It is ELECTION time once again for USARM
Your ballot(s) are included in this issue of The Grid. If you did not receive them, please contact a BoD member.
Exercise YOUR right to vote!
Those members running for the Board of Directors are:
Patty Heitzman
Jerry Huff
Dave Jansen
Jim Short
Steve Ynzunza
Please take time to vote & mail your completed ballot
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Hello, Fellow USARM Members,
I am nearing the end of my first year as a director, and I have decided to run for re-election. It has been an interesting year and I think one of the most successful for our club. I have enjoyed helping to shape the policies that govern our group. But we have some tough issues still to come, and I believe that I can be instrumental in resolving them.
I am sure that most of you know me by now and know that I can do what needs to be done. You have also found out that I listen to your concerns and try to act on them in a timely fashion. I'm not just a fellow club member. I am your friend.
Please take a few minutes during election time and cast a vote for me.
Thank you,
Jim Short |
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CANDIDATE
BIO'S |
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Hi Everyone,
I have been an active member of USARM for the last 11 years, served on the board of directors for six of those years, and enjoyed every minute of it. I have been a race marshal for 20 years now and have flagged every thing from Solo 1 to Formula 1. Lately I have been running events, but still get out and flag on occasion, as I still enjoy it to a great degree.
Since I drive race cars on occasion I have a good idea of what the drivers expect from us, and am fairly good at getting this message to the race marshals at whatever event we are working. Since they all have different objectives and requirements USARM remains flexible and works well with all the groups we support. I would like to continue in this direction and at the last board meeting we approved a training committee.
I also love to talk with drivers that are having problems with a corner, as a discussion of what they are doing through a corner and comparing it with what faster drivers are doing in the same corner gives them an idea of what to change - the best example is I worked with a spec ford driver at a track in Colorado and he shaved 12 seconds a lap that weekend.
We are out there to help people to have the safest driving experience they can have, and it makes me proud to say I am a race marshal.
Sincerely,
Jerry Huff |
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Greetings everyone,
I began my racing career in 1985 as a flagger, and added driving in 1986. I joined USARM in 1998 to have a more active role with more variety.
I've flagged continuously since then, flagging while not driving. I've had the pleasure of driving Formula Super Vee's, Formula 500's, Formula Fords, Sports 2000, C Sports Racers on the professional and amateur level. I'm also the importer for a new Sports Racing chassis from England, the Chiron LMP3.
(if you want more information, please check out www.chironusa.com).
I derive as much pleasure from flagging as from driving, and know having experienced both disciplines on a myriad of levels, has left me much better equipped to deal with each aspect!
There have been many changes in the flagging applications since 1985, and I enjoy most of them, but still miss the days of responding! Training is going to be a very important aspect in the upcoming year with USARM and I want to take an active part in helping those who want to learn more or hone their skills.
It's also made me very aware of the drivers who acknowledge Flaggers and their signals, and to be wary of those who never wave, nod or generally admit there is a flagger out there, giving them information!
So thank you all, who have flagged while I've been driving, and I look forward to more flagging and driving experiences with all of you.
Regards,
Dave Jansen
dave@chironusa.com |
TO ALL FELLOW USARM MEMBERS . . . . . . .!!!!!!!!!
Many of you I know by Name, some of you by Face, and those of you I am not YET acquainted with........I Sincerely wish to be!!!! Some of you know me by "MOM".....
It's my Nature to Help those I can......like asking for input from everyone associated with our Club. If you keep an open-ear, you will also learn what the Drivers and Event Coordinators wish to have us do for them.
As I told you in my Statement........Everyone can give ideas that may well assist our Club in gaining the "Positive Recognition" we ALL wish for.......and Deserve.....!!!!
We have a fine group of Candidates, and it would be my pleasure to serve with them. Here's hoping you will give me the opportunity to do so. EVERY CLUB NEEDS A GOOD LAISON.......I believe ALL of you can Build an even-greater Club.........and I would like to be a Board Member...to help this occur......
