American Federation of Motorcyclists Schedule for 1997

1st Newsletter...

The AFM North Turnworker Newsletter

I Still Hear The Wind In My Ears

Our season finale at Thunderhill was a different weekend for sure. Saturday was cool and clear, perfect weather for an endurance race. After a smooth practice morning 44 teams got ready for business. 600s were the bike of choice for a lot of reasons, with 20 on the grid. The field quickly broke into packs of 3 to 8 bikes, and with the shorter T-hill laps there was more apparent distance between groups than it would seem at Sears Point. It was tough to keep track of the front of the field, but the scoring folks did their usual ace job, and kept us posted. When all was done Sean Crane and Bobby Keith had their F3 a lap ahead of Brian Barltow, Brian Parriot, and Eric Schnackenberg. Six 600Õs in the top 10. After the race was settled in to one of the best worker barbeques in memory. Catered by Sonja Norgard and the Moon Brothers team, the dinner was a hit. That was followed by the Worker Appreciation Day ceremony with the Big Kahuna as M.C. I hope everyone enjoyed their gifts, as they all came from the riders and came from their hearts. After all of that it was nap time.Then it was Sunday morning, and there was a bit of a breeze. A gale force breeze that didnÕt let up all day. It came from the north, a perfect tailwind up the front straight. Hella fast speeds past Start/Finish, and most everybody got slowed down for Turn 1. But many didnÕt and 16 went down with another 6 or so having wild off-and-on rides. Jim Short, Guy Berrysmith, and Dick Kohler had the busiest day in memory. For those that stayed on the track, some won class championships.

The holidays are over already. How did that happen so fast?

We had busy year at the track, but another good one. For me, it was good to see the development of a lot of our regulars into leaders on the track. It was good to hand out DieHard hats to some new faces this year. It is always great to work with people who have made a difference to the Crew and to the riders over a number of years, the veterans who are a lot of the glue that keeps this team functioning like the top crew that it is.

Kahuna Knotes

Whatta Year! It started out slow but picked up to a feverish pace ending with doing the AMA National and our end of season race, BBQ and worker raffle. Moon Brothers Racing put out a great spread of food for us. Then there was the worker raffle. Besides enough cash and T-shirts to give all the workers an extra 10 bucks and a shirt, we received: gift certificates for the Gucci of Willows (Walmart) and a night at the Golden Pheasant, six pack coolers with tickets to the Sears Point NASCAR Truck Race in it, bottles of bubbly (one labeled ÒGear WashÓ), hats, gloves, a set of leathers, soft luggage, some gag gifts with cash it them, lots of other miscellaneous stuff and 100 gross of wire ties. David Grismore invented what we call ÒThe GrismoreÓ from left over Worker BBQ stuff on Sunday. ItÕs consists of tri-tip strips on two pieces of garlic bread. Whew doggie, what a treat. If you werenÕt there, you missed it.

Crew Web Site Up-Date

IÕve updated, and added more pages to the Crew Web site. IÕve also added Gary Rathers Fire Fotos that he took at the national of turn 3-4Õs and 12Õs fireballs. Also the latest breaking Turnworker news can be found there. Check it out. http://www.afmracing.org/crew.html

Thanks to everyone who helped us this year. It was a great one. Doug and I could not have done it without all the hours of work that all of you put in. You are the best! Thank you!

Welcome, New Workers !!! Stay tuned right here for the next newletter for all the information you will need to become an AFM Turnworker!

Major Changes for 1997

Because of a pending lawsuit involving a Turnworker, the AFM will require all Trackworkers to become members of the AFM (at no charge).With this next newsletter most of you will receive an AFM membership application. If you donÕt receive one and are going to trackwork at an AFM event, please call, write or E-mail for one. An application must be on file if you are going to track work for a AFM event. Send it in ASAP. We will also be required to sign the same release forms that the racers sign every day we work. What a paperwork nightmare! But it must be done. Thanks for your cooperation!

Our first race this year is a Buttonwillow. ItÕs a very long haul for most of us. ItÕs in the middle of nowhere, west of Bakersfield. We will try to set up some kind of carpool hotline for those of you who want to share the ride, please contact Doug or Phill at the worker hotline printed at the end or E-mail us at phillb@ns.net. Watch for the next newsletter (about 2 weeks before the event) for more information. On another page is a list of the local motels. The hotels are cheep, so load Ôem up with people. Also important is that the closest civilization to the track is 10 mile north or south of it. Make sure you bring what you need. There ainÕt no Walmart for miles! And Bakersfield is over 25 miles away. Since this is our first, ever, race at Buttonwillow, we are not sure how many workers we will need for a safe track. There are lots-o-turns (13 large ones and lots of kinks) and is over 3.2 miles long. We can use all the workers we can get. Attendance of Buttonwillow races is a must, for the 1997 ÒDieHardÓ Hat. Also, special worker sweatshirts and some extra cash for those attending. We will need workers for the Saturday practice and Sunday race schedule. Be part of AFM history! Beeee Therrrrreeeee! (with lots of reverb)

Worker Hotline Phone Number (707) 746-0182 Until the next newsletter, C ya! Doug & Phil

2nd Newsletter...

The Crew AFM North Turnworker Newsletter

Editors: Phill Brown & Doug Smith Worker HotLine (707) 746-0182 E-mail: phillb@ns.net • The Crew web site http://www.afmracing.org/crew.html First race of 1997, March 8-9, Buttonwillow

The racing season is just around the corner. (Sorry for the pun. On second thought, no, I’m not!) The hills are turning green, if they haven’t been washed away by the rains. Our first race is at Buttonwillow. It’s about 200 miles south and east of nowhere. Actually it’s about 25 miles west of Bakersfield on Highway 5. For those of you attending remember to bring almost everything. There’s not much there but hotels, gas stations and fast food places. Oh yeah, and a race track too. And whatta track it is! If you count all of the kinks and twists of the track, there are about 250 turns. So imagine the number workers we’re going to need - it boggles the mind. We’ll staff about 13 turn stations. We are going to need all of the workers we can get. A worker sweatshirt and a some extra bucks for those who weekend with us.

New Policy for Track Workers Under 18 Years Old 1. No track workers under 16 years old. 2. Workers between 16 and 18 year olds may hold certain track positions at certain tracks. They must work with their parent or guardian and their parent or guardian must sign their Worker Application and Release forms. Their parent or guardian must contact the Race Director or Worker Coordinator prior to the race for particulars.

Track Safety Rules 1. If any particular track has special rules they take precedence over AFM rules. 2. The speed limit of all worker vehicles (including motorcycles) is 25 MPH. 3. Anyone riding a motorcycle on the track must wear a helmet, gloves and shoes. (No Shorts) 4. Please no drug at any time and no alcohol until after last race. 5. Please use common sense. Use it or loose it. 6. No Glass.

