Race with USARM - USARM The Grid January 2002

	T H E G R I D

		January 2002

A Sad Note

I sent this note on to the SCCA Wheel. I want to say that Annie also very much enjoyed attending USARM events. Annie did not quite get the difference between SCCA and USARM other than I got paid at a USARM event and she had to work at an SCCA event. I want to take this opportunity to thank the members of USARM for looking the other way when I snuck Annie in under the fence. Thanks Karen for letting Annie see the workings of race mission control and thanks Sue and Ester for letting Annie see what life on a corner is like. Annie really did get to know quite a lot about our sport even if she could not tell a Corvette from a Porsche or qualifying from the race. It was all motion and excitement, and extraordinary people taking it to the edge. Annie enjoyed all of it.
Annie O'Connel, my neighbor and good friend passed away in her sleep last night at the age of eighty-seven. In the last month, Annie was getting very frail but was still full of spit and vinegar and had plans for a full year of car racing for next year. I just wanted to take this tie to thank everyone in our sport for showing Annie such a good time. She really loved it and loved making so many new friends at the races. When I finally was able to talk Annie in to coming to a race five years ago, Annie in one breath became San Francisco Region's oldest and newest member.

The story on Annie and me is this: When I moved next door, in to a seniors only mobile home park, not being a senior citizen, I knew that I would be the noisy rude neighbor. I knew that I would be spending many weekends away from my place and that I would have one of those awful forbidden cats as a pet. I commandeered Annie and my neighbors in to watching my place and feeding my cat while I was gone for the weekend.

Annie was first introduced to the sport of auto racing by my ply that if she watched the Long Beach Grand Prix real close, she might see me waving a flag. Of course, it never happened but Annie was hooked. She became a great fan of auto racing, at least on TV. Each year when the Wine Country Classic came around, I would try to get Annie and one of her other friends in the park to come to the race with me in my motor home and see how I spend my weekends. Well, Annie's trailer park friends would always put the squash on that idea. Poor Annie out lived all of her other friends in the park. The loss went very hard on Annie and she looked like she was all set to cash it in and rejoin with her lost friends. I asked her one more time if she would like to go to a race, thinking that I would only be taking her the one time. At least she would know where I disappeared to with such frequency and maybe why. Annie agreed to go. I dumped Annie off on Medical at the first Laguna Seca Regional, thinking that if she had a problem, at least help would be near at hand. When I came in at the end of the day, off of the hill, it was as if Annie had been giving a great shot of adrenalin. The next race was a Sears Point. Saturday at 4:30 in the morning, Annie was banging on the side of my coach and was sitting in my car rearing to go. Again, I dumped Annie off on Medical, just in case, but Fran had other plans for Annie and before lunch Fran had Annie signed up with Social and Annie was being trained in working the sandwich line. I was stuck. I had created a monster.

I cannot thank everyone enough for how nice everyone has been to Annie. She really got to know our sport. She loved the noise, the color, the spectacle, the people and more then anything, she loved that she was actually a part of it. It was almost embarrassing. Annie would tell complete strangers when I would take her shopping that I was a flagger and that she was a volunteer at the car races. She loved her white patch jacket and the attention it got at Denny's at breakfast on the way to the racetrack. I have to thank the drivers that were so kind to give Annie pace car rides and Vintage racecar rides and giving her the e-ticket ride. It was hell for me on the way home from the races, as Annie would want me to pass every car on the freeway. Now I can't swear if there is a God or not, but there is, I know that Annie's first words in the hereafter were, "Hi, I am a race worker." Thank you all for giving Annie the best last four years of her life. And thank you Franny and Little Ann and everyone in Social for putting her to work and giving her so much to live for. Annie is gone, but She is not far away.

Verne

In Memory of

During the holidays several of our friends have left our world. However, they are not gone -- they will forever be in our hearts and memories.

Annie O'Connel

Ernie Mendicki

Millie Johnson

Membership Renewal

If you haven't already renewed your membership for the new year, please do so now. Use the enclosed form and mail it back today!

Upcoming Election

There are 3 openings this year, and 5 candidates have entered the "ring." There are 3 new names and 2 incumbents.

Now it is your turn, please vote when you get the materials and return it by the due date. This is your club and you have a voice in it. Please use it!

