Fubar, continued from page 4 he earned a fantastic National win over a very tough field, and followed up Monday with a pole-to-pole victory to make his BIR season a perfect 4 for 4. Dave Kennedy is our 1999 Road Racing Driver of the Year.
Five individuals were nominated for the Brooke Kinnard Award including: RallyCross organizer TODD ERICKSON, Rally and Solo driver STEVE GINGRAS, driver for all seasons and former R.E. MARK UTECHT, and SRF Driver DAVE WATSON. Although all these candidates packed impressive credentials, the award category seemed to be almost written with winner DOUG SHERWOOD in mind. The award goes to "a driver who most exemplifies the characteristics of the amateur driver. This driver will have shown an ability to overcome adversity, a willingness to help other drivers, an interest in the activities of the Region, and ability and enthusiasm as a driver." Doug has certainly overcome adversity since his severe injuries suffered in a snowmobile accident. He has remained active and in touch with race people and has served as an instructor in Drivers Schools, and two years ago made an excellent presentation at our Advanced School. Over the past years Doug has prepared a GT-3 Mazda replete with hand controls and put it on the track last season. It is Doug’s intent to obtain a National license next year and compete for an invitation to the RUNOFFS. He has been most active in his physical rehabilitation, but feels the racing is best to ensure a positive mental attitude. Congratulations to Doug and to all of this year’s nominees for every award. It is an honor to receive a nomination, let alone an award. Many thanks to Donna Tirpak and the banquet committee, and we’ll see you in the next century.
ANYONE FOR
ICE RACING?TENTATIVE ICE RACE SCHEDULE
Jan. 15-16 Open
Jan. 22-23 Lake Cynthia (South of Minneapolis.)
Jan. 29-30 Chisago City, MN - South Lindstrom Lake
Feb. 5-6 St. Paul, MN - Lake Phalen
Feb. 12-13 Mankato, MN - tba
Feb. 19-20 Eau Claire, WI - Lake Altoona
Feb. 27-28 Thunder Bay, ONT, CAN - Lake SuperiorFor more information: IIRA HOTLINE 612-330-0080
e-mail www.angelfire.com/mn/icerace
WORKERS ARE ALWAYS NEEDED!1999 TOMBSTONE TRAIL RALLY
by Mark LarsonThe last Tombstone Trail of the millennium was held Saturday night, October 30, 1999. Forty-one teams preregistered for the event, which had a cap of 50 cars. With nine more teams in line when registration opened, the event was sold out right away. Fortunately, four teams combined into two, leaving two spots open for those who arrived too late. One preregistered team failed to show, leaving another open spot, but by then all the extra teams had left the start point, so 49 teams actually started the event.
The event was run in Anoka and Isanti counties for the first time in its 22 year history. While the terrain isn't as interesting as some of the counties we've run in, there was enough tricky stuff out there to keep everyone on their toes. Contestants visited 15 cemeteries and nine other "special" locations in their search for points. Most questions were straightforward, although a couple of tough trick questions stumped most contestants.
The format of the last two Tombstone Trails minimizes the benefit of experience, as demonstrated by the scores. In addition, the seeding rules were relaxed a little this year, so that experienced people running with "newbies" might run in a lower seed. The result was that the top teams overall came from all four classes.
Brad Odegard and Liz Hare, competing for the first time, finished first overall with a perfect score of 818 points, upsetting teams with as many as 21 years experience. Second overall and first in class B were Rolf and Miriam Strand, taking their first class win with only one penalty point. Lisa Kloncz on her first event and Joe Brockman on his second took third overall and first in class C with two points. In fourth overall were Chris Richter and Mary Cress, also running for the first time, with an error of only seven points.
Doug Davenport was the highest finishing first-timer with a "ringer", navigator Lea Hoffa, who has run Tombstone Trails with her parents since she was a little girl. Doug and Lea tied for fifth overall with the class A winners, Mark and Mary Utecht.
Thanks to all the contestants who made the 1999 Tombstone Trail a success, and especially to my daughters Rachel and Heather who helped me pull it off for the 22nd time.
The Tombstone Trail starts the next century on October 28, 2000 in Cannon Falls, Minnesota. We hope you can make it.
Tonneau On-Line January 2000
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Copyright 2000, Land O'Lakes Region Last revised: January 3, 2000
