In this issue: Important Links for 2016 • A Message from Your RE • Banquet Recap and Photos • Susquehanna Region's Perpetual Trophies • Sponsor Spotlight — Auto Seat Cover Co. • Member Spotlight: Ramon Marrero • January Meeting Details • SportsCar Feature: Bag It • Rallycross Novice Guide • Production Car Racing

From the Editor's Desk

Hi, there — Happy 2016 to you! I hope the new year finds you and your family and friends happy and in good health.

The new year often brings new and exciting chances for change. I would love to see some new faces involved in the Susquehanna Region this year, so I want to take a moment to personally invite you out to our next member meeting. Read on below for all the details, and feel free to contact me anytime with questions or suggestions.

Also, if you've enjoyed "meeting" fellow members through the Member Spotlight section of the newsletters, please take a moment to tell us a little about yourself. If I don't get more responses, I won't have anyone to spotlight in the future!

Until next time — Kristen Poole
Assistant Regional Executive & Editor, The Squeal

Important Links for 2016

2016 Helmet Certification

2016 SCCA® Solo Rules (draft)

2016 SCCA® Rallycross Rules

SCCA Member Benefits

View 2015 Photos

A Message from Your RE

That was some holiday party, wasn't it? Those who couldn't attend certainly missed a blast. As RE, I was remiss for not mentioning our past Editor of The Squeal, John Rudy. John — for many many years — took the pictures at our events and did an excellent job as our Editor. Again, my apologies to John Rudy for failing to acknowledge him.

As a reminder, the Helmets bearing the 2005 stickers are no longer valid for use in Road Racing. Helmets with 10 and 15 are the only helmets that are legal this year. You can find the full 2016 Helmet Certifications at the link in the section above. And, if you need an annual tech done prior to the first event or need to have a log book issued, I'm your guy! Feel free to contact me via email. Hope to see you all out at our next meeting!

TRAVEL SAFE — Steve Limbert, Regional Executive

2015 Banquet Recap

by Doug Austin
The 2015 Year end banquet was held on January 16th, 2016 at the Holiday Inn of Grantville with 102 people in attendance. Our new club officers were announced and we are happy to welcome Kristen Poole as our new Assistant Region Executive for 2016! Special thanks was given to our very long time Assistant Region Executive, Henry Brillinger, for his many years of dedicated service to the club as well as Anne Demmy for the many years of coordinating our timing for events.

Awards were presented to all of our class winners as well as recognitions to those who helped make 2015 such a successful year for the club. For anyone who was unable to attend the banquet and may have received an award, trophies will be stored in the timing truck and available at the opening autocross event of 2016 (not yet scheduled).

We would like to thank again all of those who made 2015 and our banquet such a success. We are looking forward to an even bigger and better 2016. If you are interested in helping the club with events, please reach out to any of the region officers or come join us at the club meetings every 4th Tuesday at Gilligans on Eisenhower Blvd in Harrisburg.

View Banquet Photos

View All Award Recipients

Susquehanna Region's Perpetual Trophies

The Susquehanna Region has several memorial trophies that are awarded to members to recognize their hard work and dedication to the region. Each holds an important part of club history. Read on below for those stories and find out who received each this year.

LADD MEMORIAL TROPHY
Awarded to: Tyler Kicera
This trophy was donated by the Ladd Family in memory of Jim Ladd, a long-time Region racer who suffered a fatal accident while competing in the SCCA Runoffs at Riverside, California. It has always been awarded to a regional or national road racer for competition excellence.

SOLO CUP
Awarded to: Markus Houser
This trophy was awarded the first year as a competition trophy in the Solo program. The E-board expanded its meaning to include not only competition excellence, but work and dedication to the Susquehanna Region's Solo I, Solo II and Pro Solo programs. Markus was awarded the Solo Cup for his relentless dedication to both the autocross and rallycross programs.

CRAIG HOGAN MEMORIAL TROPHY
Awarded to: Don Walsh
This trophy was donated by Jim & Alma Hogan in memory of their son, Craig, who was killed in a testing accident at Leguna Seca Raceway one month before he would have participated in his first Indianapolis 500. The trophy is awarded to the individual who best exemplifies Craig's spirit of sportsmanship and competition excellence in SCCA's national or regional road race programs.

TRANSLOG WORKER AWARD
Awarded to: Ashley Zywusko
This trophy is awarded to the individual who best displays the ideals of service and dedication to all the programs of the Susquehanna Region, SCCA. Translog is a Porsche service and restoration shop located in York, Pennsylvania that was operated by Gary Wigglesworth for more than 32 years. Gary was an active and friendly racing and solo event supporter, participant and sponsor. As Worker Chief, Ashley has ignited the current popular trend of being actively involved in the resurgence of the autocross program.