New Raceday Sign-in Procedures First, go to the front gate and sign the Gate Release form. Everyone, including campers, must sign the gate release each day they work. Be ready to show us your AFM Track Worker Card. If don’t have a one, get the application at Registration. But please, send in your membership form now. It saves valuable time and hassle on raceday. If you still haven’t received an application call Doug or Phill for one ASAP. Even if you have applied for an AFM Competition or Associate license you must fill out the worker application. They are different. From there proceed to Registration and sign the Track Worker Release form. Also for those of you who are near 18 years old, you must show us a drivers’ license or ID card proving your age at least once. The AFM keeps one copy of the release and you receive the other. Take your copy to Start/Finish and you will be assigned to a turn. This will be the procedure both Saturday and Sunday. We will try to have a special area for track workers at Registration to speed things up. Please be early on the first few racedays and patient with us as we learn and streamline the new procedures. Oh yeah, just one more thing. Everyone, including people camping, must sign the Gate Release each day they work. A Gate Release form will be available at Start/Finish for campers to sign.

Saturday Workers We need more Saturday workers. Especially for Buttonwillow and Thunderhill. If you want to make a weekend out of working, we offer a few extra bucks and maybe a special spiff for those Super DieHards!

First Thunderhill Race I know it’s a little early to start pushing the season’s third race at Thunderhill, but because of scheduling problems it’s on the same weekend as the Superbikes at Laguna Seca. We’re gonna need lots-o-workers. Bring some of your friends along with you to our first two races and get them trained to take the place of those we’ll miss at Thunderhill. Anyone who brings us a new worker who works at least four races will receive a special spiff. This applies for the whole season, not just Thunderhill.

Car Pooling to Buttonwillow If you need or can share a ride to Buttonwillow, please call the Worker Hotline (707) 746-0182. We will try to put people together in various places and times of departure.

The Latest Fashion News From Paris What are all the Turnworkers from France wearing this year? Pretty much the same as last year. The weather can be iffy in March, so be prepared for almost anything. Layers are the hot setup. Since we want to all look alike, please wear as much white outer clothes as you can beg, borrow or steal. Well, beg or borrow, anyway. No red, yellow or orange colors. You don’t want to look like a flag. Long pants, sturdy shoes, no shorts. Some other good things to bring along are sunscreen, sunglasses, gloves, binoculars, extra clothes, a hat, energy snacks, fruits, juices and a good loud whistle. The AFM can provide you with a whistle but you don’t know whose lips were on it last. Please no alcohol during the races.

What to Expect on Raceday. Remember, our first race is pretty far away from civilization. Unless you consider Taco Bell as civilization. Better bring it all with you. If you have an RV, Buttonwillow charges $30.00 for the weekend for electrical and water hookups. There is no dump. There is no charge for tent camping. They also have cold water showers. Brrrrr! Like Thunderhill, personal vehicles are not allowed on to the track. You will be taken out to the turns by our Crash Truck. So be ready to pack it all in with you.

The worker gates open at 6:00 a.m. and close at 7:00 sharp!. (We also need to go to Registration and sign the forms.) Please stay to the left as you enter the gate area. That’s where the worker gate is. Because of agreements with the Buttonwillow track, no refunds to workers who arrive after we close the worker gate. Please be on time to save money and help us get used to the new procedures. The morning meeting starts at 7:15 at Start/Finish. The earlier the better for getting the turn you want. Attendance at all eight AFM races is mandatory for this year’s Die-Hard hat. Neither rain nor snow nor gloom of fog will keep us away from the gate taking names of those brave workers. We try to give the weather every chance of clearing before canceling the race and those days count for the hats.

Both Saturdays and Sundays we provide morning coffee and donuts, a sack lunch and after-race beverages and snacks. Please be responsible with post-race activities. We also place water, bug spray, and ear plugs out on the turns. Our payday is Sunday after the race. Our final race gets the checkered flag about 6:00 p.m. So we can get a count of workers for our lunches and spiffs please either call the Worker Hot-Line at (707) 746-0182, E-mail us at phillb@ns.net or The Crew web site http://www.afmracing.org/crew.html if you plan to attend. As usual, if you are unable to attend the secretary will disavow any knowledge of your actions. C ya there!

3rd Newsletter...

Editors: Phill Brown & Doug Smith Worker HotLine (707) 746-0182 E-mail: phillb@ns.net The Crew web site - http://www.afmracing.org/crew.html

Next race, April 6-7, 1997, Sears Point

If you missed our first race at Buttonwillow, you missed a great weekend of racing. What a wonderful new track. Loads of run-off room, great pits with grassy areas and flush toilets (It doesn't take much to make us happy). And with only 10 crashes on Sunday (an all-time record on a Sunday) the raceday was over early, too. We don't count all the wild weed rides they took off track. Toss away those track maps - we'll have all the comm/flag stations renumbered for the Buttonwillow race. Turn 13? What's up with that? It was more like each station was responsible for groups of turns. "Control, this is 7. We have an off and on in the early portion of the entrance of the first kink in the exit of the short straight area in the middle of..." Yikes! Thanks, AFM, for all of the great stuff you gave us for making the long trip. Dennis Baird told me on the way home that it was nice to see the scenery we missed on the drive down in the dark. Darn near missed that In-N-Out Burger. I told the track manager what a great facility he had, but could he move it a couple hours north...

Race Notes / Doug Smith A New Year, A New Track

Just a little down the road from the end of the boondocks past the off-ramp to nowhere is Buttonwillow Raceway Park, site of the AFM season opener. Sure, it was no points being new to us and all, and a bit of a drive, but there was a good rider turnout and a great worker turnout.

The track is flat except for two John Deere inspired hills, with a lot of twisty-turny parts. As the weekend went on the times came down. Saturday was packed with practice. We ran 27 sessions !!! I can't remember a day with more. Many off and ons with the wide smooth run off areas (except for the lake near turn 4 which claimed one mudpuppy on Sunday). A real learning experience for the riders. For a lot of us too, because we had around 19 new workers at this race, coming from Sacramento, Benicia, Oakland, Mission Viejo (south of L.A.), and a lot of places in between. Thanks, all of you, for coming. We hope you had a blast and come back for more. To our not-so-new workers, this wouldn't have come off without your teaching and coaching out on the turns. Hats off to all of you too.

Sunday was race day. The almost clean practice sessions had a few of us wondering how long the non-crashing would last. Once the races started, we went almost a third of a lap. After turn 4's red flag,things smoothed out, and we finished the day with only 10 riders down. That doesn't even rate a crash graph. There was one here, one there, with the busy spots turns 4, 5 and 7 with two each. The crew of Jim Short, Melanie Durandette, Rod Reibel, Eric DaRosa and Dan Biedles handled things in mid-season form in turn 4. Turn 5 was staffed by David Grismore, Erin Clarke, Glen Graga and Dan Vargas. Micky Housel lead the crew of Steve Dalton and Tracy Larson in turn 7. The turn 13 crew was the off-and-on champion with 84,608 bikes (or so) doing the Wide Thing over the weekend. Formula Pacific? Rapp ruled on his new Suzuki 600. Lots of fun racing all day, down to the guy in the last race who pushed his bike over the finish line 10 minutes after the scorers left. Very few cleanups and crash truck runs meant an early end of the day, and a good jump on the ride home. In October it's for points, the last points of the year, and it'll be good. I'm making plans now.

