Clutch Chatter --
February 2000
RE News
by Mark J. Badgley
The planning for the year is well under way, and I am
excited about the possibilities for the upcoming year.
The second board meeting was very busy; however, due to
time constraints we could not get all of the budgets
approved and will have to complete them at the February
Meeting. Speaking of the February Meeting, due to the
fact that the second Monday is Valentines Day, the
meeting will be held on Tuesday, February 15th at
Laughners Cafeteria on US 31 South. I would
encourage any members that would like to be involved in
the planning of this season to attend and to bring your
thoughts and ideas to the board.
This is our club, and we really do need the input of
all the members to decide what the future of the region
should hold for all of us. Yngvar is putting together the
"Future Planing Committee". He is currently
looking for volunteers, and I hope that we can find a mix
of people to reside on this committee. This committee is
charged with reporting back to the Indianapolis Region
Board later this year as to what the future goals of the
region should be. In my opinion, this is really the most
critical focus of this year, and everybody should take
the time to discuss with Ingvar what events and services
they want their region to provide over the course of the
next five to ten years.
I am of the opinion that we may not get to the ideal
place; however, I am concerned that if we do not set some
long term goals then we will most certainly fail in the
long term. Do we want more races and events? If
attendance and membership growth figures were any
indication, then it would seem to indicate that this is
not what the membership wants. That having been said,
then what is the key to the future? Do you as members of
this region want more junior programs, more old guy
programs, to own and manage our own facilities, etc.?
Honestly, I do not have an answer to this question, and
it is my hope that when Ingvar reports back, he can tell
us what course we need to set.
By the time that most people get this, I will be on my
way to the National Convention in Denver. There is some
guy named Hylton speaking on Saturday night which should
be entertaining. The schedule for the convention looks
very busy, and I will do my best to attend everything
possible. I will provide some feedback as to the hot
topics in next months article.
Again this month, I was shocked to find out that
another SCCA member has passed away. Denny Elff had been
battling cancer for a couple of years, and when I spoke
to him last fall he was, as always, very upbeat. I very
much appreciated Dennys help over the last couple
of years and my sympathies go out to his family.
I look forward to seeing everybody over the course of
the 2000 Competition season, and as always if anybody
would like to discuss the future of the region, please
feel free to call.
RALLY SCHOOL
February 6, 1999
2302 S. Shelby Street (west side of street, 1-1/2
blocks south of Raymond Street and just west of I-65)
Park on west or south side of the building.
PRE-REGISTRATION: Pre-registering for this event would
be appreciated in order that I may plan for the
refreshments more effectively. Call 317-780-9007 and
leave a message. You may register the day of the event
from 12:30 PM to 1:00 PM.
SCHEDULE: Registration: 12:30-1:00 p.m.
Class: 1:00 PM
Break: 2:15 PM
Class: 2:45 PM
Review: 4:00 p.m.
COST: $5.00 team, member or non-member, to cover
drinks and munchies.
NOTE: Chairs are limited - attendees are requested to
bring their own folding chairs.
Smoking is prohibited!
BOARD MEETING HIGHLIGHTS
January 10, 2000
by Bob Burns
Treasurer's Report: The books are closed on 1999 and
at the accountant for auditing. Cathy Hart is now
functioning as Treasurer.
Clutch Chatter: Budget approved.
Road Rally: Seven events plus a rally school planned,
budget approved, entry fees will go up slightly, points
rules approved.
Solo: Eight events including a BFG event planned,
budget approved, purchase of new timer to be considered,
points rules approved.
Other Points Rules: Approved with a few changes.
Drivers School/Regional Race: Race Chairman Sam
Crites, Chief Steward Andy Welden, Chief Instructors Tom
& Fred Edwards, budget approved.
Double Regional Race: Details in progress.
National Race: Race Chairman Cindy Hylton, Chief
Steward Bob Burns, budget approved.
National Convention: R.E.'s expenses to be partially
reimbursed.
Activities: Plans in progress.
The next board meeting will be 15 February 2000 at
Laughner's Cafeteria on US 31 South.
CALENDAR
Feb 6 Road Rally School (See ad on page 1.)
