RRDC/FIA YOUNG DRIVERS SYMPOSIUM ATTRACTS LARGE AND APPRECIATIVE AUDIENCE

HILLIARD, Ohio (Dec. 16, 2010) – A capacity crowd of 150 young drivers, family members, managers, coaches and assorted guests participated in the Road Racing Drivers Club/FIA Young Drivers Symposium on Dec. 11, at the Performance Racing Industry (PRI) Trade Show in Orlando, Fla.

Hosted by RRDC President, Indianapolis 500 winner and BMW-Rahal Letterman Team co-owner Bobby Rahal, the third in a series of free “Safe is Fast” workshops – with S.A.F.E. an acronym for Skilled, Assured, Fit, Empowered – was supported by a grant from the FIA Motor Sport Safety Development Fund.

The three-hour program featured a total of six industry experts who relayed a wealth of information and know-how covering such topics as mental preparation (Jacques Dallaire, Ph.D, founder and president of Prime Performance), physical fitness (Jim Leo, C.S.C.S., president of Pit Fit Training), safety (Stephen Olvey, M.D., and Terry Trammell, M.D., founding members of the International Council of Motorsports Sciences and founding fellows of the FIA Institute for Motorsport Safety), integrated driving and coaching (Michael Zimicki, president of Sliderule Motorsport) and sponsorship and branding (Jim Jordan, Manager for Alternative Marketing at Mazda North American Operations).

The symposium attracted drivers from a wide variety of race series and activities ranging from karting and quarter-midgets through all branches of open-wheel, sports car and stock car racing. Among them, the attendees represented all the major race sanctioning bodies in North America, including American Le Mans Series, Grand-Am, IndyCar, NASA, SCCA, USAC, NASCAR, ARCA and a plethora of karting entities.

“We couldn’t have been more pleased with the response,” said Rahal. “We saw drivers from just about every discipline you could imagine, and it was exciting to see how enthralled they were with the presentations.”

Attendees were equally effusive in their praise for the symposium: “I found it very educational,” said Collete Davis, 16, a student of mechanical engineering at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University in Daytona Beach, Fla., who hopes to race in the 2011 U.S.F2000 National Championship. “I learned in just a few hours what people would usually take years to learn.”

“This was the second time I had attended the symposium at PRI,” said Trent Hindman, 15, from Wayside, N.J., who last week won a full scholarship to contest the 2011 BFGoodrich/Skip Barber National Championship Presented by Mazda. “This year, to be honest, I was a lot more prepared to take in all this information. Dr. Dallaire’s method of thinking really helped me out a lot, so I’m going to try to take all of that and apply it and hopefully go faster on track.”

It wasn’t just the youngsters who picked up valuable information to help them maximize their potential. “I thought it was excellent,” said former IndyCar driver turned television analyst Scott Goodyear, who was joined by his 14-year-old son Michael, a burgeoning kart racer. “There was a lot crammed into a short period of time, but I think that if you can just even take away 10 or 20 percent of what you heard, that’s going to make you better both on and off the track. For me personally, it was an opportunity for my son to hear all these things from a different source – because I’m talking about it all the time – so he can then understand it and realize the importance of it all.”

“I really enjoyed the mental and the physical fitness side of it because that’s one thing that isn’t always foremost in your mind when you go to the race track,” added former Atlantic competitor John Thompson, from Perkaise, Pa., who accompanied his 16-year-old son, Colin, a competitor in this year’s VW Jetta TDI Cup Series. “The fact that it’s a seven-day, 24-hour-a-day activity really makes sense. You really can’t just prep yourself for the weekend, you’ve got to prep yourself all week for what you’re going to be doing at the weekend.”

About the RRDC:
The Road Racing Drivers Club was formed in 1952 as a way to give champion drivers a say in their sport, particularly in the areas of safety, and has evolved to serve the future of road racing by mentoring new drivers on both amateur and professional levels. The Club’s membership includes leading industry professionals, race officials and motorsports journalists, in addition to prominent racing names.

President Bobby Rahal is the 1986 Indy 500 winner and is co-owner, with David Letterman, of the 2004 Indianapolis 500 winning Rahal Letterman Racing team. Six-time SCCA National champion John Fergus is the Club’s Vice President/Treasurer, and five-time SCCA National champion Tom Davey is the Secretary.

