Candidate's Election Messages
Paul Ahles
Hello, I have been a member of LOL for a number of years now. I started with the club back in 1993. The first event I worked for LOL was the first ASA race at BIR. To put it simply, I was hooked. I have not missed a single day of LOL sponsored racing at BIR, Blackhawk or the PRO rallies since that day. Now most of you have never met me, and from a professional standpoint that is a very good thing. My specialty is Fire/Rescue. If you know me from the track professionally, it usually translates into you messed up pretty bad. Usually the more bored Fire/Rescue is at a track the better things are going for the drivers and their cars.
A little more about my background. I am an 11 year veteran of the Hopkins Fire Department, currently serving there as a Captain, EMT and Fire Fighter. I am also a member of our Statewide Hazardous Materials Response Team. I have been involved as a member of the Hopkins Charter Commission for eight years (2 as chairperson). I have also been a member of the Hopkins Park Board for four years (2 as Chairperson). I understand how to run meetings and that the job of a board member is to represent those they are elected to serve. In LOL I have worked the Fire/Rescue specialty since starting with the club. My current license grade is National and has been for at least the last two years. I served as Co-Chief of the ES Specialty for the 1997 year. My bet is that most of you may not know me, but you have seen the vehicle that I drive. The "Saran Wrapped" & "Just Married" ‘Bam-ba-lance’. (past event practical jokes) Some of you have also probably met my wife Wendy as well. She is one of the nice ladies (and gentlemen) that take your registration at BIR and the Grand Prix. Wendy has been absent a good part of this year as the introduction of our first child has put a little damper on our camping plans. Expect to see them both back in the coming seasons.
As for the question as to why I wish to be a member of the board; During the past few years I have been able to observe the way that the members of this organization work. As a team on the track this member group is hard to beat. We all work together to get the job done. Not all of us agree on the best way to do this, but being America this is part of the learning for all of us. In the newsletters I continue to read letters of thanks from racers that needed parts, motors, cars, financial aid for their family and other things. We do an outstanding job when someone asks for help. On the other hand, I have also attended most all of the board meetings while I was co-chief. I watched as a member of LOL provided one sided input on matters that should have never made it to the board without discussion with all parties concerned. The board responded to this in a professional manner and dealt with the situation appropriately. It is important as a board member to listen to ALL sides of a situation, and take them into consideration, before rendering board level decisions. Some board choices might require a little faster response, but in the end the choices that need to be made have to be for the benefit of LOL. A couple of months later I watched as the board struggled to find enough persons to fill all of the chief of specialty positions for this year. Some of these positions still remain as of today unfilled. With people willing to work in some of these areas, I find that from my own experiences sometimes the only thing that would have needed to happen was to have someone make a call and ask about how a person feels about something. Maybe just listening, or taking the time to ask why, might provide the needed information to make the difference. I am also somewhat of the impression that the "fun" of being a chief of specialty is missing. Electing me to the board will not change this right away, but it will be one of my goals to attempt to put the fun back into those jobs. I will need help and support of those that vote for me in attempting to do this. I know that it is possible to accomplish this because as Chief of Emergency Services for ALL of the Headwaters Rallies and the last three Ojibwe Rallies, and this year Chief of ES for the LSPR, I find that I am having a fun time in these jobs. I feel confident that LOL can bring this back to BIR as well.
I must apologize for missing the meet the candidates night, but my full time employer had me on assignment in West Des Moines, and I was not able to make that event. Please feel free to call me if you have questions or comments. I make every attempt to return calls inside 4-8 hours. Because of my work as an instructor/installer it is sometimes not possible for me to return calls any faster during the work days. I will return your call as soon as possible. My pager number is (612) 641-7724.
Paul Ahles
Michael Allen
I’ve been interested in road racing since I was in grade school, which goes back more years than I care to tell you! I put up four pictures of sports cars of the time: a Porsche 356, Jaguar D type, MG TD, and a Mercedes. That gives you some idea of the time period although they came from an old magazine (I think!)
In high school when other kids had baseball stars as heroes, mine was Jimmy Clark. Several of us used to go to Watkins Glen during those years to watch F1; it was quite a thrill.
Between then and several years ago I went to school (and more school), had children, etc. Then a friend got me into autocrossing and I started watching F1 on TV: no one told me they broadcast it! When I got the chance to go racing myself, it was a lifelong dream come true.
I’m new at racing and I’m still trying to sort out the whole experience. But for any of us to enjoy the sport we all need to volunteer and to explain the excitement to those who think of it as a mad exercise in delayed puberty. That explaining means that we need to have the forum and to give each other the support so that we can all enjoy this passion. I’d like to help by expanding motorsports at all levels; to encourage others to join the SCCA; and to make motorsports available to anyone who would like to participate. That takes explaining and arranging, volunteering and sharing. I’d like to help.
