The Driver’s Seat : The Regional Executive Report

Dear Members,

 

A new year is here and Delta is primed for it to be an outstanding one.  First business of the year was to put in place a new Board of Directors.  You new officers are:

 

Regional Executive:  Darren Darby

Assistant Regional Executive:  Anthony Shepherd

Treasurer: Gail DeLeon

Secretary:  Matthew Patterson

Solo Chair:  Justin Victor

Membership Chair: Damon Cuccio

Novice Chair/Communications Chair:  Benson Young

Drift Chair:  Rodney Prejean

Bill Sims

Walter Smith

Roma Kent

John Dugas

Chuck Weiss

 

All these members volunteered to step up and help run the region this year.  When you see them at the next event, congratulate them and thank them for their service.  You will be able to spot the Region’s Board members by the blue, black and white pit crew shirts they will be wearing at all events.

 

We conducted our annual awards banquet, passing out class trophies, and other awards.  The 2008 recipients were:

 

Driver of the Year:  Benson Young

PAX Champion:  Tony Shepherd

Member of the Year:  Mitchell Mark

Most Improved:  Darren Darby

Class Champions

–         Super Stock – Brian Harper

–         A Stock – Iain Brooks

–         B Stock – Walter Smith

–         C Stock – Tony Shepherd

–         D Stock – Brett Mount

–         Street Touring X – Jack Heaton

–         C Street Prepared – Darren Darby

–         E Street Prepared – Charles Weiss

–         Street Modified – Bill Sims

–         X – Benson Young

 

It is interesting to note that two of Delta’s class champions were CENLA members:  Brett Mount and Max Bales.  It goes to show that Delta is a place that all drivers are welcome and all drivers enjoy. 

 

We are starting a Double Entry program to help enhance the driver experience, promote attendance by out of town guests, and generate needed income for the Region.  This allows drivers to register twice for any event and get double the runs.  How it works:  A member registers in both their normal class and the Double Entry (DE) class.  They pay a normal entry fee for the first entry and an additional $20.00 for the DE entry.  On race day, the DE drivers will receive points, PAX, and any Delta Championship points for their runs during the first heat.  The second heat runs will not count towards points, but will be saved and displayed with any event results.  We hope this will help to attract more drivers such as Brett and Max from outlying areas to Delta to participate and it will give local drivers valuable seat time in preparation for TLAC, Divisionals and National-level events.   

 

Speaking of TLAC – while the trophy endures a long year in a strange place (RRR is basically just hosting our trophy in their region), we need to work hard to get it back home this year!!  This is going to take a concerted effort by the entire membership but we have done it many times in the past and I have every confidence we will do it again this year.  While the TLAC schedule is not out yet, please keep it in you mind and plans for “must do” events.  Keep watching the Delta and AUTOXFORUM websites for updates on scheduled events.   For more information, see your TLAC representatives Bill Sims and Walter Smith.

 

Mr. Tony Shepherd and Mr. Bill Sims will be working to put together a marketing plan for Delta region.  The goal will be to involve local businesses in the region’s events and to obtain sponsorships for those businesses.  Those sponsorships will help to pay for things like the site fee, trophies, timing equipment, etc.  If you work for a company or know of a company that would benefit from exposure to the Delta region, please let Tony or Bill know so we can approach them.  It’s a great deal for companies and an even better deal for Delta. 

 

The Delta Drift program will be a strong one this year.  We are scheduled to have four sanctioned events at NAS New Orleans.  Please support this effort when you can by participating, volunteering to assist, or just coming out to watch.  While drift is something new to Delta, grassroots motorsports is not.  Let’s keep the tradition of supporting these types of efforts to the fullest extent.  For more information on the drift program, see Rodney Prejean.

 

Lastly, it is my honor to serve the Region as RE and I understand it comes with tremendous responsibility.  I look forward to talking to each and every Delta member and getting their inputs on how their region should be run.  Please just remember that, of all the things Delta needs, we need help – help in the form of manpower to keep the region going.  I ask each member to try to give just one extra day this year to assist the Region in completing its mission.  Volunteer to take on Event Chair, or Worker Chief.  Volunteer to assist with the annual trailer cleaning (date TBD).  Volunteer to help with marketing (working car shows, show and shines, club meetings, talk to businesses), and most of all talk to drivers!!  Sell Delta any chance you get.  You see a nice car, walk up and talk to the owner and invite them to a Delta event.  On a message board, put a post about the next Delta event.  Bring your brother, mother, father, even your 2^nd cousin to the next event.  Offer rides to spectators at events.  You are the best salesperson for Delta as you already know all the benefits of membership and participation.  Just tell someone, anyone your story about a day at an autocross event!!

 

Please feel free to contact me with any issues or suggestions you may have.  My email is Darren.darby@charter.net or I can be reached on my cell phone at 985-788-1172.

 

Thank you and see you on the course. 

 

Darren Darby

Regional Executive