From DER Prez

Come to our annual bash

by Don McGilvery, aka NINE44T

Old NINE44T, my 951 track-mobile, is resting undisturbed in the storage barn this winter. Leftover disposable cash is going to upgrade my trusty Chevy tow rig: beefing up (actually lowering) the suspension, installing air-assist springs, and tweaking the V8 for more oomph on those long hills. I've got a whole lot of track-car-hauling miles in store for this year's Driver Ed season.

I am pleased to report that planning for DER's 2001 events is well underway. Since we got snowed out of our annual time trials at Oxford Plains Speedway last fall (or was that winter?), we are hoping to have 2 such events this year. Our lineup of driving tours and social events will be similar to last year’s very successful calendar. We are looking into doing a charity event at some point. And the track junkies have already gotten together and started planning for the upcoming Driver Education season at the various tracks throughout the northeast.

To kick off the 2001 season (or is that wrap up 2000?), join your fellow club members for an evening of camaraderie and entertainment at our DER Annual Banquet. This year's bash is set for the Portland Country Club in Falmouth, on Friday evening, March 9.

Mac’s haul rig, all souped up and ready to fly DER flag at faraway tracks

We are fortunate to have Ellen Beck as our featured speaker. Besides being a personal friend and fellow DE Instructor, Ellen is an avid supporter of both her local North Country Region and National PCA. She was a member of the 1994 Parade Concours Committee, placed third in the Rally, second in the Autocross, and first in the Art Show that year. Her other competitive accomplishments have included several NCR rally wins, class autocross wins at the 1999 Mont Tremblant and 2000 Sacramento Parades, and Zone 1 Autocross class wins in 1999 and 2000.

On the local level, Ellen served as North County’s Vice-President in 1996 and 1997; President in 1998 and 1999; and is currently serving as Past President, Chief Driver Education Instructor, and Membership Chair. She has chaired many of her region's events, established and maintains a very active e-mail newslist. Not surprisingly, in 1999 she received her club’s Enthusiast of the Year Award.

In her spare time (hard to believe she has any), Ellen is an artist, teacher, and Unified Arts Department Head at Portsmouth, New Hampshire Middle School. She recently completed a 9-year tenure on the State Board of the New Hampshire Odyssey of the Mind, where she served as regional and State meet director, running tournaments for 700 students per event.

Ellen will be spinning tales of her trip to, and participation in, the 2000 Sacramento PCA Parade. Traveling with Judy Hendrickson in Judy’s jelly-bean-blue 993, the two East Coasters cleaned up at the Parade. I’ll leave the stories and details of her trip for her to tell, but I know you won’t want to miss what she has to share. It might just be enough to inspire your own commitment to competing in a National Parade event, and soon!

See you on the road somewhere,

Don

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