For the first time in recent memory the LOL Awards Banquet was held after the holidays on the weekend before Super Bowl at the New Brighton Holiday Inn. The date change didn’t seem to affect attendance, which saw similar numbers as the last couple years at Jax Cafe. Chad Lemmons and Kathy Goettsch did a great job putting the program together. The only glitch was their choice for program MC. At the last minute I was called into action, as my suggestion for Greg Creamer didn’t work out with Greg out of town for some SPEEDVISION event. Of course Greg would have been telling jokes and stories for a couple hours before the awards. My jokes are mediocre and my delivery worse, so I tried my best to expedite what is always a lengthy affair.
Greg Youngdahl updated us on the state of the Region, and said all is in pretty good shape, as we have a few dollars in the bank at a notoriously weak time of year for finances. However, the CBIR folk are giving us some heat on the racing schedule, as only the May National is a real firm date. I suspect we will be able to put together Regional races on both Labor Day weekend and the last weekend in September, but we have no signed contract as of now. Actually, the first race weekend will be the Double Driver School/Regional in April that we will co-sponsor at Blackhawk. Instructors and staff will be needed, so plan on helping out if possible.
I usually have the luxury at banquets to sit back and take notes while sipping a cool beverage. This year my beverage was limited to a Jaeger, bought and delivered during the program by a generous Art Jaworski, and
Tony Foster was this year's Banquet MC
All banquet photos by Lynn Anderson
what meager notes I had were lost in the shuffle, so I will recap the banquet as best my memory serves. The long list of Membership Awards offered further evidence that the mean age of LOL members continues to increase. Then one of our senior members, Ade Mullen, (who greeted the SCCA ark when it landed in Minneapolis) thanked the club for support during tough times in recent years. Shannon Murphy presented Service Awards to the following worthy recipients: Jim Anderson, Craig Hurley, Deb Dahl, John Emmons, Tom Fisk, Marilyn LaCourse, Will MacDonald, Mike Thompson, Lois Van Vleet and Greg Youngdahl for their efforts in various specialties. Alan Murray has done a great job ordering the embroidered shirts for the Region’s Championship series, and these were presented to all winners in attendance. CenDiv Regional Championship trophies were presented next, including first place plaques for Bruce Drenth in CFF and Tom Koetter in AS. We had a great year in National Championship racing with two winners in 2000 series points. They included Steve Thomson (FC) and Wally Butler (CSR).
Rally awards were presented by Kerry Freund to Rookie Driver of the Year Jouni Pohjolainen and Navigator/Co-Driver Rookie John Matikainen (and I’m glad I didn’t have to pronounce either name). Chris Koehler presented Solo II Rookie of the Year to Harry Weber, while Steve Dahl gave the Racing Rookie of the Year plaque to AS driver Tom Fuehrer. Last year’s winner Steve Jondal wasn’t able to make it, so I presented the
Fubar, continued on page 7
Tonneau On-Line March 2001
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Copyright 2001, Land O'Lakes Region Last revised: March 13, 2003
