POSTED FEBRUARY 7 , 2003

Our 12th annual awards banquet is now just one week away! Almost here, at last! Social time starts at 6 with soft drinks, coffee, vegetables and dip. During the social time we will have once only per year photo sale which has really proved popular in past years! All unpurchased photos from the 2002 season will be on sale at greatly reduced prices, the more you buy, the less per print it costs! Prices start at $2 per picture then go to 6 for $10, 9 for $15, 13 for $20, 17 for $25, 21 for $30 and 25 for $35! So its a one time only chance to get a bunch of pictures at a great price! First come, first served! 2003 schedule will be out and you can get copies for yourself and to post in business places! That schedule will be on the web site by February 17. As regulars here at the web site know there was a message, supposedly from Tim Brundige of MWMSRA (but who knows for sure?) stating he had sent me a letter about racing in 2003 at Mottville. As of Friday's mail I have never received that letter so as of now I would have to say they will not be racing with us in 2003. That could change by Friday, February 14 when I print the schedule but as of now that is the case. I got Scott Rozner's additional reservation in the mail today so we are looking at least 70 for the banquet! Fantastic! Had a talk with Jeff Brunt this week. He and many others in our area are heading to Florida for Speed Week! He is going to New Smyrna Speedway where I went two years ago. He should enjoy some great racing! I know the weather will be warmer for certain! Jeff will be back for the banquet and says he car is all ready for February 23! He is also building a second car which he will start racing about mid-season. He was thrilled to find out the Pro Stock season championship will be November 2 as he always has job conflicts late in the season! Wished I could have gone to Florida this year but was not really doable due to problems at the track but I hope to go next year! Would like to fly down and see races on Thursday, Friday and Saturday nights and fly back on Sunday. I know Jeff will have a great time! For those of you who like to plan things way in advance, I have the date already for our 13th Annual Awards Banquet! It will be Saturday, February 21, 2025 at Dal Mar Catering Hall! This will be on the 2003 schedule as will Mottville Madness VII which will be Saturday, January 3,2004! Think we finally have the water problems at the track figured out at least but not correct quite yet! We were under the belief that we had frozen pipes in front and back which was really discouraging since we had put so much money into winterizing the track last fall. Turns out we do not have frozen pipes either place! In front we have an electrical problem! We have a short in a line which runs from the power source poles to the concrete block building across from the well. This short caused the heat tapes to quit and the pump froze and busted. We may be able to weld the pump and we may have to buy a new pump. All this was complicated since our usual electrician was in the hospital! However we have Mike Mixon, our former security man and a White Pigeon police officer, running a new electrical line in the next few days. Mike is a fully licensed electrician. I am meeting him at the track Saturday so get everything started and he assures me he will have it fixed before February Follies II on February 23! Also we discovered why when we turn on the track lights we sometimes have an arc! Turns out a bolt fell inside the power box and we can not remove the bolt until the power company shuts off the power and Mike can remove it! In back our problem was the pump-needs a part which is being done today! So we should have water both front and back for February Follies II! But some major expense before the season ever starts! Unless you own or have owned a race track you have no idea just how much money is spent on maintained! Now we understand whey we had problems with the pa for Mottville Madness VI and whey we could not get the announcing tower warm! We had power but not enough of it! Just talked to tom Pearson, our pit steward, and he says Richard Allbee got a Honda from Paul Scott and will running MTC this season! Car runs and Richard should be ready to start season! Speaking of Tom he has to have two teeth pulled February 14 and may not eat a lot at the banquet! He is on pain killers now and not feeling so good! If you need to buy a banquet ticket you can still get the money to our office in Nappanee and we can get you in! Should be a great banquet! Rita Courtney, our world famous flag lady and emt, starts a new job February 24 and says she should be at the track every race night as the new job is Monday-Friday! That will be very nice! Also we have purchased a brand new lap top computer for the track for doing updates on this web site after Saturday night races! Very lightweight and should help a lot! Now we have to get internet service at the track and we are all set. But we do have until March 1 to get this done. February Follies II now only about 8 days away and start of regular season only 2 weeks away! Long, long winter wait is about over! I just read that Alaska is having a heat wave! Their temperatures for last 30 days have been in 40's! Apparently they sent their weather to us and we have theirs by mistake! Hope somebody corrects this mistake soon! See you at the banquet and then for February Follies II! Racing season is getting much closer and I am really excited about it! Hope you are too!