“Thank You to Chicago Region” — John Doonan

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July 9, 2022

Chicago Region SCCA
Attn: Chicago Region SCCA Board of Directors – c/o George Laws, Office Manager 921 Lawn Circle
Western Springs, IL 60558-2262

Dear Friends & Partners from the Chicago Region SCCA Board of Directors, George Laws, and all my fellow Chicago Region members:

It is with my deepest appreciation and sincerest thanks that I take this moment to send a letter of gratitude for how you recognized me as the Grand Marshal of the 67th Chicago Region June Sprints last month. Words cannot express how much this honor meant to me personally and to my family. From being at the 1970 June Sprints at the tender age of 6 weeks old….to running several teams in this great event over the years….to now being partnered with the SCCA as we look to grow the next generation of enthusiastic members…and to then have this amazing weekend in 2022….it has truly been a full-circle career experience.

Every detail of this year’s June Sprints weekend was perfect and well-thought-out.

  • I absolutely cherish the opportunity to work Turn 3 on Friday with Pat, Tiffany, and Mike Cobb. That is the most fun I have had at a race track in many years! In short…it was back to my roots….
  • The experience of throwing the green-flag on Race Group 1 on Saturday was especially fitting with seventy Spec Miatas rolling by meant a great deal to me after having the opportunity to grow Mazda’s program over the last twenty years.
  • The Saturday dinner was incredibly special for me and my family. The way the Region personnel treated Kristin, Carlee, Maggie, and I did not go unnoticed and created very special memories that we will always treasure (especially those pace car rides for the girls). The plaque you presented me with at the dinner will hang proudly with terrific memories forever.

As I said on Saturday evening in my remarks, the racing community has ALWAYS been an extended “family” for me and I am honored to serve in the role I have now at IMSA….simply with a focus and opportunity to give back to OUR sport in the way that it has given me so much over the last 52 years.

I wish each and every single one of my fellow Chicago Region members a safe and successful remainder of the 2022 racing season and please know I am here to support the Region in any way that I can going forward.

Sincerely and with deep appreciation….God’s Speed-

John M. Doonan, Proud member of the Chicago Region, SCCA

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