[Spridgets] SMRS Finals / Grattan 2024
stanbmason at aol.com
stanbmason at aol.com
Mon Aug 19 11:59:07 MDT 2024
Spridget Peoples Race and Non-Race!
Attached are the final results of the season along with an overall observation of the year. If you did not receive your award at Grattan, I will be at Road America for pick up.
2024 Sprite Midget RaceSeries End of Season Report & Overview
(revised rough draft 8/18/2024)
- Overall - It is hard to believe that we have been having this great fun on and off the track for 13 years as the Sprite Midget Race Series. Before SMRS we would be excited if we had 5 Spridgets racing for the weekend. In the beginning there was a lot of time spent promoting through magazine article and internet social media. In my opinion we have grown to a self-sustaining point that is comfortable requiring less promotion. Our numbers have allowed us to have our own exclusive race at all 3 designated SMRS race weekends. I have seen other groups try to have their own exclusive races with less success. Blackhawk really showed the strength in numbers with 26 Spridgets registered. Our other emerging strength is a younger group of racers that will continue to keep the SMRS Flag Flying. Thanks to all of you we have been able to keep up the numbers allowing us to have exclusive Spridget races at all 3 series tracks!
- Grattan – Parking was less of a problem than in the past. I will continue to encourage a Spridget Paddock, but am not going to over organize where everyone is located. This year’s Grattan Finale was as comfortable as a race weekend could be with no rain impacting racing and lower ambient temperatures. We had enough brats and food, but I realize that we have less people contributing. This lunch only works if we have everyone contributing. It only takes going to a grocery store and picking up beans, cole slaw or potato salad at your deli and precooked brats. Thanks to all our SMRS Chefs: Buzz, Brad, Rob, Bob & Roger, along with table organizers Janet and Sheryl Carloss. The end of season results are attached. Rick Fisk has done a great job of compiling results and putting up with changes. Our medals were given out with some fun with the prefect score of 48 for Buzz with his GOAT (Greatest Of All Time) award being place around his neck. We had a family tie for first (may have been the first) with the Lynches mopping up. We have included Ps (provisional) in front of cars that we do not know the level of preparation for. Please contact me so we can place you in the right classification within SMRS.
- SMRS Account – If you have any interest in being a sponsor or have some suggestions of someone that maybe interested, please let me know. Our treasury is minimal and probably can make it through next year. I had medals as awards this year to keep costs down. Please buy our hats, t-shirts and posters to support our supplies and awards.
- Contributors - Jeff Carloss has been providing our fantastic posters over the past 10 plus years, which helps contribute to our treasury so we can purchase awards, plates, condiments, propane and propane accessories. Recently our awards have been baseball hats and medals for reduced cost.
- Driver Incidents Spridgets and Group 2 – As the VSCDA Group 2 representative I can say that this past year has been one of our worst with mostly SMRS as the problem. Thanks to all of you that maintain the Vintage Spirit while on the track. We have one more race that I hope we will all attend and keep the Vintage Spirit in mind. I will provide any additional details from the Driver Committee as they become available at the end of the season.
- Race Attendance – Below is a highlight of the Sprite Midget race attendance numbers. These numbers are as accurate as I can make them. In cases where I was not in attendance there may have been more Spridgets than results reported due to mechanical issues or Driver School attendees that may not have raced after Driver School.
|
Race Track
|
2012
|
13
|
14
|
15
|
16
|
17
|
18
|
19
|
20
|
21
|
22
|
23
|
24
|
|
Gingerman
|
14
|
14
|
12
|
16
|
9
|
12
|
18
|
17
|
0
|
21
|
16
|
17
|
19
|
|
Blackhawk
|
13
|
11
|
11
|
14
|
12
|
12
|
12
|
14
|
9
|
26
|
10
|
17
|
26
|
|
Grattan
|
17
|
14
|
20
|
23
|
15
|
14
|
16
|
18
|
12
|
28
|
15
|
17
|
14
|
|
Pittsburg GP
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
21
|
|
|
|
Waterford H
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
6
|
|
|
ELVF 60th
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
47
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Blacktober
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
15
|
9
|
|
|
|
|
SMRS Total
|
44
|
39
|
43
|
53
|
36
|
38
|
93
|
49
|
21
|
84
|
62
|
57
|
|
6. Season Overall Winners (requires having a perfect score of 48 points from at least2 of the 3 race weekends)
|
2013
|
Cana Comer
|
|
2014
|
Greg Cory and Nathan Burress
|
|
2015
|
Colin Comer and Randy Byboth
|
|
2016
|
None qualified
|
|
2017
|
Ashley Burress, Nathan Buress and Jim Donato
|
|
2018
|
Ashley Burress and Ron Soave
|
|
2019
|
Doug Bruce and Jim Donato
|
|
2020
|
John Salisbury
|
|
2021
|
John Salisbury, Doug Bruce & Nathan Burress
|
|
2022
|
None
|
|
2023
|
David Lee
|
|
2024
|
Buzz Merchlewitz
|
7. Special Spirit and DriverAwards:
Gary Kropf Spirit Award (started in 2015 in honor of Gary’sattitude that we all admire). This Huge piston award wasdonated by Paul Fitzsimmons and polished up with name tags by Charlie Hall’svision of this spirit award.
a. Previous Winners: 2015 Salisbury, 2016 Donato,Salisbury, 2017 Soave, Kelly, Mason, 2018 Kropf, Salisbury, Hall, 2019 Bruce,2020 cancelled, 2021 Hall, 2022 Clancy Schmidt and Mark Maehling, 2023 DavidLee.
b. Criteria: Promotes the Vintage Spirit, Assists others within the paddock, withrepairs, parts, advice and encourages racer in making next session. Quick to organize group activities with raceand banquet. Volunteers with other VSCDAactivities and committees.
c. This year’s winner is BrianLynch!
