The panic slip June 2005

Cut off time for registration is 8:30 (9:00 out-of town events). 

April 17 Expo park,  May 15 Helena Airport,  June 5 Expo Park,

 June 26 Helena Airport,  July 17 TBA,

 Sept 17-18 TOP GUN Helena Airport,  Oct 16 TBA

TBA  To Be Announced

TBA.  We are still waiting for the July 17 and Oct 16 (TBA) events to be confirmed.  Will we get a green light on the base?  The paperwork is in but at this time we still do not have formal approval.

Club meetings are still at 7:00 to 8:30 on the last Thursday of the month (June 30^th) but the location has changed.  Our new meeting locus is in the community recreation center 801 2 Ave N, in the room adjoined to the coca cola café. There is not going to be food but coffee will be on hand.  A brief agenda for the next meeting; how can we shorten the time it takes between registration cut off and first car out on course (last event 10:30 was first car out) if you have an idea bring it to the meeting, also the demo derby is coming upand we need to get organized for that, and we need to discuss training volunteers to do stuff like fill-in for Alex, Jim, Greg or who ever might not make an event.  Come to the meeting and bring-up things you want addressed, but don’t come late and expect everyone else to rehash a subject discussed at 7:15.

Phone Numbers.  On the last page of this Panic Slip are all available phone numbers of the members of region 105.  It would be nice to add more e-mail address but I only have a few, luckily Drew is on the job and with our new website e-mailers can contact each other from there.

Car Show   On May 7^th we had a display at the Cruzn the Drag car show.  Greg Rice gets the credit for making it a successful outing.  We had some great grub and great company.  It was neat to socialize with club members outside of the competitive environment we usually encounter.  Check-out the photos on our website.  Im looking forward to doing it again next year.

“Mtscca.com” Check out our new website.  Drew Lovec set it up and he is our web master.  It looks great and has some extra features.  If you have photos from an event email them to Drew.  The web site is going to be updated with fresh info more often than I’m doing now through the USPS and meetings.

Divisional.  On August 20-21 Missoula is heading a Divisional Event at the Helena course.  I have tried to find-out all the specifics but failed.  This is what I know; first off if you are thinking on competing get a rulebook (scca on line) you need to bring it.  Every driver has to have his own copy, that’s a normal condition at this level.  You’ll need it anyway since our club has its own way of classing cars and some modified vehicles might be surprised where they end-up.  Expect to work, even if your not competing I’m sure they could use the support.  You should pre-register on line.  I do not know what the fee will be.  I’ll keep trying to get more specifics.

Pop Quiz.  Ok picture this; there you are on course driving for all your worth and the corner worker signals you.  What do you do next?

A stop and wait for instructions

B go faster

C flash your lights give a wave and proceed to the end of the course

On May 15 in Helena driver X selected choice C, that was wrong and more than one person personally informed me that we needed to take issue with this driver.  I’m not going to single him out because we are all capable of making bonehead choices but when a course worker signals the only thing to do is STOP.

Six Run Format.  We are still trying to get this going, yes it happened once but I’m hesitant to say it “worked.”  Thanks for showing up on time and waiting longer than anticipated (2 hours) to get going.  Eventually the plan will come together and by 2:30 we’ll all have had six runs in and those who have had enough can go and those who haven’t can make fun runs.

Fun Runs.  Buck runs, fun runs or practice runs what ever their called they are only for cars that passed Tec that morning when we registered.  Cars that passed at a prior event do not get to run.  Not that were having a problem with that but it just has to be that way for insurance reasons among others.

Demo Derby.  Take a peek at the cost breakdown (in this issue panic slip) per event and you’ll see that most times we just break even.  Then you should be wondering how can your club buy new cones and fancy equipment.  We can because of the trade we make with the fairgrounds.  In exchange for our help officiating for the demolition derby the Expo gives us three days of parking lot usage.  Our club needs your body on August 6^th in total 33 folks are needed to make it work, 8 people to tech cars from 12-4:00 and 25 people to work the derby 4-8:00.  To sweeten the pot you get a t-shirt and do not have to pay for your next autocross event (excluding Top Gun).  I have started the list and put Ed Austin on it, who else will volunteer?  Call me before I call you Jim 268-1742.

Rooms for Top Gun.  I’m trying to get the best rate in town for those of us planning on staying overnight in Helena for the Top Gun event.  Some folks will be arriving Friday night and need two nights stay others only Saturday.  If you want in on this deal let me know.  Also you can leave your stuff (cars/trailers) inside the gate at the event site overnight instead of a hotel parking lot.

Sponsorship Top Gun.  Has anyone heard of any business that might be interested in sponsoring us let me know.  Sponsors logos will go on the back the Top Gun t-shirts and have a link from our website.