Michael Allen
Damien Crane
Nothing recieved
Steve Gingras
I am a native of Marquette, Ml, and a Northern Michigan University graduate. I have been a member of SCCA for over 14 years. In 1985 I started rallying with a VW Rabbit GTI. In 1997 I won the PGT National Championship in a Eagle Talon TSI. This despite building a new car half way through the season, with the help of many LOL members. I currently live in Elk River, MN with my wife Tricia and my daughter Katie. I am employed by Phoenix Packaging as an Electrical Engineer and head of the maintenance department.
I am a PRO Rally driver but I believe that people will go to the type of racing that interests them the most. I will promote all types of racing and be as unbiased as I can.
I believe that the only one that can make our sport better is us. We should all be working to promote racing and the club.
Steve Gingras
Jimmy Griggs
Nothing received
Norm Johnson
Hello, my name is Norm Johnson. I am an 18 year member of this Club. As a matter of fact I have been a member of LOL longer than I have not been a member of LOL. I have been building and will be driving a 1985 Audi 4000 CS Quattro in the divisional PRO Rally series and the Regional RallyCross Series next year.
I have been on the organizing committee for the Ojibwe Forests off and on for many years. I am setting up the course for the Triple Caution RallyCross in Bemidji this year.
Most of my involvement recently has been chairing the Personnel Committee. I am proud to say that we have three members, not including me, in the group. We have had one meeting and achieved a lot. I have also discovered how much people like to use the Club but have no actual involvement in the Club! It’s not necessarily their fault. We need more social activities to get new people into the club and make them stay. That’s why I am running for the Board...
Norm Johnson
Mark LaBarre
My name is Mark LaBarre and for those of you whom I haven’t met; I am a pipefitter by trade, been married for a hundred years and have 2 sons. Zac, the eldest child, runs a kart in the rookie class (8-12 year olds) of NRKA. My youngest, Alex, would rather talk about dinosaurs than watch his dad race but entertains himself at the track by rooting for any car sporting the number 44. Shelly, my wife, puts up with my obsession and despite her best efforts can now tell if a car has taken a bad line through a corner.
I joined SCCA after seeing my first road race on ESPN at 2:30 one morning and thought turning left AND right would be a lot of fun. I’ve been a member of SCCA for 3 years, and I’m enjoying my 2nd year of road racing with the club. I run a Volkswagen Scirocco in the very competitive Improved Touring "C" class and much to my surprise, scored my first podium finish ever at the Jerry Knapp Memorial race this spring.
My future plans include trying some flagging and communications, and when I win the lottery running a very low buck Trans Am effort in the Minneapolis race. Since I’ve been with the Land O’Lakes region I’ve met many interesting people and made some new friends. I think having the viewpoint of some one fairly new to racing on the board would be very beneficial and I am willing to provide that.
I have no sweeping changes or radical ideas in mind. I simply offer my services to a club that has done all the work while I had fun.Thank you,
Mark LaBarr
Greg Youngdahl
I’ve been around SCCA, Land O' Lakes racing a long time. Ever since I could walk, I grew up at BIR. I worked in Timing and Scoring for many years, played runner at the spectator events for "press" and crewed on various cars that leaked (no offense Dad). For the last six years, I have been running an ITB car (the yellow one with the bad paint job).
I have organized an icekhana event for the past few years. I have arranged for a permanent site for rally-crosses; my goal is to make them self-supporting and no drain on club finances. I also have contributed to the LOL WWW site. I have the experience to represent the drivers’ and workers’ viewpoint while being well aware of the organizational side of racing.
I have seen many changes in racing and LOL over the years. I think I understand the responsibilities and time involved in being on the board from the years my dad worked for the club as board member and RE. I can appreciate the positive things the board has done in the past while also seeing the need for new ideas, inviting the input from the members, and keeping members out of the dark.For one thing, I know that the number of regional racing events now number half what they did a few years ago. One of the things I hope to do is to try to increase the number of LOL club racing events, but I know I can’t do this alone. I would also like to involve more members in club events such as the rally-crosses, ice events, and club racing, and invite members’ input on the direction and emphasis this club should take.
For one thing, I know that the number of regional racing events now number half what they did a few years ago. One of the things I hope to do is to try to increase the number of LOL club racing events, but I know I can’t do this alone. I would also like to involve more members in club events such as the rally-crosses, ice events, and club racing, and invite members’ input on the direction and emphasis this club should take.
I have the people skills (so they say), the history of long-time club participation, and the desire and enthusiasm to work for the future of LOL. The "family" of club racing includes all members, and it is my goal to work for the best interest of the total club membership. I always throw my every effort into anything I take on, and look forward to the challenge of being on the LOL board.
Greg Youngdahl
Copyright 1998, Land O'Lakes Region.
Last revised: October 3, 1998