Good bye my Friends

[AOFoffice]

Goodbye my friends.
From now on, the AOFOffice posts will be from your new Executive Director, Russ Bircher. Treat him well.
I have now officially retired from my long tenure in AOF and boat racing. The first race I remember was over 50 years ago. The first nationals I helped organize was the APBA stock nationals in Cedar Rapids, Iowa in 1972 Ten years later I put on the APBA Mod nationals in North Liberty, Iowa. Then there is all of the AOF races, too many to count. I am looking forward to spending my time on…well, I don’t know what yet, but it will be fun exploring. Certainly you will still see me around as my family continues to race, and I am sure I will continue to help once in a while. I love the sport, and sincerely hope that I was able to contribute, if only in a small way. Passing the torch is not hard when you know that the person you are passing it to is such a great person. Look for even bigger and better things to come from AOF in the near future.
Thank you Russ, for making this easy. Thank you AOF for giving the sport a great alternative. Thank you all boat racers for being my life for so long. A great life it has been.
Love,
Connie Payn

[Composite Specialties]

Good Luck Connie

Good luck to you in whatever you end up doing for fun and excitement.

I just wanted to tell a short story about the first time I meet Connie. It was in the mid 90's at an AOF race in Orlando, Florida. This was the first AOF race I had ever attended. I was racing C-Stock with my brother and Brian Burkhardt. I had a new boat to try and it was really fast from our test session.

I had meet Connie during the registration process and she was so nice to me and my brother, it being our first AOF race in all. So finally it is time for us to race. We are coming up to the start of the first heat, there is Brian Burkhardt on my inside and my brother on my outside and I am just about one boat length back from them, all I can see is water and no clock. Brian and Chris take off, so I go as well, still can't see the clock for the wall of water.

We race for three laps and then came in after the race. The best I remember, we heard Connie calling us to the judges stand. I was wondering what I did, like going to the principals office. When we got there, Connie came over to me and Chris and Brian Burkhardt and had a very sad face on. She began to tell us how sorry she was that we all three had jumped the gun and she was so sorry that we drove such a long way to race and she had to DQ us for jumping the gun. What a nice person.

That was what I remember about the first time I meet Connie.

Take care Connie, see you around the races.

[Dave M]

See You Around

Connie,

We have had ups and downs in the many many years we have know each other. But I guess that is what friends are for, the ups and downs. What about getting back into a boat with all your spare time ???

See you at the races this next year. Keep a beer or two or three handy.

[seanp3]

Connie - I've never gotten to meet you since I've just started in this sport. But, thanks for carrying the torch as long as you did. Russ will do a great job taking the torch and carrying it for you!!

[dlmurray]

Connie - It will be hard to fill your shoes! Thanks for all that you have done and I know that you will continue to do! Always remember the story that you tell about the first time that you were "introduced" to Pete and I! Gives me a good laugh - maybe it was a "true" statement! You can help us out anytime (and you have already on many an occassion)!

Thanks again for everything.

Diane

[Al Peffley]

Retirement Isn't Always Goodbye for Good

Connie,

Thank you for being so responsive to my many requests this year, and for your genuine concern for all of us here out in the US race circuit. I hope to meet you some day, we can have a cold beverage, and talk about the future in boat racing that you helped to create and nurture with the best of the rest...

Best Regards,
Al Peffley

[Russ Birch 45R]

Friends Forever

I remember in 1982 there was a mod national at Cedar Rapids. Thats my first time I had the honor of meeting Connie and her family. They took me in to their home made me family and a friend that has lasted a long time. The engery she has put into AOF is the same as she puts into life. I hope that I will be able to come even near what she has done. Sue and I are very fond of you and your family.

Russ Bircher 45R 151R

[acr924]

Connie, it was great working with you the very few times I did. I hope you enjoy your retirement!

Allie Runne

[BURKHARDT]

Thanks For the Memories

Connie,

Thank you for all the memories, I remember that day like it was yesturday.

Thanks Marc for building such an awesome boat. After that day we learned how to controle our speeds a little.....................LOL.

Good Luck Connie.

Brian Burkhardt

PS;

Marc......Good Luck next year with your new SST 60.

Good luck to you in whatever you end up doing for fun and excitement.

I just wanted to tell a short story about the first time I meet Connie. It was in the mid 90's at an AOF race in Orlando, Florida. This was the first AOF race I had ever attended. I was racing C-Stock with my brother and Brian Burkhardt. I had a new boat to try and it was really fast from our test session.

I had meet Connie during the registration process and she was so nice to me and my brother, it being our first AOF race in all. So finally it is time for us to race. We are coming up to the start of the first heat, there is Brian Burkhardt on my inside and my brother on my outside and I am just about one boat length back from them, all I can see is water and no clock. Brian and Chris take off, so I go as well, still can't see the clock for the wall of water.

We race for three laps and then came in after the race. The best I remember, we heard Connie calling us to the judges stand. I was wondering what I did, like going to the principals office. When we got there, Connie came over to me and Chris and Brian Burkhardt and had a very sad face on. She began to tell us how sorry she was that we all three had jumped the gun and she was so sorry that we drove such a long way to race and she had to DQ us for jumping the gun. What a nice person.

That was what I remember about the first time I meet Connie.

Take care Connie, see you around the races.

[lindae]

Connie, thanks for all you have done for boatracing. Hope you guys can get back to Florida soon.

[RLR]

Thanks Connie

Hey Connie,
I want to say thanks for all you do for us in boatracing. I cannot think of coming to a race and not seeing you and your family. I know that is not what you are doing, and we will see you often. Come by the PA booth and let's tell some stories. Maybe I better re-think that, we do not want to get anyone in trouble.

You have been there to support your family, your friends, and have been the pillar of strength to those who are in need of an arm around them to get thorugh their trials. Thank you for that.

Your Bud,

Ray

[Tony Staron]

Connie, thank you for being a MOM to all of us.

don't let her kid you. If you need help at a race I know for a fact that she will help. Connie does not know the word NO. She is just taking a break from the AOF office grind. Thank goodness she will still be around at the races.

Connie has done it all from racing to building boats, to scoring refereeing, promoting, finding sites, everything in between. Once I even saw her in inspection helping out.

She has put all kinds of races on from stock, mod, and pro to drag and SLT and offshore.

I know of at least three countries she has put on races; USA, Candada, and South Africa.

WOW (that is MOM upside down!). I don't know of anyone who has done so much. Man or woman

Tony Staron
toeknee33f

[YankeeRacing]

Geesh, Tony, you are laying it on a little thick, and yes, you can borrow that money you asked for!
Thank you everyone. I am enjoying my retirement.
I love youa all,
Connie