Each month the MRA holds at least two meetings. One is a meeting for the Board of Directors to conduct the business of the MRA and the second is our General Meeting, which you are likely already familiar with. In 2013 we're going to let you know what's going on in a new way. This little "news flash" will come your way from time to time with the happenings in the club that you might find interesting or noteworthy. It's really just that, a news flash. The detailed meeting minutes can be found in the forums each month, so if you would like to know more detail regarding the meetings themselves, please visit those sections. So with that introduction done, here's what's happening!

In case you haven't heard, the MRA is updating our registration and race management database! Our organization was a pioneer in online registration in the early 2000's and we are pioneering once again with the goal of completely revamping the online portion of the MRA experience. License applications, for example, used to require you to print off a document, fill it out (with a pen, how 1988!) and then mail it (with a stamp, how 1900!) to a place where our Vice President, Treasurer and Secretary would all have separate tasks to process it resulted in you getting a race license. That process is being replaced with an online form that you can fill out and submit in a few minutes. We have partnered with Bitgeist, a software development firm that has a program called RaceWurx. This program was used by CCS in 2012 and has many of the core functions that the MRA requires already built in. We've contracted with Bitgeist to add MRA specific functionality to the RaceWurx program and we expect it to deploy in early March after we conduct some testing. We are going to try to break it before we let you try to break it. With any new custom software implementation there are growing pains, so we ask for your patience and understanding as we roll out this new product in 2013.

The launch of RaceWurx in the MRA is putting a short hold on license applications for 2013. We fully expect that you will be able to apply for your license on March 1 using the new online system. In the event that we encounter implementation delays that push us beyond that date, we will reinstate the paper process so that licenses can be issued in time for the season.

The MRA has had great success promoting our SuperStreet program in the last couple of years. While we look to continue the strength and success of that program, we're turning our marketing effort towards a new goal in 2013. To operate successfully each weekend the MRA needs an army of staff. Without the help of our cornerworkers and on-track staff we simply cannot run a race weekend. Over the last several years we've experienced a decline in the number of staff that have arrived at our events willing to work, so we are looking for ways to increase interest and participation among that group of people in this coming year. We invite you to have your friends and family join us at the track, get one of the best seats in the house and get paid to be a critical part of our weekend. Furthermore, if you have an idea that you think will encourage people to join us in filling this critical role, we would like to hear it. Please get in touch with our Track Marshal, Ray Gaimara.

We welcome our new Treasurer, Rachel Zell, to the Board of Directors! She and Lisa have had a number of meetings over the past two months to assure that she is up to speed and ready for the 2013 season.

President, Tony Baker, has completed contracts with each of our race venues in 2013 and confirmed our dates at those venues. Additionally he is in the process of securing insurance for the 2013 season.

Our New Rider Director, Jeff Brown, is looking at ways to enhance the instructional program for the race school in 2013. One of the ways this is going to happen is by having the instructor team meet prior to the school weekend so that the team can be a well oiled machine when it's time to teach. If you have been an instructor in the past Jeff will be reaching out to you this spring to let you know what the pre-school meeting date is.

Vice President, Jim Wilson, has been hard at work updating our print media for the season. You'll be seeing this very soon in shops across the state. Additionally Jim has been working with rider representative, Aaron Fisk, in creating a testing program for our RaceWurx implementation. Finally, Jim has been working on securing contingency sponsors for the 2013 season. Of special note in this area is the return of Honda contingency to the club in 2013!

Aaron has started the quest for class sponsors for 2013. The MRA policy is to allow the previous season's sponsor to have the right of first refusal for the current season, but inevitably there are classes that open up. To bring greater value to the MRA and the businesses that support us Aaron has started discussions around a unified marketing effort so that class sponsorship, e-display advertising and the MRA program do not end up in competition with each other for limited marketing dollars. There is lots more to come on this subject.

Speaking of E-Displays - Louden David has been working with ABATE of Colorado to increase the number of our displays in circulation. By selling advertising time on our electronic displays he's created a revenue stream that helps to pay for our advertising expenses. By working with business partners, like ABATE, it looks like there may be more than 20 of these units in operation before the end of the year.

Rider representative, Shannon Moham, has been putting the final touches on the 2013 rulebook. Some of the most notable changes include the addition of two Production Cup classes and the expansion of the Modern Vintage definition. Production Cup racing will take place in 3 divisions in 2013. The 250 class will remain intact and will be joined on-track by the 400cc and 500cc classes to accommodate a number of new motorcycles coming to market in 2013. KTM, Kawasaki and Honda have announced new models and there is rumor that Yamaha will be introducing class legal machines in the near future. The MRA continues to lead the way in promoting inexpensive, production based, small displacement racing as a means to introduce new riders to the sport as well as providing a sustainable way for racers to continue racing, even as their budgets decrease a bit. Qualifying will continue as the method of setting the grid for these classes, which will be scored individually. Modern Vintage is expanding as well to include a number of "named exceptions" to the 10 year rule. Some motorcycles, like the 2003 Yamaha R6, have subsequent model years that are substantially the same motorcycle. Going forward these bikes will be named in the rulebook as "exceptions" to the 10 year rule. In the event that there is a motorcycle that is a legitimate exception to the 10 year rule, but is not named in the rulebook, the MRA Board of Directors retains the right to add motorcycles to the list as eligibility is determined.

Finally, there is an opening on the MRA Board of Directors. The Rider Rep position for Press and Contingency will be vacated by Scott Rybarik following the appointment of a qualified successor. The board is taking applications from interested parties through the 25th of January. If you are interested in filling this role, please contact MRA President, Tony Baker, to apply.

Blended advertising campaigns, e-display advertising and improved race management are examples of how the MRA is focusing efforts in 2013. This concludes the first edition of "What's Happening in the MRA"! This news flash is designed to give you a general idea of what is happening in your club. It is not 'all inclusive'. To see everything that is going on in the MRA please refer to the meeting minutes sections of the forums. You can find contact for any board member in the "Contact the MRA" link at www.mra-racing.org.