The CheckpointThe CheckpointContents
Skidmarks -- by Bill Taylor, Editor
Pet Peeves
Its got to be a sign of growing old age. It seems like I find more and more things to be irritatingly stupid. I’ve already taken a shot idiotic and just plain unsafe Daytime Running Lights (DRL’s). The idea is to make cars more easily seen, the same as our requirement that all cars involved in a rally drive with their lights on.DRL’s have a major flaw. Most of them are just bright enough to give drivers the impression that they have their headlights on. At the same time, cars equipped with DRL’s do not automatically turn on their tail lights. More than once I’ve had DRL-equipped cars go flying by on the highway at night showing no tail lights. More government mandated stupidity!
But, the government doesn’t have a lock on stupidity. Many new cars come with factory installed "fog" lamps. They are sometimes useful; but, where is it written that car so equipped must be driven with them on at all times? This is a fad that seems to be most popular with younger drivers; though there are a lot of geezers just as guilty. They seem to have turned on the fog lamps and can’t find the switch to turn them off.
As a corollary to Murphy’s Law, at least one of the fog lights will be misaimed. Misaimed just enough to dazzle oncoming traffic and negate their value at seeing in the fog.
More Answers to Unasked Questions
Perusing the want ads in AutoWeek can be very interesting. For the last couple of weeks there has been an ad for a 1990 Yugo Cabriolet - one of only 13 in the US. Can anybody figure out why there are only 13? Thirteen seems a fitting number, at that. I think that the asking price of $15,000 is a bit high (about $14,950 high!) Here’s a scary question... If you find a cache of Fiat 128 or Lada parts, can you upgrade a Yugo? Maybe our Canadian friends can answer this one. Ladas were imported into Canada, at least for a while.Now for the Real Thing (In Some Cases)
How about $145,000 for a fake Ferrari Daytona Spyder? At least the ad notes that it is a "spyder conversion" from a GTB. An honest phoney? For only $5,000 more, you can buy a genuine, Daytona GT-3 class winning BMW M3. Fake or the real thing? Let me see...
Then again, for $16,500 you can acquire a 1964 Morris Mini Cooper S with an extensive history. That history includes competing in the Tulip and RAC rallies, Silverstone and Brands Hatch, various hill climbs and club events. Think this one would have a higher "gee whiz" factor than either of the others and still leave you enough money to buy a nice house with a garage to park it in. Let me see...Change is Constant
Elsewhere in this issue, members will note that we have amended the constitution to consolidate a coupe of offices. There just is no sense in having as many constitutional offices as we do. Members will all get a copy of the amended document as soon as we can get it pulled together.Jon Anderson put a lot of thought into these changes. They make a lot of sense.
--nuff sed
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Officers President Diane
Sargent Vice President Tim
Winker Secretary Bill
Taylor Treasurer Char
Taylor Competition Randy
Jokela Membership V.A.
Cant Publicity Jon
Anderson The Checkpoint is the official newsletter of the Arrowhead Sports Car Club, Inc. Opinions expressed herein are not necessarily those of the ASCC, its officers or its members, nor any Checkpoint advertisers. Articles may be edited. Non-original material will be noted as such The Checkpoint is published monthly except January, from 423 S. 19th Avenue East, Duluth, MN 55812 Annual Subscriptions are $11.00 and are included in ASCC membership. Single issue price is $1.00 and is included in entry fees for ASCC events. Make checks payable to ASCC, c/o Treasurer. |
Newsletter STAFF Editor Bill Taylor WORKERS None CONTRIBUTORS None SUBMISSIONS Submissions to the CHECKPOINT, whether typed or handwritten or on disk should be sent to the editor, at the above address. Computer disks with text should be IBM-compatible, and in MS Word, WordPerfect, PFS WRITE or ASCII format. Deadline is the last Thursday of the month. Articles, photographs, drawings and paste-up work on this publication earn ASCC Continental Cup worker points. CHECKPOINT (USPS 006-510) Address Change Service Requested Postmaster, send address changes to: |
Matter of Record
Minutes of Meetings
Thursday, November 11, 1999
James Supper Club, 4767 W. Arrowhead Road, Duluth MN 55811Meeting called to order at 8:15 PM
Members present: Diane Sargent, Tim Winker, Jon Anderson, Randy Jokela, Bill Taylor
Roll Call: waived
Minutes of previous meeting approved as printed.
