I just want to say thanks to the dedicated few that "played through the rain". I had a good time even if I didn't get the track time I wanted in the sunshine I ordered.
I think the goal for me was to meet some guys I hadn't met before and get to know some guys that I really didn't know that well before. I met my best friend at this event and my top 10 are mainly people from Run and Gun. It seems that every year I meet some people who have the most amazing stories. I wish there would have been more people but life happens. I'm sure you will hear some of those stories as well.
I want to thank Clois for all the work he has done this year. He is not the type to ever say but you just can't imagine the effort he puts into this event.
We will not be running at St. Louis next year.
Yes that's right. After more than 10 years we have decided to move to a different location. I don't think it is quite time for that announcement but stay tuned!
It rained so hard, you just can't describe it! Have you ever driven on a high speed road course in the rain! Some did this year. Have you ever been to a rodeo and seen a barrel race? Well, we did it in our cars this year. (I actually did it in Clois's car!) It was a blast! Have you ever though of floating your cobra down a river? (yeah, me either) but we did it! There was actually a section of the auto-x that was running water!
I thought the banquet was fun and the steak was pretty good. We gave away a track day pass from MVP track time with proceeds going to Operation Comfort and when the bidding slowed, Jay Nordstrom through in a complete NASCAR truck to sweeten the deal!!!!!
I think the buyer of the truck is going to sell it on Ebay and donate all the proceeds to the charity. We all gave what we could and in the end we had giving over $17,000 to our fallen soldiers. God bless all of them and the sacrifices they have made for all of us. In the morning I began to wonder if we might have crossed the line with the passing of the hat twice. If any one thought that was to much, I apologize but we are collectively a very generous group and we rarely have a forum in which to give back to our military.
In the end it was a success because it really isn't about the cars. It is about the friendships created and I created some new ones and renewed some old ones.
Good luck to everyone this year and I look forward to seeing everyone next year, where ever we are! ( Hint: if it rains, we can still race indoors!
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