Graciously,
Patty Heitzman |
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Hello USARM Members,
I have been a USARM member for over 5 years and have performed a number of different jobs from painting curbs and number boards to being a turn marshal. As a member of this group, I have made some great new friends and taken my interest in racing to a whole new level.
If elected to the Board of Directors of USARM, I look forward to bringing my 14 years of experience running a 911 Communication Center (i.e.: Communication) as well as my 23 years of experience being on the Gilroy Garlic Festival Committee including two years serving on the Board of Directors of the Garlic Festival that oversees 4000 volunteers each year in order to put on this event.
I am big supporter of training and safety. As the current Board has decided to form a training committee, I am looking forward to working on this project and to bring my experience in setting up training and evaluation programs as well as my skills in teaching leadership and training courses to assist in producing a new USARM Training/Evaluation Manual.
When it comes to racing, I want everyone at the racetrack from the fans, to the racing participants and more importantly all of the USARM members to have an enjoyable and safe experience.
Sincerely
Steve Ynzunza |
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Full color 3 inch double interlocked patch |
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7/8 inch full color round lapel pin |
PINS & PATCHES
Your BoD has the USARM patches (3 inch size) and a smaller version of the logo in the form of a pin. These pins and patches are available for purchase at $5.00 per item to send to friends or have another set for yourself. |
"And on a CAR note!
"Cleared for TAKE-OFF"
There is a lot more racing to come this year, so come out & support YOUR USARM events!
Photo Credit: Mike Allison
The USARM Board of Directors meeting is scheduled for the second Tuesday of each month. Place to be determined. Members are encouraged to attend BoD meetings. Please contact a BoD member for particulars. |
Training is a big part of what makes USARM the organization that it is. As an organization, we are very highly thought of, providing professional course marshals for wide and varied events.
To that end, the BoD of USARM wants to initiate a formal training program.
If you are interested in participating in the planning of this training program, please contact Jim Short BoD.
It is our hope that we can have several "trainers" and be able to offer you, the members of USARM, a comprehensive program in which you can gain added confidence, polish skills and learn something new. |
We have been given the opportunity to store much of the equipment that is used by USARM only once a year. This storage will be at Laguna Seca in a dry, secure con-ex. This will enable us to free up space in the USARM trailer, keep the equipment safe, dry and out of the way till next year.
We need to devise some sort of way to contain the various flags, fire bottles and number boards, as well as miscellaneous items. If you have any thoughts or would like to help moving these items to a new "home", please call or contact on of your BoD members & we will organize a "moving party" for the equipment. |
Once again USARM is beginning to think about the annual banquet. The BoD would love to have a committee to take charge this year. If you are interested in being a part of the planning stages of the USARM Banquet, please contact the Grid Editor, any BoD member or send email.
Let's make the Banquet this year one of the best, most fun events we have. |
THE IMPORTANCE OF JOINING THE USARM MAILING LIST
It is important that all of our members that have email join the USARM Mailing List. It is the BEST way to get updates about events, changes in schedules, and any other important information that YOUR BoD and event contacts have of telling you about news.
If you have friends who you know do not have email, please pass along any new information to them.
It is very hard for the BoD to call every member to pass along important information, so PLEASE take a minute & join the USARM Mailing List
THIS IS HOW
Subscribe to the USARM Mailing list:
There's an email link at the very bottom of the home page of the USARM website where there's a short paragraph about signing up for the USARM Email list. If you click on the "Join USARM E-Mail List" link, it should create an outgoing email to usarm-request@usarm.org with subscribe as the subject. That's all that's needed to sign-up for the USARM Email list. After confirming your subscription to the list, you can then send an email to usarm@usarm.org and that will then be re-directed to those that have subscribed to the USARM Email list.
DO IT NOW
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"Sparky" Pedroza and
the Flying Van Service! |
Every year, at the annual Coronado event, one of our members distinguishes them selves and provides us with endless minutes of entertainment. This year it was "Sparky" Pedroza (better know as Renee).
