News & Announcements

Last updated 2/25/2010

Solo Preparation for the year
The new year is upon us and I am looking forward to racing season in 2010. We are going to try to implement several changes in the solo program this year and grow our PDX program. The Rallycross program is getting prepped for the season after giving us some great attention with the East Coast Championship they held in 2009 and we have three club races again for 2010. On the solo front, I am going to try to step back from front lines of the program. As I had predicted last year, my current work load may impact how many solo events I can attend this year, so it is time to involve some fresh faces in the leadership roles at each event. Stick with us for 2010 because there may be some growing pains as we try to restructure the program some. 1. We are going to try to rotate new people into chiefs roles for each event. That means chiefs can sign up for 2-3 events or more if they WANT to, but do not have to feel like they MUST be at every points event. This also means that the chief for Grid last week may be the chief for Set up next week. The job variety should help prevent some of the burnout we have seen over the last year. Certain key positions may only have 3 or 4 people throughout the year, (Timing, chair,safety) but even this is a departure from how we have done things over the last few years. The rest of the positions are up for grabs. We prefer to have some experience for these roles and it is still up to the chairperson if they feel that the person is qualified for the role. However, if you want to try a position for a day please contact me and we can make sure you get the training you need for that position. 2. We are changing our trophy system for standard events. Governors Cup and the Great Lakes Divisional Series race will have standard trophies, but we are reducing the positions awarded at regular points events. In addition the awards will be certificates with a discount for your next race. When we reviewed the financials over the last few years, over half the entry cost is in sanctions, insurance, and lot rental. Our next largest cost is trophies. They typically run $5-$7 each and we pay that much whether you win 1st or 5th. I also tend to take about ½ of the trophy purchase home each weekend because people either do not stay to pick them up, or we overbuy for the event. (This is not as bad as it seems because then we would recycle the trophies and use them at later events.) I think the solution that Aaron and Simi Ritch have come up with will provide something that the racers can use, gives back to the club, and keeps our overhead down. 3. Our timing and scoring system is getting long in the tooth and some of its operating quirks have been impacting us over the last year. We are purchasing AXware so that we can grow and move forward with the program. Axware gives us flexability for number of runs per day, unique car groupings, more pax based options, and external interfaces such as bar code readers. It may take an event or two to get the wrinkles out, but then we should be good to go. 4. We have purchased 400 new cones for this year and are transferring the old ones to Rallycross to support them as they try to build up their own equipment resources. 5. We are going to switch to Motorsportsreg as an on line registration service. DLB served us well for many years, but for consistency within OVR we are trying to get to one on line system for all of our registration work. Now Club, PDX, Solo and I believe Rallycross can all be found at the same place. This also cross trains several of our registrars for each of those events so we can help each other with technical issues when they arise. Financially the cone purchase and software will impact our start to the year and it will take several events to pay off these capital outlays at the beginning of the season, but the BoD has been very supportive that we have gone about as far as we could with the old equipment and it is time to freshen things up. This means we all need to respect the equipment we have and take care of it the best we can. We are hoping the major issues with Moby are behind us and as we get back into the black we can start concentrating on new radio purchases, etc. On the solo race locations front there has been a lot of work going on and I want to recognize Jon Beerman for doing a tremendous amount of footwork over the winter. The motorsports idea for Cooper Stadium is getting some traction and thanks to Jon we are establishing a good relationship with that group. We believe the facility, as proposed, would be able to accommodate our autocross program although not in the same way we use the facility now. This summer the final decisions will be made by Franklin County and if successful we may have access to Cooper again until construction starts and then again once it is complete. We are again working with National Trails for several events this year and are working with OSU to confirm our dates on the Ackerman lot as well. Finally, there may be a new facility for those of us who like to travel. Good progress has been made on establishing an SCCA foothold at Wilmington Airpark. The Cincinnati and Dayton guys are working it with some support from OVR. If it works out we may be able to share the facility for large events in the same way that the Indiana clubs share Grissom AFB for large events. Keep looking for sites. Locations are in high demand since several autocross locations around town have become unavailable for various reasons and the other Marque clubs are looking for places to run as well. I am looking forward to the season and the challenges that lie ahead. I am confident that as we get used to the new structure it will reduce the stress and workload for each individual, but we are counting on you as club members to make that happen!!! Andy
Contact information regarding Judy Cowie
Judy passed away on Februay 4. Anyone wishing to get a message to Bob can do so through www.tinyurl.com/judycowie or snail mail. Information is also provided there about memorial gifts in Judy's name.
Elsie Haninger
Elsie Haninger, the driving force of women’s participation in the Ohio Valley Region and SCCA Solo programs passed away December 5. Visiting hours Monday 5-8 pm and Tuesday 2-4 pm at Schoedinger Northeast Chapel, 1051 East Johnstown Rd. in Gahanna. Elsie was a fierce Solo competitor, an intense teacher of other drivers and campaigned long and hard for the establishment of parallel women’s classes in the SCCA solo programs. All of my kids still talk about Elsie and many of the stories of her on the courses. She was a dear friend and the world is now a little less colorful for her absence. Mary Jane Berchak One of Elsie’s many admirers
New Forum
http://forum.ovr-scca.org/ Click here to check out the new forum. Everyone is welcome with comments, announcements, news, questions, answers, problems and solutions. - Zsolt
New Discussion site
http://sports.groups.yahoo.com/group/Ohio_Road_Racing_Officials/ There is a new workers/officials discussion page set up for OVR members, and anybody else who’s interested. http://sports.groups.yahoo.com/group/Ohio_Road_Racing_Officials/ Have a safe, happy, healthy, and prosperous new year!