Thanks to you all to for making the new sign-in and check in procedures work. Sure it's extra paperwork, and nobody likes that. But the upside is that we get to keep doing this.

Our first race brought us many new workers: Ray Jones, Gary Stewart, Margo Kutner, Ed Kelley, Mona Kelley, Eric DaRosa, Dan Biedler, Tracy Larson, Martin Gresho, Johnna DelCastillo, Bob DelCastillo. Jeff Longacre, Kevin Strawn, Len Smith, Dave Fossen, Ules Jackson, Michael A. Miller and Michael V. Miller. Thanks for your help and don't forget to come back.

New Policy for Track Workers Under 18 Years Old

Track Safety Rules

New Raceday Sign-in Procedures

First, go to the front gate and sign the Gate Release form. Everyone, including campers, must sign the gate release each day they work. Be ready to show us your AFM Track Worker Card. If don't have a one, get the application at Registration. But, please, send in your membership form now. It saves valuable time and hassle on raceday. If you still haven't received an application call Doug or Phill for one ASAP. Even if you have applied for an AFM Competition or Associate license you must fill out the worker application. They are different. From there proceed to Registration and sign the Track Worker Release form. Also for those of you who are near 18 years old, you must show us a drivers' license or ID card proving your age at least once. The AFM keeps one copy of the release and you receive the other. Take your copy to Start/Finish and you will be assigned to a turn. This will be the procedure both Saturday and Sunday. We will try to have a special area for track workers at Registration to speed things up. Please be early on the first few racedays and patient with us as we learn and streamline the new procedures. Oh yeah, just one more thing. Everyone, including people camping, must sign the Gate Release each day they work. A Gate Release form will be available at Start/Finish for campers to sign.

Saturday Workers

We need more Saturday workers, especially for Buttonwillow and Thunderhill. If you want to make a weekend out of working, we offer a few extra bucks and maybe a special spiff for those Super DieHards!

Second Call for the First Thunderhill Race

I know it's a little early to start pushing the season's third race at Thunderhill, but because of scheduling problems it's on the same weekend as the Superbikes at Laguna Seca. We're gonna need lots-o-workers. Bring some of your friends along with you to our first two races and get them trained to take the place of those we'll miss at Thunderhill. Anyone who brings us a new worker who works at least four races will receive a special spiff. This applies for the whole season, not just Thunderhill.

The Latest Fashion News From Rumsey

What are all the Turnworkers from Rumsey (pop. 56) wearing this year? Pretty much the same as last year. The weather can be iffy, so be prepared for almost anything. Layers are the hot setup. Since we want to all look alike, please wear as much white outer clothes as you can beg, borrow or steal. Well, beg or borrow, anyway. No red, yellow or orange colors - you don't want to look like a flag. Long pants, sturdy shoes, no shorts. Some other good things to bring along are sunscreen, sunglasses, gloves, binoculars, extra clothes, a hat, energy snacks, fruits, juices and a good loud whistle. The AFM can provide you with a whistle but you don't know whose lips were on it last. Please no alcohol during the races.

What to Expect on Raceday.

The worker gates open at 6:00 a.m. and close at 7:00 sharp!. (We also need to go to Registration and sign the forms.) Please stay to the left as you enter the gate area. That's where the worker gate is. Please be on time to help us get used to the new procedures. The morning meeting starts at 7:15 at Start/Finish. The earlier the better for getting the turn you want. Attendance at all eight AFM races is mandatory for this year's Die-Hard hat. Neither rain nor snow nor gloom of fog will keep us away from the gate taking names of those brave workers. We try to give the weather every chance of clearing before canceling the race and those days count for the hats.

Both Saturdays and Sundays we provide morning coffee and donuts, a sack lunch and after-race beverages and snacks. Please be responsible with post-race activities. We also place water, bug spray, and ear plugs out on the turns. Our payday is Sunday after the race. Our final race gets the checkered flag about 6:00 p.m If you have any questions please either call the Worker Hot-Line at (707) 746-0182, E-mail us at phillb@ns.net or The Crew web site http://www.afmracing.org/crew.html if you plan to attend. C ya there!

Thunderhill Hotels

4th Newsletter...

Thunderhill Race Reminder April 19-20, 1997

Worker gate opens at 6:00 am and closes at 7:00 am both days. We need lots of workers, both days, because of the Laguna Seca race on the same weekend. Bring a friend. Bring a spouse. Morning meeting at 7:15.

We provide Coffee and donuts, a sack lunch and after race. Our last race ends about 6:00 pm.

A BBQ Saturday is available for $5.00 (non refundable). Hamburgers, chili, chips and a cookie. Bring you own beverages. To reserve your spot, you must sign-up. If you didn't sign-up at Sears Point, you can call us, E-mail us, or sign-up first thing Saturday morning. We also need a lunch count for those attending. Please call or E-mail us by Tuesday, April 15th. (707) 746-0182 or E-mail at phillb@ns.net.

Cya!

5th Newsletter...

Next race, May 24-25, 1997, Sears Point

Was our first race of the year at Sears Point crowded out on the turns or what? Handlers were fighting for the crashed bikes. "This one's MINE!" "Outa my way!" Please remember, there's plenty crashes for everyone. Some more than others, though. Our Thunderhill race was a little less crowded, because of the Laguna Seca National. The rain stayed away just long enough to have a couple great race days. And a great BBQ provided by Sonja Norgard and her crew. Thanks for the eats. Thanks to all who made the trip to Thunderhill.

Sears Point, AFM points, and lots of new riders. Sounds like the real start to the racing season. But where did the hills go? The turn 2-3-4 area and other places looked all new once you stepped off the track. New flag and stash stations, and a new viewpoint. Other parts of the track have gotten the dozer treatment too. The better visibility makes it easier and safer for us to do our thing. Now the deer habitat near turn 7 is gone, and hopefully some of those problems, too. The weekend started with open practice Saturday morning. From all the work we had, a lots of riders needed the practice. Sears Point is a very technical and tricky track to ride quickly. A rider is always busy with combinations of turns and elevation changes together, coupled a wide track surface that challenges racers to put fast, smooth lines together. Add in the pass or be passed factor, and it's easy to see how WE get busy.

