European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - February 15, 1969, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Page 6 the stars and stripes saturday Fob vary 15, 1969 a Uto slalom ing for the Little Guys by Ranby Barnetts a racing columnist the Darmstadt Challengerst-5 Auto club although organized Only 17 months ago has become one of the most successful Amer ican motor sports clubs in Ger  april the club sponsored its first slalom event on the army air strip near the stars and stripes Complex in Gries hem. The slalom Drew 27 entries. More events were held they grew in popularity and by August entries totalled 125 in on of the largest Auto slalom Ever conducted in Germany. The course itself has added tothe popularity of the Challen Gers slalom. With varying Layouts for each event the coarse averages 1.9 Kilometre from Start to finish one of the longest and most challenging in Germany. An Auto slalom is a race against time Over twisting course Between upright pylons. The club s slalom and rallies also have attracted Many Ger Man Drivers and several germans have become club Mem Bers one being its vice president How does such a Young club Progress so quickly by making certain that Mem Bers and competitors have a goo time says maj. Sam Simpson of the 6910th Security , the club s activities chairman was a highly successful sports car racer and Hill competitor in Germany during Chelate 1950s. Back now on another tour he plans to enter sever International events this season he stresses the fun of com Peting and says the Darmstadt club differs front most German Auto clubs because it emphasizes participation in Competition. Most of the German clubs have been around for so Lon they tend to put the emphasis on sponsoring big time racing and rallying rather than local activities he says. With us it s a Case of no professionalism is. Professional ism Simpson says. In our club an enthusiast can drive his car Back and Forth to work a week and without a lot of Prepa ration and expense he can Sti have fun driving the car arum a Good slalom course. We give the Little Guy a Chance to drive his Best in a slalom or go rallying All at a very slight entry fee. Everyone has a Chance to  the challengers Are actually a Mustang club the Mustang in Germany is known As a t-5, so the club uses thet-5 Moniker. But club member ownership of a Mustang is Only incidental. Members drive every thing from ferraris to Volk Swa Gens. The organization was formed in october of 1967 by s. Sgt. J. E. Kirtley of the 6910th Security Wing. He s now serving his Sec Ond term As club , who also was president of a Mustang club in san Antonio,tex., formed the t-5 challengers along the same  us Peak last year the Darmstadt organization had 111members, but with rotation to the states Active membership Snow number 75. An increase however is expected this  addition to Darmstadt area members Drivers come from Wiesbaden Hanau Sembach Kaiserslautern Heidelberg an Frankfurt. The club s competitive events have been entered by Drivers stationed As far Way As England and  challengers general Pur pose is to encourage the preservation ownership and operation of Storte cars and touring carsai4o encourage and practice the four a of the Road care caution Courtesy and common sense. Promotion of German american relations is another of the club s  the increasing popularity of the challengers slalom an rallies entry fee payments and club dues have made it possible for the t-5ers to spend More j than $800 for electrical timing equipment which clocks a car Down to 1-Loooth of a , a Public address system rally clocks and timers and other equipment also have been Pur chased. The club which determine sits slalom classes on size of the car weight and horse Power has eight slalom on the National Calendar this sea son All events registered and approved by the Automo club von Deata Bland avd and Oberste National sport Koto Mission on. Many Small fun rallies Suchias gimmick and tourist Type also Are scheduled along with three National rallies a Driver school and race training on the Hocken Heim course also approved by the avd and on. Slalom an rally Competition also is open to  emphasized that any one competing in a National rally or any slalom must possess an aus Weiss which is a German National Competition permit. To obtain an aus Weiss one must be Long to a recognized Auto club such As the challengers who Are affiliated with the avd. The challengers award their rally championship and slalom championship to the persons collecting most Points throughout the season Points being Given for first through fifth places. Last year maj. Terry Sargent of . Army research and development group Frankfurt won the rally championship and his wife Darlene took the navigator of the year award. So. Sgt. Hank Schink of the6910th Security Wing won the slalom  from competitive events the challengers also stress so Cial activities european Tours and assistance to youth. Las year the club sponsored a rally with All Cash from entry fees go ing to the cub scouts. They also presented the Aya with $700netted from members work at the annual Aya carnival i Darmstadt. The group which meets every thursday at 8  the Darmstadt officers club in Cambrai Fritsch Cavern prints its own monthly news  club s officers Are Kirtley president Dieter Schmidt Agerman National vice president Schink treasurer s. Sgt. Clif Schluetter of the 6910th Security Wing Secretary Simpson activities chairman t. Sgt Jack an Derson of the 6910th. Chairman for slalom capt. Lyle Briggs of v corps artillery chairman for rallies. The schedule of events for this season includes slalom Drivers school March 1-2 All slalom Tobe hew on army air strip near stars and stripes March Auto slalom March 22-23 Jim s time out rally april 12 april Auto slalom april 19-20 May Auto slalom May 17-11 race train ing at Bockenheim track May 23 june Auto slalom june 28-29firecracker rally july 4 july Auto slalom july 19-20 augustaus slalom aug. 23-24 septem Ber Auto slalom sept. 27-28 Goober Auto slalom oct. 18-19. You Don t need a Ferrari to go slalom ing As this Driver shows lifting a wheel. A sports car Driver Cocks his wheel for the next turn around one of the pylons. Class winners la slalom events pose Between theft