Current Board
of Directors

Ken Berri

Ron Cowen

Jerry Huff

Karen Huff

Ted Kuwada

Stuart Newhouse

Jan Weaver

Candidate Statements

My name is Ann Chamberlain and I would like to represent you as a member of the USARM Board. My earliest activities with USARM was a member for several years back in the `70s. Then about 5 or 6 years ago I rejoined USARM and have been a member ever since. I joined SCCA in 1975 and have been a member ever since, working such positions a Flagger/Turn Marshall for 26 years, Assistant Chief of Flags for 11 years, Communicator for 6 years, and have worked Tech when they were shorthanded for 3 years. For three years I worked for Victory Lane Magazine (a vintage sports car racing magazine). I am presently employed by Sears Point Raceway to work their test days.

One of the reasons I am running for the Board is that I am concerned with the safety of our sport and feel that proper training of new workers is essential. Also I would like to promote consistency in our flagging and communication procedures.

The members of USARM are like an extended family to me. I feel I can help USARM by being an active, committed Board member. I am open-minded and honest, a good listener. I do not represent a specific point of view, but want my point of view to reflect the desires of the members.

Please give me your support in the upcoming election.

Ann Chamberlain

Hi everyone, my name is Steve Ynzunza and I am putting my name in the hat to be considered for the USARM Board of Directors. Although, only being a part of USARM for the past 4 years, I have been an avid race fan for a longtime. I started attending racing events at a very young age at LagunaSeca back when the military was still running it.

I bring with me the knowledge of being a former Director of the Gilroy Garlic Festival, Past President of the 911 Communication Managers Association, as well as a member of a few other non-profit groups.

Since being a member of USARM, I have recognized the need to recruit new members as well as improve the quality of training for new members in order to continue to provide the safe and professional service to the racing community that our group is known for.

If you don't recognize my name, I am the guy that stays with Ted and loads the trailer after each of the events that we work. So, I am asking everyone to give me their support in the upcoming election.

Thanks for your consideration.

Steve Ynzunza

Hi everyone, my name is Darlyn Linka-Pettenati. For those of you who don't know me, I have been with USARM for 8 years (and SCCA for 12), and you can usually find me on the Pre-Grid. I enjoy the family atmosphere that surrounds the events in which USARM participates. I have no agenda, but will do my best to listen to your needs and make them heard by the Board.

I, too, feel that continual improvements must be made to training, which will further enhance USARM as a recognized source of qualified track officials.

Thanks for your support in the past and current consideration.

Darlyn Linka-Pettenati

Hi everyone,

It's that time again, time to elect the board. I think most of you know me. I'm the old guy who cleans the safety cars and makes the coffee behind T11 at the SuperBike races. I have been on the board for the past eight years and I'm willing to do another two years if elected. USARM membership is growing and we are doing more events and that's great, but growing pains can "KILL" an organization like ours without proper training. My main priority is to work with the board to create a training program that will help keep USARM on top.

Thank you for your support in the past and please vote for me.

Ken Berri

Hello All,

I have been on the board for four years now, and I will run again. However I would really like to lose and see other members on the board of directors. We only meet once a month and takes about 10-30 hours of time a month, depending on how many events you chose to run. I feel the change in the board directors is a good thing, as attitudes change over time and the board must change with them. If you feel my attitude and beliefs are close to yours vote for me, otherwise please vote for others.

OH and get off your duff and run for the Board.

Jerry Huff

The Grid is a periodic newsletter published for the current USARM membership.
Please send article submissions and requests to Darlyn Linka-Pettenati.

The Grid Archives

May 2012

February 2011     November 2011

April 2010     October 2010

January 2009     March 2009     April 2009     October 2009

July 2008     August 2008     September 2008     November 2008

February 2008     March 2008     April 2008     May 2008     June 2008

July 2007     May 2007     April 2007

December 2006     November 2006     October 2006     September 2006     July 2006
June 2006     May 2006     April 2006     March 2006     February 2006     January 2006

December 2005     November 2005     October 2005     September 2005     August 2005
June 2005     May 2005     April 2005     March 2005     February 2005     January 2005

November 2004     October 2004     September 2004     August 2004     July 2004     June 2004

June 2002     May 2002     January 2002

December 2001     October 2001     September 2001     June 2001