1987 Turnworker Newsletters
May 10 3th race
June 28 4th race
July 19 5th Race
September 13 7th race
October 11 8th Race
End of season

Fourth Race
For the race of June 28, 1987...

Oil, deer, crashes, more oil, bird nests falling from the bridges on to the track, more crashes, a fawn in turn 5, lots of workers, well, I guess you just had to be there on May 10th. Everyone was alert and on top of the situations. The clean-up time was fast. Great communication calls, especially turn 7 (the Carson City Crew). What a nice day. Our professionalism is improving with each race. Let us all work hard to keep it up.

Turn 2 seems like the place for action this year and the all veteran crew of Dennis Baird, Jeff Taylor, Russ Hays, and Kym Contway, were all kept mooovin'. It was good to see Jim Bergquist back at the track after his injury. But the "star of the shoe" was Marvin Collins Sr., who caught a baby deer (aka fawn) behind turn 5, and helped escort it away from harm.

The new recruits for the May 10th race are: Denise Santinelli and Robert Cornelius from turn 2, brothers Dan and James Meeks form the carousel, Billy Hoffman from turn 7, Anthony Soares from turn 8A, John Bechtol from turn 9, John Clayton from turn 10, and David Rives from turn 11. Eve Benjamin helped out at Start / Finish along with someone we haven't seen in a while, Tommy Bright, who gets the Long Distance award for coming all the way from Corpus Christi, Texas.

At the AFM meeting in Oakland on May 11th, a few things were brought up about turnworkers. We received a round of applause, started by Scott Gray (still sore from his injuries from his turn 11 incident), from the attendees for doing a great job on May 10th. Passing under a yellow, or ambulance flag is against the rules. Though it is not our responsibility to police this rule, we were asked to keep a eye open for violators, as well as pointing at oil or debris spots, and using hand and arm gestures to steer the racers around the incident. Another helpful hint, especially for communicators, was shared with me by one of The Crew. Bring along binoculars to help you see the far away number plates and to pick up a clip-board, paper, and pencil (all provided by the AFM) to write things down when they happen and help remember bike numbers.

A rumor from the June 8th AFM meeting; Official AFM hats and T shirts will be available soon.

There is an open practice (cars and bikes) at Sears Point on Saturday June 27th. Anyone who is interested in working a turn please call Reah Dods at for more information.

New Business

It looks like, as of this writing that there still may not be a regular worker gate. When you get to Sears Point, try to stay to your left, against the fence, and we'll try to get in through the exit gate. Anyway, be through the gate between 6:30 and 7:30 am. The morning meeting will be at 7:45, at Start / Finish. The earlier the better for getting the turn you want. Bring along the usual stuff: sunglasses, sunscreen, munchies, soda, warm and cool weather clothes (no reds or yellows). Lunch will be provided, as will after race beverages. If you have any questions, feel free to give me a call at. See you at the races.

Fifth Race
For the race of July 19th 1987...

Whew!! I know I've said it before, but you just had to be there on June 28th. I mean bikes and riders were flying everywhere. Turn 10 even had one vault over the wall! (Great call turn 10) Usually, I go to the races to get away from sweeping up around the house, but an oil slick from turn 11 to up the drag strip kept the workers brooms operating for a long time. Not to mention cleaning up all those bikes and injured riders sprawled all over. By the way, the guy that got run over at Start / Finish will be up and walking again in about three months, with a full recovery expected. Doug Smith, at Race Control, said communication was the best so far this year, and that we were really looking out for each other. 2 helping 3, 6 helping 5, 8A sending the NMPs to 6, and everybody helping start/finish. He also said, "Aren't you glad we don't have sidecars?". Barbara Smith, our Race Director said, "All the workers were ”really• extra efficient when the riders ”really• needed it".

Turn 6, with Mike Santinelli, Denise Stevens, and new guys Doug Westmacott, Paul Michell, Tim Durham, and Gil Estrada, had their share of action, and made some great calls. Turn 8, with the husband and wife team of David and Camilla Rogers, and new workers Tom Moderzejowski and Ed Stockton, was kept busy chasing all sorts of things. Bill Riggins, Mike Johnson, Jim Bergquist, and Dave Stump, held down the fort at turn 11. And then there was turn 2. I've already mentioned them enough this year. So, it was business as usual, with the exception that Charles Bates brought his wife, Renate, along this time to show her what he does on his days off.

The new workers not already mentioned before are: Guy Doss from turn 3, and Mark Lamon from turn 7 helping out the Carson City Crew. Thanks, all of you new workers, for the help and don't forget your way back to the races. We did a great job of catching racers passing under yellow and ambulance flags. Write those bike numbers down. Keep up the good work.

