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<div style="color:black;font:10pt arial;">Well GMan did not disappoint with a great turn out of 14 Spridgets Racing! The following is a highlight of this great weekend and attached SMRS Season Results. I will provide some feedback from Driver Committee on Group 2 in the near future.
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<div class="yiv4420970658MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:107%;">Gingerman 2022 Highlights</span></b></div>
<div class="yiv4420970658MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:107%;">Driver School -</span></b> We had 2
new Spridgets join us at the Driver School.
Jim Vogel who had logged some laps at PIB successfully received his
certificate. Dominic Rudd and his Dad Dan
were there with a Midget that was purchased from last year’s student driver and
1970s SCCA Legion Phil Carpenter.
Dominic is a past Go Kart racer and did well with his driving skills in both
good lap times and observing all the safety protocol. This is an extension of their fun times of the
past Go Kart Racing. I want to thank everyone that helped these 2
students. I think one of the most
positive aspects of SMRS is the willingness of all of us to contribute to success
of our Driver School and Spridget Students through assisting mechanically and
answering any driving questions in support.
As we all know it can be can overwhelming for anyone wanting to get into
SMRS racing. I think Jim Vogel said it
best when he said “<span style="font-family:Helvetica, sans-serif;background-image:initial;background-position:initial;background-size:initial;background-repeat:initial;background-attachment:initial;"> I have never met such an incredible group of
people! To jump in and help out a guy they don't even know so I could get
through the school was above and beyond, and I am very humbled and grateful. I don't think I did enough to show that
gratitude, particularly to you (Stan Mason), Mark Frost, the entire Kansa Klan,
Buzz Merchlewitz, and Charlie Hall and his crewman Jeff who fixed my car when I
didn't have time so it would pass tech. </span>“ This year’s Driver School had an
online class prior to showing up at GMan with question answer section to keep it
a shorter time and less boring for Thursday’s class room training.</div>
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<div class="yiv4420970658MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:107%;">Mechanically</span></b> – The Vintage
Sport Council has a site for Mechanical Failures that they collect information on
critical mechanical failures that we should all be familiar with so we can
avoid then through knowledge. I have
collected some of the minimal information they have on their site and have
started compiling a list of critical safety failures that we should be aware of
and looking out for. One of those areas that
are critical are front spindles. Our
cars were not designed to see the lateral loads that they were designed
for. Observing some GoPro G loads from YouTube
Videos of SMRS racing we can get up to 1.3 G lateral loads with Spridgets. It is recommended that you take the time to
verify the integrity of your front spindles by magnafluxing for cracks
routinely (some suggest evey 2 years).
Many of us have steel spindle replacing the original forged
spindles. Typically if spindles fail it
is under high loads in a turn. Don Kelly
experience his failure at the upper part of his king pin at the counter step
threaded area, which is also obviously a high stress area. His failure resulted in his right front king
pin breaking loose and moved the tire into the wheel well flat spotting his
tire. This did not result in a catastrophic
accident luckily, but could have been worse.</div>
<div class="yiv4420970658MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:107%;">SMRS VSCDA Support</span></b> - Our group really is amazing when it comes to
support and this is usually something I cover as a yearend appreciation, but
all of you have really given back whether it is in Driver Committee or
Admissions and of course all the other items covered above. Charlie Hall and our VSCDA President Alex Rourke
reminded everyone at the Driver School Banquet that the reason we have lower
prices in Vintage Racing is because of our volunteers. Most of those volunteers are from our
Group. We had roughly 33 cars in Group 2
with nearly half being Spridgets keeping our exclusive Spridget Race alive and
well for next year. </div>
<div class="yiv4420970658MsoNormal">Brat Lunches – We have traditionally done an excellent job
in this area providing an abundance of brats and side dishes. Not so much at GMan this year and even though
I appreciate donations of money that go to our SMRS fund for awards, it is
difficult to plan if we have more people over money over providing food. In the future if you have not contributed, I
would appreciate it if you would bring pre-boiled brats and a cole slaw or
potato salad or desert for all you friends to enjoy.</div>
<div class="yiv4420970658MsoNormal"><b> </b></div>
<div class="yiv4420970658MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:107%;">Spridget Perseverance</span> – </b>We
all know how important this is as a Racing Spidget Team and there were many
examples of this at GMan and other events, but what I observed was above most
standards. Ellie and Husband Brian were
truly stellar in this category when they pulled their engine and transmission
to make the next session and even though we may have seen this many times, I
don’t think that I have ever seen anyone continue like these 2 did in a major
cloud burst that lasted 15 minutes.
Congratulations for winning the unofficial “Spridget Perseverance Award”!</div>
<div class="yiv4420970658MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:107%;">Cape of Good Hope and Announcements</span></b>
– I did not break out the Cape of Good Hope portable pub due to rain and us
being the last run group on Saturday.
This is usually a good time to discuss issues and provide updates on
upcoming races. </div>
<div style="" class="yiv4420970658MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst"><span style="font-family:Symbol;">·<span style="font-stretch:normal;font-size:7pt;line-height:normal;font-family:New;">
</span></span>Black Hawk Farms June 17-19 Exclusive Spridget
Race</div>
<div style="" class="yiv4420970658MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle"><span style="font-family:Symbol;">·<span style="font-stretch:normal;font-size:7pt;line-height:normal;font-family:New;">
</span></span>Schenley Park July 23-24 Exclusive Spridget Race
“Donna Mae Mims Memorial Race” for Spridgets.
We have requested additional information on lodging and a SMRS Paddock
Compound</div>
<div style="" class="yiv4420970658MsoListParagraphCxSpLast"><span style="font-family:Symbol;">·<span style="font-stretch:normal;font-size:7pt;line-height:normal;font-family:New;">
</span></span>Grattan Grand Finale Awards August 12-14
Exclusive Spridget Race </div>
<div class="yiv4420970658MsoNormal"><b>Grammar </b>– not my
strong suit and thanks for putting up with my less skills!</div>
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<div class="yiv4420970658MsoNormal">Enjoy Your Passion and a SpridgetLy Life</div>
<div class="yiv4420970658MsoNormal">Stan Mason</div>
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