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- May 2008
As I'm the outgoing Captain of the Oasis 500's I'll give Noble Don Andersen (our new Captain) a reprieve and do a new newsletter for him. We had numerous great times over the past years that I've served as the unit Captain. We gained a few members and unfortunately lost a couple as well. You develop such strong relationships between your members and their families while participating in a Shrine unit, and it's like loosing a part of your own family when they pass away or need to move on somewhere else.

We've completed another of the Formula 2000 race cars. Noble Don finished his in time for SASA last fall, but unfortunately forgot to add hardner to the paint before shooting it, so it took roughly 2 months for the paint to truly set. The paint job was fabulous looking, but as he'd pulled it in an open trailer, it got exposed to the rain on its way down to Myrtle Beach last year, which caused the paint to cloud over. He's got the paint job looking great now, and it's a true asset to our unit. He's built in a couple of additional changes that seem to be really good. He's changed the rear wing and its mount as well as the front rack-and-pinion steering. I liked it so well, I'm going to have mine upgraded to the same. It's like going from manual to power steering - yes, there's that much difference.

We ran a good schedule last year. We were at Maggie Valley for the Spring Ceremonial, then SASA for the competition and parade - however, the competition was rained out - and even though the owners of the parking lot said it had sealer on it, I don't think it would have pooled water around your shoes while standing on it if it had been sealed. Your own body weight was enough to cause water to squeeze out of the asphalt… not a good condition for high performance driving… and it might have made the attempt a bit moist as our huge racing tires WILL through a lot of water (if present). We had a great time at Hickory at last fall's Fall Shrine Ceremonial. It was the standard "and a fine time was had by all" type of affair. Unfortunately, due to illnesses in certain key members of out unit, we had to cancel our plans at the last minute to attend the Parade at the Masonic Home for Children in Oxford. We always look forward to that each year, but sometimes things happen and you "just can't get there from here"!

We've been acquiring numerous items in preparation of constructing a new Formula 2000 car, but we haven't quite got to that position yet. There's still numerous item to find, and we need someone that will finish paying for the car and drive it (also requires the purchase of an enclosed trailer - maybe Don will go in with them to purchase a 24 foot enclosed trailer). That way we'd have two of these big trailers and be really "downtown". We have the engine, wheels, tires, transmission, braking system and a couple of other small items already… we just need to get the rest - plus finish fixing our existing cars so we can focus on new construction. Noble Dan Page was originally, out of his generosity, funding the new car, but issues not under his control have momentarily curtailed that process.

We're always looking for new members, so if you know a Noble that might be interested, have him call us. We can be reached through Oasis Temple's directory. If you don't know the number for the temple, call 1-800-226-2747, select option 1 and select our temple director.

God Bless, and I hope you all have a great year.

Sincerely,
Noble Fred Wood
Past Captain
Oasis 500's