AROUND MO N T I C E L L O M OT OR C L U B ’ S ME MB E R N E W S L E T T E R 2014 - VOLUME 1
8 5 5 .M M C .C L U B ( 8 5 5 .6 6 2 .2 5 8 2 ) • M o n t i c e l l o M o t o r C l u b .c o m
2014 EVENTS CALENDAR Monticello Motor Club Challenge Powered by Chopard MMC MMC MMC MMC MMC
Race Race Race Race Race
#1 - May 24 (Sat.) #2 - June 21 (Sat.) #3 - July 19 (Sat.) #4 - September 6 (Sat.) #5 - September 27 (Sat.)
Radical 2-Day Driving Experience June 17-18 (Tues. & Wed.) SOLD OUT July 22-23 (Tues. & Wed.) August 12-13 (Tues. & Wed.) October 7-8 (Tues. & Wed.) October 21-22 (Tues. & Wed.)
Queally Miata Race Challenge
Praga 2-Day Driving Academy
May 2 (Fri.) May 30 (Fri.) August 15 (Fri.) October 17 (Fri.)
May 28-29 (Wed. & Thurs.) June 10-11 (Tues. & Wed.) June 17-18 (Tues. & Wed.) July 22-23 (Tues. & Wed.) August 12-13 (Tues. & Wed.) October 7-8 (Tues. & Wed.)
Father’s Day Family Karting Challenge June 15 (Sun.) Radical Cup and North American Road Racing Association (NARRA) September 12-14 (Fri.-Sun.)
HIGHLY-ANTICIPATED 2014 MMC CHAMPIONSHIP RETURNS MAY 24 Powered by Chopard
MMC’s 2014 Championship racing series - powered by Chopard - will be returning on Saturday, May 24. This five-race series, where members battle one another for Club dominance on the track, is divided into multiple race groups. Those groups are further sub-divided into four classes in each group. The schedule is designed so that members can race in both groups if they have multiple cars. These popular events offer members and their families a wonderful opportunity to socialize with other members while enjoying an afternoon at the track, and a sumptuous lunch prepared by Monticello Motor Club’s own executive chef.
Let’s see who will take his place on the podium this year….
Past Club Series Champions: 2013 Bruce Ledoux 2012 Lewis Liebert 2011 Anthony Geraci 2010 Rick Deman 2009 Carlos Conde 2008 Rob Jackowitz
Of course, the competition itself takes center stage, as members pursue those precious bragging rights that come with being a MMC Champion. Last year, it wasn’t until the final laps of the final race in the series that member Bruce LeDoux emerged as the Champion. Visit MMCMember.com for the rules and regulations. For more information or to register for any race, please contact us at Concierge@monticellomotorclub.com.
THE DRIVER’S SEAT We here at MMC always get charged up as we approach the start of a new driving season. It happens every year. But I must admit: there’s something a little extra going on this year as we approach Opening Day. A buzz. A rush. A hum. It could be the new driving experiences and the new fleet of vehicles – including Jaguars, Radicals, Pragas, Land Rovers, Spec Miatas, and Porsche Caymans – we have to offer our members. Perhaps it’s the new Points Program we’ll be introducing shortly (Stay tuned for exciting details). Maybe we can attribute the pulse to the outstanding successes we’ve had in completing expansion projects over the last few months. The fact is, we’ve got some great things in store for you this season, and we can’t wait to show you around your Club. You’ll get to explore our brand new off-road track that includes five miles of extremely varied conditions traversing nearly five acres, brand new bays in our member garages, a two-lane access bridge over the track, and a permanent 1-kilometer (0.6-mile) asphalt Karting Track for the whole family to enjoy. And of course, our MMC staffers – Ashley Novak (Track Director) Alex Wolenski (Site & Service Director), Matt Gottlieb (Experience Director), and John Perruna (Executive Chef) – are here to ensure that your MMC experience is always first-rate, personalized, and exciting. Check out the pages of our “Around The Track” newsletter to learn more, and to stay up to date on club activities, upcoming events, racing news, and the latest driving tips. We’re also pleased to highlight a few of our incredible MMC partners and members, old and new. As always, we welcome your suggestions and feedback. It’s that information we use when prioritizing improvements and expansions at Monticello Motor Club. The 2014 season should be packed with new service offerings and memorable experiences for the entire family – both yours and ours! We can’t wait to see you Around The Track!
