Well, the 2007 season is over and it is time to look forward to the new year, to prepare cars for new races and to compete for a new championship. But before we do that, let's reflect back a little on the 2007 year.

The 2007 year started real strong with good races, good courses, and good participation. Gary Fuller designed really nice courses, starting in running in different ways at Buffalo Bowl to some excellent times in Dalhart. Everyone was pitching in to make sure each event was better than the one before. I guess that is the best thing that happened as far as I am concerned all year. We had more people willing to participate and help run events than we have had in several years. I realize that after we lost Dalhart as a site we did lose a little of our momentum and it was a little difficult to get the season finished after a two month gap, but everyone pulled together again so that we actually had, what I consider, a very successful season. This season had some old timers do very well in some events and some new people do very well in some events. Also, some people we had not seen in awhile showed up and let us know they still knew how to drive. Anyway, I enjoyed seeing each and every one of you as we progressed through the season.

I would like to congratulate all of the year end series trophy winners for their effort and their ability. In the 2007 Street Tire Championship Autocross Series, I would like to congratulate the Champion - Christopher Romero, Second Place - Gary Fuller, and Third Place - Bryan Prima. These guys managed to be able to participate in almost all of our events and be exceptionally fast. In the 2007 Open Championship Autocross Series I would like to congratulate the Second Place winner - Aaron Boltman, and the Third Place Winner - Christopher Romero. They were very competitive and were only separated by the slimmest of margins in the final standings. And I was lucky enough to be able to win the Open Championship this year.

Now the first order of business for the new 2008 year is the annual awards banquet and the first meeting of the new Board of Directors. The awards banquet will be held at The Cotton Patch Cafe in Plainview, Texas on January 26, 2008 at 7:00 PM. This year there will be a buffet with Chicken Fried Steak and Grilled Chicken and mashed potatoes and green beans. This was done to get a little faster service to each person. At this meeting we will elect our 2008 Board of Directors. Our nominating committee has recommended these people for the new board. They are as follows:

Regional Executive - Chris Goebel
Assistant RE of West Texas Area - Jerry Hampton
Assistant RE of South Plains Area - Brian Prima
Competition Chairman - Jerry Goebel
Secretary - Gary Fuller
Newsletter Editor - Christopher Romero
Treasurer - Rod Whitney
Webmaster - Chuck Brazeau

If anyone has further nominations or would like to serve yourself, please attend to banquet where we will have the elections to determine the board.

This will probably be my last column for awhile so I would like to thank all of the people that have helped me in the last two years. That is the part of the job that has been most rewarding. If everyone will pitch in again this year and give Chris and all of the board your continued support I predict that 2008 will be very good and exciting year. Again thanks for everything. HAVE FUN RACING!!!!!!

Dan