Per the Bylaws of the Chicago Region every year at this meeting the Nominating Committee presents their slate of new candidates for the Board of Directors. This year’s nominating committee chair Anthony Serrecchia presented three individuals to be elected to the Board. They are Adam Gottlieb, Peter Jankovskis, and Ed Locke. In accordance with the bylaws the Region’s Secretary cast one unanimous ballot for each candidate electing them to a three year term on the board. With that accomplished Rick Bentson welcomed the new members to the board and then thanked retiring members Dorn Lynch, Claire Ball, for their help and support of the past several years and Rick announced his retirement also after serving two consecutive terms and four years as Regional Executive.
With the official business completed we moved on to the program for the evening. Once a year usually in the fall the Region will recognize our member’s celebrating a membership milestones from 5 years to 65 years. Invitations were mailed to all recipients and those in attendance were identified and presented with their anniversary pin. Elizabeth Martin, and Bart Surowka received 5 year pins. Christine, Max, and Nicole Gregor, Chris and Lynda Jacobs, and Bob Stone each were presented with 10 year pins. Ed Locke and Kathleen Marinangel received 15 and 30 year pins respectively. Dennis Bednar, Don Bruno, and James Dorfman were given their 35 year pins. At 45 years of continuous membership Rich and Faye Ryan and George and Mary Jane Laws were recognized and received their pins. The following members have attained the distinction of fifty or more years of membership in the SCCA. Betty Bovis, Richard Coath, Lester Fahlgren, and Peter Ritos have 50 years, Bonnie Gladish, Frank Riemann and Alan Sutton with 55.
Paul Zimmerman founder and owner of the Motorsport Collector joined this evening as well to talk about the motorsports collectable market. Paul started the Motorsport Collector as a mail-order service in 1985 in his living room as a means to finance his amateur racing activities. He told us that the business took off so quickly and successfully that he never climbed back into the car. Ever since that moment he has promoted the appreciation and preservation of motor racing history for more than 30 years. Paul told us that if you are new to the collectable market or have already begun your collection this is a good time to purchase items, the collectable market is still recovering and good deals are out there to be had. He also informed us that he has entered the estate market and older pieces are becoming available that have sold out. Over the years the collectable market has grown and changed but the Motorsport Collector continues to be a major source of high quality products and memorabilia to racing enthusiasts around the world.