New Business

Things worked pretty well without any worker gate so lets try it again. Stay to the left (against the fence) as you enter the Sears Point grounds, and drive to the main gate. I gave up trying to be a Weather Person last year when I told my friends, parents, the fog would burn off by 10:00 am. After all they were from back east and I was a Native Californian. Needless to say I don't think the fog ever burned off that day... Where was I?... Oh yea, the weather! Be prepared for hot or cold weather, so dress appropriately. (No shorts) Remember, no red of yellow clothing, just all the white clothes you have. You don't want to be mistaken for a flag, grabbed by your leg and waved? (If you have yellow and a red stripe, you should be held, not waved.) Be through the main gate between 6:30 and 7:30 am. The earlier the better for getting the turn you want. The morning meeting will start at 7:45, at Start / Finish. Lunch and after race beverages will be provided. Bring along the usual stuff: Sodas (no alcohol), sunglasses and sun screen (weather permitting), munchies, binoculars, hats, etc.  If you have any questions or comments, please give me a call at. See you there!!

Seventh Race
For the race of September 13th 1987.

Our August 23rd race was just another exciting day at the races. Lots of oil, haybales, and crashes kept all of our workers on their toes. With the way things were going in the morning and early afternoon, it looked like it was going to be a very long day. Thank goodness that the racers behaved themselves in the late afternoon. We were a little short-handed, but everyone made up for it by working extra hard. As Barbara Smith, our Race Director, said, "We done good!"

The turn 4 crew of Mike Santarelli, Denise Stevens, Russ Hays, and Steven May did especially well on their calls. They also did a great job of cleaning up and keeping their sanity. Bill Riggins headed the turn 11 crew of Linda Pauli, David Stump, and Richard Burfield, and all did a great job. Linda is giving the Carson City Crew (Bruce and Pete Barnum) a run for their money on who has the longest drive. She drives from Raymond, near Fresno! Our turn 2 crew gets a extra special thank you for their assistance to the National Motorcycle Patrollers and the ambulance personnel during the helicopter transport incident. Helping under difficult conditions, without getting frantic, takes a strong stomach and real dedication. Thank you Dennis Baird, Charles Bates, Jeff Taylor, and Tom Modrzejowski. By the way, the helicopter transport guy will be OK.

We only had three new workers for this race. John Paulson helped the Carson City Crew in turn 7. Carl Dreier worked turn numero uno. Buzz Myers daughter, Shari Adkins, was in turn 6. Thank you for your help, and don't forget your way back. Speaking of new workers, if you know someone who would like to join our family, bring them along. The only requirements are that they are over 18, have common sense, a good attitude, and want to have fun.

A couple of things to remember. Flaggers, keep the yellow flag in your hands at all times so you can get it out fast. During the races, please, always remain standing so you can get out of the way fast.

New Business

In the works for the last race of e year, October 11th, is a FREE BBQ for the whole family. Yes, we want you to bring along the whole family so you can show them what you do when you're not at home on race Sundays. The BBQ will be after the race. This will give your race family a chance to meet your home family. The details will be in the next newsletter. You will be asked to make reservations with me so we can plan food for the on the number of people. Remember, mark your calender!

Its pretty much the some old stuff for the September 13th race. Stay to the left, past all the waiting racers, up to the main gate and tell the gate workers you are a turn worker. And darn proud, too! The gates should open at 6:15 am. Please be through the gate by 7:30. The earlier the better for getting the turn you want. The morning meeting with Barb, Doug and Phill will be at Start / Finish at 7:45. For the new workers, wear as much white clothes as you can find and be prepared for hot or cold weather. Also, you can bring along munchies, sodas, suntan lotion, hats, bonos, and gloves. As usual, coffee and donuts in the morning, lunch, and after race beverages, will be provided. If you have any questions, please call Phill Brown at.

Eight Race
For the last race of the year, October 11th 1987....

In Memory of Mario Manucal

On September 10th 1987 Mario Manucal (our helicopter transport) died of injuries sustained during his crash at Start / Finish. Mario left behind a family and two sons. Before you go to bed tonight, please say a prayer for his family.

Sometimes, after a particular nasty crash, I feel that the crashes would end if I didn't show up. But, of course, that isn't true. The sport of motorcycle racing is dangerous, and the racers accept that risk. Sometimes, you crash. Hopefully, you get up and dust yourself off. Occasionally, you don't. I try to console myself with the knowledge that my presence at the race track will make the race just that much safer.

