<html><head></head><body><div class="ydp6f897399yahoo-style-wrap" style="font-family:arial;font-size:16px;"><div></div>
</div><div id="ydp504a8c54yahoo_quoted_5606473704" class="ydp504a8c54yahoo_quoted"><div class="ydp504a8c54yahoo-style-wrap" style="font-family:arial;font-size:16px;"><div style="font-family:'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif;font-size:13px;color:#26282a;border-left: 1px solid #ccc;padding-left: 8px;margin: 0px 0px 0px 8px" class="ydp504a8c54inline_reply_quote_container" data-split-quote-node="true"><div><div id="ydp504a8c54yiv0723458406"><div><div style="font-family:arial;font-size:16px;" class="ydp504a8c54yiv0723458406yahoo-style-wrap"><div dir="ltr"><blockquote style="padding-left:10px;border-left:2px solid #0f69ff;margin-left:20px;"><div dir="ltr" class="ydp504a8c54yiv0723458406ydpad5ee05fyiv9936760988"> Spridget Lovers and Racers!</div><div dir="ltr" class="ydp504a8c54yiv0723458406ydpad5ee05fyiv9936760988"><br clear="none"></div><div dir="ltr" class="ydp504a8c54yiv0723458406ydpad5ee05fyiv9936760988">Below you will see a summary of last weekend's race at Gingerman along with attached results.</div><div dir="ltr" class="ydp504a8c54yiv0723458406ydpad5ee05fyiv9936760988"><div><p class="ydp504a8c54yiv0723458406ydp6fe53734MsoNormal"><b><i>Gingerman Highlight 2024</i></b></p>
<p class="ydp504a8c54yiv0723458406ydp6fe53734MsoNormal">What a great weekend for Sprite Midget Race Series with 20
Spridgets racing making it the 2<sup>nd</sup> largest attendance from 21 in
2021.<span> </span>It is always so great to kick off
the season here with the uniqueness of flowering fruit trees and Lake Michigan
air mixed with race gas and rubber making for a perfect bouquet of aromas. <span> </span>We had one of largest gathering of Spridget Driver
Students ever of Dan Parson and his Bug Eye that we remember from 20 years ago,
August Schmitz, Bruce and Greg Newcomer Father and Son team, Jeff Porada from
Winner Circle Spridget Performance.</p>
<p class="ydp504a8c54yiv0723458406ydp6fe53734MsoNormal">I always enjoy reflecting on the past as part of my
geezerliness and it is exciting to see SMRS expand or at least maintain their
numbers.<span> </span>I interviewed one of our
Student Driver’s and they volunteered saying that he wanted to race with us
because we have the largest gathering of Spridget Racing in the US (yes we do!).<span> </span>The demographics are changing as well with
younger families bringing their toddlers. We have our own SMRS Toddler Jensen
coached by Ashley and Nathan Burress with surrogate Grandparents in the SMRS
Paddock.</p>
<p class="ydp504a8c54yiv0723458406ydp6fe53734MsoNormal"> </p>
<p class="ydp504a8c54yiv0723458406ydp6fe53734MsoNormal">SMRS Posters by Jeff Carloss are always special, and this
year is no exception with group pics of the past <span> </span>and a focus on the upcoming Road America
Healey Challenge in September 13-15, 2024 followed by Austin Healey Club
Conclave.<span> </span>Please support SMRS by buying
these cool posters to adorn your favorite trailer or Sports Car Cave.<span> </span>They are $10 and go towards our end of year
awards.</p>
<p class="ydp504a8c54yiv0723458406ydp6fe53734MsoNormal">Thanks to Rick Fisk for compiling results of SMRS Season
2024 (see attached).<span> </span>You will notice a P
in front of some drivers that cars have not been evaluated for classification
within SMRS.</p>
<p class="ydp504a8c54yiv0723458406ydp6fe53734MsoNormal"> </p>
<p class="ydp504a8c54yiv0723458406ydp6fe53734MsoNormal">Safe racing is always my biggest concern as Group 2
Representative.<span> </span></p>
<p class="ydp504a8c54yiv0723458406ydp6fe53734MsoNormal">SMRS’s Most Respected Driver Award says it best and needs to
be reviewed often:</p>
<p style="margin-left:0.75in;" class="ydp504a8c54yiv0723458406ydp6fe53734MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst"><span><span>I.<span style="font-style:normal;font-weight:normal;font-stretch:normal;font-size:7pt;line-height:normal;font-family:New;">
</span></span></span>Criteria: A driver that exemplifies the meaning
of a Vintage Sports Car Driver includes:</p>
<p style="margin-left:1in;" class="ydp504a8c54yiv0723458406ydp6fe53734MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle"><span><span>a.<span style="font-style:normal;font-weight:normal;font-stretch:normal;font-size:7pt;line-height:normal;font-family:New;">
</span></span></span>Predictable (Stays on racing line points racers
by when being passed or when passing makes sure that over taking driver knows they
are about to be passed and allows room and good judgement),</p>
<p style="margin-left:1in;" class="ydp504a8c54yiv0723458406ydp6fe53734MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle"><span><span>b.<span style="font-style:normal;font-weight:normal;font-stretch:normal;font-size:7pt;line-height:normal;font-family:New;">
</span></span></span>Confident & Observant (Uses mirrors and is
aware of others racing near)</p>
<p style="margin-left:1in;" class="ydp504a8c54yiv0723458406ydp6fe53734MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle"><span><span>c.<span style="font-style:normal;font-weight:normal;font-stretch:normal;font-size:7pt;line-height:normal;font-family:New;">
</span></span></span>Respectful (Confirms that their race car is
mechanically sound and will not cause others to be injured from improper
maintenance. <span> </span>Can sit down with other
competitors and enjoy their company after any session) </p>
<p style="margin-left:1in;" class="ydp504a8c54yiv0723458406ydp6fe53734MsoListParagraphCxSpLast"><span><span></span></span></p><div id="ydp504a8c54yiv0723458406yqtfd63507" class="ydp504a8c54yiv0723458406yqt2718551837">d.</div><span style="font-style:normal;font-weight:normal;font-stretch:normal;font-size:7pt;line-height:normal;font-family:New;">
</span>Objective (open to others comments) and Drives
Defensively (adjusts for conditions safely regardless of other driver’s
interaction).