CORPORATE EVENTS
Looking for an exciting and unique way to entertain clients and co-workers, or reward staff members for a job well done? Our exclusive events provide an opportunity to escape the usual golf outing monotony with something
THRILLING, EXCLUSIVE, & TRULY MEMORABLE! Ideal for businesses of any size, our program offers a turnkey solution that includes: • Access to our racing circuit • Professional driving instruction • A fleet of high-performance vehicles Our full- and half-day programs are the most exclusive of their kind, and feature more time behind the wheel than any similar program, accommodating groups of almost any size. This is not a typical ride and drive event, but a complete experience. The memories and bonds made will last a lifetime.
For more information, call 855.MMC.CLUB (855.662.2582), email sales@monticellomotorclub.com, or visit MonticelloMotorClub.com.
MEMBER SPOTLIGHT
MAX faulkner 15-YEAR-OLD
UNDER THE HOOD While others view cars as mere conveyances, true automotive aficionados know them as a way of life. In fact, most “car guys” will argue that their passion for all things automotive is in their DNA. Max Faulkner, a 15-year-old student at the prestigious Peddie School, has been smitten since he watched his first professional racing event, the 2010 Canadian Grand Prix of 2010 at the legendary Gilles Villeneuve Speedway in Montreal. “It was the first race I had watched to its conclusion,” said Max. “After that, I was hooked.” But this teen’s love of cars isn’t simply rooted in a need for speed. He knows that his size – 6’3” and 180 pounds – makes him a less than ideal competitive driver. Instead, his passion comes from the technology behind the vehicles. He is captivated with the “nuts and bolts” of auto sports, like engine design, telemetry, computer algorithms, and downforce calculations. Max understands what few others recognize: it takes an entire team of experts behind the scene to create a single winning car and driver. “If one tiny thing is wrong, everything is wrong”, said Max, summarizing the myriad of details that can make or break a race. Max knows firsthand. His father is a member at Monticello Motor Club, where he actively races a Lotus 211.
“The downforce the Lotus produces is something regular cars can’t do,” Max said. “The Lotus isn’t a road car that has been altered into a track car; it’s a track car from the start.” Max loves driving at Monticello Motor Club, one of the very few places he can legally get behind the wheel. Under close supervision, he’s already taken driving lessons utilizing MMC’s fleet Mazda MX-5s and Cadillac CTS-Vs. But when Max wants a change, he’ll head over to MMC’s Karting Track for a few laps. At this point, Max hasn’t decided which side of the motorsport team he wants to be on, the computer side, with its telemetry and downforce modeling aspects, or the mechanical side, with its engine and chassis design aspects. He’s keeping his options open. In the meantime, Max is taking classes in computer science and robotics. “I want to be either a mechanical engineer or a computer science engineer,” he said. However, Faulkner’s free time is spent expanding his knowledge of motorsports at Monticello Motor Club, where he has access to the best seat in the house: The Pits, of course.
TS 30 LO E! 34 BL LY ILA N O VA A
Gated Luxury...
for Your Car and Your Family.
Sullivan County’s Newest Gated Community Right Next to Monticello Motor Club.
This is the place where discerning auto enthusiasts like you can pamper your car and indulge your family. Live in a home featuring a climate controlled garage and luxurious living space custom built to your specifications on a 5 acre lot. Serenity Gardens is a residential gated community by Woodstone Development, Sullivan County’s premiere builder. This exceptional retreat, will also feature a 17,000 SF clubhouse for use by your family and guests: STATE-OF-THE-ART HEALTH FACILITY • INDOOR GOLF SIMULATOR TENNIS COURT • INDOOR 20’ X 60’ POOL KIDS’ GAME ROOM • MOVIE ROOM • FULL BAR • KITCHEN SPA-STYLE LOCKER ROOMS FOR MASSAGES AND OTHER TREATMENTS
Call 845.791.9100 or Visit SerenityGardens.net Today for Details.
PRO SHOP OMP TecnicaEvo 3-Layer Race Suit This year, MMC’s Pro Shop will be featuring all new race gear, apparel, and accessories. The OMP TecnicaEvo 3-Layer Race Suit, one of the latest and greatest available, is just one of the new additions you will find while browsing our shop! The professional quality 3-layer race suit is constructed using OMP’s latest ultralight fabrics, with an outer layer of high-sheen sateen Nomex fabric, dual inner layers of ultralight padding, and soft knit Nomex for increased breathability. Comfort is further enhanced with ultra-flat seams, fully floating arms, hip and lumbar inserts made of soft knitted fabric, pre-curved sleeves, and stretch Nomex lumbar panel. This suit features vertical quilting with concealed hip pockets and elastic inserts on the back, allowing for maximum comfort and freedom of movement when seated in the vehicle.
* FIA 8856-2000 Approved for International Motorsport Visit monticellomotorclub.com/pro-shop to browse through our latest inventory!
