Last Saturday, January 13, the New England Region hosted it’s Annual Meeting and Awards Banquet in Marlborough, MA at the Best Western Hotel and Trade Center Plaza. During this day-long event, town hall sessions were held for Rally, Solo and Road Racing, as well as a General Meeting for all business relating to the region as a whole. The new Board of Directors for this term were also elected. Then the day wrapped up with a dinner and awards ceremony where season champions received their trophies, and the region recognized and honored a few key members that have gone above and beyond over the course of the last year.

2024 Program Meetings and General Session Highlights

Here are notes and recaps from each of the individual town hall sessions.

Rally Programs

  • Reviewed highlights of 2023 season
    • New RX Chairs
    • New timing bus
    • Partnership with the Glove Hollow site
    • Hal Denham 3rd place at Nationals
  • 2024 National RX Championships Oct 18 in Huntsville, AL
  • 2024 Season Plans
    • Winter Series at 508 and possible Canaan
    • Reviewed 2024 schedule. See Pittalk for schedule
  • Reviewed 2024 National RX Rule Changes
  • Promotional ideas
    • Novice class awards, cone killer
    • Booths at WMB and the Boston Auto Show
  • Reviewed Financials
    • Proposal to cap the Site Purchase Fund at 10k and eliminate the $5 fee. -Passed
    • Proposal to increase the bus fund fee from $2 to $4 at the same time to ensure funding is available when this bus needs replacing. Net reduction of $1 -Passed
  • Rule Changes
    • Proposal to add GTA points to the RR Championship because GTA’s are the most active format in NER -Passed

Solo Programs

Two national SCCA Events will be hosted by NER SCCA:

  • Prosolo: June 7-9: Brunswick, ME; Brunswick Executive Airport
  • National Tour: June 14-16: Brunswick, ME; Brunswick Executive Airport

Devens 2024 schedule still in progress, stay tuned and when finalized, it will be published on Pit Talk.

There will be a renewed focus on sound for the 2024 season, cars that have passed in the past may not pass in 2024. We strongly encourage members to update their exhaust systems to be quieter now to ensure we maintain usage of Devens.

Road Racing

  • Finance report – the region had a healthy financial year
  • Schedule – the 2024 season schedule is available, with the return of 2 weekends at Palmer
  • School – Driver’s school is happening April 18-19
  • CRE (Club Racing Experience) – Sponsored again by SCDA, with 4 weekends this year
  • Race groups – There have been some changes, adding C-Spec, moving SRFs to the wings-and-things
  • Race chair – Always looking for help at events
  • Monthly meeting setup – The CRB meeting schedule is available
  • Promote NERRC Races
  • Track Night in America

General Meeting

During the General Meeting, the Treasurer report confirmed that our region continues to be in a healthy financial position. After re-accounting for the new RallyCross bus costs as a capital expense, each program ended the year with a positive financial gain. Each of our specialties also gave a report – membership, Pit Talk/NER.org, SCCA BOD, merchandise and archives.

This was also the point where we honored 3 members who have reached their Golden Anniversary milestones, of 50-years with SCCA. A historic achievement, this honor goes to Bob and Elise Beaulieu and Mark Saviet.

One of the last acts was the election of the new Board Directors for the 2024-2025 term. Please congratulate George Farrar, Karen Petersen, Thomas McGinn, Thomas Samuelson and Allen Briere on their election to our leadership team.

Bob and Ellie Beaulieu

Region Awards

Over a catered meal of steak, chicken or veggie lasagna, with soup, salad and desserts, the region honored all of the season champions for 2024. This is also the time where those members that have gone above and beyond for the club are recognized.

Please congratulate the following recipients.

Regional Executive Award

Philip LaMoreaux

Assistant Regional Executive Award

Eileen McStay

Ma Philbrick Award

David White

Gold Pass Awards

Tom Galuardi

Salvatore Baisley

George Farrar

Triple Crown Award

George Farrar

Northeast Division Regional Conference

The NE Division MiniCon is scheduled for February 10th in Scranton, PA. Registration is still open for those looking to attend. There will be sessions and meetings with representatives from the SCCA national office, as well as divisional awards and recognitions.