Minuteman

2013 was a busy year for the Section. We appointed three new Directors who will bring new ideas and events. We named Thompson Speedway Motorsports Park{TSMP} as Official Road Course of the Minuteman Section, while holding events across New England. 

TSMP is the oldest Closed Road Course in this country predating Lime Rock and Watkins Glen by quite a few years. During 2013 TSMP under went a $4 million reconstruction including a complete repave of the Road Course with new turns added as well. New Paddock and Garages were built along with Scoring Tower and Autocross area. This a complete Motorsports venue with a 5/8 Mile High Banked Oval{the oldest Paved Oval in the country} and 1/4 midget track. With an 18 Hole Championship Golf Course, Restaurant and Banquet Facilities it's the most complete Motorsports Venue in the Northeast.

The biggest "New" for 2014 is the Autocross at TSMP on May 24 th. An Autocross is run on a slow speed course laid out with rubber cones and run against the clock. The goal is to drive as fast as you can with hitting the least amount of cones. You'll learn to use the safety and handling features built into your Mercedes Benz and be a better driver and with the only thing to hit being cones you won't damage your car or yourself. This is just the prelude!

In 2015 we plan to hold a full track day at TSMP which will run the full Road Course against the clock. This will give our members a taste of what racing is all about in a safe controlled way. We'll need volunteers to help with the event and it will serve as training for an event in 2016, more on that in a moment.

In the Fall of 2015 we plan to hold the National Board Meeting which will give our members a chance to see the Club government at work, this is something every member should xperience at least once. At this meeting we will make a presentation for our Section to hold Starfest 2016 ! Starfest will be held at Thompson Speedway Motorsports Park with Mohegan Sun as the host hotel. This event includes track days, a car show, rallye, vendor seminars and banquets. This event has never been held in the Northeast and we'll need your help to make it happen. 

I'd like to welcome our newest Director Joe Pawelczyk to the Board. I've known Joe for almost 43 years and I'm sure his contributions will be many.  

As Always I can be reached at [email protected] or 860-315-5575

Saturday's Pumpkin Rallye was our last event of the year and Director Court and Pear Brannen did a spectacular job! On their first attempt at an event and a Rallye at that, they put together a one of the best events of the year. The route went through Central Mass with great scenery and was just about the right length. Lunch at the Papa Razzi was a real treat. We saw a lot of new members and first time attendees.

Court stood up to my challenge of new and or different members running events. This is what the Section needs to grow and attract more members, and to get more current members
to attend.

I'd like to ask those of you that haven't listed an Associate Member to do so, this affords them the same privilege as Full Membership and brings the Section higher in the National Ranking. This can be done by logging on to the National website www.mbca.org and creating an online log in or by calling National at 1-800-637-2360.

I hope everyone has a great Holiday Season and we'll see you next year.

I hope that everyone is finding someplace cool in this Tropical part of the country. If I didn't know better I'd swear we moved to Florida.

This spring we added two new Directors to the Board, Dean Coclin and Cort Brannen. These two men will compliment Ed, Mark and Steve as the future of the Board and Officers. Each will bring new ideas to position the Section for the future as they assimilate with those of us who are getting a bit long in the tooth. The Board now has a good mix of experience and youth.

I'd like to welcome our newest sponsor The Boston Motorsports Club, this is a unique way to drive Exotic Supercars click their banner on the home page.

As always I can be reached at [email protected] or 860-315-5575 to share your thought's and ideas.