This year the Valve Cover Drag Races were another big hit with both the spectators, and participants alike. The changes that we made to the track over the winter were accepted well by the crowd. Thanks for all the comments and suggestions that you gave myself and the Woodward GTO Tigers on this event. We will most definitely evaluate this over the coming year.

Also, this year we had dozens of questions, such as "What are the rules to build a valve cover?" and "How do I go about making one of these?". Hopefully next year we will see a few more racers on the track. I guess we will have to make the rules a regular part of the newsletter.

The race went very well this year, with only one little problem at the finish line. After an evaluation from our electrical engineering group, we concluded that the unpainted chrome valve covers actually became reflectors for the light beams until the tires broke the beam. We will work on this over the winter months and have a solution for you before next year’s information is sent out to everyone. All of the entries were very nice, and once again a lot of thought and workmanship went into the new ones, as well as those that went through some modifications since last year’s race. Once again, the racers with the weight and free spinning bearings made it the farthest in the eliminations, Some used so much lubrication that we had to enlist a track crew to dry the oil from the track (not a problem). Most of the races were matched up pretty close in the 2nd and 3rd round eliminations. We might have had to have some reruns if it wasn’t for the lights at the end of the track. It was also great to see both the kids and the adults having the same amount of fun racing their valve cover, which truly helps make this a family event and not just another car show.

Congratulations to Donny Micetic, this year’s winner (last year he was runner up), with his TAZ driver, and to Jim Rawski who came in runner up (need to move up next year Jim!), and his beautiful silver with duel snorkel air cleaner, rear spoiler, and hood tach. Also, we had an independent family pick two valve covers as most outstanding, and they were Melody Rawski and her Tiger Gold with the duel snorkel air cleaner, rear spoiler, and hood tack, and Ken Orlowski and his yellow and orange valve cover with the tiger tail from the oil port, and the large wheels on the raised axles.

A big thank you to all those who brought a valve cover to race and help make this a fun day. They were Ken Orlowski, Jim Rawski, Melody Rawski (Happy GTO Anniversary), Kevin Landis, Donny Micetic, Carolyn Micetic, Joe Beecherl, Meghan Gierut, Doug Boyle, Ryan & Greg, Steve Lucas, Leah Letson, Jim Reeves, Tony DeCounsel, Steve Scobee, Mike Belica, Rick Simoncini, and Mike LaRue. Don’t get rid of them, bring them back next year and talk someone else into making one. Add some weight and loosen up those bearings.