WANTED:

     A PANIC SLIP WRITER/EDITOR WHO CAN ACTUALLY PRODUCE A PANIC SLIP THAT IS CURRENT NEWS, NOT OLD NEWS!  AND SOON!

 JUNE 8 EVENT RESULTS

     Over 40 drivers pitted themselves and their cars against one of Bob Stevenson’s nasty diabolical ExpoPark courses.  As folks searched for gears somewhere between the ones they knew were not right for the course, a few did find the right combination.  Gary Wolf’s 56.786 second run stands as fast time of the day, but a boatload of rubber and fuel were spent trying to beat it.  Great course, beautiful day, outstanding event.  Corrected times in each class follow

A Production

1^st place  Namen Paul  Pontiac Firebird  1:01.125

2^nd place  Matt Whiddem  Ford Mustang  1:02.520

3^rd place  Christopher Swift  Pontiac firebird  1:13.841

B Production

1^st place  Tim Helms  Pontiac Fiero  1:01.190

2^nd place  Jack Haling  Dodge Stealth  1:07.493

3^rd place  Allison Goodspeed  Pontiac Fiero  1:08.164

4^th place  Tom Masterson  Porsche 911  1:08.222

5^th place  Paul Nulsix  Mazda RX7  No times

C production

1^st place  James Rowen  Honda CRX  1:02.152

2^nd place  John Weinzettel  Honda CRX  1;02.342

3^RD PLACE  Kyle Figarelle  Porsche 944  1:08.547

4^th place  David Thurston  Plymouth Conquest  1:09.688

5^th place  Drew Lovel  Nissan  No times

A Sedan

1^st place  Jason Rukavina  Chevy Monte Carlo  1:14.151

B Sedan

1^st place  Zack Gilmor  Ford Contour  1:06.358

2^nd place  Reza Mapili  Toyota  1:09.004

3^rd place  Neal Stott  BMW  1:09.578

C Sedan

1^st place  Galen Smith  VW Scirocco  1:07.313

2^nd place  Luke Atwell  Geo Prism  1:09.463

3^rd place  Garry Keyes  Honda Civic  1:13.130

4^th place  Julie Wilkins  Honda  1:13.539

Prepared 2

1^st place  James Raines  Ford Mustang  1:02.542

2^nd place  Darrell Schamp  Datsun 260  1:03.820

3^rd place  Kyle Houge  Mazda RX7  1:06.764

4^th place  John Rains  Ford Mustang  1:08.943

Prepared 3

1^st place  James Schneider  Porsche 968  1:00.372

2^nd place  Scott Phelps  Chevy Camaro  1:14.021

GT-1

1^st place  Bob Stevenson  Ford Mustang  59.817

2^nd place  Jerry Rukavina  Chevy Camaro  1:00.917

3^rd place  Dennis Figarelle  Chevy Camaro  1:04.903

4^th place  Steve Nutter  Ford Maverick  1:05.296

5^th place  Kent Yoder  Chevy Camaro  1:05.435

GT-2

1^st place  Clint Houge  Mazda RX3  1:01.008

2^nd place  Lass Houge  Mazda RX3  1:06.017

3^rd place  Rick Cummings  Mercury Capri  1:07.424

GT-3

1^st place  Gary Wolf  Saab Aero  56.786  (FAST TIME OF DAY)

2^nd place  Greg Rice  Toyota Celica  1:04.210

3^rd place  Victor Hodge  Austin Mini  1:06.016

4^th place  Russ Wilson  Toyota Celica  1:06.279

5^th place  Bob Morin  Toyota Celica  1:06.352

GT-S

1^st place  Jason Roan  Corvette  57.278

2^nd place  Phil Kiser  Corvette ZO6  1:02.520

3^rd place  Amy Roan  Corvette  1:10.837

 ANOTHER HELENA RECORD!

     June 22 saw only our third excursion to the Helena Regional Airport for an autocross, this time in conjunction with the Helena Preservation Society’s Millennium Show.  Although the weekend’s cold weather cut down on the number of actual Millennium Show participants, this club hit a new high for autocross participants at the site.  64. Yup, sixty-four hardy souls held out the entire windy, cold day, to complete over 230 competition runs!  Cold and very windy, for sure, but one terrific day.  Again, words fail to express how superb the site is.  Smiles all around all the time.  Thank you, Helena Regional Airport, Ron, and Jeff.

