Big Sky RC Meeting Minutes
1 Apr 2025
President Dan Woods brought the meeting to order at 7:13 PM at the Pitstop with 18 members in attendance. We had 4 new members at the meeting.
Secretary Don Gilles read March’s meeting minutes and they were accepted as read.
Treasurer Darrell Anderson read the Treasurer’s report and it was accepted as read.
Old business:
Dan Woods started old business with more talk of purchasing a shipping container. John Weinzettel stated we might need to raise the original motion price limit to $5k. This was bantered around the group for a bit till Jason Naranjo made a motion to increase the purchase limit to $5k, Dave Grosse seconded, motion passed. Other members thought they knew of used 40′ containers selling for $2k. After a lengthy discussion on the value of a 20′ or 40′ container and whether or not we might use the container as a driver’s stand or extend the existing driver’s stand it became apparent a trip to a container dealer was required. There was also talk of moving the race announcer up onto the driver’s stand with the racers.
Jason Naranjo led a discussion of race track preparation for the upcoming Spring Thaw event. It was decided that 3-4 May was the best weekend for a work party. It was also decided that no major changes to the track will be made for Spring Thaw, just some re-grading and minor alterations of some sections. Mat Permann asked about obtaining additional dirt for the track and someone voiced that a potential source of dirt might be available at a reduced rate. Details on more dirt TBD.
Don Gilles gave an update on the flying table rebuild project. Let it be known that the tables aren’t actually flying – they’re stationary on the ground for our modelers to use for their planes. Four tables were repaired. Two of these required the wood tabletop be completely replaced and two others only required new artificial grass. It also became apparent during the project that nearly 10-12 tables require the uprights to be either repaired or replaced. In light of this new information, Don let members know he needs some more funding to purchase some more hardware and lumber. Chuck Woods made a motion to allocate another $200.00 for table repair, Jason Naranjo seconded, motion passed.
Dan Woods gave an update on the new outhouse. Dan is going over to Fagenstroms this week to check on getting the concrete vault constructed.
New business:
Tony Stinger asked about establishing a Race Director position. Mat Perman suggested this position be a shared duty. Jason Naranjo made a motion to officially create the BSRC Race Director position, Don Woods seconded, motion passed. It was decided for now Jason Naranjo and John Weinzettel will operate as co-Race Directors. These individuals will be responsible for managing all aspects of BSRC racing events, i.e., how many races, race length, classes, dates, advertising, RCSignup, LiveTime, race practice scheduling and race day logistics & execution, i.e., power, insurance, timing system operation, trophies and etc.
Along with this a discussion ensued about the use of RCSignup. Dan Woods stated the desire for all racers to use the online RCSignup.com and how we advertise a $5 discount for early signup but we still have many folks who don’t signup prior to the race but wait to do so the morning of the race. This slows down our events as we then need to manually enter these folks into LiveRC for the timing system. No decision was made to disallow this practice for now.
John Weinzettel stated that he believed we need to increase the fee non-members pay to race and that we should also allow non-members to attend race practices but be required to pay a $10 fee for this opportunity. Dan Woods verified that our racer’s insurance covers non-members in the same manner as members. After a quick discussion on the issue, John Weinzettel made a motion to increase the price of all race classes by $5.00 and to subsequently increase the member per-class discount to $10.00. Additionally, open practice will remain free for members and open to non-members for $10.00, per practice. Mat Permann seconded, motion passed. Race prices will be as follows: 1st Class $30.00, 2nd Class $25.00, 3rd and remaining classes $20.00. Open-practice for non-members will be $10.00 per practice.
Tony Stinger asked about establishing a separate Facebook page for the club that allowed all members of the site to create posts. This new page would be the primary means for the community to exchange information on current club & member activities allowing everyone of the group to create posts. This new site will not replace our existing sites but act more as a “live” messaging portal. Jason Naranjo made a motion to create this Facebook page, Tony Stinger seconded, motion passed. Cory Ehnes volunteered to set the page up and establish the initial moderators.
Mat Permann let everyone know that Gusto Distributing has made another $500.00 donation to BSRC and that he’ll deliver the check soon.
Dan Woods closed the meeting by presenting John Sandy with the 2024 “Member of the Year” trophy, good job John!
Thanks to all attendees, the meeting was adjourned at approximately 9:00 pm.
Donald Gilles
BSRC Secretary
AMA Club 400
FYI:
Club meetings are the first Tuesday night of the month at the Pitstop, 7pm.
Club lunch is every Friday, noon at Hardees.
Wednesday night is our designated “get-together” night for club flying.
Upcoming Events:
– May 3-4, Work Party for Spring Thaw
– May 17-18, Spring Thaw R/C Off Road Racing, Great Falls, MT, BSRC Track
– June 7, Club Fly, Great Falls, MT, BSRC Field
– June Wednesday Night League Racing, BSRC Track
– June 21, Float-Fly, Wadsworth Park, Great Falls, MT
– July 12, Open House, Great Falls, MT (Full RC Complex will be open to the public), BSRC Field
– July 26-27, Summer Heat R/C Off Road Racing, Great Falls, MT (one day event), BSRC Track
– August 9, Float-Fly, Missouri River, Great Falls, MT, across from Elks Riverside Park
– August 23-24, Steve Woodhouse Invitational Fly-In, Woodhouse farm
– August 30, Scale Fly-In, Great Falls, MT, BSRC Field
– September 13-14, Fall Fury R/C Off Road Racing, Great Falls, MT, BSRC Track
– October 4, Leo Sommerfeld Memorial Fly-In, location TBD