We had a good practice turnout, some new workers, and some of the new folks from Buttonwillow got to see another new racetrack. A very full class of new riders showed good potential in the afternoon. Sunday got even busier with full grids and good starts to the season point races. Lots of good races, highlighted by Rob Mesa finally breaking through for a Formula Pacific win. More new workers and a few faces we hadn't seen for a while. Welcome, and welcome back. The busy spot for Sunday was the new look turn 3, with Steve Dalton leading his crew of Ules Jackson, Louie Tozzi, Jeff Snow and new worker, Amanda Carlson. Seven cases of crash and stash. Not far behind were turns 1, 2, 4, 7, 8, and 11, all with 4 or 5 getoffs each. Great work by people too numerous to mention. Yeah, it was busy, but a good effort from everyone got the day in by a reasonable hour.

Movin North

Our third track in three events was Thunderhill. It almost rained all weekend long. Eyes were on the skies, but not so much that we missed a really good couple of days on the track. Saturday was a very full practice day. I don't think we've ever got 28 sessions into one day before, but we did this time. Gold stars to everyone. I think we whipped the riders into submission, or ran them out of gas. Then a great barbecue Saturday evening in the pits. Kathy and I walked the track afterwards. Next time you get a chance to do that at the end of the day, I recommend it. You can learn a lot about turns you haven't worked yet. Turns 2 and 6 look like fun spots to do some racing.

Sunday started out to be a quick day. Very few problems or delays in the morning, and one of the earliest lunches I remember. But then came race #4 and two first lap piles of bikes. But once that was past, we screamed through the day to another early finish. More new workers !!! Bring 'em on !!! They were welcome, with some of our regulars heading down to Laguna to work the AMA race. Turn 5 was once again the busy spot with 8 down, including 4 at once in the 750 bumper-bike class. Leading their crew was Rod Reibel, with Erik DaRosa, Ules Jackson, and Fred Hogan keeping plenty busy. Good, close racing all day long. Kent Hill was the third Formula Pacific winner in three events this year. For the whole weekend there were half as many crashes as we had at Sears a few weeks before. Easier on the riderÕs wallets, and on us too. Special end-of-the-day thanks to Moon Brothers Racing for helping Brad Stewart with his bike's front end problems, and to Nick Marks (NMP) for getting Brad's bike home. Next time here, landlines instead of radios? Bob is pushing for it, so it could happen.

Coming Attractions

Sears Point on Memorial Day weekend !!! We've all got Monday off to do all those other things, so come on out and play. The usual Indy news blackout will be in force. Violations will be dealt with in a severe but unspecified manner. Also next up is summertime. Plan your wardrobe for possible cool mornings and probable hot afternoons. Pack plenty of sunscreen and Gatorade for your weekends. See Ya !!!

One new worker I left off the list from our first race was Janette Aidnik. Sorry, It wont ever happen again. Right? Our first Sears Point Race list of new workers: Albanese Giorgio, David Grijalva, David Dito, H.D. Hively, Linn Small, Mitch Ray, Katrina Baumgartner, Kristine Heinrich, John Hood, Fred Schwab, Jim Douglas and Jeff Snow. Our trip to Thunderhill brought: Kevin Strawn, Craig Jones, Eddie Marshall, Roxanne Paulsen, Fred Hogan, Jamie Boone, Brad Ray, Therese King, Jim Conley and Steven Hatfield. Thanks for joining out crew and making our racedays that much safer.

We need more Saturday workers, at all tracks. If you want to make a weekend out of working, we offer a few extra bucks and maybe a special spiff for those Super DieHards!

The weather can be iffy, so be prepared for almost anything. Layers are the hot setup. Since we want to all look alike, please wear as much white outer clothes as you can get. No red, yellow or orange colors - you don't want to look like a flag. Long pants, sturdy shoes, no shorts. Some other good things to bring along are sunscreen, sunglasses, gloves, binoculars, extra clothes, a hat, energy snacks, fruits, juices and a good loud whistle. The AFM can provide you with a whistle but you donÕt know whose lips were on it last. Please no alcohol during the races.

First, go to the front gate and sign the Gate Release form. Everyone, including campers, must sign the gate release each day they work. Be ready to show us your AFM Track Worker Card. If donÕt have a one, get the application at Registration. Even if you have applied for an AFM Competition or Associate license you must fill out the Worker application. They are different. From there, proceed to Registration and sign the Track Worker Release form. Also for those of you who are near 18 years old, you must show us a drivers' license or ID card proving your age at least once. AFM keeps one copy of the release, you get the other. Take your copy to Start/Finish and you will be assigned to a turn. This will be the procedure both Saturday and Sunday. We will try to have a special area for track workers at Registration to speed things up. Please be early on racedays, and patient with us and the new procedures. Oh yeah, just one more thing; everyone, including people camping, must sign the Gate Release each day they work. A Gate Release form will be available at Start/Finish for campers to sign.

The worker gates open at 6:00 a.m. and close at 7:00 sharp!. (We also need to go to Registration and sign the forms.) Please stay to the left as you enter the gate area. That's where the worker gate is. Please be on time to help us get used to the new procedures. The morning meeting starts at 7:15 at Start/Finish. The earlier the better for getting the turn you want. Attendance at all eight AFM races is mandatory for this year's DieHard hat. Neither rain nor snow nor gloom of fog will keep us away from the gate taking names of those brave workers. We try to give the weather every chance of clearing before canceling the race and those days count for the hats.

Both Saturdays and Sundays we provide morning coffee and donuts, a sack lunch and after-race beverages and snacks. Please be responsible with post-race activities. We also place water, bug spray, and ear plugs out on the turns. Payday is Sunday after the race. The final race gets the checkered flag about 6:00 p.m If you have any questions please either call the Worker Hot-Line at (707) 746-0182, E-mail us at phillb@ns.net or The Crew web site http://www.afmracing.org/crew.html. C ya there!

6th Newsletter...

Fifth Race

Editors: Phill Brown & Doug Smith Worker HotLine (707) 746-0182 E-mail: phillb@ns.net The Crew web site - http://www.afmracing.org/crew.html

Next race, June 28-29, 1997, Sears Point

Was it just me or was our Memorial weekend race just a little out of sync? Not by much, though. Just a little off center. Weird people were doing weird things at weird times in weird places, weirdly. It wasnÕt much better at Indy. Friends of my wife saw a few non-rained-out laps before they had to fly back to work Monday night. What a shame. Did I say rain? I never say rain during the racing season. I almost never wash the car before a race either. I wear the same socks for the whole race weekend. Wait a minute. I almost always change my socks. Whether I need to or not. Enough about hygiene - more about racing.

One of the best weekends of the year to be off the highways. The whole state was backed up, the paper says. So where better to be off the road than at the races? Nowhere !!! Saturday gave a new meaning to why they call it practice. As smoothly as the practice day at Thunderhill went a few weeks back, with all those practice miles we got for the riders, this day was different. About 6 minutes into the first session a leaking bike went through Turn 7, he made it to 8 and stopped, but the next 3 guys didnÕt. Red Flag, lots of sweeping, and the coffee hadnÕt even kicked in yet. Pretty soon it happened again in Turn 10. More working, less riding. Then Turn 9 had a non-oil incident, and Turn 2 had a problem. Lots more working, lots less riding. We got more practice than the riders. Fortunately the new riders gave us a break in the afternoon. Many thanks to the Saturday workers!!! A great job by everyone!!! A few more folks would make it more fun for all, though. If you can fit Saturday into your race weekend, itÕs a good time. Different turns if you like, maybe doing some different stuff, and sometimes a more relaxed pace. Not this time.