<p class="ydp504a8c54yiv0723458406ydp6fe53734MsoNormal"> </p>
<p class="ydp504a8c54yiv0723458406ydp6fe53734MsoNormal">VSCDA and I consider Safety the biggest concern for
continuing Vintage Sports Car Fun.<span> </span>There
were 3 incidents at GMan 2024 in Group 2 with Spridgets.<span> </span>Two of those were cars coming in contact with
other cars that were spinning.<span> </span>This is a
difficult situation not knowing where the spinning car is going to move and
every situation is different. </p>
<p class="ydp504a8c54yiv0723458406ydp6fe53734MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:sans-serif;color:#1D2228;letter-spacing:-.25pt;background:yellow;">The VSCDA Driver’s School teaches that
if a car spins in front of you <b style="outline:none !important;"><i style="outline:none !important;"><u style="outline:none !important;">drive
toward the spinning car</u></i></b> by the time you reach it, it will have
moved. Direction of the spinner is difficult to predict. So, aiming
for the spin will most likely mean that it has moved by the time you reach the
point where you first observed the spin !</span><span style="font-family:sans-serif;color:#1D2228;letter-spacing:-.25pt;background:white;"><span style="orphans:2;widows:2;text-decoration-style:initial;text-decoration-color:initial;float:none;word-spacing:0px;"> </span></span></p>
<p class="ydp504a8c54yiv0723458406ydp6fe53734MsoNormal">My personal experience has observed that most spins occur on
the out board side of the turn and as the car spins it slows down and usually
crosses back over the track to the inboard side of the turn.<span> </span>This is a problem if you are following
closely behind, but most generally keeping your momentum may help you by
getting through before the car starts moving across the track to the
inside.<span> </span>If you are further behind and
see it happening slowing down immediately is probably a better alternative.<span> </span>Self-appraisal is important for all of us
after an incident to replay how you could have avoided or improve the condition
and put in your tool bag for the future. If there is anyone that has further insight please share.</p>
<p class="ydp504a8c54yiv0723458406ydp6fe53734MsoNormal">The other incident could have been avoided if those involved
would have been less aggressive and held back and passed safely.<span> </span>Sanctions were imposed to those that were
considered unsafely racing.</p>
<p class="ydp504a8c54yiv0723458406ydp6fe53734MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;line-height:107%;font-family:sans-serif;color:#26282A;letter-spacing:-.25pt;background:white;">The
Driver's Committee asked me to express:</span></p>
<p class="ydp504a8c54yiv0723458406ydp6fe53734MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;line-height:107%;font-family:sans-serif;color:#26282A;letter-spacing:-.25pt;background:white;">The
Driver’s Committee and vintage traditions are guided by the fact that Vintage
Racers are not supposed to or expected to lose control of your car. It
you do spin, you are driving faster or more aggressively than is appropriate"</span></p>
<p class="ydp504a8c54yiv0723458406ydp6fe53734MsoNormal">Next stop in the SMRS best 2 of 3 series is Blackhawk Farms
June Father’s Day Weekend.<span> </span>Supported by
many SMRS members and Lead by Tom Wilcox.<span>
</span>More details as we get closer.</p>
<p class="ydp504a8c54yiv0723458406ydp6fe53734MsoNormal"> </p>
<p class="ydp504a8c54yiv0723458406ydp6fe53734MsoNormal">Stan Mason</p></div><div id="ydp504a8c54yiv0723458406yqtfd18533" class="ydp504a8c54yiv0723458406yqt2718551837"><br clear="none"></div></div></blockquote></div></div></div></div></div>
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