Loud Pedal - Oregon Region SCCA

6
From the R.E.
When I started racing several years ago
I was fulfi lling a lifelong fantasy. Like
most of you, I had dreamed for a long time
of getting involved in racing and being
around exotic cars. I attended the several
SCCA races, followed many types of racing
on TV, occasionally traveled to an F1
or Indy car race, and of course was a regular
at Portland’s own Champ Car event.
It was fun but it was all vicarious. Strolling
through the pits at an event, whether a local
club race or a big time Champ Car event,
participating seemed out of the question.
The cars were exotic and of course expensive.
The trailers and teams were large.
Who knew how deep one’s pockets had
to be to compete. But I never asked and
just assumed it was out of reach. Also, no
one asked me if I had any questions or if I
would like to talk about the cars and what
it took to participate.
So for years I only dreamed of participating
not believing it would ever happen.
One evening I was playing tennis with
Gary Manchester and we got into a discus-
Dan Halloran, Regional Executive
Email: dan.halloran@yahoo.com
Participation isn’t Only a Dream
sion of racing. Over time he invited me
out, let me sit in his car, talked about what
it would take to participate and of course I
was hooked. I had found a friend who explained
what our sport was all about. Suddenly
what seemed only a fantasy became
a reality.
After participating for several years I discovered
that there are lots of people in our
club who are participating in ways that allow
them to get up close and personal with
a sport they love. People don’t have to just
watch they can be the show and take an active
role.
The real secret, that Gary didn’t explain,
was that I would make lots of new friends.
More important was the discovery that
those friendships and the camaraderie was
an important aspect of my joy in participating.
It was a great discovery that I try
to share with everyone with whom I talk
about the sport. It isn’t just the racing but
the friendships that make out club special.
Our sport, whether its club racing, SOLO,
or Rally, needs volunteers. Of course the
racers arrive but behind the scenes we have
registration, corner workers, e crew, timing
and scoring, pit and paddock, and the
stewards. In Club Racing it takes about
80 people to put on an event and they are
all volunteers. SOLO and Rally get their
participants to do double duty but they still
need volunteers.
As a club we need to insure that we are
actively recruiting new members and welcoming
them to our events. Each one of us
should make a point of bringing one new
person each season to an event. There
are lots of ways for people to participate.
If you have any questions ask one of the
members of the BOD and we would be
pleased to fi nd an appropriate way for
someone to participate.
During the Rose Cup and Champ Car
weekends we will have lots of new people
with dreams and fantasies of participating.
When you see someone stop and look at
your car ask if they have any questions or
would like to get closer to the car. Show
people that this is a place to have fun. Answer
their questions and engage them in
a conversation. There are brochures available
at registration that talk about how
people can get involved. Grab a couple to
have on hand and make a point of handing
a few out.
We all know what a great sport we have
and how wonderful the people we play
with are. Lets make that opportunity available
to lots of new friends.
Saturday, September 15, the City of Fairview
is holding its annual Chili on the
Green and Afterburner Classic Car Cruise-
In. They have also asked is there are any
SCCA members who would like to display
their race cars at the event. If you are interested
please contact Larry Cooper at 503-
674-6256 or chilionthegreen@ci.fairview.
or.us. Further information is available at
www.ci.fi arview.or.us. The sponsors are
long time SCCA members and there is a rumor
that volunteers will get a shot at some
wonderful chili.