2014 EXPANSION REPORT Expansion plans continue to develop at Monticello Motor Club as we work toward utilizing every one of our 670 acres in the Catskill Mountains. At the conclusion of our 10-year plan, our members will enjoy even more conveniences, amenities, and entertainment options.
NEW FOR THE 2014 SEASON: BRIDGE Monticello Motor Club’s track is now equipped with a two-lane bridge (with a separate pedestrian lane) that crosses the track. The bridge allows for easy access to private garages, fuel pumps, MMC’s service center, and private race shops.
KARTING TRACK The new, permanent Karting Track, located inside the track along the North Straight, will open with limited access at the beginning the 2014 season. The first course of paving has been completed and we are waiting for some warmer weather to complete the topcoat. The MMC Karting Track will include a 1-kilometer (0.6-mile) asphalt ribbon, 30 feet of total elevation changes, and a family-friendly karting clubhouse. The track is also designed to support autocross exercises.
GARAGE BAYS We have completed 20 new bays in MMC’s garages that are now ready to be filled with members’ cars. Additional member bays will be built throughout the 2014 season.
300-ACRE OFF-ROAD COURSE MMC’s all-new 300-acre off-road course, designed by the experts at Land Rover, will allow members and their guests the unique opportunity to test our brand new fleet of all-terrain vehicles, including some of Land Rover’s newest products, as they adventure through the new trails of the Catskill forests. Future projects include: • Breaking ground on our first Members-Only autominiums, capable of supporting up to six living units in each building; and • Finalizing plans to begin work on a two-story garage equipped with an overnight room.
With over 300 members, we’re entering a new stage of growth and excitement. With individual membership options starting at $40,000 (one-time fee) and annual dues starting at less than $4,000, there’s a membership right for everyone. We also have memberships designed for families and businesses. Please call 855-MMC-CLUB (855-662-2582) or email sales@monticellomotorclub.com to book a tour, to schedule a full-day private driving experience, to buy a gift certificate for a loved one, or to discuss a private event, corporate experience, or charity event. To learn more, visit www.monticellomotorclub.com.
A LITTLE
Taste
From MMC Executive Chef John Perruna
Spinach & Ricotta Gnocchi This authentic Italian dish, sure to impress any guest, can be assembled faster than a lap around the track! INGREDIENTS: 2 pounds fresh spinach 1 ¼ cups ricotta cheese ¼ cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese (plus extra to serve) 2 eggs (beaten) ¼ teaspoon nutmeg ¼-½ cup flour 8 tablespoons butter (melted) Salt & ground black pepper Serves 4 PREPARATION: 1. Place the spinach in a large pan and cook for five minutes. Let cool. Squeeze the spinach as dry as possible. Process in a blender or food processor, then transfer to a bowl. 2. Add the ricotta, Parmesan, eggs, and nutmeg. Season with salt and pepper and combine. Add enough flour to make the mixture into a soft dough. Using your hands, shape the mixture into 3-inch sausages, and then dust lightly with flour. Bring a large pan of salted water to a boil. Gently slide the gnocchi into the water and cook for 1-2 minutes until they float to the surface. Remove gnocchi with a slotted spoon, and transfer to a warm dish. Pour the melted butter over them and sprinkle with Parmesan cheese. Serve immediately.
MMC Executive Chef John Perruna, trained at the Culinary Institute of America, brings a decade of experience as a general manager & executive chef of the Otterkill Country Club and owner of his own restaurant, Villa Fratelli.
Chef Perruna’s Tip: don’t overwork the mixture!
HIDDEN
Gems
Visit & Celebrate the 45th Anniversary of the Woodstock Festival (Just 20 minutes from Monticello Motor Club)
EVENT CALENDAR Pavilion Stage June 1: Lady Antebellum with Billy Currington and Joe Nichols June 8: Willie Nelson and Family & Alison Krauss and Union Station featuring Jerry Douglas with special guest Kacey Musgraves June 15: Santana The Corazón Tour June 17: Journey & Steve Miller Band with special guest Tower of Power June 20: RAIN - A Tribute to the Beatles (Pavilion-Only Concert) June 27: Boston with special guest Cheap Trick July 5: Crosby, Stills & Nash July 12: Peter Frampton & The Doobie Brothers with special guest Matthew Curry July 17: Jimmy Buffett & the Coral Reefer Band July 20: An Evening with James Taylor and His All-Star Band July 26: Kenny Rogers with the Hudson Valley Philharmonic (Pavilion-Only Concert) July 27: Toby Keith with special guests Colt Ford and Krystal Keith August 1: The Temptations & The Four Tops August 2: Lionel Richie with CeeLo Green August 17: Keith Urban with Jerrod Niemann and Brett Eldredge August 19: Goo Goo Dolls & Daughtry with the Plain White T's August 23: Josh Groban August 31: Miranda Lambert with Justin Moore, Thomas Rhett, and Jukebox Mafia Visit BethelWoodsCenter.org for more information or to view the full event schedule.