Feb 15 Board Meeting, 6:00 PM, Laughners at Southern
Plaza
Feb 18 Clutch Chatter Deadline
Mar 11 Activities Meeting Thunder in the Dome
Mar 13 Board Meeting, 6:00 PM, Laughners at Southern
Plaza
Mar 24 Clutch Chatter Deadline
Apr 2 Road Rally Points Event
Apr 2 Informal Solo School, Ft. Benjamin Harrison
Apr 10 Board Meeting
Apr 16 Solo II Event, Ft. Benjamin Harrison
Apr 21 Clutch Chatter Deadline
Solo Report
by Dave & Cathy Hart
We are continuing to refine the 2000 Indianapolis
Region Solo II program and schedule. A tentative schedule
is provided below. We now have a tentative set of rules
for the kart program, so please contact Dave Hart if you
are interested. We will soon have a set of rules for both
a novice class and a street tire class, both of which
will be scored with the PAX index. The kart, novice, and
street tire class rules will be published in the March
Clutch Chatter. Thanks to everyone who has volunteered to
help run the Solo program this year. Those who have
volunteered are listed below. We still need a Chief of
Equipment. As we mentioned last month, we are looking for
additional volunteers to help staff the Converse
BFGoodrich Cendiv Solo II Championship Series event,
which will be counted as one of the events in the Indy
Region point series. Please join the fun and e-mail dave.hart@insightbb.com
or call Dave at (317) 849-2495 with your particular
interest in helping to organize the 2000 program or
helping with the BFG Event and/or questions. We also
intend to use e-mail to share late-breaking Solo II news,
schedule updates, etc., so send us your e-mail address.
The next board meeting is Tuesday, February 15, 6:00PM
at Laughners Cafeteria (just north of I465 on US31
on the south side). You are welcome at these meetings
come
join us and help shape the future of the Indianapolis
Region and our Solo Program!
2000 Indianapolis Region Solo II Program Volunteers
Chief of Communications Sam/Corey White ?
Coordinate use of radios with Club Racing. Charge and
transport radios to/from Solo's.
Chief of Equipment Your
Name Here
?
Coordinate transportation of the Solo trailer. First to
arrive, last to leave.
Chief of Course Clemens
Burger
Coordinate course design and setup.
Chief of Tech Harold
Hammerly, Sam/Corey White ?
Coordinate Technical Inspectors/Inspection
Chief of Workers Josh
Hayes
Grid: Don Kline
Coordinate worker assignments at the event, i.e. grid,
course, start, timing/scoring, etc.
Novice Chief Chris
McGuire
Novice Coaches: Don
Kline ?
Coordinate "Novice Coaches" to help ensure that
Novice competitors have fun.
Safety Stewards Phillip
Wehman, Darlene Badgley ?, Jason Baugh ?
Learn the responsibilities, attend a training session,
work as an assistant Safety Steward.
Other Sherri
& Scott DeCoursey
Order Portable Facilities
2000 INDIANAPOLIS REGION SOLO II SCHEDULE
Date(s) |
Points
Event |
Event/Site |
Apr 2 |
NO |
Informal School / Test&Tune /
Fort Benjamin Harrison |
Apr
16 |
1 |
Fort Benjamin Harrison |
May
14 |
2 |
TBA |
Jun 6 |
3 |
Australian Pursuit / Speedrome |
Jun
18 |
4 |
TBA |
Jul
22-23 |
5 |
BFG #4 / Converse, IN |
Aug
20 |
6 |
TBA |
Sep
17 |
7 |
Australian Pursuit / Speedrome |
Oct
15 |
8 |
TBA |
ACTIVITIES MEETING
Saturday, March 11
THUNDER IN THE DOME
We will meet at TGI Fridays for dinner and then head
to the races.
More details on cost and schedule to follow in the March
issue of Clutch Chatter.
Solo Is: Tweety Power
by Warren LeVeque
People are constantly asking me "What is the
significance of the Tweety Birds painted on my cars?"
At first I didnt think that there was any
significance; it was just a lark. Maybe its my
puppy dog. At car shows, young ladies with children in
tow will be dragged past other cars by the child wanting
to see the Tweety Bird. Honest, it was not my first
intention, but I certainly dont mind it. Its
also a good hook for business cards (Tweety with glasses
-- did you notice?), but it also was not the primary
intention.
Back in the middle seventies when I was road racing a
D/P Yenko Stinger, it was an underdog. This was between
the Reeves and Schardt successful years. People who took
themselves way to seriously all had racing team logos,
even if the team consisted of one member. Nearly all of
the cars had some ferocious monster painted on the flanks--tigers,
lions, bears, crocs, etc. We even had team races
identified by animal logos. My team members were pushing
for some kind of logo. Since I had very little money for
racing, I had spruced the cheap steel parts up with
yellow paint -- yellow widened steel wheels and yellow
exhaust headers. Our very supportive local sports car
club (SCCCI) had adopted yellow racing jackets with red
stripes. So, as I was pondering the logo decision , I
walked past a full length mirror in the mall and saw
reflected back the image of a small guy dressed in yellow.
The decision was made.