As many of our group, this year, flew to San Diego, ole "Sparky" was thinking ahead and rented a mini van to help out with the transportation to & from NAS. As many of you may or may not be aware, "Sparky" is a frustrated racer and this seemed to be the perfect opportunity to "see what a mini van can do!" Upon entering Coronado Island, there is a rather large dip in the road. Unknown to those riding in the van, many holding cups of hot coffee, "Sparky" had thoughts of being air-born. From all reports the van hit the dip in the road, went several feet in the air and showered the drivers behind the van in sparks from the muffler hitting the other side of the dip. When the van finally arrived at the appointed meeting spot, the passengers disgorged with a tale of fright likening it to the Tower of Fear ride at Disneyland. Steve Johnson was one of these riders who, at the last minute saw what was going to happen and shouted to his fellow passengers "Hold onto your coffee"!
Unfortunately, Steve & his coffee were the ones to be parted and he climbed out of the Flying Van with the evidence of a large cup of coffee covering his once white pants. From all reports, coffee decorated headliner to floorboards of this once proud, once clean mini van.
Riders in this Flying Van swore never to trust "Sparky" behind the wheel again, although many rode with him for the rest of the week- end and were treated to more adventures.
This was to be the fodder for many minutes of entertainment from "Sparky" Pedroza! |
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Phil Guerrero, Mike Hill & Ted Kawada relax after a long day |
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| The infamous "coffee pants" |
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"Sparky " Pedroza! |
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Steve Ynzunza, Steve Johnson, Jud VanGorder, Kati James & Vanessa Jansen
talk over morning ideas at Coronado |
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Lee Ellis, Joe Wagonleitner, Kevin Greene, Scott Levin & Bill Mountford wait patiently for turn assignments at Coronado |
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Kati James, Darlyn Pettenati, Carl Sloan, Phil Guerrero, Scott Levin, Vern Hassett & Sparky Pedroza
The Round Table?
Coronado 2004 |
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Steve Ynzunza, Steve Johnson, Sparky Pedroza & Darlyn Pettenati, all smiles even at days end! |
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One of our Course Marshals, Steve Johnson, was interviewed at Turn 9 at the recent Coronado event by a photojournalist from the USS Ronald Reagan.
Steve was asked about the flags, their uses and meanings, and about USARM. Steve, of course, gave a wonderful interpretation of what USARM stands for and what the organization does with many of the car clubs and especially the event at Coronado.
The Grid will try and get a copy of the interview for future publication in the Grid but until then, thanks, Steve, for "telling it like it is" and expanding the publics knowledge of USARM
Once again certain members of the USARM family have distinguished themselves as being outstanding in their field (And it is a good thing that some of them ARE out standing in a field!!)
A bright crisp morning in October was the opening of the Skip Barber Race Series at Laguna Seca. As always, the intrepid USARM members assembled at the usual meeting place to imbibe in hot coffee, bagels & donuts. Turn assignments were given and the eager Course Marshals were off to their stations. An unusual, very large, cloud of smoke appeared from nowhere over the Turn 2 box. What could it be, I was wondering? Monitoring the landline, a small voice came over, saying, "Control, I seem to have dropped my bottle and I think it broke!" The mystery of the cloud was solved but left me wondering how could the un-named Course Marshal have dropped the bottle. Did he let it fall from the box? Did he drop it when he was carrying it to the box? No, it seemed that all these thoughts were incorrect. Our Turn 2 Course Marshal was preparing to ascend to his lofty perch, sitting the bottle on the K-wall when it made a desperate leap for escape, throwing itself off the wall and onto the ground below. This set off the reaction of the bottle discharging, covering the area with a large amount of extinguisher contents. There were NO mosquitoes at Turn 2 this weekend; SMOKEY had taken care of them all!