The Best Broadway in the Catskills! (Just a 5-minute drive from Monticello Motor Club)
EVENT CALENDAR Main Stage June 10-15: June 17-29: July 1-13: July 15-27: July 29-August 10: August 12-24: August 26-31:
A Murder Is Announced My Fair Lady Loretta Swit Mame The Best Little Whore House in Texas Mary Poppins La Cage Aux Folles The Chosen
Visit FBPlayhouse.org for more information or to view the full event schedule. Make the most of your visit to MMC and explore everything the beautiful Sullivan County Catskills has to offer. Visit SCVA.net for listings of attractions, accommodations, and restaurants, along with upcoming events and tourism news!
MEMBER SPOTLIGHT
RACING FANATIC
JOE courtney
Monticello Motor Club member Joe Courtney has always loved impressive cars. In fact, while other teens were driving a Chevette, K car, or some other hideous econobox, Joe was rocking a Dodge Shelby Charger. “I’ve always driven cars that are a little nicer than the next guy,” Joe said. “For me, a great Friday night was just going for a drive.” A Connecticut-based businessman, Joe is a rare breed of autophile who is totally brand-agnostic. He’ll drive just about anything out there, regardless of marque. “You name it, I’ve owned it,” Joe said. Joe’s current collection of vehicles includes over 50 cars, some whose brands he can’t recall off the top of his head. Still, he has no trouble rattling off the specs of such rare wonders as a Porsche Carrera GT, a 1997 Porsche Turbo S (one of 182 made), and 2006 Spider. What really sets Joe’s collection apart is his obvious passion for race cars, a complete deviation from his previous focus on street cars. “I did a one-day high performance school at Skip Barber, and it changed my whole perspective on driving,” Joe said. From there, Joe started tracking his street cars at various venues. It wasn’t long before a racing coach picked up on his inherent driving talent, and asked Joe if he’d considered racing. “That one conversation changed my whole life,” Joe said.
Joe launched into a flurry of racing series’ in various classes and cars, and he hasn’t let up since. In fact, he races so much that even his exotic street cars don’t see much use these days. “A street car is big and heavy with street tires and there’s no safety gear in there so I rarely ever take one onto the track,” Joe said. “But I always drive something nice when I head up to Monticello Motor Club.” Currently employing two racing coaches and running in multiple series’ simultaneously, Joe is a busy man. For starters, he runs a Lamborghini Gallardo Super Trofeo in the marque’s own Super Trofeo series. The Lambo’s no slouch, putting out 570 horsepower to all four wheels in a lightweight gutted chassis with full aero. Joe also runs a Ferrari 458 Italia race car in the Ferrari Challenge series, as well as a heavily modified Porsche Cayman S in the Porsche Club of America series. “Racing is racing; the adrenaline is the same,” Joe said. With 36 races on his schedule (a few at Monticello Motor Club, his home base), Joe is on an ambitious racing circuit this year. He’s also planning to try his hand at vintage racing, running a restored 1973 Alfa Romeo GTV 2000. And if the car gets damaged? “Once you’ve been through a few wrecks, you realize you can put the cars back together,” Joe said. “You restore it once, you can restore it again.”
2014 WINTER DRIVING DAY While most folks were staying off those winter roads to avoid the hazardous driving conditions brought on by ice and snow, Monticello Motor Club members were embracing their inner dare devils on their 3.6-mile track in the Catskill Mountains. In fact, MMC’s annual Winter Driving Event drew roughly 40 members and their guests to the track, where they enjoyed the rare opportunity to spin their
tires and let loose on the snow-covered asphalt. There’s no doubt that they all felt the charge of the drift, while also learning incredibly valuable skills necessary in controlling a vehicle in adverse driving conditions. The wintery morning of flying snow and icy turns culminated with an outstanding brunch prepared by MMC Executive Chef John Perruna.
TWO-DAY RACING ACADEMY CHOOSE FROM A PRAGA R1 OR AN OPEN COCKPIT RADICAL SR3 AND ENJOY THE MOST EXTREME DRIVING EXPERIENCE IN THE U.S. DAY 1
DAY 2
Begin with a brief classroom session, before moving to a series of exercises to help you learn the art of high performance driving. The rest of your day will be spent mastering the very technical corners at MMC while exploring your car’s potential.
