RE REPORT - by Paul Morrison

WOW! What a great way to start out the race season at Nelson Ledges for the Mahoning Valley Region. The Double Drivers School was a success beyond what
even the most optimistic of us had expected. There are so many people to thank for this that I am not even going to try, as I would be afraid of forgetting someone. To all who were there you can take pride in what we did!

The best way to relate to all of you how we were viewed from one of the students and his crew who were here after doing another school. Totally unsolicited they came up to me and asked if I was the RE from Mahoning
Valley, and said that they weren't sure if they had made the right decision to go SCCA racing after the first school that they attended. They then relayed that at the previous school they had seen students made fun of in
front of their peers, that the officials weren't friendly at all and no one even cared that they were there. The exact opposite was the case at Mahoning Valley's School and although the other track was closer to their
home that we would see them again for our events.

The lack of workers did come very close to us not being able to complete the double school. There were adequate numbers to handle the situation but it
would have been better if we had people in all areas to act as backup and relief rather than having to ask some to do double duty. Thanks to all who jumped in to fill the gaps. Grid, pit lane, flagging, and timing and scoring
were all in need of more help and anyone who wants to get in on the action should sign up to help at our National race. The best way is to contact

myself or any of the board members and we will get you in contact with someone to guide you through the process.

I have written up 10 Secrets of Team Success:
1. We must be willing to help each other be right.
2. Look for new ideas, not for reasons why they won't work.
3. If you doubt something, let everyone know and we can all check it out.
4. Help each other and take pride in our victories.
5. Speak positively of each other and the SCCA in general at every opportunity.
6. Maintain a positive mental attitude no mater what the circumstances.
7. Act with initiative and courage.
8. Do it with enthusiasm, its contagious.
9. What ever you want, give it away: power, respect, enthusiasm, recognition.
10. Don't give up!

If anyone else has any ideas on how to help increase the number of volunteers please let me know.

Have a safe and successful race season.
Paul Morrison
 

Minutes of the April Membership Meeting

The meeting was held at the Ground Round in Warren, OH on April 6 2004

Meeting called to order at 8:02pm

Bill Pintaric moved to accept minutes as read. Seconded and approved.

Membership report at 200 plus, talk of membership renewal having some difficulties.

Treasurer report read, motion to accept treasurer report as read by Cliff McCandless, seconded and approved.

OLD BUSINESS

Round Table - We lost money from the Round Table. The lectures were informative and attendance was good for the most part, there was a side meeting about
the double driving school. All those felt that if was kept within the time frame it would be feasible but timing was very critical.

There was a series of activities at the dinner meeting Saturday evening which included a prize giveaway and a slide show of motoring events that took place at Watkins Glen in the 60's era.

Scott Lane also was present at the round table and hosted a number of questions concerning the track.

At the meeting Cliff had complimented Paul Morrison on doing a heck of job at the last minute for taking over the duties of the round table.

Drivers School - As to date we have 18 entrees with more expected and 20 instructors.

The big issue is corner workers, and if all else fails the instructors will also do the duties at the corners.

Advertising - Chris had brought in some advertisements that he had printed up to have the members post up wherever they thought would work the best. Also brought up was running the ad. in a newspaper.

NEW BUSINESS

Bill Pintaric made some comments on the national race he and others from the region attended at Summit Point

One of our members brought in an head and neck restraint system and answered questions pertaining to the device.

Motion to adjourn 8:48pm

submitted by Chris Turkali
 

LETTER TO THE REGION - by Bill Pintaric Jr.

It's over! The Mahoning Valley Region's driver's school is in the history books. All in all, a very successful event, with 50 students entered and about 42 that passed both schools. Many of the ones that did not pass had mechanical problems.

As Chief Instructor, I was responsible for getting instructors to teach our students, and I could not have asked for a better group of instructors. I heard great comments from the students, the workers, and the stewards all weekend about them. To all of you that instructed, thank you very much. All of you made a great impression on your students, and your actions will stay with them for a long time, if not forever. I will be contacting each of you individually to thank you, but I would like now to especially thank the group leaders, Bill Kasmer, Greg Grucella, and Gary Martz. This event happened because of your guidance and knowledge. We had several people that came out at the last minute to help instruct, and I really appreciate your help too. I got the chance to meet you other than just seeing a face through a helmet on the race track. We had people from several regions help out, including one instructor that came from Ontario, Canada. Now that's dedication!