The bottle replaced, the day over and another bright morning greeted us the following day. Turn 2 had a partner in crime to share his station. Little did we imagine that Turn 2 would become the parking and wrecking lot for the second day of a three-day Skip Barber Race weekend. With a fairly calm morning out of the way, everyone fed and back on station, races were set to begin. Great! This is what we come for, to see the cars race! NOT AT TURN 2! They used all the run off; had contact on several laps and generally gave the impression that Turn 2 was the magnet for the day. Could it be that Smokey was responsible? Nope, the finger was pointing at his partner in crime, thereafter named the MAGNET for the duration of the weekend. Lucky for us, the remainder of the weekend, the skies stayed clear, the Skip drivers had a great time and Turn 2 only had a share of the fun that was had at this event.
The moral of this little story is, Hollywood may have "Smokey and the Bandit"
But USARM has "Smokey and the MAGNET"!!
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What do these animals have in common? |
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Good question you may ask and ask you may!
Read on . . . |
Saturday Night Live might have the "Church Lady"
but USARM has the "Critter Lady", aka Zoolander!
Many of you may be been around when a slightly frustrated voice was heard on the landline saying "I have ants in my box!" Well, discretion being the better part of valor, and not that we have or use that, "Critter Lady" was born. The next living creature that seemed to be attracted to her was a small fox that was dubbed "the fox in the rear" addition. This last weekend found another addition being brought to the front. Now we have our own "Critter Lady" that has collected a squirrel; not only collected it, but it seems that wile tidying up the Turn 3 area, tossing trash into the barrel a squirrel took umbrage and FLEW OUT at our "Critter Lady". Not to say that she was a bit surprised, taking it in stride and no injury befell either the squirrel or "Critter Lady" She merely asked for more water to help fill the hot tub that she recently installed at Turn 3 for her comfort.
Are we getting a bit comfortable there, I wonder?
So if you can identify this young lady, know her name, & can gently let her know that you understand the trouble that she is having with the Laguna Seca wildlife, please do so gently.
The Humor Of Steven Wright
If you're not familiar with the work of Steven Wright, he's the famous scientist (?) who once said: "I woke up one morning and all of my stuff had been stolen -- and replaced by exact duplicates." His mind sees things differently than we do, to our amazement and amusement. Here are some more of his gems:
- I'd kill for a Nobel Peace Prize.
- Borrow money from pessimists - they don't expect it back.
- Half the people you know are below average.
- 99% of lawyers give the rest a bad name.
- 42.7% of all statistics are made up on the spot.
- A conscience is what hurts when all your other parts feel so good.
- A clear conscience is usually the sign of a bad memory.
- If you want the rainbow, you gotta put up with the rain.
- All those who believe in psycho-kinesis, raise my hand.
- The early bird may get the worm, but the second mouse gets the cheese.
- I almost had a psychic girlfriend but she left me before we met.
- OK, so what's the speed of dark?
- How do you tell when you're out of invisible ink?
- If everything seems to be going well, you have obviously overlooked something.
- Depression is merely anger without enthusiasm.
- When everything is coming your way, you're in the wrong lane.
- Ambition is a poor excuse for not having enough sense to be lazy.
- Hard work pays off in the future, laziness pays off now.
- I intend to live forever -- so far, so good.
- If Barbie is so popular, why do you have to buy her friends?
- Eagles may soar, but weasels don't get sucked into jet engines.
- What happens if you get scared half to death twice?
- My mechanic told me, "I couldn't repair your brakes, so I made your horn louder."
- Why do psychics have to ask you for your name?
- If at first you don't succeed, destroy all evidence that you tried.
- A conclusion is the place where you got tired of thinking.
- Experience is something you don't get until just after you need it.
- The hardness of the butter is proportional to the softness of the bread.
- To steal ideas from one person is plagiarism; to steal from many is research.
- The problem with the gene pool is that there is no lifeguard.
- The sooner you fall behind, the more time you'll have to catch up.
- The colder the x-ray table, the more of your body is required to sit on it.
- Everyone has a photographic memory, some just don't have film!
PLEASE NOTE CALENDAR CHANGE FOR SKIP BARBER DECEMBER
IT IS A 3-DAY EVENT!!
If you know someone who is a USARM Member & not getting The Grid,
please let one of the BoD members know & they will be added to the roster.
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