In addition to RRDC members lending their expertise to up-and-coming drivers, the Club presents three annual awards: the Phil Hill Award for rendering outstanding service to road racing; the Mark Donohue Award for personal spirit and performance at the SCCA National Championship Runoffs; and the Bob Akin Award – the top award presented to amateur and semi-professional racers - for speed with style, passion, sportsmanship and contribution to motorsports.

The RRDC also supports the Team USA Scholarship, which has been assisting young Americans in the early stages of their careers since 1990.

Membership in the RRDC is by invitation only. Additional information on the organization may be found at www.rrdc.org.

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PRDA MEMBER TOM STYCZYNSKI WINS THE PENNSYLVANIA HILLCLIMB ASSOCIATION 2010 VINTAGE 1 CLASS CHAMPIONSHIP

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The final championship points for the Sports Car Club of America (SCCA) sanctioned Pennsylvania Hillclimb Association (PHA) 2010 time trial and hillclimb series were released, on 03 October 2010. We are pleased to announce that Tom Styczynski, The Clarksville Garages team driver of the #38 1959 Austin Healey Sprite, placed first in points for the Vintage 1 class (1950-1962 Sports Cars and Sedans under 2000cc).

In 2010 Tom competed in 5 of the 8 events accumulating 3 – 1st place finishes (uncontested but the times were better then the previous year), 1 – 2nd place (behind to Dave Smith in a Bugeye Sprite but again faster then last year) and a hotly contested 3rd place in one of the largest fields of Vintage 1 racers (4 cars with 5 drivers). This places Tom Styczynski in the PHA record book among other noted Vintage 1 champions including Lloyd Geib Jr., Dave Smith and other people you do not know.

After the announcement Tom thanked the staff at The Clarksville Garages for their support in making this championship possible. The following were singled out for their effort:

Team Manager – Tom Styczynski
Chief Mechanic – Tom Styczynski
Shop Support Crew – Tom Styczynski
Parts/Logistics Department – Tom Styczynski
Transporter Driver – Tom Styczynski
Team Photographer – Carla Styczynski (assisted by Tom Styczynski)
Moral Support – Carla Styczynski
Immoral Support – Various Sources

The plans for the 2011 season are uncertain. Rumors persist that #38 is for sale and Tom is planning a move to the West Coast. Tom has rejected the offer from Najwyższym Biegu w Polsce (translation - Top Gear in Poland) to replace Stash (translation – Stanley) the performance driver.

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UMW Triumphs at Road & Track Concours d’Elegance

Elkhart Lake, Wisc. 21 JUNE 2010 – After five years of restoration work, UMW’s former Penske Racing 1972 International Fleetstar 2110A did the unthinkable this past weekend in Elkhart Lake, Wisconsin, winning ‘Best in Show’ at the Road & Track Concours d’Elegance, an event that is coupled annually with the Kohler International Challenge with Brian Redman at the four-mile Road America racing facility and the streets of Elkhart Lake.

It all started Friday evening on the streets of Elkhart Lake and the grounds of the fabulous Osthoff Resort, where the team’s freshly-restored 1972 transporter came away with a class win in the retired racecars class, beating out many famous racing cars; including the team’s 1972 All-American Racers Indy Eagle. From there, the truck was displayed at Road America for much of the weekend, where it served as a landmark for the 2010 Mark Donohue Reunion tent before Sunday’s overall Concours judging.

Showing the hauler alone with the ramps out would have only told half the story to the thousands of fans who made it out to the KIC. Thus, UMW team manager Rick Dresang consulted with Matt Drendel of Heritage Motorwerks, owner of the 1973 Porsche 917-30 on display under the Reunion tent. Rick and Matt came to the decision that the 917-30 would look great parked at the end of the International’s loading ramps to give the complete ‘Tonka set’ look to the truck. After checking with the judges, the 917-30 was allowed into the gated Concours area, and parked at the end of the loading ramps for the first time in over 36 years. When the final votes were tallied; the UMW crew, headed by team manager Rick Dresang, took home the ‘Best in Show’ award.

‘It is a great honor to take home the Best in Show award at the Road & Track Concours d’Elegance,’ said Dresang. ‘The truck was a massive undertaking to restore. We couldn’t have done it without the help of Dick Saleva, Heinz Mihm, Calico Hand Painted Pinstriping, Paul Jay, Dan O., Rick U., Jon ‘Wadewerx’ Wade, Gary Welk, Southland International Trucks Ltd., Lakeside International and the former Penske team members for their help in bringing the transporter back to former glory. A big thank you also goes out to Matt Drendel and his Heritage Motorwerks crew for helping complete the display with their Porsche 917-30.’