Never have our skills at the racetrack been more tested than at the past several AFM races. Our "job" is the most important job of all; track safety. We all come from diverse backgrounds, yet we are able to work together, like a finely honed unit, to volunteer for the sport we love. We are one, big, happy, extended family. Although we work as a unit, do not forget each individual worker has a noticeable impact on each raceday. Our ability to assess, report, react, stabilize, and clean(c)up incidents is quickly becoming second nature, and it shows. We are so fast getting the flags out that bad incidents are kept from becoming worse. Compliments of our work keep pouring in. As I have said before, the BEST keep getting better!

Jeff Taylor, from turn 2, told me that not all of the excitement was on the track. Apparently, there was a bee hive near by. Jeff said he picked out quite a few stingers from his pants. OUCH!!

Old Old Business
 

Jan Bash, on the USARM Board of Directors, apologized to me on behalf of USARM for not contacting the AFM workers for the Laguna Seca National. She said, "It won't happen again."

New Business / BBQ Time
 

At the AFM meeting on September 14th 1987, The AFM Board of Directors OK’d to subsidize the worker BBQ. Also, AFM has bought secondary injury insurance for us Turnworkers. Thanks AFM!!

It looks like we will have a place to have our after race BBQ. Ken Augustine gave us permission to use his shop space at the track. Thanks Ken!

To help us get setup for the BBQ, please RSVP. We need to get a head count. Either give me a call, or fill out the attached form and send it to me. Please bring along some chairs and warm clothes because it's getting chilly at night. We will have a few PRIZES to give away. Remember, the BBQ is for our families that let us "go out and play" once a month.

The Main gate will be open at 6:15. Be through the gate by 7:30. Unfortunately, only track workers will be allowed to enter without paying. (The Rules). The morning meeting will be at Start / Finish at 7:45. Green track at 8:30. Coffee and donuts, as well as lunch, and the BBQ will be provided.

If you have any questions, please call or write:
 

End of season Newsletter.......
 

What better way to end a fantastic season than a fantastic race. With all of the money racers down south (crashing for dollars), we had a real quiet day for ourselves, and compared to the last three, we really deserved it.
 

And what better way to end the last fantastic race of the season than to have a fantastic BBQ! I would like to thank all of the people that helped out, and made it possible. First off I'd like to thank the AFM North Board for the bucks. The next thanks go to the folks who gave us all of the stuff we raffled off: Chuck Lanzarone and John Fosgate of Sierra Motorcycle Products, Kinner Engineering, and Joe and Wayne Montoya of Team Bozo. And in supporting roles are: Ken Augustine, for letting us use his shop, Barbara (but they don't carry industrial strength ketchup at Price Club) Smith, my friend, Pete Kozas (he let us borrow his ex-hospital bed / Bar B Que on wheels!), Paul from The Taste of Britain (he kept our beer cool). And last, but not least, the set-up and cook crew were, my wife, (what do you mean I have to cook for 150 people!) Deidre, Tommy (how can we miss you if you won't go away) Bright, Joann, John "Flipper" Fosgate, the head burger turner, and his assistant, Michael "Little Flipper" Ryan, my brother-in-law. Thanks to all of the before mentioned, and all of the others I forgot, because without their help none of this could have happened! One last note on the BBQ. Contrary to popular belief, the cake was not last years. A typo at the bakers caused the problem. It should have read, "Thank you raceday workers for a successful 1987", instead of '1986'. Perhaps a good calender would be of help.
 
Laguna Seca F1 4/8-10/88
 

USARM Board member, Jan Bash, is taking the names of workers interested in working the event. Jan can be reached at: Milpitas, Ca., 95035, or call evenings and weekends, , days.

Rumors and Real Stuff
 

Finally, after years of controversy, the Reno track has a home. Nine miles east of Sparks on highway 80.  Now look who has to drive four hours to get the track!

New AFM rules for 1988. If you crash, you will not be able to restart until you have your helmet checked by tech. Unsafe skid-lids will be rendered useless. Multi- crash rule: One crash, the AFM takes note and sends you a letter. Two crashes in the season and the rider is done for the day, no refund, and no entry at that tracks next event. Three fall-down-go- booms and that's all folks, for the rest of the year; appealable to the AFM Board. No more Stock or Modified Production. They have been grouped into a new class; Production. All in all it looks like a very exciting 1988.

And speaking of 1988, So far there are 7 race days at Sears Point (schedule printed elsewhere), and a possible trip to Laguna Seca for the AFM!

On behalf of the AFM, the racers, spectators, Barbara Smith, Doug Smith, and myself, I would like to thank everyone for your help and support during 1987. You made 1987 the best year on record! We've got the BEST crew around! Stay tuned right here for next years info. Until then, Happy Holidays and hey, Hey, HEY, lets be careful out there