Bob, we are just glad you are OK.  We were flagging at Turn 5 that day (where the FC crumpled up against the wall) and were horrified, after witnessing the FC crash, to hear of your crash in the Kink.  I'm glad your friends came together and got everything taken care of so that all you had to do was get better (but that's what friends do).  Please know that all of the flaggers and drivers there have been concerned about you and asking about your recovery.  Thanks for letting us know you are going home soon!  Hope to see you there next year!

We would be happy to have you flag with us on Saturday.  I just sent you a PM with the information.  If you would prefer to work T&S, let me know and I can help you arrange that.  See you then!

Yeah, that looked pretty rough.  Jerry Rigoli (CRB Chair) should be able to tell you whether the track has fixed that.

Leigh

This exact topic is a never-ending one for F&C and operating stewards.  It is always a judgment call, and other factors besides the location of the car need to be considered, such as track conditions, weather conditions, whether the driver is able to get out of the car, and how much time is left in the session.  Usually the general view is that if a car spun and ended up someplace, then another car could do the same.  If a car drives off then it is less likely, though of course not impossible.  The flip side of that is that it is the driver's responsibility to keep the car on the track and if you, the driver, don't want to hit the car that's sitting in a "safe location" then you have to keep it on the track.  Moving a car impacts the entire race group (local yellow, full-course yellow or black flag all) and so each situation should be and is decided individually.  There are some areas that are clearly never safe locations to leave a car, and some that are clearly very safe (hence the green coned safe zones at LRP) but most areas involve a judgment call.  The decision on whether to leave or move a car is made by the operating steward in race control.  Usually they do what the station captain requests/recommends, but not always.  Usually they make the right decision, but not always.  The question is:  is the risk of another car going off and hitting the car that is already off the track worth the time lost/change in race dynamics required to move the car? 
Leigh

Ray Wenzel and Fred Mahler asked me to let you know about this important celebration:

Hi All,

The Celebration of Chris' life is scheduled for Friday, September 11, 2009 at the Torrington Elks Club.  The event is from 6pm-10pm.  Hors d'oeuvres will be served and a cash bar available.  An RSVP (while not required) would be most appreciated, so we can plan accordingly.  If you do plan to come, please create an email and put RSVP in the SUBJECT line and send it to:  chrisparty91109@aol.com
 
As a tribute, we'd like to display photos and stories about Chris.  If you have photos or stories you'd like to share please send them to the the email:  chrisparty91109@aol.com  They will be forwarded to my people (I have people) and these will be incorporated into a presentation and be on display at the celebration.  Note that photos are preferred in a JPG format.

A block of rooms are secured at the Yankee Peddler Inn (www DOT pedlarinn DOT com) for $89/night. Tell them you're with the Wenzel party.  There are also suites available, but I'm not sure of the rates.  This is a short distance (walking) from the Elks.  Please try and book these before Aug 11.
Hope to see ya there! 

Love,
Ray

P.S. Please feel free to pass this along to anyone who knew her, I do apologize for duplicate info.

Fred Mahler asked me to send this to you, Chris's extended family:

Hi Folks,

First off, the Wenzel and Mahler families would like to thank all of the people that worked so hard to make last Friday's benefit a huge success.  We had 300 people come through the door that were treated to some good food and a massive selection of raffle items.  It was really nice to all of our family members as well as our extended (race) family members together to support Chris.
 
Again thanks to all who were there as well as the countless many that could not make it but donated anyway, your generosity is deeply appreciated.

I wish that there could be a happy ending to all of this, however it seems that Hollywood has cornered the market on those and they are much harder to find in real life.
 
With that in mind it is with great sadness that I must report that Christine Wenzel lost her long courageous battle with cancer yesterday, June 27th.  As per my sister's wishes there will be no calling hours or services.  Having said that, Christine would like everyone to celebrate her life at a memorial party to be held sometime in autumn.
 
Again the Mahler and Wenzel families would like to express their appreciation for all the support during this difficult time.
 
Fred

[PLEASE]

I think most everyone has heard about the dinner to benefit Chris Wenzel that her family is putting on for her on June 19th, in Torrington, CT.  This is the night of the Drivers School at LRP, so everyone who is at the track or on their way to the track can attend.

Pasta Dinner Benefiting Chris Wenzel
Friday, June 19th 6 - 9 p.m.
Elks Torrington Lodge
70 Litchfield St, Torrington, CT.
Donation $25 ticket

I talked with Fred Mahler this weekend about the dinner for his sister, Chris. He said that directions to the Elks Lodge (about a 40 min drive from LRP) will be at registration the morning of the Drivers School for whoever wants a copy. He said there is a municipal lot that they are suggesting for people to park 1/2 a block away as well as a shopping plaza across the street. Both have plenty of room for trailers and rigs with cars for people that might want to stop by on their way to LRP for Saturday's regional. They are really trying to encourage people to let them know beforehand if they plan on attending so they don't run out of food.  PLEASE contact Fred at <FredMahler AT rcn DOT com> to let him know you're coming.

