Celebrating 2005 - Welcoming 2006

AZ Region’s Annual Awards Banquet

by Jay Balducci

28 January 2006, Four Points Sheraton Hotel – The Arizona Region Solo 2 Group held its annual Awards Banquet to celebrate the 2005 Summer and Fall Autocross season. Almost 100 Autocrossers, their family and friends came together for good Italian food and a fun filled evening with local Solo 2 personalities as MC’s.

To kick off the event, Tage Evanson presented the trophies that were earned from the CAC (Central Arizona College) Summer Series (link).

Steering Committee appreciation awards were graciously handed to those that helped make our Solo 2 events work so well. A very special recognition award was presented to a dedicated couple who have been an integral AZ Region member and have given their dedicated time and support to Autocrossing for several decades. One part of the duo is not even a driver. Stepping up to accept the award in the midst of a standing ovation were Bev and Don Sattler. Bev’s dedicated Safety Steward position had to be filled with a multiple of additional members. Don has greeted many of us in the early morning and waved us goodbye in the late afternoons as he ran the waiver station. The Arizona Region is grateful for their years of devotion.

On the table behind the MC were rows of trophies ready to be presented and cherished by those who participated in the 2005 fall series.

Tage had numerous trophies to present so the pace was kept up while those in the crowd enjoyed their dessert. The fall series results and winners can be seen here.

The end of the year brought about a changing of the guard. Brian Peters will now lead the Arizona Region taking on the Director’s position allowing Tage to work on banquets and awards. For his years of service and leadership Brian presented Tage with a special appreciation award – a beautifully framed photo of his infamous black Integra.

The raffle prize table was filled with interesting and diverse set of goods and each attendee clamored to their tickets as numbers were called out. A prize that garnered much interest was a recently “modified” C6 Z06 wheel turned into a clock, fabricated by the creative Ted Lewis. Ted also brought another wall delight – a C6 Z06 front fender. Both were donated from a recent Z06 Corvette undergoing repair.

Steven Roberts became the lucky winner of the Z06 wheel clock, while Dave McCoombs and Eric Splinter both won the highly sought after Discount Tire gift certificates. Mark Shaw, dressed in his Scottish attire, won the alignment certificate.

The prize table was depleted and many reminisced 2005 while others chatted up challenges for the New Year. Like our reservation form promised, we did have “an incredible evening of fun, frolic and fabulous entertainment”.

A special thank you is sent to all those that arranged and coordinated the banquet including all the fun door prizes. As in Autocrossing, we ‘look forward’ to 2006.