The workers were great, as usual. We kept them out on track for a long time, and they gave the same great service at 5:00pm that they gave at 9:00am. We could not have done it without them either. And by the way, I got to work a new specialty this weekend, Pit. I like it! I may just have to work some events there this year. It was really fun. If you are looking for something rally interesting to do during a race weekend, check out some of the worker specialties. Many of the instructors had a great time helping out on the corners. You can learn an awful lot watching from a different vantage point too.

I got to interact with the stewards this weekend, other than "Bill Pintaric, car #87, please report to the stewards office". Actually, they are a great group of people, and easy to talk to. So I came away from this weekend with a new appreciation and understanding on them as well.

This group of students mostly really seemed to be committed to the sport. As with any group, there ware some that probably should take up badminton. It was a very safe school from the stand-point that we didn't have many on track incidents. There are definitely some new drivers that we will have to watch out for, as they are beginning to drive very quickly.

I want to thank the region for the confidence you had in allowing me to be the chief instructor. It was a lot of work, but it was worth every minute. It was my pleasure to give a little bit back to the sport, a thought that I heard expressed often this weekend by our instructors. I look forward to doing another school next year, but let's not make it a double, ok?
 

MAHONING VALLEY DRIVER SCHOOL - Sandi Kryder
 

Well just to add my 2 cents worth to the comments above. We did it. Thanks to all. There are so many people who made this event a great one. Thanks to Barry Kaplan, Chief Steward for working to make double come off, Bill Pintaric, my chief instructor - great job Bill, Paul Morrison, Chief of Tech, he filled in where ever needed to make this event happen, Peg Willer - she worked in registration the entire time we were open - Peg had been in an auto accident a couple of weeks before and was not completely healed, Beverly & Tom Nutter who helps with serving food at the worker lunches and Saturday night hospitality party and the list just goes on and on.

We also received comments from some of the students - here they are:

Sandi, I just wanted to thank you for the great time I had this weekend and to all the instructors and flag workers. The instructors I had were very helpful Mike Olivier and Joe Camallier thats misspelled but hope you can thank him for me anyways. Thanks again, Nick Lowe

btw... we had a blast!

brian hooper

________
IT WAS NICE TO MEET YOU AT THE TRACK THIS WEEKEND. UNFORTUNATELY FOR ME THE CAR BROKE AND I ONLY LEFT WITH A ONE DAY SIGN OFF. I WOULD LIKE TO THANK THE ENTIRE STAFF, STEWARDS, INSTRUCTORS, VOLUNTEERS AND CORNER WORKERS FOR A GREAT EXPERIENCE. THE ENTIRE EVENT WAS WELL ORGANIZED, FRIENDLY AND PROFESSIONAL. KEEP UP THE GREAT WORK, EVERYONE IS APPRECIATED.

THANK YOU,

JERRY MORRIS
________
Sandi,

Just a short note of thanks for the incredible event held this weekend at Nelson's Ledges. As brand new SCCA and MVR members, we were thoroughly impressed with the skill, dedication and friendliness of all involved. We
look forward to participating as a family for many years to come.

Sincerely,
Myron & Kim Vernis
_______
Sandi,

Sorry this is so late but I've been on the road for the last week.

I just wanted to say thanks to you and all the folks that worked so hard to put on the MV Double Drivers school last weekend. It was much more than I had anticipated. Jim Morgan, my instructor, was fantastic and a huge help in getting my confidence up to where I could get through turns 1, 2 & 3 with only a small lift, and through the kink with my foot flat on the floor! After Friday's first session I thought both were impossible! The critiques from all the instructors after each session were helpful; especially the ones that repeatedly told us how bad we were doing in turn 13 without naming names! If I hadn't toasted the motor Sunday morning, I know I could have improved my lap times. Unfortunately I had too much practice with flat tows and ended up missing the last three sessions.

But I can not remember having so much fun driving in my life. So again, thanks to you and every one that made the weekend possible!

Paul Kort

Sloan Racing 'CREW'
 
 

CLASSIFIEDS

Free to Mahoning Valley, Neohio, Misery Bay, Steel Cities and Western New York Regions members. Ads will run 3 consecutive times (asterisks at the beginning of the ad indicates how many times the ad has run). Ads must be resubmitted after their 3^rd run.

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