     Rukavina set Stevenson’s course design (OK, let’s be honest here - Judi Austin, Anita Heppner, and Ev Rukavina actually did the pylon tossing, so they deserve credit for a very challenging and rewarding course), which was surprisingly deceptive.  Frequent fast guy Dave Bowland and his trusty Datsun 240Z figured out the 1.3 mile asphalt puzzle best with a time of just over 1 minute and 41 seconds, but the competition in every class was pretty fierce.  It was sometimes faster than it looked and sometimes slower than it looked – sort of a thinking driver’s course.  The most commonly heard word was “GREAT”.  There is just something about a smile beaming out from a face in a helmet, checking the finish board to see if they have beaten their own best time.  Ain’t fun fun?  The seven-years-in-the-waiting smile on John Rusteberg’s triumphant (It’s a joke!) face is probably still there.

     The noteworthy change at this event was the pylon watcher sign up at the driver’s meeting.  It worked, as down time for worker exchange was minimal.  Another huge thanks to all for a very helpful and cooperative worker attitude.  Everyone did their share and more.  Paul Heppner and Helen Morin and Darrell Schamp didn’t even compete but their contributions were like gold – we could not do it without them.  Tech guys Steve Nutter and Clint Houge were awesome as well.  Newbies Andy and Gary Beck and their Formula V from Missoula were just delighted with their day and the way our club works to put on quality events like this.  Their membership has put the club at nearly 90 members!!  How cool is that?

The results, all in corrected time:

A Production

1st place  David Wilcox  Corvette  1:53.150

2nd place  Mike Shreve  Mustang  1:53.622

3rd place  Namen Paul  Firebird  1:56.226

4th place  Jeff Midlautach  Mustang  2:00.854

5th place  Zack Gilmore  Ford F-150  2:01.676

6th place  Larry Akers  Camaro  2:03.729

7th place  Chris Swift  Firebird  2:08.603

8th place  Ron Davidson  Mustang  2:25.787

B Production

1st place  Tim Fountaine  BMW M3  1:53.546

2nd place  Dustin Reynolds  Dodge Stealth  1:55.930

3rd place  Luke Denison  Dodge Stealth  1:58.517

4th place  David Venema  Audi  2:01.219

5th place  Zack Fountaine  BMW 325  2:02.290

6th place  Tom Masterson  Porsche 911  2:03.196

7th place  Doug Harrison  Audi  2:03.378

8th place  Ed Austin  Mazda RX7  2:07.332

9th place  Joe Haynes  Mazda RX7  2:11.734

10th place  Carolyn McKay  Porsche 911  2:14.594

C Production

1st place  Alan Genienmo  Subaru WRX  1:50.488

2nd place  Jim Messick  VW Golf  1:50.828

3rd place  Jay Stelter  Lotus Europa  2:00.746

4th place  David Thorsen  Plymouth Conquest  2:04.267

5th place  Kyle Figarelle  Porsche 944  2:04.638

6th place  Chelsea Lindamen  Subaru WRX  2:12.097

7th place  John Rusteberg  Triumph TR-3A  2:38.549

A Sedan

1st place  Grace Gardiner  Mustang  3:04.110

B Sedan

1st place Charlie Mann  Toyota Celica  2:11.070

C Sedan

1st place  Rick Kern  Dodge Neon  1:56.565

2nd place  Peter Kern  Dodge Neon  2:01.607

3rd place  Galen Smith  VW Scirocco  2:03.230

Prepared 1

1st place  Tim Borsberry  Mustang  1:44.834

Prepared 2

1st place  David Firth  Triumph TR6  1:58.676

2nd place  Kyle Houge  Mazda RX7  2:00.259

3rd place  Sean McCarthy  Camaro  2:05.901

4th place  Crystal Chase  Dodge Stealth  2:06.574

Prepared 3

1st place  Shawn Padina  VW GTI  1:49.846

2nd place  Norm Williams  Honda CRX XI  1:51.042

3rd place  Kate Lohman  Mazda Miata  1:58.999

GT-1

1st place  Jeff Hahn  Steeda Mustang  1:46.024

2nd place  Steve Nutter  Maverick  1:48.025

3rd place  Dave Cooley  Porsche 928  1:48.142

4th place  Dennis Figarelle  Camaro  1:48.459

5th place  Jerry Rukavina  Camaro  1:50.022

6th place  Kent Yoder  Camaro  1:55.143

7th place  Bob Stevenson  Mustang  1:55.643

8th place  Kelly Rolfe  Camaro  1:56.371

GT-2

1st place  Dave Bowland  Datsun 240Z  1:41.009  FAST TIME OF THE DAY!  WATTA RUN!

