INR National Haiku
( Jim and Karen Crider @ GingerMan, April 24-25)

Racing in April
Pull whites over winter parka
wear very thick socks

F5 and Vee touch
Landing position not found
In Kama Sutra

I sound the alarm!
FM come to kill us all!
Duck! Look Look! Run Run!

No "Steward's office"
Corner workers do hot lap
During worker break

FM first turn melee
Shows again why class is known
As "Death from above"

Flat tow truck gets stuck
Car he towed away drives off
under own power

Pace Car gets confused
Pace lap ends with black flag all
Grid re-sorts the field

Mazda hits One hard
Debris scattered all over
See Stewards push brooms

Turn One box up high
Formula Mazda coming
No where to run. Duck!

Observations by Marshals Who Are Drivers
(watch for other reports in the near future)

1. What do you appreciate about marshals?
EVERYTHING, AND I MEAN THAT
2. What are some of your observations about marshals?
THEY WEAR SILLY HATS
3. What do you feel should be included in the marshal's training?
SOME ACTUAL SEAT TIME, VISOR-DEEP IN RED MIST (IT'S A PERSPECTIVE THING :-)
3. What practices do you wish would change?
FIBBING TO DRIVERS, AS IN: WAVING YELLOW FOR A CAR WELL OFF THE TRACK
4. What are some marshalling practices that should be accentuated?
MORE BODY LANGUAGE...REMEMBER YOU ARE
COMPETING FOR (A LIMITED # OF :-) BRAIN CELLS
5. What may you have noted from the driver's seat that is unique about marshals?
ASK BRIAN BENNETT FOR HIS ANSWER TO #5

Miami-Key West travelers (Johnston's, Jen & J.O.)

Only if you were there could you explain "Slug Bug". Ask Dave & Barb Johnston, Jen Furhman, and Sharon Patke. Was David Schilke a victim?

The Ohanesian Perspective:

It was great to be back "on the ground". The smell of methanol and picking Firestones out of our teeth! Time Certain - we love it more this year than last! Love those NASCAR trucks - we left the track Saturday afternoon and spent a wonderful evening in the Keys - watching a sunset and slurping oysters between RumRunners.

All race weekend include lunch for the workers, and plenty of free socializing afterwards! Shelbyracers@megsinet.net

J. Michael Burke received the highest worker award from the Detroit region at the banquet. The Karl Pel Award for doing things without expecting anything in return.

J. Michael Burke and Concetta Brown were married in February 1999.

Sue Goth and Russ Wakeman were married in Vermont. The Wakemans honeymooned at the Grand Prix of Monaco

Stewart Levin and Suzanne Lowi were married on June 13, 1999. The Levins honeymooned in Northern Michigan.

Marty Waalkes and his sponsor, Country Fresh, will once again provide bottled water to the workers at the events in which he races his SRF.

Dear Editor: (Jim Cook)

Went to the mailbox (not a long trip - just outside my door) this morning and noticed that I had received the MTM Newsletter. I also noted your return address and figured that you were being the usual 'good guy' that you are, by mailing the newsletter (hereafter called 'the letter') to we Canadians from inside the country thus saving MTM some money.

WRONG!

It was with mixed emotions that I read of Sharon's leaving of the editorship of the letter and of your subsequent assumption of the mantle of editor, news gatherer, stamp-licker, mailer, stapler and other various and sundry tasks that are a necessary part of the job.

I will miss Sharon's distinct reporting style, her homey, chat-like writing. I, no doubt like you and others, have truly enjoyed her tenure as the MTM editor over the past years. I can only hope that she will continue to contribute to the letter as I find her perspective on things to be very refreshing, not to mention occasionally quite amusing.

None of this is to be meant to detract from your efforts to disseminate the news of the club! From past experience, I know that you will bring your unique abilities to the job at hand (easy on the education bits though, eh?)!

I truly marvel at your unquenchable thirst for activities to keep you busy. Where do you find the time? I know that you are retired and I am too but I don't have nearly as many things on the go as do you. Keeps you out of Barb's hair, I'll bet.

I look forward to reading your thoughts and want you to know that I truly appreciate your endeavors for the club. (This from someone who 'has been there done that'.)

Page 2