Michigan Turn Marshals - News & Announcements

7/18/2008 - Race 4 and 50th Celebration

Hi Everyone,
I'd like to thank everyone who attended the Advanced Worker Training again for making it such a huge success. Not only did we learn a lot, have a great time doing it and an excellent lunch, I'm pretty sure that that's the record for attendance at a training session here in Michigan. It's exactly that kind of dedication to keeping our skills at the highest level possible that makes you one of the best flagging groups anywhere.

Now, I have perhaps my biggest request of the year. Not only do we have the Anniversary Celebration coming up on Aug 1, 2 & 3, but we also have Race Four July 26 & 27 and I'm going to ask you to try and come out for both events if you can.

The Anniversary Celebration is an easy one so I'm going to talk about the second event first. So many of you have been looking forward to this one and we have so many special things going on.

On Friday, after the practice session, we're going to load up the Falklands with workers and go on the Cruise to Depot Park and attend the Concours in the Park. It's make your own sundaes and mac & cheese from the Clarkston Union along with the car show and it all benefits SCAMP.

Then Saturday will be Hawaiian day. Wear your Hawaiian shirt and decorate you station. The best station will be selected by the drivers and there is a trophy involved. We have a special dinner planned and there will be a champagne toast from the drivers to honor what

you do for the sport.

On Sunday, wear your silly hat for another contest. Don't worry, Jiffy won't be playing against you with his huge hat collection. He's going to be the judge!!

All this leaves me Race Four the weekend prior and here is where we can continue to be able to do all that we have done this season with the regular racing series because we've had the numbers of people we need at the stations to do it as safely as possible.

Expect all the regular fun too!! It's another paddock barbecue on Saturday evening and movies and popcorn in the campground with Joe and Stephanie Dunn hosting. There will be the Sunday trophy party and all the great Waterford Hills racing that you've come to expect.

So come on out. We're going to be a little busier than usual but it's going to be great fun as well. As always, sign up for either or, hopefully, both events at Michigan Turn Marshals (http://register.MichiganTurnMarshals.org) or by writing me at: mysticracn@aol.com

I'll see you at the track,
Lynn

7/08/2008 - Construction Begins On Belle Isle

DETROIT, MI - As the trucks hauling barrier walls, grandstands and flooring lumbered across the MacArthur Bridge this week the monumental task of creating The Raceway at Belle Isle Park had officially begun.

The green flag has waved on construction of the 2.07-mile, 14-turn street circuit with tons of materials and hundreds of workers arriving on the island over the next seven weeks, creating the home of the 2008 Detroit Belle Isle Grand Prix, August 29-31.

Crowds in excess of 100,000 are expected to visit the island over Labor Day weekend with world-class auto racing and family fun once again putting a charge into the Motor City. The sports cars of the American Le Mans Series and the open-wheel machines of the IndyCar Series will test the Belle Isle streets in just a few weeks at the Grand Prix, but first comes the hard work and the remarkable transformation of the island.

"Constructing a first-class racing venue at a vibrant island park like Belle Isle is quite an undertaking," said Bud Denker, Event Chairman of the Detroit Belle Isle Grand Prix. "Fortunately, we've got terrific partners and landlords in the City of Detroit Recreation Department along with a great operations staff and experienced vendors and workers to help get it done."

Detroit Deputy Mayor Anthony Adams was on hand Tuesday to help kick off track construction. Adams even donned a Grand Prix hard hat and operated a forklift to move some cement barriers, signifying that the heavy lifting has started on Belle Isle. Some 2,000 concrete barrier walls will be moved into place beginning this week, creating the framework for the race track on the island. Assembly of the six massive grandstands around the circuit also begins this week.

Following the initial barrier and grandstand delivery, the installation of the elevated flooring for the luxurious hospitality chalets will commence and continue through the second week of August. More than 50,000 feet of temporary fencing will arrive on the island in mid August and will be put in place around the race venue. The Raceway at Belle Isle Park will also feature approximately 27 miles of safety cabling and over 12,000 tires will be delivered to make up the temporary barrier walls used on track race weekend. In the closing stages of construction the dozens of tents, trailers and numerous displays and activity areas will be built on site, setting the stage for an action-packed weekend. The final pieces will be put in place during the final week of August when the race competitors arrive on the island with nearly 200 massive race transporters, motorcoaches and hospitality units.

"There will be a lot of hard work and activity going on at Belle Isle over the next few weeks," said Gary Baise, Operations Director for the Grand Prix. "We invite everyone to come down, take a look and see how much things change from day to day, and enjoy everything the island has to offer."

Copyright ©2008 Downtown Detroit Partnership.

Workers are needed in the following areas:
* Flagging and Communications
* Emergency Services
* Equipment
* Timing & Scoring

Priority will be given to current SCCA members who participate in Detroit Region activities:
* Great Lakes Division Drivers School at Nelson Ledges – April 18-20
* Good Times National Race at Grattan Raceway – May 10-11
* Formula SAE at Michigan International Speedway – May 14-18

Submit your application by clicking here > http://detroit-scca.org/e107/e107_plugins/survey/survey.php?4

3/20/2008 - SPEED World Challenge Returns to Detroit

SCCA Pro Racing has announced the addition of the Detroit Belle Isle Grand Prix and Road America to the 2008 SCCA Pro Racing SPEED World Challenge schedule.

Although it was absent from the calendar last season, SCCA SPEED World Challenge will return to Road America, in Elkhart Lake, Wis., August 8-10. The SCCA SPEED GT and SPEED Touring Cars will headline Sunday’s race activities, following the American Le Mans Series race on Saturday.

Three weeks after the Road America event, the SCCA SPEED GT Championship will join the American Le Mans Series and the IndyCar Series at the Detroit Belle Isle Grand Prix, August 29-31, Labor Day weekend.

It will only be the second time World Challenge has raced at the Raceway at Belle Isle Park street circuit, the first being in 2001.
That race was won by Peter Cunningham in an Acura NSX.

“We’re excited to add SPEED World Challenge to our weekend schedule of racing,” Detroit Belle Isle Grand Prix Event Chairman Bud Denker said. “Many of the cars racing in SPEED GT were conceived and built right here in Detroit, which makes Belle Isle the perfect venue to watch them go head-to-head. This is a race and a series that our fans will have a special connection to and will really appreciate, adding to a great weekend of racing."

Both the SCCA SPEED GT and SPEED Touring Car Championships will now hold 10 rounds each in 2008.
The full SCCA SPEED World Challenge schedule can be found at > www.world-challenge.com

7/08/2008 - Construction Begins On Belle Isle