We had a way better show than Indy on Sunday. They got seriously wet. We saw some serious racing. Is it me, or is there a lot more close racing up front lately? Many good races, including Formula Pacific. Rob Mesa had a new brake system on his rocketship, and that was enough to hold off Kent Hill, Steve Rapp, and other close company. One of our best FPs in a while. It was that way in for one class in most every race. Pick your favorites, and watch Ôem go. We donÕt let that get in the way of getting busy when things happen. There were busy spots! Turns 2 and 7 had 9 downed riders each, but Turn 4 had the honors with 10. Stars in Crew Whites were Dennis Baird, Janette Aidnik and Rick Richards in turn 2; Bruce Barnum, new worker Mike Katz and Sandy Jones in turn 7; Ron Johnson, Tony Novello and Ules Jackson in turn 4. The Best Supporting Worker award, once again, goes to Don Alexander in the crash truck. New workers - three sharp guys, Paul Willis, Mike Katz and A.J. Aleixo. Top marks from your partners on the turns. YouÕll find your way back, right? But the whole crew did a great job. Much busier than average, but thatÕs what we do best.

Only two races before the AMA National in August. TheyÕre both at Sears Point. That means we need to have our full crew together for the next 2 races. The best way to get sharp is to keep current and do a few more races. That way if the call comes late, weÕre way ahead of things and ready. So if youÕve been a stranger, did that Memorial Day family thing, and got those big house projects under control, youÕre ready to go, you know were to find us.

We need more Saturday workers, at all tracks!. We were pretty short-handed at the last Sears Point race. If you want to make a weekend out of working, we offer a few extra bucks and maybe a special spiff for those Super DieHards!

Our last Thunderhill race is still a ways away but weÕre gonna need a full crew of workers for both Saturday and Sunday. Saturday is our 4-Hour Endurance Race with practice in the morning. And Sunday will be the regular schedule. I hear rumors that all track workers will get one of those new multicolor AFM T-shirts. Mark your calendars for the weekend of September 6 and 7. Bring a friend!

The weather can be iffy, so be prepared for almost anything. Layers are the hot setup. Since we want to all look alike, please wear as much white outer clothes as you can get. No red, yellow or orange colors - you donÕt want to look like a flag. You may be grabbed by the leg and thrown thusly, by mistake. Long pants, sturdy shoes, no shorts. Some other good things to bring along are sunscreen, sunglasses, gloves, binoculars, extra clothes, a hat, energy snacks, fruits, juices and a good loud whistle. The AFM can provide you with a whistle but you donÕt know whose lips were on it last. Please no alcohol during the races.

First, go to the front gate and sign the Gate Release form. Everyone, including campers, must sign the gate release each day they work. Be ready to show us your AFM Track Worker Card. If donÕt have a one, get the application at Registration. Even if you have applied for an AFM Competition or Associate license you must fill out the Worker application. They are different. From there, proceed to Registration and sign the Track Worker Release form. Registration is in the Racers Lounge building next to First Aid and near Pre-Grid. Also for those of you who are near 18 years old, you must show us a driversÕ license or ID card proving your age at least once. AFM keeps one copy of the release, you get the other. Take your copy to Start/Finish and you will be assigned to a turn. This will be the procedure both Saturday and Sunday. We will try to have a special area for track workers at Registration to speed things up. Please be early on racedays, and patient with us and the new procedures. Oh yeah, just one more thing; a Gate Release form will be available at Start/Finish for campers to sign.

The worker gates open at 6:00 a.m. and close at 7:00 sharp!. (We also need to go to Registration and sign the forms.) Please stay to the left as you enter the gate area. ThatÕs where the worker gate is. Please be early to help us get used to the new procedures. The earlier you arrive the better your chances of getting the turn you want. However, some workers have special requirements or seniority that need to be met. The morning meeting starts at 7:15 at Start/Finish. The earlier the better for getting the turn you want. Attendance at all eight AFM races is mandatory for this yearÕs DieHard hat. Neither rain nor snow nor gloom of fog will keep us away from the gate taking names of those brave workers. We try to give the weather every chance of clearing before canceling the race and those days count for the hats.

Both Saturdays and Sundays we provide morning coffee and donuts, a sack lunch and after-race beverages and snacks. Please be responsible with post-race activities. We also place water, bug spray, and ear plugs out on the turns. Payday is Sunday after the race. The final race gets the checkered flag about 6:00 p.m If you have any questions please either call the Worker Hot-Line at (707) 746-0182, E-mail us at phillb@ns.net or The Crew web site http://www.afmracing.org/crew.html. C ya there!

7th Newsletter...

Sixth Race

Editors: Phill Brown & Doug Smith Worker HotLine (707) 746-0182 E-mail: phillb@ns.net The Crew web site - http://www.afmracing.org/crew.html Next race, August 2-3, 1997, Sears Point

Josh Scott, #744, died as a result of injuries sustained in a crash on Saturday, June 28, in turn 9. Josh is survived by his family, teammates and friends. Please say a little prayer for those he left behind. Barbara Smith, our Race Director, said that his friends and family express their many thanks for all the workers, and medical crew did to try to save Josh. This is the second time in my tenure as Worker Coordinator that I've had to write about a death at the track. The first time was September 10, 1987, when Mario Manucal died in a crash at Start/Finish. I looked up in The Crew archives what I wrote. I don't think I can say it any better now than I did back then. It strangely seems to fit our current situation.

The sport of motorcycle racing is an exciting and dangerous sport. We accept that risk. Sometimes, you crash. Hopefully, you get up and dust off yourself. 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-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!

Our June 28/29 race weekend had its very good and very sad moments. A good crew with a few new faces had the day running smoothly Saturday until a very fast turn 9 accident took the life of rider Joshua Scott of San Jose. Our crew did all the right things to get aid to him as swiftly as possible, but the effects of the fall were too much. The Crew joins the rest of the AFM in consoling his family and friends.

After practice resumed, we continued with a thoroughly professional job that I was proud of. What we do makes a very big difference in the operation of a racetrack and the way that a practice or race day is presented for the riders, fans, sponsors, and all others concerned. The rest of the day went smoothly through another thrilling new riders school. Then the wind came up. We all remember now about holding on tight to the flags. Windy days happen, and weÕre ready for that.