2nd place  Paul Smith  Datsun 240Z  1:44.027

3rd place  Clint Houge  Mazda RX3  1:47.094

4th place  Rick Cummings  Mercury Capri  2:02.807

5th place  Colter Cummings  Mercury Capri  2:05.707

6th place  Katherine Smith  Datsun 240Z  2:26.404

GT-3

1st place  Gary wolf  Saab Aero  1:42.511

2nd place  Bill Dicus  Datsun 510  1:46.305

3rd place  Eric Dawkins  Dodge Neon  1:46.756

4th place  Matt Dillon  Honda Civic  1:49.496

5th place  Rain Gilstrom  BMW 320I  1:53.298

6th place  Greg Rice  Toyota Celica  1:54.974

7th place  Bob Morin  Toyota Celica  1:55.958

8th place  Russ Wilson  Toyota Celica  1:56.071

GT-S

1st place  Jason Roan  Corvette  1:45.392

2nd place  Amy Roan  Corvette  1:59.129

Modified

1st place  Andy Beck  Formula V  1:49.377

2nd place  Gary Beck  Formula V  2:21.924

So, how did YOU do?  Are you as fast as you told your friends you are?    

NEXT!

     Top Gun is out next event, July 19^th and 20^th at ExpoPark here in Great Falls.  Double days, double runs, double points, double fun.  The fees are $30 for members and $50 for non-members, just like last year, and T-shirts will be available for the low, low price of only $5.  You’ll want several at that price, so get yours early.  What’s on the shirts?  Our sponsors, of course!

     SoFast Internet, Ike & Susan’s Lounge and Casino, Bumper-to-Bumper Auto Parts, Identity Screen Printing and Embroidery, and Pizza Hut (can you say “Sunday Lunch!”?) have all conspired in a good way to help us make this upcoming weekend a success.  They are wonderful, so please patronize these fine establishments and give them your thanks.  We think they are terrific, and local motorsports types like us are so very fortunate to have their support.  THANKS!!

      So be there early Saturday and early Sunday, we look forward to two big days.  Bring smiles, water, sunscreen, and enthusiasm.  Oh, and the car, too.

THANK YOU, SPONSORS!

 PUBLIC NOTICE AS REQUIRED BY LAW

     Pursuant to Montana Public Law 70-302-C4, I, Jerry Rukavina, do hereby declare that Steve Nutter, a club member in good standing, a Maverick driver, and a fine fellow in his own right, has beaten me in an official autocross, effective 6/22/2003.                There, you happy now?

           Yeah, yeah, yeah, Dennis Figarelle and his Camaro, too.  Big freakin’deal.

DEMO DERBY HELP WANTED

     We want your body!  A reminder that this club does the tech/safety inspection and the on-field officiating for the Demolition Derby at ExpoPark during the fair, Saturday, August 2.  We get free ExpoPark event dates in exchange.  Please call Jim Messick at 268-1742 to sign up for early tech, evening field help, or even all day assistance.  It’s fun, different, and a great way to contribute to the club!  See you there.

AFTER TOP GUN

     The next scheduled event after Top Gun and the Demo Derby will be a make-up event (earlier season weather-out!) at the old Buttrey’s Warehouse site on August 3 (yeah, the day after the Demo Derby).  You might even consider attending the club’s monthly meeting at Hardee’s on tenth at 7:30 PM on July 31 for more information as the date closes in.

LEADERSHIP AND THE INFRASTRUCTURE OF FUN

     Your elected board of officers has, with much, much dedicated and competent assistance, been able to nearly triple club membership, get the club on its best fiscal footing ever, secure and stock the timing trailer, find new sites and events, and continue to maintain a full schedule of events over the past few years.  But it is not easy or quickly done.  The time demands on folks who have full-time jobs and multiple family responsibilities are significant.  Helena in particular (although it is a wonderful site) demands a round-trip tow, the timing trailer transported, and an overnight in Helena.  Not easy in busy lives.  If new leadership energy and bodies are not forthcoming (elections this fall are coming), we may simply have to cut back to one single event per month so timers, techies, trailer-pullers, etc all have time for the rest of their lives.  This is not a cry-party, just a recognition that in a club of over 80 members, we all get more fun and more personal time if we all participate.  The need for others to step up to all of the tasks necessary to keep the club functioning at this level is real.  Think it over.  You have good ideas and perhaps some time to dedicate, so consider being the next wave of club leadership.

 NEED MORE INFORMATION?

Call Ed Austin at 452-1135 or Jerry Rukavina at 761-4357