ReportsVice President:
- Keweenaw Rallye will be March 4, 2000, out of Houghton, Michigan. Scott Carlborn Rallymaster (906) 482-6992.
- Minnesota Winter Rallye will be held January 15, 2000, in spite of a conflict with a Detroit Region SCCA event. No other suitable date for MWR available.
- LOL banquet will be 11-13-99
Secretary: Nothing to report.
Treasurer:
- $684.29 currently in Club checking account.
- Because we have dropped below the required minimum balance for our account, we are now getting monthly service charges. Treas. would like to change to a more appropriate type of checking account.
- By acclimation, the treasurer is now authorized to find the best account deal available.
Membership: Nothing to report.
Publicity: Nothing to report
Checkpoint:
- Printed 50 copies, mailed 28.
- Extra copies will be provided to Foreign Affairs for distribution to potentially interested parties.
- Tim Winker asked that a copy of The Checkpoint be provided on computer disk for posting on the ASCC web site.
- Diane Sargent can run color copies to enhance The Checkpoint.
- December 1999 issue will be sent out before Thanksgiving weekend to get rally information into people’s hands before the Sno*Fall.
Old Business
- Highway Cleanup: Got done as scheduled.
- Winter Rallye T-Shirts: Remaining stock went to LSPR with Randy. He sold 2 and gave 3 as comps. Rest of stock will be put up for sale at Winter Rallyes at $20.00 each.
- Lake Superior PRO-Rally (LSPR) Road Trip: The crew [ASCC members Randy Jokela, Diane Sargent, Tim Winker, Jon Anderson] went north and east on the annual pilgrimage. They ate, drank and fell down in the woods. Big party at the Library. "Closing" was called more than once. This year was Diane’s fastest ever trip up Brockway Mountain. Mark Utecht and Diane Sargent had a "Rent-A-Ride" for the event. Unfortunately, it broke four miles from the end of the last stage.
- Trophies for Past Winter Rallye Series: Decision was made that the VP would acquire trophies for the 1995-1996 season on. Trophies will be awarded for 1999-2000 season. Will be based on the standings printed in the November 1999 Checkpoint.
- Constitutional Changes: As of the date of the meeting, the ASCC had 10 paid members; five members in attendance constitute a quorum. Changes had been previously published. In summary the changes combine offices:
- Vice President assumes reponsibility for Publicity.
- Positions of Competition Chairman and Membership Chairman are combined.
- Changes will result in a reduction of constitutional offices from seven to five.
Bill Taylor moved accepting the recommended changes. Randy Jokela seconded. After a very short discussion, the changes were adopted by unanimous vote.
New Business
- Web Site update: The website at www.arrowheadscc.org is up and running. Tim Winker provided printouts of the current pages. There are several links provided to other automotive and rally sites of interest.
- Trophy Requirements for Divisional Rallies? Randy asked if there were trophy requirements for SCCA Divisional Rallies -- the Minnesota Winter Rallye will be a divisional. No such requirements could be found.
- Christmas Party: It was decided that, if a party were to be held, it would be a simple "out to dinner" for the next (December) meeting. We have lost some of the more convenient locations for a party and people’s schedules have gotten tighter than in past years.
- Sno*Fall Rallye: More details will be in the next [December, 1999] Checkpoint.
Nominations for Office
The nominations below were made. Those elected will serve for the year 2000.
· President: Jon Anderson
· Vice President/Publicity: Tim Winker
· Secretary: Bill Taylor
· Treasurer: Char Taylor
· Competition/Membership: Diane Sargent, Randy JokelaMeeting adjourned at 9:20 PM
No raffle
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Absentee/Proxy Ballot Election of officers for calendar year 2000 is scheduled for the December 1999 meeting. The following members have been nominated for office. If you are unable to attend the December meeting, you may complete the absentee/proxy ballot below and return it by mail or with another member to be received prior to or at the December 1999 meeting.
This is a proxy/absentee ballot provided so that you may participate in the December 1999 election of officers. Mark with ink next to the name of your choice or write in the name of another ASCC member for each office. Sign your name in the space provided below and either mail it to the Secretary prior to the December 1999 meeting or send it to the meeting with another member. Name: _____________________________________________ Street Address: _____________________________________________ City, State, Zip _____________________________________________ Phone: _____________________________________________ |