This decision was met with overwhelming positive
acceptance. Our previous Team Cheap became Team Cheep. I
actually had a few very successful years in this era, but
since it was still such a low buck effort the underdog
character stuck.
As racing became too expensive to continue, I became
more of an autocrosser. People came up and asked if they
could be part of Team Tweety. I dont know to this
day what they thought they were joining. We had a fairly
large group of cars with Tweeties which would caravan to
autocrosses. It was great camaraderie. We would race and
socialize together and help each other out. When I would
put on an event (with my Tweety helpers), I gave out an
extra award of a stuffed Tweety bird. This was the Top
Tweety award for an outstanding performance -- not
necessarily Top Time of the Day. People who won this
acted like they had struck gold. They loved it -- I loved
it.
Tweety tee shirts and sweatshirts popped up everywhere.
I still get them as gifts and still love them. I also
notice a lot of Sylvester decals and dolls on some of my
rivals cars. At a recent Halloween autocross, I
dressed up in my full size Tweety costume. NO one seemed
surprised. I some times quietly give out Tweety decals (hand
painted) and lapel pins to persons whom I and my other
Tweety pals agree have the Tweety attitude.
At the risk of over analyzing something which came by
accidentally and seemed to take on a life of its
own, Im going to do it anyway. What is a Tweety?
Tweeties seem to have the aforementioned underdog
attitude (under bird?). Tweeties always seem to try very
hard no matter what the circumstances or odds, although
some Tweeties are National Champions without an
accompanying attitude. Tweeties dont seem to know
when they dont really have a chance. Tweety never
does get eaten by the mean old cat. Tweeties always seem
positive. Tweeties seem to have an unassuming, modest
attitude no matter what their actual circumstance. There
are no Big Shits here. There seem to be a
disproportionate amount of lady Tweeties. Maybe we men
still tend to take ourselves too seriously. And the most
likely candidate for a Tweety --the person who asks.
RALLY REPORT
by Chuck Hanson
For those who are contemplating whether you should
attend Rally School a second time, let me suggest that
you will find it beneficial. The Tutorial for Novices has
been totally re-written with an increased emphasis on
driving. It has been re-organized to operate more like a
computer help screen; i.e. there are now links and
prompts that will assist you in finding specific
information in a hurry (like while you are running a
Rally). Your first opportunity to obtain this new
document will be at the school.
I have finally received the Racing and Solo schedules,
both of which have components of national competition
that I have attempted to schedule around. Based on this
information, we could have as many as eight events this
season. All events other than the school will count for
the year end championship. The determining factor will be
finding willing event chairmen.
TENTATIVE RALLY SCHEDULE
Date |
Rallymaster |
Feb. 6, 2000 |
Rally School |
Apr. 2, 2000 |
Kurt & Dustin
Weisner |
May 21, 2000 |
??? |
June 25, 2000 |
??? |
July 30, 2000 |
Vic & Pat
Brunamonti |
Aug. 27, 2000 |
??? |
Sept. 10, 2000 |
Frank & Candice
Pope |
Oct. 22, 2000 |
??? |
Nov. 19, 2000 |
??? |
RE: Red Mist? I believe all of you can relate to this
one!!
You could have the Red Mist if:
- You refer to the corner down the street from your
house as "Turn One."
- You take your Snell 95 helmet along when you go
to the Porsche dealer for a test drive of the new
Boxster S!
- You drive to the grocery store
and feel
compelled to beat your previous times!
- You are always trying to get the "jump"
on a green traffic signal.
- You bought a new tow vehicle
instead of
braces for your kids.
- You just paid $4.25 a gallon for racing gas ...without
even complaining!
- You drive your shopping cart through the 'proper
line' at the grocery store!
- You save broken car parts as little 'mementos'
and paper weights.
- You've have tried CAM 2 in your riding lawn
mower, snow blower and chainsaw to improve
performance.
- Your 'fantasy' garage will hold twice as many
cars as your house has bedrooms.
- You can't stand anyone telling you how to drive
because you are the best!
- You really enjoy showing the tailgaters behind
you... how to really drive 'the line' around the
Interstate on/off ramps!
- Your 'Favorite Places' on AOL are all motorsports
websites.
- You really hate long distance family vacation
driving, but a two day, four pit stop sprint to
the race track is an exception!
- Your home library consists solely of parts
catalogs, factory shop manuals, old, "valuable"
motorsports books, and "in car" race
videos!
- Instead of family photos in your wallet...you
have pictures of all the race cars that you have
ever owned!
- You sit in your race car in a dark garage making
engine sounds, shifting gears, and practicing
double clutching while waiting for your engine to
be returned after an expensive rebuild!
- You tell your wife/girlfriend (or both!) where
you would like to go for your next vacation. She
answers: "Why
is there a *#!#!* race
there?"