The team also had their ’72 Eagle-Offenhauser on-track during the course of the weekend with team driver Paul Jay taking the turbocharged Offy up through the gears on the car’s first laps of the Road America circuit. The UMW team will be seen next during the weekend of August 6-8, 2010 at the Road America circuit where team driver Jacques Dresang will make his 2010 debut in SCCA competition in the team’s newly-restored 1977 All-American Racers DGF Formula Ford. It will be the team’s first foray into formula car competition.

UMW is a team dedicated to the integrity and preservation of the history of motorsports. Since 1996, UMW has competed in various forms of racing; always with the same attention to detail that can be seen today in the various machines currently raced and restored by the team. For more information, please visit www.uemsimotorwerks.com.

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Photo Credits:

AtSpeed.jpg – UMW driver Paul Jay at-speed in the team’s 1972 All-American Racers Indy Eagle #7225. (UMW Photo)

Teamset.jpg – The 1972 International Fleetstar 2110A transporter was reunited with Heritage Motorwerks’ 1973 Porsche 917-30 for the first time in over 36 years. (UMW Photo)

Bestinshow.jpg – UMW team manager Rick Dresang, left, and Heritage Motorwerks’ Matt Drendel share the accolades of the ‘Best in Show’ award at the Road & Track Concours d’Elegance. (Steve Zautke Photo)

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Lyn St. James announces “ACCELERATE with Lyn St. James”

Racing legend Lyn St. James announces “ACCELERATE with Lyn St. James” to debut on NewsProNet

Available Through Hundreds of Local News Sites, the Program is Targeted to Women Drivers and Auto Buyers

MIAMI, FL, June 29, 2010 – NewsProNet, the leading provider of original syndicated video news to local broadcasters and online news destinations, today announced a new automotive program targeted to women with famed professional driver, Lyn St. James. Debuting in January, “Accelerate with Lyn St. James” will be seen three times per week on hundreds of local news sites and other NewsProNet worldwide syndication outlets.

Ms. St. James is best known as the trailblazing motor racing professional who was the first woman to win a North American professional road race driving solo (Watkins Glen, New York in 1985). She competed in the Indianapolis 500 seven times and is the first woman named Indy 500 “Rookie of the Year” (1992).

“I’m excited about sharing a lifetime of experience behind the wheel,” said Ms. St. James. “Many women are uncomfortable financially and mechanically with cars, but it's no different than taking care of your body. The first step is knowing the basics and building on those.”

Women account for about 50% of vehicle purchases and 80% of auto maintenance and repairs.

“Like your body, if you take care of your car, your car will take care of you,” added Ms. St. James.

Ms. St. James has worked as an on-air auto racing commentator for ABC and ESPN, and has authored three books, “Ride of Your Life,” “Only This Morning You’re All Grown Up” and “The Lyn St. James Car Owner’s Manual for Women.”

Ms. St. James will serve as co-producer, scriptwriter and on-camera talent for the new program, which will be seen three times per week. Using a format of two-minute segments, Ms. St. James will cover driving safely, auto maintenance and ownership. She’ll also give viewers a sense of what it’s like to be behind the wheel competing in some of the most famous motorsports events in the world.

“We're thrilled to have Lyn St. James as the driving force behind our latest video syndicated offering,” said Bob Rodriguez, chairman, NewsProNet. "We believe that Lyn's vast knowledge, her passionate love of autos and her ability to relate to men and women everywhere will create a huge following for ‘Accelerate.’"

NewsProNet news segments reach more than 50% of U.S. TV households and millions of online visitors every month. “Accelerate” provides national advertising and sponsorship options including pre-roll, video overlay, and display advertising opportunities. Additional advertising and sponsorships are available through the local media outlets that carry the video content on their websites.

“Accelerate with Lyn St. James” is co-produced by Tel-Air Interests, Inc., a full-service film/video production and development company located in the Hollywood Production Complex in Hollywood, Florida. Tel-Air's Studio facilities support a full range of video and audio services, with two film and television stages and state-of-the-art video tape and non-linear digital editing bays.

NewsProNet provides syndicated news content to major market TV stations across the U.S., including local NBC, ABC, CBS and FOX affiliates. A trusted source for premium video news content for more than 12 years, the company is also the creator and syndicator of short-form programming in key vertical audiences licensed to more than 300 Web sites worldwide.

