Delta Region Wins 2007 TLAC

TLAC Club Championship Trophy

When I volunteered to be RE in 2004, one of perks I was looking forward to was being the keeper the TLAC Club Championship Trophy, which called Delta Region home for 10 years. Of course, Delta lost the Club Championship that year amidst much controversy, and Sowela took possession of The Trophy. The following year I vowed to bring The Trophy back home to Delta, but our run was ended before the series finale by Hurricane Katrina. No club was awarded The Trophy, and the plaque that was added to the trophy simply said “2005 Katrina”. Sowela kept The Trophy for safe keeping during 2006. Rebuilding Delta Region was the top priority, but we made a fine run for 2006, eventually losing the Club Championship to Sowela in a heart-breaking finale, just a few drivers short of winning. Not a bad showing considering the conditions we faced in 2006, but it really demonstrated how it took more than a few dedicated members to win the Championship: it takes an entire Club to return The Trophy. I promised to do everything possible to get back our Trophy, and we all rallied together to win the Club Championship for 2007. Many thanks to all the members who came out and supported Delta Region in reclaiming The Trophy.
Honestly, it was close at the end. We built up a pretty strong lead in the first three events, but the finale was in Sowela, where they can bring 25-35 drivers. Our lead was 29 drivers: however many we brought to Lake Charles, they would need about 29 more to win it. We had 10 drivers pre-registered, and only 6 showed up (amazing considering we brought 13 to Shreveport). Sowela showed up with 27 drivers, so our lead, while seriously eroded, was good enough for the win. In hindsight, we didn’t even need to show up, but it was certainly possible for Sowela to win the Club Championship. I was sweating bullets Saturday night when I could count the Delta members on one hand, but luckily the huge lead we worked so hard for earlier in the year paid off in the end. The TLAC Pointskeeper, Bob Evenson, and TLAC Chair, Doug Narby, presented Delta Region with the TLAC Club Championship Trophy. The Trophy sits on my dining table until we lose it or my wife makes me move it, whichever comes first (you guess which).

-Benson Young, Regional Executive