A Convention for the Motorsports Enthusiast
by Dean V. Ricci

Imagine having an opportunity to drive your vehicle on the famous Michigan Speedway, one of the great super speedways that dot the landscape of the United States. You would jump at the chance to drive on this circuit, yes? The answer to that is an emphatic yes !

Though I don't have an official count, I would venture to say that at least 500 cars were on hand to take part in the convention. Though this event was more of an open track event, which was the major draw, it was a fine convention just the same.

The convention opened up with a "Track Time" racing school program on Friday. For those who wished to participate, you could purchase a drive in a NASCAR stock car and learn the basics of stock car driving, with about 8 laps around the super speedway circuit. Of those that I spoke with that took advantage of Track Time, they all agreed that it was a wild driving experience and a very memorable one. It gave the participants first hand experience of what it is like to be a stock car racer.

Also on Friday the swap meet was opened; and the show cars and racing vehicles departed from their trailers and nestled into their garage spaces to prepare for the hot laps on Saturday. The day at Michigan Speedway concluded in the evening with a wonderful dinner at the Ypsilanti Marriot, along with a speaker presentation highlighted by Carroll Shelby himself. You will be pleased to know that Carroll is in great health and announced that he's already looking forward to next year's convention, SAAC's 25th anniversary.

Saturday was a day blessed with beautiful weather and the open track event came off without a hitch. I took part in the track event with my '93 Mustang Cobra. I hadn't driven on a facility such as this, since some ten years earlier at the first convention SAAC held at Charlotte Motor Speedway complex. I can tell you that the oval sections we drove on were billiard table smooth followed by a road course in need of some repaving here and there. But this lends itself to the challenge of men against machine doesn't it ?

I felt somewhat uneasy driving on such a fast circuit during the first session. However as the sessions went on, those fears were soon dashed and it was like reliving that weekend at Charlotte. I had thought that I was driving quite well through the twisty sections of the road course, until fellow club member Rich Tweedle followed me in his SVO. When the session completed one of the first things he told me was; "You've got to find yourself some apexs' boy !" (I wondered why my line was different than the other cars behind me, HA !) So I quipped back to Rich; "Yeah, but I think I pulled away from you pretty quick once we hit the high banks

The day at the track went by awfully fast but all good things come to an end soon enough. Once we left the track it was back to the hotel for a much welcomed air conditioned room and a shower. Then it was downstairs to the auditorium of the hotel to look at the various items for sale that were Shelby related. There were posters, model cars, Shelby ashtrays (which also double as M&M holders), and not to mention Carroll himself sitting in a chair with the rest of us, hugging all the children who came up to him and autographing items for those who wished it (Carroll had already spent two hours at the track signing autographs).

There was a brief moment Saturday evening when Carroll didn't have a bunch of people in front of him. So I walked up to him and asked a simple question. "Carroll" I said; "did you ever think that you and your little company from all those years ago would be so famous today"? "Never in my wildest dreams" answered back Carroll. "A fellow and I were chatting a while back and he said to me Carroll, you're an American ICON". Carroll told me he didn't think of himself as an ICON, in fact he was the furthest thing from it in his mind. Later on in the evening, I was sitting with fellow Motor City Region members Walt Berti, Phil Jacobs and Craig and Bonnie Shefferly. Carroll Shelby and his wife walked past where we were sitting. I called out to him and he asked "Is everybody happy"? Of course you know our collective answer to THAT question. Carroll then told us "Glad you're all happy because my wife here hasn't had dinner yet so she's not to happy with me right now ..." Of course Mrs. Shelby was laughing right along with us when she heard Carroll say that line. If Carroll Shelby is indeed an ICON, we could sure use a few more of them in this world I tell ya. Earlier in this article I stated that the Michigan Speedway was the major draw to this event ... spend a couple minutes talking with Carroll Shelby and you might change your mind !

Sunday was the last day of the convention and mother nature made sure nobody had any fun. It rained and rained, and then it rained some more. I didn't get out to the track until well after noon and the rain just kept hanging around. The popular vote car show was ruined by the weather as guesstimates put the number of cars entered at around 50. Even with the low turnout, four Motor City Region club members were awarded trophies. The winning club members were Walt Berti, Phil Jacobs, Craig Shefferly and Kurt Fredrickson.

And speaking of club members, there sure were a lot of them in attendance at this years' convention. Those that I saw there were; Steve White and family, John Logan, Bill Rowe, Darius Rudis, Jim Cruden, Ken Costella and family, Phil Jacobs, Walt Berti, Craig and Bonnie Shefferly, Greg Cserni and Family, Rich Tweedle, John and Trish Guyer, Ben and Jan Schiewe, Kurt and Darlene Fredrickson, George Huisman, Mike Reimenschnieder, Bob Craig, Jeff Burgy, Paul Rebman, Bill Cook, Dr. Charles Safley, Dick Soules, Rick Braken, Ed Ludtke, Ken Luba, Jeff Finley and Bob and Clay Stroup, just to name a few ....

One can only hope SAAC returns to the Michigan Speedway real soon, and with Mother Nature in a better frame of mind.