LYNNE DEHART MEMORIAL TROPHY
Awarded to: Dennis Latshaw
This trophy is awarded for a long-term commitment to the Region and honoring her dedication to welcoming and assisting newcomers to Region activities. As our Novice Instructor Chief, Dennis fits this description to a "T." Lynne DeHart was a long time participant and club official. She was a Regional Executive of the Susquehanna Region, an official of the SCCA North East Division, the Susquehanna Sports Car Club, and the Pennsylvania Hillclimb Association as well as a race corner worker and flagger.

Address: 1500 Paxton St. Harrisburg, PA
Website: autoseatcover.biz
Phone: 717.238.9611
Opened: 1949
Number of Employees: 3
Discounts for SCCA Members: YES

Owner: Alan Lesher
Member of: Susq SCCA, SVVSCC & AACA
Races: Autocross, hillclimb and road racing

Specializing in: auto air conditioning installation and service, auto carpet, new leather, foam, frame & spring repairs, cloth-leather-vinyl repairs, backup cameras, convertible top replacement, cruise control, fog lights, headliners, keyless entry, power door locks and windows, seat heaters, and vinyl tops

Auto Seat Cover Co. — owned by treasurer Alan Lesher — is Harrisburg's premier full-service automotive upholstery, interior repair, and installation service. Their state-of-the-art service facility incorporates the latest automotive technology with excellent customer service to provide you with a hassle-free experience.

They can also get high-performance and racing brake pads, rotors, fluid and installation parts. They can provide and install truck accessories such as bull bars, side steps, tonneau covers, bed liners, and work van flooring and shelving/storage kits. They also sell miscellaneous performance parts over the counter and offer discounts for SCCA Members. Next time you need work done, make sure to give Alan a call.

Member Spotlight

Name: Ramon Marrero
From: Palmyra, PA
Runs: Autocross
Drives: 1999 Ford SVT Contour
Member since: 2015

As far back as I can remember I loved racing. My dad was a "junk yard hot rodder" and got me into cars day one. I have owned my SVT Contour for 11 years and have had a lot of fun on the back roads and at car shows. Now that I have a young daughter, that wants to race someday, I had to find a safe environment to do it. In 2014, after never realizing there was local Autocross, I found the Susquehanna Region. Cars are a great way to bond with your kids and this provides a safer way to do it.

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Next Meeting

Tuesday, Jan. 26 • 7:30 p.m.
Our next meeting will be held in the private dining room at Gilligan's Bar and Grill, 987 Eisenhower Boulevard, Harrisburg, PA 17111.

The meeting agenda will be provided to members via email this weekend, prior to the meeting. All members are welcome and encouraged to attend. Come early for dinner (and a drink) with other members.

Get Directions

News from SCCA

SportsCar Feature: Bag It

Few things get better with age, tires especially. In fact, from the moment a tire is produced, it has begun aging. Read more to learn what you can do to preserve them.

“There is a difference between race tires and street tires,” explains Tim Gilvin of Hoosier Tires. “Race tires do not have a lot of preservatives in them ... From the day it’s made, the clock starts ticking.”

Production Car Racing

by Alan Lesher
Production car racing had slowly been going out of favor in SCCA as the traditional British sports cars aged out or were sold to vintage racers. A few years ago, the competition board decided to shore up the production category with newer cars, mostly sedans, as well as the Miata. Participation is expanding again; however, the new cars are allowed less modifications. Listen up all you Neon nuts! The Neon was slotted into E/Production. It never took off because it was impossible to get the car down to the allowed weight. So, a bunch of Neon drivers petitioned the comp-board to down level the car to F/Production with a higher, more realistic, weight and with less power. This change was approved, effective Jan. 1,2016. The solo prepared rules and the road racing production rules are similar, but not the same line-for-line. However, the car weight for the Neon in either sport is within 50#.

Will the Neon be competitive under the new rule set? I hope to fine out this year, as I have been converting my sleek black beauty from solo street prepared to road racing production. There are 2 take-aways here. 1: never sell an old race car, it may have another life. 2: if you have a reasonable request, take it to the comp board or the solo board.

2016 Regional Schedule

Watch for the 2016 Regional Schedule in future versions of
The Squeal.

2015 Officers

Regional Exec: Steve Limbert
Assistant RE: Kristen Poole
Treasurer: Alan Lesher
Secretary: Ed Womer
Director 3 Yr: Geoff Craig
Director 2 Yr: Charlie Demmy
Director 1 Yr: Markus Houser

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Have suggestions for the type of articles or info you'd like to see in The Squeal? Feel free to email me with questions or content suggestions.