Jim Donato Most Respected Driver (started in 2016 in honor ofJim’s contribution and example of a great respected driver)
Criteria: Adriver that exemplifies the meaning of a Vintage Sports Car Most Respected Driver includes:
Predictable (Stayson racing line and points racers by when being passed or when passing. Makes sure that over taking driver knows theyare about to be passed and allows room and good judgement),
Confident &Observant (Uses mirrors and is aware of others racing nearby)
Respectful(Confirms that their race car is mechanically sound and will not cause othersto be injured from improper maintenance. Can sit down with other competitors and enjoy their company after anysession)
Objective (open toother’s comments) Drives Defensively (adjusts for conditions safely regardlessof other driver’s interaction).
Previous Winners: 2016 Namesake Jim Donato, 2017 Mal Fay, 2018Ashley Burress, 2019 Buzz Merchlewitz, 2020 John Salisbury, 2022 Charlie Hall& Nathan Burress, 2023 David Lee,
This year’s winners is EllieLynch!
SMRS Perseverance:
All of us as Sprite / Midget Racersrecognize that our cars are not for the weak of heart and require lots of timeto keep our temperamental little friends running so we can make the next race session. The Perseverance Award goes to Tom Wilcox whoafter having an accident at Gingerman found a race chassis and transferred hisold hardware to this chassis and made Grattan just in time.
We know of many examples over theyears where this dedication of individuals by many has allowed us to racethroughout the weekend. This comradery weshare is one of the best in Vintage Racing and makes me proud of our SMRS group!
8. Spridget Contributors toVSCDA - We appreciate our group’sunselfish contribution to VSCDA and the Sprite Midget Race Series making us oneof the best groups within VSCDA for volunteering their time and making thisclub continue to thrive for our enjoyment, which is listed below (I was atGingerman and Grattan and apologize if I overlooked any names. Please let me know if I omitted anyone):
a. Tom Wilcox Blackhawk Event Chairmen.
b. Carl Goodwin, Brad & Jeff Carloss for their contributions toScrutineering / Tech Barn
c. Stacey Donato for her overall running of VSCDA registration andall that she does along with her family. Registration assistance from Sheryl Carloss & Janet Carloss andothers.
d. Charlie Hall, Gary Kropf, Roger Heil & Jim Donato for DriversCommittee. Gary Kropf initiated theDriver’s Committee Summary of actions, which is greatly appreciated and timeconsuming. I think measuring somethingas important as safety is the key to reducing incidents and allowing us toimprove.
e. Doug Bruce for Homologations and Grattan Corner / Paddock WorkerSprite Door Annual Award selected for the best Grattan worker selected by theirpeers.
f. Jim Donato as VSCDA Vice President and Event Chair of HealeyChallenge at 2024 Road America Weekend
j. Bob Danielson continuing to support the Donato Most RespectedDriver Award that he crafted and provides updated driver plaques for.
h. Charlie Hall continuing support of the Kropf Piston SpiritAward that he initiated and continues to provide updated plaques for.
i. Stan Mason as VSCDA Group 2 Representative and SMRS lead.
I apologize for anyone I have overlooked from this greatgroup. Please let me know other that mayhave helped.
9. End Of Season Awards -Every driver that met the 2 race weekend or more requirementsreceived awards if they attended Grattan finale. Results are attached to thisemail. We traditionally distributepoints by having 3 sessions that go towards end of season awards. We try to balance out points for everyday ofweekend of a 3 day race weekend, so anyone with mechanical problems has anopportunity to recover.
10. Classifications – Wehave Ps assigned to cars that we are unaware of their level of hardware. Please contact me so we can update your carin the proper SMRS classification If you have some thoughts of how we can groupSpridgets for fair competition I would like to hear from you. Our criteria up to this time has been tofollow VSCDA requirements, which include conformance to SCCA 1972 GCR/PCSguidelines and exceptions as spelled out by VSCDA. Even under these conditions there is varyingshades of gray that we need to clarify for fair classifications.
11. SMRS Past / Future - Like all organizations including SMRS wewill only be successful if we have new people stepping up to fillpositions. I have been at the helm forthe past 13 years and will step down on or before 2026. It would be nice to have someone that isretired or will retire in the future to pick up this baton before mydeparture. Maybe even mirror me andassist before 2026. I have started a jobdescription / overview of what I currently do. I know there are others out there that can take SMRS to a higher level,learning from our past and improving the future. If you have an interest now or in the futureplease let me know.
12. VSCDA Upcoming 2024events:
1. Healey Challenge ElkhartLake Vintage Festival Road America September 13-15. This is a special year with Healey Cars beingthe focus, we have Sprites coming from the West Coast along with Big Healeysshipped from Europe with world class Healey on and off the track. The 2018 60th Sprite Reunion at RAhad 47 Spridgets registered and hoping we will have a good showing again! The infield will be flooded with Healey and aVIP Parking area for us to enjoy all these cars. The annual Austin Healey Club Conclave willoverlap with our race weekend with Car Shows, Banquets etc. This weekend is much more than just racing withreenactment of the original street course and car shows in a fabulous laketourist area.
2. New! Ozark InternationalRaceway October 11-13. This track ispraised by the racers that attended last year and allows for late season funfurther South. Our Southern SpridgetRacing friends will be there from CVAR with many Spridgets to enjoy some greatcompetition!
Thanks for a Great 13thSeason and Enjoy a Spridgetly Life of Relative Speed! Now back to working on our favorite ride!
Stan Mason
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