Sunday was everything that a good race day could be. Four-and five-bike dices for the top spots in about half of the classes. It was tough to pick a favorite race without picking F/P again. The fifth bike was almost 6 seconds behind the winner, Rob Mesa again. With three races to go at three different tracks, the points races are starting to be fun to watch. The Crew was busy in spots, like turn 4 with Ron Johnson, Tony Novello, Chris Trown and Steve Holt, handling the load and hustling the haybales. WhatÕs going on up there this year? Move a couple of little hills and everyone lost their way. And a tip of the DieHard hat to Ules Jackson in turn 8, handling a couple of things way down at the far entrance of turn 7. We say to bring shoes you can run in, and Ules can tell you why. And there was some of that wind again. IÕll take that over a dusty, calm, 105 any day though.

So, August 2 & 3. Our last National/AHRMA tune-up and the last club race at Sears till next year. Having too many people on each turn is our goal. So bring a friend, call some folks you have not seen at the track for a while, and be ready for a good time. And if you havenÕt sent your National sign-up to Phill, do it today! See you at the coffee.

Here are our new workers for our June race: Gary Singer in turn 3, Morgan Smock in turn 6, Dale Boender in turn 9, Kevin Zimmerman in turn 12, John Berlo in turn 8 on Saturday. Thanks for you help and donÕt forget your way back.

Check out the address section of your newsletter. (sorry usps, mailed one only) It tells you if you are signed-up for the AMA and/or AHRMA races. It also lists if you need a camping pass, T-shirt size and what days at which event you are scheduled to work. Please double check this information. If the information it is not correct, or your schedule has changed, contact Phill ASAP. It looks like the pay will be forty dollars per day at both events. Other details are still not available. We still have a couple of slots open for both events.

The next race is the last one of the year at Sears Point. We will finish our season on the road. We need a full crew at Thunderhill on Saturday and Sunday. A special gift for those who work the whole weekend. Saturday is the 4-Hour Enduro in the afternoon and open practice in the morning. Sonja is having another one of her Super BBQs Saturday after the enduro. You can sign up for it at our August race. Thunderhill hotels are listed elsewhere. Buttonwillow closes out our season with the Worker BBQ and Raffle on Saturday evening.

We still need more Saturday workers! If you want to spend the weekend with our Crew, Come On Down! Oh yeah, we offer a few extra bucks, too.

The weather can be iffy, so be prepared for almost anything. Layers are the hot setup. Since we want to all look alike, please wear as much white outer clothes as you can get. No red, yellow or orange colors - you donÕt want to look like a flag. You may be grabbed by the leg and thrown thusly, by mistake. Long pants, sturdy shoes, no shorts. Some other good things to bring along are sunscreen, sunglasses, gloves, binoculars, extra clothes, a hat, energy snacks, fruits, juices and a good loud whistle. The AFM can provide you with a whistle but you donÕt know whose lips were on it last. Please no alcohol during the races.

First, go to the front gate and sign the Gate Release form. Everyone, including campers, must sign the gate release each day they work. Be ready to show us your AFM Track Worker Card. If donÕt have a one, get the application at Registration. Even if you have applied for an AFM Competition or Associate license you must fill out the Worker application. They are different. From there, proceed to Registration and sign the Track Worker Release form. Registration is in the Racers Lounge building next to First Aid and near Pre-Grid. Also for those of you who are near 18 years old, you must show us a driversÕ license or ID card proving your age at least once. AFM keeps one copy of the release, you get the other. Take your copy to Start/Finish and you will be assigned to a turn. This will be the procedure both Saturday and Sunday. We will try to have a special area for track workers at Registration to speed things up. Please be early on racedays, and patient with us and the new procedures. Oh yeah, just one more thing; a Gate Release form will be available at Start/Finish for campers to sign.

The worker gates open at 6:00 a.m. and close at 7:00 sharp!. (We also need to go to Registration and sign the forms.) Please stay to the left as you enter the gate area. ThatÕs where the worker gate is. Please be early to help us get used to the new procedures. The earlier you arrive the better your chances of getting the turn you want. However, some workers have special requirements or seniority that need to be met. The morning meeting starts at 7:15 at Start/Finish. The earlier the better for getting the turn you want. Attendance at all eight AFM races is mandatory for this yearÕs DieHard hat. Neither rain nor snow nor gloom of fog will keep us away from the gate taking names of those brave workers. We try to give the weather every chance of clearing before canceling the race and those days count for the hats.

Both Saturdays and Sundays we provide morning coffee and donuts, a sack lunch and after-race beverages and snacks. Please be responsible with post-race activities. We also place water, bug spray, and ear plugs out on the turns. Payday is Sunday after the race. The final race gets the checkered flag about 6:00 p.m If you have any questions please either call the Worker Hot-Line at (707) 746-0182, E-mail us at phillb@ns.net or The Crew web site http://www.afmracing.org/crew.html. C ya there!

8th Newsletter...

Seventh Race

Editors: Phill Brown & Doug Smith

Worker HotLine (707) 746-0182

E-mail: phillb@ns.net The Crew web site - http://www.afmracing.org/crew.html

Next Race, September 6-7, 1997, Thunderhill Park North of Sacramento, on I-5.

I am writing this as I get ready for the AHRMA and AMA Nationals at Sears Point. It's gonna be a tough three weeks in a row, but I know we can do it, just like our last Saturday practice / Race School at Sears Point. Because of some unfortunate incidents involving turnworkers, we had to run short four workers. It was great to see how everyone moved around to fill the vacant spots. No one complained about the extra load. Just dug in and did what had to be done. You all are wonderful. Hats off to you!

Worker Appreciation Race, Saturday, September 6

Because of logistics, we have moved the Worker Appreciation Race BBQ to Thunderhill on Saturday, September 6, after the 4 Hour Endurance Race. This is necessary because Sonja (our BBQ hostess) will not be able to make the Buttonwillow race.

Race Notes / Doug Smith

Finally, T-Shirt Weather

After a month away from the AFM raceday fun, we all got together for the August 2/3 race at Sears Point. For the first time this year we had more than an hour or so of the California summer weather we've been waiting for. It wasn't Thunderhill hot - many thanks- but it stayed warm enough that the wind in the afternoon was welcome.

Saturday's practice and Race School went off without a hitch, and Sunday was less busy than average for us even though the grids were packed. Turns 4 and 11 were the only busy spots Sunday, with 8 visitors each. Crews of Ron Johnson, Tony Novello and John Berlo handled a lot of solo situations in 4, and the turn 11 crew of Brad Stewart, Scott McKee and Fred Schwab handle one 3-bike problem in Formula Pacific, a few singles, and a record 3 spills in the Hot Pit. What's up with that ??? As our last tune-up for the pro weekends at the end of the month, it's obvious that we're ready. Comm work was sharp, flags were quick and right, and the overall teamwork is where we want it to be. Top marks to all.

We continue to attract very capable new workers to The Crew. This month's group included Kevin Tong in turn 1, Phillip Groves from turn 6, Ardyth Neilson from turn 7, Don Smith and Joanie Golding both from turn 9. On Saturday we also had some new workers: Tana Lamb, Adam Nedelman and Art Koral. Thanks to all, and we hope you had enough fun to do it again soon.