“Accelerate” is the latest in a series of NewsProNet initiatives to distribute high-quality online video news content co-produced with some of the most-recognized names in business and consumer news. NewsProNet’s HealthDay TV service is a joint production with HealthDay Consumer News Service, and “The Main Street Money Minute” Web video news reports are co-produced with TheStreet.com’s personal consumer finance news site, MainStreet.com. HealthDay TV is available daily in the MSN global network.

About NewsProNet
NewsProNet Video, Inc. with headquarters in Miami and offices in Boston and San Diego, is a privately held company that produces original syndicated news services for local broadcasters and online news destinations worldwide. NewsProNet news segments reach more than 50% of U.S. TV households and millions of online visitors every month. NewsProNet provides content services to stations and websites owned by major affiliate groups, including ABC, CBS, NBC, Fox, Scripps Broadcasting, Cox Broadcasting, BELO Broadcasting, Raycom Media, Meredith and others. For more information visit www.newspronetvideo.com/

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Watkins Glen F5000 Revival Weekend

Watkins Glen F5000 revival weekend last was good, however spotty weather, some nice days during the week, started to turn overcast with intermittent rain showers. As you know we don't run the F5000 cars in the rain, too dangerous and cars are too valuable... say nothing of the drivers ??? Oh heck most of them are too old anyway...

Sat qualifying race , weather good, however I had some issues with the RIAM Eagle, throttle pedal placement position change when brake pedal started dropping during the race. Quite unnerving,had to rely on my left foot braking technique to make it through the race. Otherwise my right foot would get caught up between the brake & gas pedal, no room for down there in the foot box to have this happen. I soldiered through the race finished 3rd in class and 5th overall. Not too bad for an ole guy, oldest racing a car like the Eagle. Amazingly we were 4 seconds a lap faster than last year, 'Fast is Never Fast Enough" My Left Foot Breaking technique saved the day...

Sunday rain came in , we missed the only early practice session and later in the afternoon F5000 feature race was gridded. The Fog rolled in big time... We delayed for awhile, hoping it would lift, than ran two pace laps under yellow and called it a day. Fogged out of the race... so bad you couldn't see the corner workers at flagging stations until you got right on top of there location. Our Sat qualifying race results held for our final weekend F5000 revival.

My good friend Will Silk exec editor of Sports Car Digest www.sportscardigest.com was on hand for the 3rd consecutive year to help out RIAM Master mechanic Bill Losee and Team owner Doug Magnon. It is really amazing to meet up with 6 or more of New Face Book friends at the Walter Mitty and the Glen . My ole friend Joe Cali was on hand as well as Oscar Koveleski, Prez of the Polish Racing Drivers of America, to give moral support...PRDA racing tips.? Just a Great Weekend !

Next F5000 race event will be at Road America, Elkhart Lake, Wisconsin in July 15-18 . RIAM and crew of the Eagle is all race prepped and ready to go ! RA is one of my favorite places the Eagle does well there.

All the best Best Tony a2zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz

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WOMEN IN THE WINNER'S CIRCLE FOUNDATION

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Women in the Winner’s Circle Foundation Announces New Project Podium Grant Program

PHOENIX (March 23, 2010) – The Women in the Winner’s Circle Foundation, founded by Lyn St. James, announced Justine Jackson as the recipient of the newly-established Project Podium Scholarship in conjunction with Volkswagen of America Inc. The scholarship was established in partnership with a number of the series sponsors to provide support for female drivers in the SCCA Pro Racing 2010 Volkswagen Jetta TDI Cup Series.

The eligible candidates had to compete in the Final Driver’s Selection event, which was held Feb. 7-9 at the South Point Hotel Casino and Spa Resort in Las Vegas. Jackson, who was a 2007 Foundation Driver Development Academy driver, earned the scholarship that will enable her to compete in the entire 2010 season.

Jackson was born in 1990 in Kingston, Jamaica, and started competing in go-karts at the age of 12 in the Junior Sportsman Rookie Class, racing for the Jetcon Racing Team. In 2004 she raced in the Junior Sportsman Yamaha class and in 2005 and 2006 in the Junior Rotax Class, finishing third in the championship both years. In 2007 she raced in the ICC 125cc Shifter class, attended the Skip Barber Racing School and the Women in the Winner’s Circle Driver Development Academy. In 2008 she finished second in the Rotax Sr. Championship and fifth in the 125cc Shifter Class. In 2009 she moved to the United States to study Motorsports Management at Belmont Abbey College in North Carolina.

