F&C Newsletter – October 3, 2012

North Carolina Region SCCA F&C

The Month We Have All Been Waiting For

Have you felt the chill in the air? Have you noticed the foliage changing colors? Summer is officially over (for anyone who no longers gets a “summer break” to designate such). Time for cider, pumpkin spice everything, spooks & more race events in our own region.

There have been some exciting race events since last we converged at VIR and there are more to come.

In your spare time check out the following handy dandy links:

Registration is still online at Motorsportreg.

NCR Worker Incentive Program information and redemption form. THIS IS IMPORTANT! Seriously. You really, REALLY don’t wanna miss out on the deadline for “reimbursement.” Print out the form, fill it out, stuff an envelope with this & some receipts & get that sucker in the mail!

 

Goblins Go

VIR – October 20-21, 2012

Sign up now on MotorsportReg.  If you go to MotorsportReg.com and find the event on your own, register with the second one on the list, the first one is for drivers.  The driver’s registration page will want to know about your race car and will make you pay.  Don’t pay to drive – Flag for FREE. As always, if there’s any frustrations rising from within, don’t hesitate to send an S.O.S. to your friendly Flag Chiefs. We’re good at making things happen.

Anybody been wondering why this race is still called “Goblins Go” when, due to scheduling, it’s still not the weekend of Halloween? You’re not alone my friends. Maybe the Goblins need practice for Halloween? Or maybe they’re just scared of the scarier monsters that come out…

In any case, come on out to get your arms loosened for the quick to follow 13-Hour.

As for the logistics, the flag meeting is at the North Paddock Flag Shack @ 7:30  Sat and Sun morning.

 

Bob Huff Charge of the Headlight Brigade 13-Hour

VIR – October 26-27, 2012

Woohoo!  The 13-Hour Cooking Contest is almost here!  Come join us for the best track side eats in the country!  We have expanded the contest to include all specialties, and made it so everyone gets to enjoy the scrumptious outdoor vittles.

Between courses we can take a break and flag a turn!  Woohoo x 2!

Sign up now on MotorsportReg.  If you go to MotorsportReg.com and find the event on your own, register with the second one on the list, the first one is for drivers.  The driver’s registration page won’t get you the good food. Also make sure to mention either on your registration or drop an email or something if you want to cook & if there’s any people you’d like to be assigned to a turn with. This does play a big part in figuring out assignments so vote early & often! Oh wait…register. REGISTER early.

Don’t starve and drive – Cook and Flag.

The flag meeting for the 13 Hour is at 4pm on Friday afternoon and 8:15 on Saturday morning at the North Paddok Flag Shack.  Also this event is the same weekend as the Martinsville race, which means hotel rooms are at a premium.  Sara Snider has a few rooms blocked off at the InnKeeper at the club rate.  Contact Sara directly if you are interested.

 

Anna Katherine Hill

November 4, 1980 – September 22, 2012 

Anna Katherine Hill of Norcross, GA, passed away suddenly Sept. 22, 2012, she was 31 years old.  Click here for her obituary in the Tampa Bay Times

With a heavy heart and much reflection I morn the death of Anna.  She brought joy and laughter to the track and everywhere else she went.

She got bit by the flagging bug at our 13-Hour as a team volunteer.  One 2 hour shift at T17, Hog Pen, was all it took.  She flagged many regional and pro events.  She was one of the lucky ones who found a way to make a living at flagging as Chief of Race Control for Atlanta Motorsports Park.  She was looking forward to working Race Control for the support races during the Petit Le Mans this year (hats off to Mike Stringfellow for stepping into Anna’s role).

The last time I saw Anna was June 17th on Poste 106 following the 24-Hours of LeMans.

We spent most of a week together along with Brendan Kaczmarek, frolicking around the French countryside.  We had the most amazing time meeting people, sampling cafes, photographing Roman walls, laughing, drinking and working the 80th running of the 24 Heures du Mans.  I have a vivid memory of walking with her through the village of Arnage singing Sunshine, Lollipops and Rainbows by Lesley Gore.

Anna and I were paired together the entire time on poste.  Most of the 11 people on our team did not speak English.  When we went out for our first shift, I was down right scared, and I think Anna was too.  The cars went through our little bend in the road so fast, we couldn’t talk to our fellow workers and we were positioned between a guardrail and a ditch – our escape route was to dive into the ditch.  This was serious!

After our first shift, we felt much better about our job and our ability to fit in with the team.  Seems flaggers around the world work much the same way as we’ve been trained and we can do it without saying much.

That doesn’t mean Anna didn’t say much.  She pretty much talked the entire time on poste.  It was kind of funny, she always had something interesting to say even if I couldn’t hear her because cars were racing by.  Didn’t matter, she would repeat herself during a break in traffic.

When the week was over and we were scrambling to tear down the camp, we said our last goodbye.  I’ll never forget it.  It was a soft tender moment capping off a trip of a lifetime.  We hugged and said au-revoir (see you later) because we thought we would.

~ Eric Danielsen

I’ve got so much to say that I’ve got no clue where to start, or end. I hope I can find in me even an ounce of the passion she exuded in all parts of her life. She followed her dreams as only some will ever do. Her electric personality and infectious laughter will be greatly missed.

~ Heather

PS – these hotel tissues suck.

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If you are an SCCA Worker who would like to be added to the NC Region F&C mailing list, click here to email the Flag Chiefs and let them know.