The next events are the pro events, AHRMA and the AMA, followed by the AFM trek to Thunderhill. Three weeks in a row to make up for the quiet July. Time to make plans if you haven't already. The weather promises to be at least warm, so keep the sunscreen fresh, drink lots of water or juice to stay ahead of any possible problems, and have a great time watching some of the best on one of the best road courses in the land. A special thanks in advance to Steve Dalton for doing the coffee, donuts, soda and beer for the AHRMA weekend. IÕll miss being there, but I'm sure that everyone will enjoy the show. Have fun, and IÕll see you at the AMA.

We are finishing out our season on the road. We need a full crew at Thunderhill on Saturday and Sunday. Saturday morning is open practice with the 4-Hour Enduro in the afternoon. Sonja is serving up another great Worker BBQ and raffle after the enduro. Thunderhill hotels are listed elsewhere. Buttonwillow closes out our season with a special spiff for all workers who make the journey and work the weekend with us. Also see the list of Buttonwillow hotels.

Be sure to check the front of your newsletter to see if you are in line for this years DieHard hat. If you have a full line of "1"'s under races 1 through 6, you're in there. If you should, but don't, please contact me ASAP.

The weather can be iffy, so be prepared for almost anything. Layers are the hot setup. Since we want to all look alike, please wear as much white outer clothes as you can get. No red, yellow or orange colors - you donÕt want to look like a flag. You may be grabbed by the leg and thrown thusly, by mistake. Long pants, sturdy shoes, no shorts. Some other good things to bring along are sunscreen, sunglasses, gloves, binoculars, extra clothes, a hat, energy snacks, fruits, juices and a good loud whistle. The AFM can provide you with a whistle but you donÕt know whose lips were on it last. Please no alcohol during the races.

First, go to the front gate and sign the Gate Release form. Everyone, including campers, must sign the gate release each day they work. Be ready to show us your AFM Track Worker Card. If donÕt have a one, get the application at Registration. Even if you have applied for an AFM Competition or Associate license you must fill out the Worker application. They are different. From there, proceed to Registration and sign the Track Worker Release form. Also for those of you who are near 18 years old, you must show us a driversÕ license or ID card proving your age at least once. AFM keeps one copy of the release, you get the other. Take your copy to Start/Finish and you will be assigned to a turn. This will be the procedure both Saturday and Sunday. We will try to have a special area for track workers at Registration to speed things up. Please be early on racedays, and patient with us and the new procedures. Oh yeah, just one more thing; a Gate Release form will be available at Start/Finish for campers to sign.

The worker gates open at 6:00 a.m. and close at 7:00 sharp!. (We also need to go to Registration and sign the forms.) Please stay to the left as you enter the gate area. ThatÕs where the worker gate is. Please be early to help us get used to the new procedures. The earlier you arrive the better your chances of getting the turn you want. However, some workers have special requirements or seniority that need to be met. The morning meeting starts at 7:15 at Start/Finish. The earlier the better for getting the turn you want. Attendance at all eight AFM races is mandatory for this yearÕs DieHard hat. Neither rain nor snow nor gloom of fog will keep us away from the gate taking names of those brave workers. We try to give the weather every chance of clearing before canceling the race and those days count for the hats.

Both Saturdays and Sundays we provide morning coffee and donuts, a sack lunch and after-race beverages and snacks. Please be responsible with post-race activities. We also place water, bug spray, and ear plugs out on the turns. Payday is Sunday after the race. The final race gets the checkered flag about 6:00 p.m If you have any questions please either call the Worker Hot-Line at (707) 746-0182, E-mail us at phillb@ns.net or The Crew web site http://www.afmracing.org/crew.html. C ya there!

9th Newsletter...

Editors: Phill Brown & Doug Smith

Worker HotLine (707) 746-0182

E-mail: phillb@ns.net

The Crew web site - http://www.afmracing.org/crew.html

Last Race, October 11-12, 1997, Buttonwillow Raceway East of Bakersfield (yes, Bakersfield), on I-5.

Whew, whatta August-September. We made it threw it, though. Ending with the AHRMA, AMA, AFM Thunderhill triple whammy. The officials from AHRMA said that they have not seen a better group of workers anywhere that they have raced. And the AMA promised me that they now have a 9:00 pm curfew, no matter how many red flags one race gets. (Four at last count, but that was before the sun went down and flashlights were being handed out.)

Thunderhill, oh Thunderhill, how'd you get so oily. During the enduro, engines were blowing up everywhere. What a job everyone did sweeping up miles of live, oily track to keep the enduro going in the heat. Thank goodness it cooled down a little on Sunday and we didn't have a repeat of last year's Race in Hell. Thank you for taking it easy on me during Saturdays Practice, running Comm in Doug's absence. And a special thanks to Pete Barnum for a great job of running Comm the rest of the weekend. We were missing a few key people and running a little short handed but everyone stepped it up and made things run smooth. Great job one and all!

Worker Appreciation Race Wrapup

Another great Sonja Que and another great Worker Giveaway. Booze, beer, Bermuda Shorts, boots, boomboxes, and bucks. Lots of great stuff too numerous to mention was given to our workers by the Racers and officials. Everybody walked away with something great plus a hat or T-shirt, wine glass, AMA Program, but hardly any wire ties. Also some extra bucks were put into the worker pay envelopes. A special thanks to all of you who gave to the giveaway. You made a bunch of hard working people very happy.

Buttonwillow Information

Our last race is at Buttonwillow. It's about 200 miles south and east of nowhere. Actually it's about 25 miles west of Bakersfield on Highway 5. A lined worker windbreaker will be given to all workers on Saturday and extra bucks for those who spend the whole weekend with us. For those of you attending remember to bring almost everything. There's not much there but motels (for a list of nearby motels please look elsewhere), truck stops and fast food places. Oh yeah, and a race track too. And whatta track it is! If you count all of the kinks and twists of the track, there are about 250 turns. So imagine the number workers we're going to need - it boggles the mind. We'll staff about 11 turn stations. We are going to need all of the workers we can get. RV hookups and camping is available at the track.

Car Pooling to Buttonwillow

If you need or can share a ride to Buttonwillow, please call the Worker Hotline (707) 746-0182. We will try to put people together in various places and times of departure.

1997 DieHard List

Here's the list so far: Janette Aidnik, Don Alexander, Pete Barnum, Ules Jackson, III, Ed Kelley, Mona Kelley, Tony Novello, Jim Short, Brad Stewart. Our hats off, er, hats on (DieHard hats that is) to these folks; if they show up to Buttonwillow anyway. Be sure to check the front of your newsletter (hard copy only) to see if you are in line for this years DieHard hat. If you have a full line of "1"'s under races 1 through 7, you're in there. If you should, but don't, please contact me ASAP.