Fred also gave me a list of items that will be raffled off at the benefit dinner for Chris. The list is growing fast, but here is what they've got now:

1. Signed pair of warn Spark driving gloves signed by Jon Fogarty
2. Signed pair of warn Puma driving gloves signed by Alex Gurney
3. Signed pair of Oakley driving gloves signed by Kelly Collins
4. Signed pair of Piloti high top driving shoes signed by Paul Edwards
5. (Two) 1/64 scale Gainsco Pontiac DP cars signed by Jon Fogarty and Alex Gurney
6. (Four) New Jersey Verizon 250 Grand Am race programs signed by Speed's Brian Till, Leigh Diffey, Calvin Fish, and Chris Nevelle
7. Speeds hats and t-shirt
8. 1/12 scale Jaguar SK 220 signed by Bobby Unser, David Pearson, Bob Akin, George Follmer, Eddie Hill, Brian Redman, David Hobbs, Johnny Rutherford, Ed McCulloch, and Parnelli Jones.
9. Assorted ESPN stuff
10. (Two) one-week use of a 2 bedroom condo in Naples, Florida, ½ mile from the beach!
11. $750 painting gift certificate (CT only)
12. Tom Tom GPS
13. Lots of local business gift certificates
14. Lots of assorted gift baskets
15. Many more things that are currently "unofficial"

Chris has always been a great friend to the New England Region of SCCA and everyone in it drivers and workers alike. Now is our chance to be there for her.

Leigh

We would really like to have a good turnout of flaggers at the Drivers School and Regional April 17-18 at NHMS.  Some flaggers would be grateful to share a ride to the track.  Drivers, are you able to bring a flagger with you in your passenger seat?  Or would you be able to offer accommodations to share?  Please post general information here (where you are coming from and perhaps what time) and let's see if we can't help each other out.

Hi Mark:
There aren't all that many suitable handheld scanners around, but any of them work fine.  The ones from Radio Shack are fine, you only need one with 200 channels, nothing fancy.  I personally prefer a Uniden scanner, and I order them directly from Uniden.  (Do NOT get the factory reconditioned ones, I have done that twice because they're so cheap, but they always break within a couple of months.)  Uniden used to make some of the scanners for RS, maybe they still do, but they're too big and too expensive.  Radio Shack does have a nice noise-reducing racing headset which will fit the scanner.  There's no mic (you don't need one) but there is a volume control on the headset which is nice.  There are other racing headsets around, but they seem to be more expensive.  (Google "racing headset for scanner" and you will find lots of sites.)  You can talk to some other people at the Flag School and see what they are using.  You'll enjoy having a scanner and knowing what's going on on the rest of the track!  See you at the School.  I'll try to remember to bring my scanner and headset, if you want to take a look at it.
Leigh

I am starting this thread so that people (drivers or other workers) who are able to offer rides and possibly accommodations, however basic, to workers can hook up.  Several drivers have generously offered transportation +/- accommodations to help out workers who might not otherwise be able to get there.  What a great idea!

The Flag & Fire School at LRP is coming up March 28-29.  (Please note:  preregistration is required!).  A few people have already indicated that they are looking to share rides and accommodations.  If you are looking for a ride/accommodations or you can offer to share a ride/accommodations, please post here. 

As a caution, I suggest you do not post any personal information, but rather the general area you are coming from and what you are seeking/offering.  Interested parties can contact each other by email (personal message).

Hi Richie:

If you are thinking of getting into road racing and want to come to an NER event to see what it's like, why not come volunteer as a flagger?  You will see the event VERY up close and personal, learn a surprising amount about driving, learn a lot about flagging and communications that will be very valuable to you as a driver….and while you are there you can seek out some drivers to help you in your quest to get your car on the road.  OR (I can dream) you might find flagging so thrilling that, well, who needs to race?

Our first event is a Drivers School on April 17th and a Regional race on April 18th, at NHMS.  Please contact me if you're interested in flagging, I can set you up.

Leigh McBride
Co-Chief, Flagging & Communications
nerflagchief@fairpoint.net

Hi Jerry:

I think flaggers would show up for a school-only in April.  In 2008 the school was a couple of weeks earlier than it was in 2007 but we had quite a few more flaggers.  We had the same number on Sunday as we had on Friday, but quite a few more on Saturday.  Go figure.  It is the first flagging event for lots of our flaggers, and after a long winter they don't care what the event is, they just want to get out there and flag.  (Of course they weren't counting on having to shovel the snow out of the flag station at Turn 3...)  This year we are having a Flag School in March at Lime Rock, and it will be a great opportunity to encourage attendees to come and put what they learned at the Flag School in action at the Drivers School.  Drivers Schools are GREAT for new flaggers because we use ALL the flags, practice starts, and the whole thing is very low-key with lots of opportunity for instruction.  So from an F&C perspective, we would really like to have a 2-day Drivers School in April, even without a regional on Sunday.

Leigh McBride
Co-Flag Chief, NER

Hey Scott:

It's hard for people to plan to go to an event that hasn't been announced.  WHEN is the annual meeting scheduled and WHERE is it going to be?  It would be great to have a lot of people turn out for this event, it is always fun.

Leigh

The fee for late arrival has always been there, it is not something the new ownership instituted.  For Road Racing, workers are allowed to enter after registration closes by getting their name on a "late arrival" list which the event registrar keeps.  This list is kept at the gate, and gets you a cold pass into the track and the fee is waived.  You have to go back out to registration the next morning to register.  I would suggest you contact your Registrar and see if Solo and Rally have late arrival lists for workers and competitors.

Leigh