Build on the fundamentals learned on Day 1 so you can extract every bit of performance from your track car. Speed begins to build rapidly, allowing you to truly experience your vehicle’s unimaginable acceleration.
TAKE YOUR PICK! PRAGA R1 Drive the Praga R1, a super lightweight car made from carbon fiber. It’s built with enough down force to drive upside down, and enough grip to pull over 3Gs in the corners.
RADICAL SR3 Driving an open cockpit Radical is like nothing you’ve ever experienced. Acceleration is immediate and powerful, and it corners like it is on rails.
Our driving academies start at under $4,900 per person. No Experience Required. (Extremely limited availability) For more information, call 855.MMC.CLUB (855.662.2582), email sales@monticellomotorclub.com, or visit MonticelloMotorClub.com.
PRO TIPS
MMC Pro Corey Lewis will help get you back on track in 2014!
1. Adjust your seat. You want the steering wheel elevated to allow your arms to bend at the elbows when you turn the wheel 180 degrees. This usually means moving the seat closer to the steering wheel. Always remember to keep your hands the 3:00 and 9:00 positions.
2. Be smooth. Your car’s transmission, tires, and chassis don’t like abrupt inputs. Slamming on the throttle throws the car’s weight to the rear, unsettling the front tires. Diving on the brakes moves the car’s weight forward. Driving well is all about weight management, controlling the ever-shifting mass of the car so the tires are never overloaded. Always be sure to keep the car as balanced or neutral as possible.
3. Look ahead. Nope, not at the car in front of you. No, not at the car in front of him either. Look as far down the road as you can. Your eyes are scanning the horizon, often a half-mile or more down the road. On the track, you’re always looking where you want to go, not where you are going. Get your eyes up, and suddenly you’ve got advance information. You know what the next corner looks like before you fly into it. You can see that crash ahead before the driver in front of you pounces on his brakes. On the track, your hands and feet will instinctively follow your eyes. Look where you want to go, and your car will follow suit.
4. Brake hard, and then trail off. This is the most effective method of braking. Always remember to brake in a straight line! Remember Tip #2? In braking, it’s especially critical to be smooth. Brakes are very powerful and can easily upset a car’s balance, even if you have ABS. First, push the brakes hard, and then gently let off at the end. This method will help keep the car balanced or neutral.
5. Turns are about apexs. The apex refers to the middle of a corner or a turn. You want to hit the apex and then straighten out the wheel. By the time the wheel is straight, you should be able to start applying the throttle. Again, keeping your eyes up, looking to the next corner. Straight line, break, look, turn.
CHOPARD USA Ltd. The Official Timepiece Of Monticello Motor Club
Chopard, with its tried and true self-winding chronograph movement renowned for its endurance, is the ideal timepiece to act as Monticello Motor Club’s Official Timekeeper. To herald in the partnership, Monticello Motor Club will be installing custom-made Chopard clocks at the MMC Clubhouse; in addition, the members-only race series, the Monticello Motor Club Challenge, will be powered by Chopard throughout the 2014 Season.
As the Official Timepiece of MMC, Chopard is pleased to offer Monticello Motor Club members: Access to the newest Chopard products ahead of their release dates, Invitations to special and exclusive Chopard events, And other unique privileges (including pricing advantages) throughout the 2014 Season.
Chopard expects its watches to run impeccably smoothly, while also featuring a strong and distinctive aesthetic identity. Just like Monticello Motor Club…
GIFT THE EXPERIENCE OF A LIFETIME TO YOUR HIGH SCHOOL OR COLLEGE GRADUATE! 2-DAY RACING ACADEMY
TASTE OF THE TRACK
Master the art of high-performance driving on the very technical corners at MMC’s 3.6-mile track.
Our full-day Taste of the Track offers the perfect opportunity to experience life as a member of the most exclusive motorsports club in North America, and enjoy the thrill of high-performance driving in a safe and controlled environment.
CHOOSE FROM A PRAGA R1 OR AN OPEN COCKPIT RADICAL SR3 AND ENJOY THE MOST EXTREME DRIVING EXPERIENCE IN THE U.S.
Our driving experiences start at under $2,500 per person. No Experience Required. (Extremely limited availability) Drivers as young as 14 are welcome to take to the track! *Restrictions apply. Please call for more details. For more information, call 855.MMC.CLUB (855.662.2582), email sales@monticellomotorclub.com, or visit MonticelloMotorClub.com.
MONTICELLO MOTOR CLUB CORPORATE OFFICE 548 BROADWAY MONTICELLO, NY 12701