SFR SCCA Board of Directors Minutes

January 23, 2010

Location: Holiday Inn - Concord

Called to order at 9:04 am.

Present: Mike Smith, Peter Nosler, Joe Riley, Ed Railton, Sherry Grantz, Jim Petrek, Viet-Tam Luu and Ian Cook.

• Region Administrators’ Report – Sherry Grantz

Many activities going with Supps and Schedule. The school has 20 entrants. The preliminary schedule has been worked out and is ready for submission. Sherry is waiting on the entries to finalize to see how many entrants to allocate class and track time. The Board set February 5 as the decision date on the final schedule and number of run groups.

• Thunderhill Report – Mike Smith

The SFR Properties board met last night. The track operated ahead of budget for the year. One reason was the track utilized a different accountant during 2008 who discovered the track had been paying excise taxes on off-road used fuel which generated about $48,000 in additional revenue. The budget for 2010 indicates a performance slightly behind 2009.  Dave Vodden has asked to extend his retirement date by another two years so that his retirement would come in about 5 years.

• Secretary’s Report – Morris Hamm

The minutes of the December 12, 2009 meeting reviewed and minor corrections made. On motion of Ed Railton, seconded by Joe Riley, the minutes were approved.
  
• Membership Report – Lisa Diamond

Thirty RSVP’s for the Fire/School, presently dealing with 237 contacts, 135 have been added since the Historics. Lisa has been in contact with prior membership candidates who deferred decisions to indicate that it is time for a decision. Lisa has secured a wine sponsor for the Banquet for the coming year. Car clubs who participate in events will pay a fee for the privilege – three clubs have agreed to participate in 2010 under the new arrangement.  Lisa is working with a Willows motel owner for discounts and free rooms in exchange for banners at the track.

• Treasurer’s Report – Ed Railton / Sherry Grantz

The December, 2009 results were reviewed. The dues are down due to the national weekend membership program. The region is also looking to recover towing fees from Laguna for the ALMS weekend. Mike reviewed the budget preparation process and the thin margin of safety the Region has on operations. On motion by Peter Nosler, seconded by Joe Riley, the report was approved. Laguna has agreed to allow camping between the Pre-Historics and the Historics. There will be an FE series during the year (3 races). In addition the Pro 7 series will also run during the year.

• Updates

• 2010 Schedule – Mike Smith

Mike reviewed the 2010 schedule and revisions. The Pirelli Cup program will occupy one of the Laguna group slots for the weekend. The cars for that group will, for the most part, be accommodated in other sessions. At the Double National, there will a double split start with FE and FB cars starting separately to allow for in-race competition. The Region will be responsible for providing workers for the Pre-Historics. Mike reached an agreement on the fee for the Pre-Historics based on securing the October 15 race.

• Banquet location and budget – Morris Hamm/Jim Petrek

Morris Hamm and Jim Petrek proposed to continue the banquet at the Marriott on the same basis as 2009. The Annual Meeting location and nature will be determined at a date in the future. The Board agreed with the proposal for 2010.

• 2010 Supps – Sherry Grantz

Sherry reviewed the changes to the Supps needed to accommodate new groups and classes. The drivers have been emailed about allowing 2 drops for points. The Supps have been submitted for approval and Sherry is awaiting word from Topeka.

• Wheel budget discussions – Peter Nosler

John Blakemore has located another publisher that will lower the production costs for The Wheel. Peter Nosler is working with John to develop additional advertising sources to generate additional income and produce better results and reduce annual costs to $50,000 as desired by the Board. Mike Smith suggested developing a trial program whereby some portion of The Wheel is electronically published each issue as an e-newsletter.  

• Social budget – Ed/Sherry

Ed Railton indicated that there needs to be a limit on the ALMS to avoid having increased social costs. The Board proposed discussing the issue with Specialty Chiefs to address a limit on the number of social supported workers.  

• Update on Hoosier sponsor idea – Joe Riley

Joe Riley has submitted information to the Hoosier representative and is awaiting a response/proposal for submission to the drivers.

• Update on SMT/SSM split start survey – Sherry

The SMT/SSM drivers were polled about doing split starts. Sixty-one drivers responded to the poll, 33 for, 28 against. The Board declined to mandate splits starts in the absence of a clear preference for them from the participants.

• New Items

• Sunoco Program – Mike Smith

The program is going into effect. Viet-Tam Luu asked about the need for the Supps to be amended to include the requirement for decals to qualify.

• Review Chiefs’ Meeting

Mike reviewed the agenda for the Chiefs’ Meeting and the need to introduce new Chiefs, etc.

• Executive Session

• Liaisons

Joe Riley – Course Marshalls – looking to buy more sweep material for the coming year.

Viet-Tam Luu commented on success of San Jose Auto Show – over 200 vouchers passed out for solo events. Lisa Diamond commented that she has 8 RSVP’s from the show for the Training Day. The banquet at the Blackhawk Museum went well but the location is too small for the road racing banquet.

Ed Railton – purchased new step for one of the trucks to ease the entry to the truck bed.

• Solo – Sac & Bay Area P&L

Mike presented information from the San Francisco Chapter indicating a slight loss for the year versus a slight profit for 2008.

• Confirm BoD Dates

Mike Smith reviewed the dates for future meetings and no one had objections to the schedule.

The meeting was adjourned at 11:45 am.

Respectfully submitted,

Morris Hamm
Secretary