 issues Type The Bulletin 1 issue 3 issues Published by The North Carolina Region, SportsCar Club of (Yr.) America $15.00 $40.00 $120.00 Non-Member Editor: Bruce Dover Business Card Approving Executive: Glenn Long $10.50 $28.00 $84.00 Member Except where indicated, The Bulletin and all material contained herein $30.00 $80.00 $225.00 Non-Member is Copyright© 2009 North Carolina Region SCCA.