What to Wear

The weather can be iffy, so be prepared for almost anything. Layers are the hot setup. Since we want to all look alike, please wear as much white outer clothes as you can get. No red, yellow or orange colors - you don't want to look like a flag. You may be grabbed by the leg and thrown thusly, by mistake. Long pants, sturdy shoes, no shorts. Some other good things to bring along are sunscreen, sunglasses, gloves, binoculars, extra clothes, a hat, energy snacks, fruits, juices and a good loud whistle. The AFM can provide you with a whistle but you don't know whose lips were on it last. Please no alcohol during the races.

Raceday Sign-in Procedures

First, go to the front gate and sign the Gate Release form. Everyone, including campers, must sign the gate release each day they work. Be ready to show us your AFM Track Worker Card. If don't have a one, get the application at Registration. Even if you have applied for an AFM Competition or Associate license you must fill out the Worker application. They are different. From there, proceed to Registration and sign the Track Worker Release form. Also for those of you who are near 18 years old, you must show us a drivers' license or ID card proving your age at least once. AFM keeps one copy of the release, you get the other. Take your copy to Start/Finish and you will be assigned to a turn. This will be the procedure both Saturday and Sunday. We will try to have a special area for track workers at Registration to speed things up. Please be early on racedays. Oh yeah, just one more thing, a Gate Release form will be available at Start/Finish for campers to sign.

What to Expect on Raceday.

The worker gates open at 6:00 a.m. and close at 7:00 sharp!. (We also need to go to Registration and sign the forms.) Please stay to the left as you enter the gate area. That's where the worker gate is. Please be early to help us get used to the new procedures. The earlier you arrive the better your chances of getting the turn you want. However, some workers have special requirements or seniority that need to be met. The morning meeting starts at 7:15 at Start/Finish. The earlier the better for getting the turn you want. Attendance at all eight AFM races is mandatory for this year's DieHard hat. Neither rain nor snow nor gloom of fog will keep us away from the gate taking names of those brave workers. We try to give the weather every chance of clearing before canceling the race and those days count for the hats.

Both Saturdays and Sundays we provide morning coffee and donuts, a sack lunch and after-race beverages and snacks. Please be responsible with post-race activities. We also place water, bug spray, and ear plugs out on the turns. Payday is Sunday after the race. The final race gets the checkered flag about 6:00 p.m If you have any questions please either call the Worker Hot-Line at (707) 746-0182, E-mail us at phillb@ns.net or The Crew web site http://www.afmracing.org/crew.html. C ya there!

10th Newsletter...

End of Season

Well, another great season of racing is in the books. Some of us have a few months to get caught up. Some of us will work turns in the snow. The last race of the season was at Buttonwillow. Such a nice place, too bad it's 200 miles away from everything. On Saturday the AFM gave everyone lined wind-breakers for making the journey. Thank you AFM! Saturday was pretty quiet. Everyone was trying to remember which way the track went. Sunday was a little more interesting with some of the class championships on the line. A couple of transports, but everyone is doing fine.

We also honored this year's DieHards. We have two special Rookie DieHards. Both Janette Aidnik and Ules Jackson started with us at the first Buttonwillow race this year. Our other DieHards for 1997 are: Janette Aidnik, Don Alexander, Pete Barnum, Ules Jackson, III, Ed Kelley, Mona Kelley, Tony Novello, Jim Short, Brad Stewart. Thank you for all of your support.

Race Notes
Doug Smith
Buttonwillow to Buttonwillow, The Long Way




The 1998 season is in the books, but not without a lot of traveling, roadhouse coffee, and great racing along the way. We started and finished at our new facility, Buttonwillow Raceway Park, a twisty, technical track carved into a central valley field. It's a ways south for most of us, but an available place to go for some of our newer southern members of The Crew. Add to that four club dates at our updated home track, Sears Point, and two up north at growing and improving Thunderhill, throw in back-to-back pro events in August, and that's a pretty full year. The year brought us new faces and friends as well as some others of us taking on leadership and TM responsibilities. We had new DieHards, folks who worked just one or two tracks 'cause of the miles involved, or because that's what they wanted to do, and new folks who were anxious to join the fun. Everyone who joined us for even one race brought something special to the group. That's a big part of how and why we've stayed at the top of our trade as one of the top corner crews in the country. To find a group like ours that does the things we do for a full season of club racing with some great work at national events thrown in, you'd have to look long and hard. And I don't want to look any further. You all should have heard the great things the riders were saying at the last race, thanking us for the work we did and the help we gave. Thanks to everyone for your contributions to a super season.

The Buttonwillow event decided many close points races on the track. So the racing was close as it was a perfect weather day and all the racers were pumped. The number 1 plate for '98 will be on Rob Mesa's bike. His sixth in Formula Pacific was good enough to stay ahead of Steve Rapp. Brian Parriot got his first F/P win, and couldn't have been happier. Close races in everything from 250 Production to Open GP with bragging rights on the line. Not a lot of crashes this day. Nobody wanted their last '97 memory to be a painful one. The few injuries sustained are mending nicely.

Then the long ride home to reflect on the season and think about next year. If you had fun like most of us did, bring a friend along. You never know, they might get hooked like a lot of us! Have a great holiday season. Go skiing, go to Maui, but be back for next spring and the '98 season

Sharon Kizziah in turn 6, Tony Dimetri in turn 7, Gene Eckert in turn 11, and Heike Thompson helping out at Start/Finish. Thanks for all your help.

1998 Worker Licenses

Only those of you who had 1997 Worker Licenses are receiving the 1998 Worker Applications this year. All others are receiving the "We Miss You" notices that you must send back if you want to stay on the worker mailing list. Please note that there is a box to check on the "We Miss You" form if you want us to send you a 1998 worker application. People who get this newsletter on-line can e-mail me a request for an application. Also starting in 1998 we may discontinue "The Crew" to non-turnworking workers.

Tentative 1998 Schedule

Please see the other side of this newsletter

End of the End of the Season

It's been a great season, topped off by working a couple of Nationals at Sears Point. New faces, pretty much the same old places. With next year's races, we will see some changes. Thunderhill has completed their track extension (whether or not we use it will depend largely on the number of track workers we have) and Sears Point will get some changes of their own. At Sears Point they will be adding a bypass between turns 4 and 7. Also rumored are changes in the back esses, turn 11 and more run off room in various spots. This may be the last chance to see the old Sears Point.

On behalf of the AFM, its officials, racers and spectators, I would like to thank all of you who took time away from your busy schedules to spend some time with us. It's been a great year. Most of the races were pretty well spaced apart except for that four-races-in-six-weeks marathon. We just keep getting better at what we do. As I've said before, we all come from pretty diverse backgrounds, get together on raceday to form one of the best motorcycle track safety crews out there. We are becoming the standard at which other groups are measured Many thanks for all of you that helped make it that way.

The page is nearing the end and it's time to say goodbye. It won't be long until the grass starts growing and the smell of Castrol is in the air. Until then, Happy Holidays to all and to all a good night!