The 2009 racing season has come to a conclusion as we recently honored numerous awards recipients at the annual awards banquet at the Lancaster Host. The awards banquet is a tremendous undertaking and I thank all of the people that help make it a first-class event.

2009 was another tremendous year for LANCO as overall car counts increased from the previous year. As the year went by the hard work of the track crew paid off, which resulted in a multi-grooved racing surface that led to intense and entertaining racing action. 2009 will also be known as the year of Mother Nature, as it seemed we fought her on a weekly basis. My fingers are crossed for clear skies on Saturdays in 2010.

For our volunteers, thank you for your hard work and dedication. Without you LANCO could not be one of the best micro-sprint racing venues in the country. For our driver and owner members, I want to thank you for your past and continuing support of LANCO and for putting on some of the best weekly racing, anywhere. 

Congratulations to our 2009 point champions: Steve Drevicki (Sportsman); Bret Habecker (125); Richie Hartman (250 4 Stroke and 270 2 Stroke); Heath Hehnly (600). I wish the best of luck to all drivers in their pursuit of the 2010 points championship.

With the 2010 season rapidly approaching I would like to let you know some important dates, information and changes:

Club Officers: Tim Bortz (President); Kerry Gilbert (Vice-President); Cheryl Brown (Secretary); Sally Vest (Treasurer)

Class Reps: Joe Kepple (Sportsman); Mike Teeter (125cc); Ken Mohler (250cc 4 Stroke); Randy Schaefer (270cc 2 Stroke); Ken Miller Jr. (600cc)

Website: We are currently working on a re-design of the LANCO website, www.lancomicrosprint.com. The hope is for the re-design to “Go Live” around the beginning of the year. Some of the updates that I refer to later may not be reflected on the website until the re-design is complete.

Rules Changes: The following is a consolidated list of the rule changes that were passed for the 2010 season. Please see the website to view the updated 2010 competition rules and car specs. The 2010 rule changes are identified in the documents.

• The nightly schedule of events will be determined by LANCO officials. All intentions are to run the feature events in a rotation.
• The AMB Tranx260 transponder is the recommended transponder. If a transponder is not registering properly with the scoring system, the car will be given one week grace period to correct the problem before being required to rent or purchase a new transponder.
• Car work party obligations must be completed prior to or at the time of the car’s inspection
• In each class, the next time a winner of a feature event attempts to qualify for a regular points race, if they make the feature inversion, they will start in the last inversion position.
• Protest fee schedule for 600s is now $700 for protests on internal engine parts and $300 for external engine parts.
• Seat belts must be attached to the frame with minimum 5/16 inch bolts or wrapped securely around the frame, but may not be wrapped around the lower frame rail, at all times.
• Fuel shut-offs for 600s must be placed between the rear of the seat and tail and painted red.

Membership Fees: No change in the membership fees, however there is a change to the date when the membership fee increases. Memberships are $35.00 if received between January 1 and March 15, memberships received after March 15 will be $50.00. Membership cards for drivers and owners will not be handed out until inspection day.

Membership Obligation: Each car in each class must complete a membership obligation prior to the car being inspected. If you received 2010 LANCO calendars, you must turn in the cost calendar money as your membership obligation. If you did not receive calendars the following options are available to complete the membership obligation:

1.Participate in a 4 hour work party. Work Party dates and times will be determined by the weather and will be posted on the website.

2.Remit payment of $120.00 (work party fee) to the club.

Inspection: Saturday March 27th and Sunday March 28th from 9:00 AM to 1:00 PM each day. Inspection will be held at Bud’s Spring Service; 1420 Arcadia Road; Lancaster, PA. NO INSPECTION=NOT ELIGIBLE TO PARTICIPATE IN THE FIRST POINTS RACE. The inspection checklist will once again be posted to the website. To reduce the number of re-inspections, please review the checklist to ensure that you have the best opportunity to pass inspection. Re-inspection will be held on Saturday April 10th from 2:00 PM to 4:00 PM.
CARS MUST BE RACE-READY FOR INSPECTION

Practice: Saturday April 10th. Rookie orientation will be held from 4:00 PM to 5:00 PM. Rookie only practice will be from 5:00 PM to 6:00 PM. Open practice for all club members will be from 6:00 PM to 9:00 PM.

First Race: Saturday April 17th. Warm-ups at 5:00 PM. Heat races will begin at 6:00 PM.

Other Important Dates: LANCO Annual Pig Roast; Sunday February 28th at the Ephrata AMVETS, 614 S. State Street, Ephrata. Doors open at 12:30 PM. Cost is $20.00 per ticket. A ticket entitles two people to eat and drink. NO CHILDREN ARE PERMITTED. For tickets please contact Roger Martin at (717) 949-8434. Reading Fairgrounds Mall Race Car Show; February 21-27. The club has space for 10 cars. Contact Chris Snyder to reserve a spot. Lebanon Motorsports Expo; Lebanon Valley Expo Center, 80 Rockerty Rd., Lebanon; March 4-6, move in will be after 5:00 PM on March 3. For more information please contact Dan Culhane at (717) 866-5456 or This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .

Transponders: We will be selling transponders (AMB Tranx260). The cost of a new transponder is $375.00. Please contact Todd Steffy at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it for more information or to place your order.

Please keep in mind that our monthly General Membership Meetings are held on the second Monday of every Month starting promptly at 7:30 PM. During the off-season the meetings are held at the West Earl Fire Company in Brownstown and during the race season at the track.

If you have any questions or concerns contact me at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .

I wish everyone good luck and good health during 2010.

Sincerely,
Tim Bortz, President