Of Past Interest:

The February banquet to celebrate last year’s season was HUGE.  Over 50 folks gathered to have a great time, and they seemed to have a great time plus.  The food was, once again, terrific.  No one went away hungry or unsatisfied.  Silver City really takes care of us in fine fashion.  The awards were wonderful as well, with a broad cross-section of the club being recognized for their efforts/skill/luck/cheating at our events.  Young and old(er), new and experienced, front and rear wheel drive, with pistons and pistonless, fast and near fast, turbo’d and turboless were all represented.  Pardon me if I get misty-eyed here, but this is just about the coolest group of pylon hunters ever.  Just good, good folks that we are all proud to be partners with as we all have car fun.

The winners were:

First place in driver points for 2002   John Weinzettel !!!!!

Second place   Tim Helms

Third place   Clint Hauge

Fourth place   Zack Gilmor and Jim Messick

Sixth place   Phil Kiser and Bob Stevenson

Eighth place   Steve Nutter

Ninth place   Jerry Rukavina

Tenth place   Rick Cummings and Gary Wolf

OK, so that’s not really accurate.  We’re all winners.  And the recognition of the tireless efforts of all the volunteers we all depend on was most deserving.

Of Current Interest

(In no particular order);

· From now on, there will be only one club meeting per month to worry about.  The executive committee will do its exec thing as folks’ schedules allow, but the general meetings will continue to be at 7:30 PM on the last Thursday of the month at the tenth avenue Hardy’s restaurant.  So the next meeting will be on April 24, following the season opening non-points event at the old Buttrey’s Warehouse and prior to the first points event at ExpoPark.  See you there?

· As the club searches for additional event sites and as we negotiate for the use of the possible sites, and as we investigate whether or not the club ought to be involved in other motorsport activities, it is crucial that the club speak from one source.  Ed Austin is the RE, and he needs to be the guy who makes these contacts and commitments.  Don’t misunderstand, the club wants to hear all good ideas, and you are more than welcome to bring up new thoughts anytime they hit you, but there is only one “official” club voice as we commit to dates, places, and activities.  We just don’t want 70 people out there going in 70 different directions and overextend the club.  Ed’s “Da Man”.

· The club is financially healthy, thanks to Ed Austin, Paul and Anita Heppner, and Tom Masterson (among others!).  As of the end of February, we had over $300 still in checking, and over $6000 in savings.  What a pleasure to have the resources to conduct events and other club activities in positive and fulfilling ways!  And, if you’ve been hibernating for the last couple of years, perhaps, in addition to a positive bank account, there is the club trailer, the new timing lights, the new timing program, the new pylons, the extended event geography, and the list goes on and on and on.  Great members plus great leadership equals fun for all.  Damn!

The Demo Derby still looks like a go for the Fair in August.  Mr. Bill Ogg sees it as a money maker, and is highly supportive of our involvement and expertise, so it looks like it will happen.  All the details are not clear yet, so stay tuned for more as it happens.

Of Future Interest:

Don’t forget the 2003 event schedule.

April 13   Non-points opener at the old Buttrey’s Warehouse near Ryan’s Station

May 4   Points event, probably at ExpoPark

May 25   Points event at Helena in conjunction with the Mustang Club

May 24-26   Double Nationals at Portland (Correction: Seattle)

June 8   Points event, probably at ExpoPark

June 22   Points event At Helena in conjunction with the Millennium Show

July 19 and 20, Top Gun double points event at ExpoPark

August ?  Demo Derby

August 19   Points event, probably at ExpoPark

September 7   Points event at Helena

September 28   Points event in Great Falls

October 19   Points event in Great Falls

Some of the GF locations may be subject to change, but there is no Bay Drive event on the calendar for 2003.

OPENING EVENT                                                             

Non-points opener, “get the rust out” event, will be Sunday, April 13, at the south end of the old Buttrey’s Warehouse facility on 6th street southwest here in Great Falls.  There is way more space there than it first appears from the outside of the fence, and we need to thank Phil Kiser and his partners for making the place available to us.  Crescent Circle, which runs around the facility on the south, east, and north sides of the place, will be closed off from Ryan’s Station to Huffman Street.  This will be the competitor parking, registration and pit area.  The entire event area is inside the fencing, so course watching will involve a minimum of people and security will be simple.  Spectators will have easy vision, Ryan’s Station has food and refreshments, we will have a porta-potty so we don’t over-use Ryan’s Station, and the after-event gathering will be at Ryan’s as well.  This will be a super place to kick off the season for sure.  Wahooo!  New place to kill orange cones!  See you there, and don’t forget to show up early so everyone gets plenty of runs in.

Need more info?  Call Ed Austin at 452-1135 or Jerry Rukavina at 761-4357