- Your television/VCR is always programmed for:
Speedvision or a F1, CART/IRL, and a NASCAR race.
- You gave away your complete set of 1950 -1970
baseball cards
but saved all those old musty
Sports Car Graphic, Motor Sport, and Road and
Track magazines!
- You practice the 'racing line' and hit all the
apexes just right on your daily commute to work.
- Your favorite motorsports heroes are: James Dean,
Juan Manuel Fangio, Steve McQueen, Peter Revson,
Ricardo and Pedro Rodriguez, Ayrton Senna, Jo
Siffert, and "Taffy" von Tripps.
- You own five cars
but only one is street
legal!
- You have motorsports related decals plastered on
the rear window of all your family vehicles.
- And
you have even considered getting a
"marque" tattoo on the wrist of your
shifting hand
Yikes!
CEN-DIV STEWARD/WORKERS SEMINARMARCH 4-5, 2000
HOLIDAY INN City Center
213 West Washington
(Corner of Washington & Main)
SOUTH BEND, INDIANA
219-232-3941
SCCA Room Rate: $77.00 per night up to 4 per room.
Call Holiday Inn directly to make reservations (219-232-3941)
a block of rooms will be held until February 13 at
the above rate. Request the SCCA rate (normally $89 - $109)
when making your reservations. The Seminar registration
fee also includes continental breakfast and lunch on
Saturday, continental breakfast on Sunday morning.
Registration Fee for the Seminar: $45.00. If
registering with Spouse, their fee is $40.00.
Registration form and fee must be received by February 22.
Checks payable to Central Division Calendar Committee.
Late Registration add $10.00 per person if postmarked
after February 22.
Lunch only fee is $15.00
Registration will open on Friday, March 3 at 6:00 pm
at the Holiday Inn.
Please print all information on your registration form
and mail with fees to:
Liz Eslaire
5720 Homewood Drive
Fort Wayne IN 46825-4306
For more info call Liz at:
219-483-7266 between 5:00-9:00 P.M.
Make cheks payable to:
Central Division Calendar Committee
THE CLASSIFIEDS
FOR SALE: 1988 Porsche 944 Coupe, black/black, leather
int., 5-spd., Florida car, no winters, LSD, Koni Adj.
Shocks, K&N, four 16" 7-spoke (Design90) with
Dunlop SP8000, eight 15" phone dials with Kumho V700,
clutch and water pump replaced, recent tune-up and O2-sensor,
new timing belt, fastest C Stock 944 in the country, 127,000
mi., $8450/OBO. Call Clemens at (765) 643-0470 or email: burgerc@iquest.net.
(1/00)
FOR SALE: 1999 Grand Prix Trans-Am car that competed
in the Trans-Am series last year. Just like Leighton
Reese car with professional V-6. Would make a nice
National car. Sell as roller or complete with spares,
excellent shape. Might be a collectors item as being the
last V-6 to compete in the Trans-Am. Contact Glenn Andrew
at (812) 696-2149 or e-mail at racingcoach@yahoo.com.
(1/00)
FOR SALE: 1988 ITA Honda CRX SI, Lap Record at Road
America (2:43.8), Route 66 (1:43.0), Blackhawk Farms (1:23.8).
Over thirty straight podium finishes. Exclusively
prepared and maintained by King Motor Sports, best of
everything. Mugen limited Slip, Koni shocks, OMP seat, .040
over, prepared to the limits of the rules. Three sets of
wheels, one Panasport and two Revolutions with monsoon
rains and intermediates. Peter Cunninghams 1988
World Challenge championship winning #42 General Tire car.
Ready to win anywhere, including AARC! $16,500 with
running street 88 CRX SI. Contact Chris at (630)
499-8635. (1/00)
WANTED: Westside racing supply outlet needs additional
person of many talents. If you think somewhere the phones
ringing off the hook when theres still packages to
pack and the UPS guys due any minute sounds like a
fun place to work, we want to hear from you! Fax your
resume to (317) 271-7951. Wit and originality score
additional points. (2/00)
FOR SALE: ITS Mazda MX6 racers available 1999
Motorola Cup Touring Class winning cars, Most fully
developed Mazda MX-6s in country with over 13
Professional Victories, 1995 ITE & 1997 SSA NEOHIO
Regional Championships. Very Reliable (finished 27 out of
28 races in 1999), Nelson Ledges time of 1:17:00.
Excellent starter car ready to win in ITS. $7,500 each or
better if buy both. Many spares and wheels also for sale
to last whole season. Please contact Will Nonnamaker (330)
497-4484, ext. 23, North Canton, OH. (2/00)
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