One of five women who participated in the Jetta TDI Cup tryouts and one of only two selected to compete in this year’s championship, Jackson had this to say: "The Jetta TDI Cup Driver Selection event was an intense experience that tested me on all levels. For me it was the first time driving a TDI and I absolutely loved it, and I am thrilled to be a part of the 2010 driver lineup. A big thank you to Project Podium and its partners for this amazing opportunity."

“I’m so pleased the partners of the Jetta TDI Cup Series made the decision to support female drivers within our Project Podium Grant Program," said St. James. "And Justine has worked extremely hard on getting experience to prepare her for this opportunity. We’ll be working with her throughout the season and will do whatever we can to help her be successful."

About Project Podium:
Project Podium is a scholarship fund within the Women in the Winner’s Circle Foundation, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization established in 1994 by Lyn St. James. To date, just over $95,000 in value has been distributed to young female drivers who compete in all forms of motorsports including karting, quarter midgets, drag racing, sports car and oval track racing.

The overarching goal of Project Podium is to provide financial assistance in the form of matching grants to female drivers to help further their professional careers. Secondarily, the Project Podium process introduces or further provides experience for drivers in the very important business aspect of the racing industry by the matching fund requirement.

The SCCA Pro Racing Volkswagen Jetta TDI Cup Series Project Podium Scholarship has received support from the following: iRacing.com, Arciero Miller Racing, and Pirelli Tires. Other Project Podium partners include: Grand-Am, NHRA, Rolex, Newman’s Own, Toyota, Mazda, and Mike Helton.

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Terri Deren, PRDA Member #40, Passes Away

Sorry to Report- SCCA, IMSA, SVRA Road Racing Loses Another Friend and Competitor To Cancer- Terri Deren, Carbondale PA

Jack Deren's wife Terri, AKA Evelynn D. died February 21 after brief illness. The full Obituary is online below, and if you click on the words 'light a candle to share your thoughts and memories' the family will receive them at the funeral home. 'Follow 'prompts' it is a safe site.

http://parisefuneralhome.com/obituary_view/71630

Jack Deren And Terry Thompson's Love Story Started With A Dangerous Spark!

The Auto World Can Am Racing Team was formed in 1969 and did fairly well. . Until the Sept...'Big Bang!' Chief Mechanic Jack Deren was seriously burned when a 'corroded' natural gas line leaked gas inside the building's cinder blocks. A tiny spark from a light switch Jack turned on exploded the gas and blew all four walls out destroying the building, several cars, and the team's 1969 McLaren MK 6B. It was a disaster. Jack was burned terribly......given a slight chance of surviving.......and Team Auto World shut down.

A Marriage Made In Heaven -The Comeback Kids....

Evelynn D. 'Terri' Thompson was working in sales at Auto World, was interested in auto racing and visited Jack daily and became his Angel of smiles... Terri started nursing him back to health. A friendly and beautiful lady who also modeled various items for the auto world catalogs. Jack wanted to go racing again, Terri and Jack both worked well together and Auto World got back on track racing in May 1970- with a used McLaren, Bruce McLaren's MK8B team car...... Oscar Koveleski drove in SCCA races and Can Am's in 1970, winning the SCCA National Championship and in 1971 Tony Adamowicz placed as high as 3rd in the Can Am series and Oscar finished 2nd in SCCA National Championship behind Jerry Hansen. The 5 person team was doing pretty well....During this season, the team really bonded when Jack and Terry got married...!!!!!!

A Race Team Of 'Pranksters' Including the Girls

When Tony Adamowicz and Brad Niemcek formed the PRDA ...Polish Racing Drivers Of America..they convinced Oscar to act as President ..various events were held at the races, slot car racing, radio control races, creeper races, presenting pole position trophies.....The two gals on our race team...went along with the pranks and did there own........at Road America Can Am .....Terri Deren and Elaine Koveleski emptied the Johnson Wax cans ad filled them with butterscotch pudding for the party....even Stirling Moss.....had to 'try this!'

After Team Auto World shut down in 1971.......Jack and Terri continued racing in SCCA, IMSA, SVRA....winning many events in USA and Canada...
against many factory teams....meeting new people, making new friends.....Yes we will miss Terri....how can we help????

LET US CONTINUE TERRI'S WE CAN DO IT SPIRIT! .....IN RACING AND HOW SHE SHARED HER EVERYDAY LIFE WITH A SMILE AND HELPING HAND TO PEOPLE IN NEED.....Thanks Terri, RIP.........your Team Auto World/PRDA friends.............


Oscar Kovelseki




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