SAE SoCal: April Doubleheader

Event #1.......................................

What: SAE - Southern California Section - Special Event Lecture

When: Wednesday, April 4, 2001 7:00pm - 8:00pm

Topic: CART Racing - A Team Owners Perspective

Speaker: DERRICK WALKER Owner Walker Racing

In 2001, Derrick Walker is entering his fourth decade in the business of racing, and has worked his way up through the ranks from mechanic to owner of a multi-million dollar race team. He has campaigned some of the sport's most important drivers throughout in his career including Al Unser, Rick Mears, Danny Sullivan, Robby Gordon and Gil de Ferran.

Derrick was born in Scotland but emigrated to Western Australia in 1949 with his family when he was four years old. He honed his mechanical skills and strong work ethic on the disciplined and competitive Brabham Formula One team. In 1976 Walker began his thirteen-year association with Roger Penske, serving first as chief mechanic for the Penske Grand Prix team, eventually moving to the United States in late 1980 to become Penske's vice president of racing, with Rick Mears as his first winning driver. During Walker's tenure at Penske the team won five PPG Cups, five Indy 500's, and 28 Indy car races.

In 1988, Derrick accepted the general manager's job for the factory Porsche Indy team. At the end of 1990, Walker purchased the assets and formed his own team - Walker Motorsport.In 1992 driver Scott Goodyear earned Derrick's first victory as an owner (Michigan 500), and placed fifth in the year-end points standings. In 1994 Walker relocated his team from Warrington, Pa., to a 37,000 square-foot, state-of-the-art facility in Indianapolis and signed young charger Robby Gordon. Gordon claimed two poles, finished fifth in the points standings and was voted Most Improved Driver. For 1997, Walker decided to concentrate on a one-car program and signed driver Gil de Ferran. Gil drove to second-place in the overall points standings and earned two poles, had seven top-three finishes, and was second in both laps and miles completed.

In 2001, Derrick has hired young gun Tora (Tiger) Takagi, who will be powered by Toyota engines. Tora is a two-year Formula One veteran and the reigning Japanese F3000 champion.

Where: Cal State Long Beach Thomas Guide - Pg 796 E-5 Building/Room: Sunset Room at Pointe, CSULB Pyramid

Reservations: Voice: (562) 308-1315 X2687 Fax: (562) 308-1315-pause-2687 E-mail: csulbsae@onebox.com Only e-mail reservations will be confirmed.

Cost: SAE/STS Members: $5.00 Non-members: $10.00 SAE Student Members $2.00

Notes: This is a presentation only. No meal will be served. Parking: Enter CSULB from Atherton and you will see the Pyramid. Park in the adjacent lot.

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Event #2......................................

What: SAE -- Southern California Section -- April 2001 Section Meeting Tuesday, April, 10th

Topic: Sea Launch - Behind the Scenes

Guest Speaker: Bohdan (Bo) I. Bejmuk Vice President Business Development & Strategic Planning Sea Launch Company, LLC.

Abstract: Sea Launch is a unique commercial satellite launching company. This company brought together the rocket and marine specialists from Russia, Ukraine, Norway and the United States to create this remarkable launch system to serve global commercial customers.

Sea Launch Company was formed in April 1995. The Sea Launch Commander, a launch command ship and the Odyssey, an ocean going launch platform made the trip from Russia to Long Beach to start launch operations. The first Inaugural launch at the equator, March 27, 1999, was less than four years from the start of Sea Launch. Sea Launch is quickly becoming a significant player in the commercial satellite launch arena.

Schedule: 5:30 - 6:30 Social Hour Sponsored by College of Science & Engineering, LMU. Registration / Tour / Social Hour - "Pereira Hall of Engineering" 6:30 - 7:30 Dinner - "Hill Room" Malone Student Center 7:30 - 8:30 Presentation - "Hill Room"

Cost: Members $20, Students $10 ($5 additional without reservations)

RSVP: By Thursday, April 5th. E-mail: sae_meeting@onebox.com Voice: (310) 309-3500 Box 5124 Fax: (310) 309-3500 -Pause- 5124

Location: Loyola Marymount University 7900 Loyola Blvd. Los Angeles, CA 90045 - Thomas Guide Page 702, E-1 Stop at Kiosk for parking lot info and directions to Pereira Hall of Engineering (Parking is Free).

Web Info (to be posted soon): http://www.sae-socal.org

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