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This feels like getting reacquainted with an old friend you have not seen in awhile. What a treat to be back under the heading of Did Ya Know?

Thirty four years is a long time to be involved in the column writing business and I thank Patrick for the opportunity to continue.

The MARC Times Racing News began in 1965. It became a racing bible of information and news of racetracks that many did not know existed. If the Beebe family had not had the foresight to recognize race fans need to be informed, being from Jackson, would I have known about Kalamazoo, Berlin or Flat Rock Speedway? Maybe as I got older, but not so much in 1965.

My column in the MARC Times, “Did Ya Know?”, first appeared on its pages in 1975. It started out as a whim, from a guy that the nuns said had little talent for writing.

Nearly four decades later, a new opportunity comes along at a time when many thought the regional race paper was dead. Patrick McNamara has taken on the task of reinventing the MARC Times Racing News and Michigan Racing Scene as one paper.

I had never personally met Patrick until the fan-club banquet when all this news was announced. He has critics and always will. It comes with the territory. He has energy and an enthusiasm for saving tradition. He is giving tracks, fans and drivers a voice.

In these difficult times what more could we ask for than a crazy pony-stock driver taking a flyer in a tough business to bring us the news in a paper we grew to know and love, the MARC Times Racing News. Give it a try and give it time. It will be a work in progress.

Speaking of works in progress,  I had the opportunity to speak with Brad Keslowski the other day.  He has his own ARCA team and on selected short track events is going to assist Spartan Speedway native Chad Finley. It was good seeing Chad's father Jeff Finley at the press conference and he told us that brother Doug had bought a dirt late model and plans to play from time to time at Mt Pleasant and Merritt Speedways.

The one thing we took from this winter, was the cooporation of promotor’s talking to each other and trying to have as few big race conflicts as possible. In an effort to give the Outlaw late models places to race and specials, Owosso, Dixie, Auto City, Flat Rock and Toledo all worked hard to avoid those conflicts which is a big win for fans and competitors alike.

The newest members of this promotional group are Jeff and Pam Parish of Owosso and Dixie and they attended as many functions as we did over the winter to get there faces in front of fans and drivers. Good people who have the best interest of all tracks in mind.

The season is only moments away and we are looking forward to a fantastic season.  Yes, the Quiz is coming in the near future, along with more history, inside stuff, and just good fun!  Most of all we hope our new home here with the MARC Times Racing News & Michigan Racing Scene will capture an audience that will look forward to reading it on a weekly basis.  Just like we did before when we were "Keeping up with the Times!"

Till next time, thanks for reading, Stay off the wall, enjoy, See Ya!

dgo 3/19/09
pwm 3/18/09