January 17, 2009 -- Warren, Mi
The 43rd annual Michigan Auto Racing Fan Club banquet on Saturday evening once again proved the commitment to racing seen throughout Michigan, as a packed house of fans, drivers and dignitaries braved near white-out conditions to make the trip to DeCarlo's Banquet Center in Warren to participate in the 2009 MARFC banquet.
The festivities kicked off at 5pm and by 6pm DeCarlo's was packed to the rafters as champions from around Michigan accepted congratulations from fans and competitors alike; track owners, their promoters and photographers, assorted other racing luminaries and most importantly the members of the Michigan Auto Racing Fan Club spent the evening recognizing all the hard work and dedication to the sport provided by these men and women.
In addition to honoring the MARFC's member track champions and member champions, the MARFC banquet is also the annual announcement location of the Michigan Racing Scene's "Henry J. Fitzwater" Driver of the Year Award and "Tom Carnegie" Track Announcer of the Year Award. Making the trip all the way from New Mexico to make the presentation personally was Editor and Publisher of the Michigan Racing Scene, Terry Fitzwater.
The 2008 "Henry J. Fitzwater" Driver of the Year was Winston's Speedway's John McCaul. John dominated the Late Model division at Winston, winning 15 of the 17 features run in 2008, also scoring eight more feature wins at neighboring Thunderbird Speedway.
The 2008 "Tom Carnegie" Announcer of the Year was presented to MSTRC's own Ed Inoles. Big Ed who spent the 08 season at Springport and Spartan Speedways was surprised and honored to receive the award and humbled to join the select group of Carnegie award winners.
Surprising many in the crowd was the presence of MARC Times founder and long-time publisher Dick Beebe. Dick made the 3+ hour trek from his home in the Grand Rapids area to be on hand and personally acknowledge the work and efforts of his long time writer Darcie Fuzi, who was the '09 MARFC "Motorsports Writer of the Year" Honoree. It was the 3rd time in MARFC history a MARC Times writer had been selected for this honor and Darcie's 2nd trip to the podium.
Dick also wanted to thank everyone personally for making his MARC Times the 2008 Motorsports Publication of the Year. It was a record 6th time in MARFC history that Mr. Beebe and the MARC Times had been so honored. Unfortunately, last winter Dick suffered through a period of poor health and couldn't attend last year's MARFC banquet to accept the award. Most everyone knows that the MARC Times fell into financial hardship in the Spring of 2008 and after 44 years suspended publication. He was however honored to be acknowledged by the members of MARFC and wanted to personally make the trip this year to thank everyone.
The biggest surprise of the evening however was reserved to the very end of the banquet when Michigan Racing Scene publisher Terry Fitzwater announced that the 2009 MARFC banquet would be his final banquet presentation as Mr. Fitzwater had finalized an agreement that evening to transfer ownership of the publication to Michigan Circle Track, LLC.
This surprise was compounded by the announcement that Michigan Circle Track, LLC had also acquired the intellectual property rights of the MARC Times.
Terry went above and beyond the call of duty recognizing Mr. Beebe to the crowd in attendance and the great members of MARFC rose and applauded the joint announcement.
Michigan Circle Track LLC President Patrick McNamara was in attendance and acknowledged all the hard work and dedication to the sport of racing given by Terry Fitzwater and Dick Beebe and went to great lengths to communicate that it was MCT's sincerest wishes to continue their efforts and work diligently with the racing community to advance Michigan Short Track racing.
Patrick McNamara speaking with MARFC President Bill Barnhart said "I want everyone to know that this isn't the end of the Michigan Racing Scene nor the MARC Times. In fact, this will be a re-birth for the MARC Times and an advancement of the Michigan Racing Scene. It is with great reverence that we take responsibility for these two publications and we are going to move them forward to bring an exciting and stimulating product to the racing community. It is our mission to elevate the level of communication and interaction between Michigan's Short Track Owners and Promoters, their Car Owners, Drivers & Crews, Race Sponsors & Advertisers and the Fans of Michigan Short Track Racing."
In February of 2009, Michigan Circle Track, LLC will unveil MichiganCircleTrack.com, MichiganRacingScene.com and MarcTimes.com
McNamara went on to say "I hope people will be blown away by the level of interactivity and the communication of racing news, results, promotions they are going to find in the merged Michigan Racing Scene/MARC Times and our accompanying online community. This will be more then just a news website. It will be more then just a message board. We are going to present a portal into the Michigan Racing Scene. We are going to provide access to the people, the personalities, and the passion which drives racing. If you want to keep up with the Times, you have to take advantage of all the technology and communication tools available and utilize them in effective, efficient and sometimes creative ways. As we approach the 2nd decade of the 21st century we aren't going to let Short Track Racing get left behind. We aren't going to let Michigan's Short Track history be forgotten. We are going to be a partner to the tracks, drivers, owners, and sponsors that make up this industry, but most importantly, we are going to reach out the fans of short track racing in ways never imagined and give them a back-stage pass into the wonderful world of Michigan's racing community."
Past and current subscribers, writers, photographers and contributors to the MARC Times and/or the Michigan Racing Scene are encouraged to contact Michigan Circle Track LLC by emailing McNamara at
patrick@michigancircletrack.com or calling at 734.536.0319
Further announcements and developments will be released at our respective websites and of course here at Michigan Short Track Racing Club. Current subscribers of the Michigan Racing Scene should know that their subscriptions to the Michigan Racing Scene will be honored in full. Subscribers of the MARC Times whom had their subscriptions transferred over to National Speed Sport News should contact
Patrick@MichiganCircleTrack.com for a special introductory subscription.
The staff of Michigan Circle Track, LLC will be on hand February 14th at the 6th Annual MSTRC Bowling Tournament at the Capital Bowl in Owosso to participate in this great event and to answer any and all questions racing fans might have.
Michigan Circle Track, LLC would like thank everyone who helped make this dream come true and we heartily extend an invitation to each and every one of you to join us in this journey.
