August 2017 REmarks
Why do I even bother unpacking? This past weekend, July 29-30 was the second of 3 consecutive weekends I’ll spend a Road America working corners. The first was the vintage race weekend, this past weekend was the Milwaukee Region Cat Majors race, and this coming weekend is the IMSA weekend, for which Chicago Region provides staffing. I’m beginning to feel like a resident. In fact, my tent is still set up and will be waiting for Joann and I to arrive on Thursday, just as it was last weekend (I won’t tell you where it is, it’s a nice tent!). Summertime is a great time of the year for automotive enthusiasts like us, don’t let it go to wastes. The calendar is still full for another month, and then quiets down in September, only to pick up again in October. Get out and go to an event; enter a Solo or Track Day event, come on up to Road America for either the IMSA weekend or Kettle Divisional race weekend on August 19-30. Whether you compete, participate as a volunteer, or just want to spectate, there are plenty of options. Check the calendar on the Chicago Region website for details.
I’m sorry to report that one event that was on the schedule for August will NOT take place. The full-day Track Day event to benefit the Lemons of Love charity that had been set for August 13 has been canceled due to the low early entry count. That, combined with the cancellation of a companion event the same weekend, Autobahn Country club’s 13-hour overnight enduro race, led to the decision to call off the Track Day. Once we analyze what we did right and what can be improved in putting this worthy event together perhaps we’ll give it another go next year.
Toledo Championship Tour Solo – this past weekend saw Chicago Region well represented at the Toledo Champ Tour Solo event and a good bit of trophy hardware made its way back home. In the XP class, Chicago Region member Eric Stemler took the top spot, followed closely in second place by Alex Tziortzis. Anne Martin Robinson took top spot in CSL. Adam Deffenbough and co-driver Ray Wise took the top 2 spots in STF. Bob Gosda won top honors in the STP class. Dan Simms took 2nd in AS at his very first national event (bested only by alien driver Tom O’Gorman!). Paul Kolatorowicz was 2nd in BS, less than a tenth of a second out of first. Michael Ron and Mark Groseth took 2nd and 3rd in ES, while Chris Dvorak finished 3rd in DS. Congratulations to all our trophy winners, and to all the other Chicago Region competitors! Great showing folks. You did our region proud!
Nominating Committee. This year’s Nominating Committee has been formed and begun their task of identifying potential candidates to fill the 3 region board seats that will be vacated in November. A number of names have been suggested as possibilities. The next step is to contact each of these individuals to determine their willingness to serve on the board and to learn a bit about their backgrounds and qualifications. If you are interested in possibly serving on the region’s board of directors and having a direct voice in determining the future of our club and its activities, let me know. My email address is regionalexec@scca-chicago.com.
Until next month;
See you at the races!
Rick Bentson
Regional Executive
