Traditions & Culture

Known affectionately to the “older generation” THSCC members as “Geritol Gene” or “Mean Gene” (though there wasn’t a mean bone in his body), Gene was a fierce autocross competitor, as anybody who competed with him over the years in C-Stock, C-Street Prepared, or F-Prepared can attest. He enjoyed on-track events and became an instructor in THSCC’s track school program. Gene immensely enjoyed the annual THSCC golf tournament, which became known as the “Gene Miller Electric Vehicle Challenge” starting in 1998.

Gene was a big supporter of THSCC in many ways. As an avid woodworker, every year he made a new Heel-of-the-Month trophy for the club. And in 2002, he made the grid lane markers, completing them after receiving the diagnosis of his illness. He wrote poems, one of which only used words starting with the letter “T”, as in Tarheel! He wrote songs about THSCC. He towed the equipment trailer to events, and sometimes made “safety” runs with his pickup truck. When Gene designed a course, there wasn’t one cone left over. He made innumerable fun runs. But, above all, Gene always had time to help his friends.

“Aha! Time to blow my own horn — FTD in the rain on R1s. Did 360 spin in a busy Hardee’s parking lot with Tarheel witnesses (priceless). Designer of the Official THSCC Flag and author of the Official THSCC Anthem. Believed to be the All-Time Record Holder for Most Fun Runs. Believed to be the oldest active autocrosser in the Club, perhaps the universe!”

On March 6, 2002, Tarheel Sports Car Club lost one of its dearest and most faithful family members.

John Mullis joined THSCC in 1994. From that time until his death, John was always there to offer his support to both the club and any member. As president of Jamestowne Homes, Inc., John was a long-time sponsor of THSCC and his assistance was instrumental in getting the THSCC Time Trial series off the ground in 1999. John enjoyed his friends greatly and opened his home often as a place for us all to gather and have fun together. We will always remember John for his warm smile, his graciousness, and his gentle and generous heart.

John was a Miata lover, owning both a 1993 black supercharged and 2002 “vivid yellow”. In addition to autocrossing and running track events with THSCC, in the mid-’90s, he was also a member of the Tarheel Miata Club with whom he often enjoyed caravanning his Miata on beautiful road trips. We know John was smiling on March 9, 2002, as he looked down on six top-down Miatas of THSCC and family members caravanning for him one more time from Cary to his final resting place in his hometown of Lenoir.

On March 8, 2013, Tarheel Sports Car Club lost one of its most selfless and most friendly family members.

Don Ingerslew joined THSCC in early 2003. Don was an amazing resource to the club as a heavy contributor to both the autocross and track programs. He was always willing to help new participants and help the club set up and clean up before and after events. He never got tired of the endless questions about his beautiful Factory Five Racing Spec Cobra or the incessant drooling over said car by everyone who saw it. Don was a very cheerful and funny man and, as secretary of THSCC, wrote some of the most entertaining and witty meeting minutes.

“Don was truly one of the most genuinely good guys I’ve ever known. I remember the first day I met him at a THSCC meeting many years ago with his red Mustang that he had participated in the Silver State Classic in Nevada with and talking of the FF Cobra he was preparing to build at the time which became the yellow beast we all know and love. I remember thinking that this was one cool old dude who lived life well and clearly loved cars; I wanted to be like Don when I grew up.”

“Don was one of the most thoughtful and giving people we had in the club. I’ve seen him spend his entire day at an autocross helping a newcomer to the sport and to the club, taking him under his wing. Don didn’t even think about it. It was automatic.”

“He was always quick with a warm welcome, friendly conversation and a smile.”

Ryan Holton’s love of cars started as a teenager when his mom handed him the keys to her 1964 Mustang.

Holton, 32, is now president of the Tarheel Sports Car Club, a group for car guys and gals to share their love of automobiles, race against the clock and socialize.

The group was founded in Wilson in 1964 and has roughly 320 members, including about 30 women. It sponsors races and other events, mostly in Eastern and central North Carolina and southern Virginia. Events include autocross, or timed, precision driving; time trials, in which the goal is to complete laps in the shortest time; and rallycross, similar to autocross but on unpaved surfaces.

Holton, who lives in Greenville, said anywhere from 50 to 200 people attend each event, often held in parking lots or on airport runways. Though the club has never had an autocross accident, Holton said, each car must undergo an inspection before an event and drivers must wear helmets.

Still, members say the adrenaline rush is real. Carl Fisher said maneuvering a course is like solving a puzzle.

“You’re looking ahead; you’re planning, executing and reacting,” said Fisher, one of the club’s vice presidents. “It’s very exciting.”

You don’t have to be a member to participate. Members recommend that people interested watch an event to see how everything works. Novices receive extra instruction. Each spring and fall, the group holds an all-day autocross school.

“We try to make it as novice-friendly as possible,” Holton said, “because we were all novices at some point.”

So what do you need to get started?

“A car in good working condition, air in your tires, gas in your tank and a good, open attitude,” Holton said.

Although the love of cars unites club members, the social atmosphere helps keep them together. The group meets monthly and hosts an annual Christmas party, picnics or other events throughout the year. The interaction leads to friendships — and at least one marriage. Fisher met his wife, Mary “Emmie” Fisher, at the Tarheel Sports Car Club.

Fisher said club members are friendly, laid-back and generous. The group’s third-annual “Never Give Up” charity autocross in May raised $6,000 for the V Foundation, which works to find a cure for cancer.

“Our hearts are in a good place,” he said. “We’re sociable and helpful, and we’re definitely united by our love of cars.”