OLD TOP GUN NEWS

In earlier reports of the Top Gun results back in July, the region winner was accidentally not reported.  On the basis of a greater number of first place class wins, the Top Gun traveling trophy stays in Great Falls with the Montana Region for another year.  Much gloating to ensue.

NEXT EVENT!

Sunday, September 7, 2003, at the Helena Regional Airport facility, please join us for the next points event, a one-day pylon extravaganza.  Go fast.  Scare yourself.  Frighten pylons.  Be cool.  All at the same time, and with others present to witness your extreme skill!  Damn!

Seriously, this is our last 2003 event over there, and it ought to be a terrific event.  The weather ought to be perfect.  Last month’s event at Helena was hosted by the Missoula Big Sky Region, and it was a very fine time, so expect no less.  See you there early Sunday.

The ground’s already shakin’!

Remember, it’s Sunday, September 7.  And the last two points events for us after that are in Great Falls at ExpoPark on September 28 and again on October 19.  Thus endeth the season.

NEXT YEAR’S NEWS

The months of September and October are the months during which rules change proposals and nominations for the four elected positions in this club (Regional Executive, Assistant RE, Secretary-treasurer, and Competition Chairman) are solicited.  November will see an election for the positions and rule changes, December is Santa month, and January 2004 will be our awards banquet.

You may contribute potential rule changes to any current officer (Ed A., Jerry R., Paul H., and Jim M.).  Please do not nominate folks for positions unless they are willing to do the job.

But, folks, there are about 80 members in this club, some with more available time than others.  If there are not legitimate nominations for a new slate of Executive Board members, next year will see a schedule containing a one-day event in April, May, June, September, and October; and Top Gun in July.  Period.  One event per month is just about all the current board can manage, considering all of the work schedules out there, and considering all of the travel and preparation involved.  Yea, we’d all like to run more often, but it will not happen at the expense of jobs and incomes.  There will be a genuine effort to coordinate schedules with other regions, and maybe even a couple of “two-region co-op events” that offer points in two or more regions, but do not expect the schedule to expand.  Not rhetorically, where is the new energy; the new blood?  Where are our new leaders?

The level of on-site assistance has been wonderful; better than ever.  But the level of interest in actually doing all of the non-Sunday day-to-day stuff is a bit discouraging, to say the least.  Real car freaks ought to be able to muster the energy and participation necessary to support those precious few moments of pure adrenaline that we all lust after so mightily.  So try contemplating what you could contribute, perhaps, if you’d just turn off the darned TV for a bit each week.  Folks will tell you, a successful event and a healthy club aren’t the same as a 60 MPH slide past a pylon towards the dirt, but it’s still very, very rewarding.  Now go think about it. See you Sunday.