February 23, 2012
Victoria Park’s Resident Racers
(Editors note: special thanks to Victoria Gardens resident Bob Barr for contributing this story and photos.)
“Car 87……Start your engine!”
These are the words Victoria Gardens residents Jon and Shari Mirachi are listening for as another race is about to begin. Jon and Shari are the founders and owners of RACERS EDGE MOTORSPORTS, a professional auto racing team that competes in the Grand-Am Rolex Sports Car racing series throughout the United States and Canada.
Shari & John Marachi
Jon has had an interest in race-cars since his teen years in New Jersey and began racing professionally in 1978.
After much success as a driver, Jon started his own team in 1990 and transitioned out of the driver’s seat and into full-time team management in 1998. Jon is the team manager and oversees all of the day-to-day operations while Shari handles all of the administrative duties.
In 2005, Jon and Shari decided to relocate their race team from New Jersey to Central Florida. They wanted to be close to Daytona Beach and, after a brief tour of the area, quickly decided the industrial park at the DeLand Airport was the perfect location for their team and Victoria Gardens was the perfect spot for their home. So perfect in fact, that Shari was able to convince both her mother and father, along with her sister and brother-in-law, to make their home in the Gardens as well.
Viper 87
The race season, which begins in January and includes thirteen races, ends in late September. Jon says, “When we’re not on the road, we love being at home in the Gardens. To us, it’s like living in paradise.” “We enjoy participating in all of the many activities available to us and being part of such a great community. I can’t wait to retire so we can spend even more time at home,” said Shari.
You can learn more about this unique Victoria Park couple by visiting the Racers Edge Motorsports team website, and keep up with Shari and Jon’s racing progress on their Facebook page.
Brownie & Daisy Troop Help Others “One Light at a Time”
Helping Others “One Light at a Time” was the theme this past holiday season at Victoria Park.
Brownie & Daisy Troop #324 recently extended a heart-felt thanks to the residents of Victoria Park for their generous donations for the 2011 luminary event. The girls, along with Scout leaders, delivered hundreds of luminary kits throughout the community for the annual “Light up Victoria Park” event.
Because of the generosity from so many Victoria Park residents, the troop was able to donate a check in the amount of $920 to the Florida United Methodist Children’s Home in the name of Victoria Park residents and Girl Scout Troop #324. The troop consists of ten brownies and eight daisies. The girls had an exciting end to 2011 and are already looking forward to 2012.
News from troop leaders is the girls visited the Elephant Ranch in Williston in January. And, Victoria Park’s favorite brownies are now working towards earning their trip to Savannah, Georgia, the birth place of Juliette Gordon Low, to celebrate 100 years of girl scouting!
Thanks again to the troop for helping to make Victoria Park brighter during the holidays. Everyone can look forward to helping the girls with their 2012 “Light up Victoria Park” luminary event and making the holidays even brighter along the streets this year.
Stetson University Reaches Out After 60 Minutes Feature
Victoria Park is proud to have Stetson as its “friendly neighborhood” university. Never has that pride been stronger than after the nationally-recognized school embraced a homeless family featured on 60 Minutes recently.
The show ran a story on Central Florida families who have run on hard times and are living in their cars. One of those featured was 15-year-old Arielle Metzger — who was wearing a green and gray Stetson T-shirt during her interview. Many university students, employees, alumni and administrators saw the story. A ground swell of support resulted and Stetson has decided to guarantee the brother and sister a financial aid package to cover the full cost of attending the university. Click here to learn more about this incredible story. Read More
Victoria Park Tennis Goes U.S. Open Blue
The tennis courts at Victoria Park had the blues.
The original surface was almost 10 years old and in need of reconditioning due to the very active tennis program managed by Victoria Park Director of Tennis Kurt Collis with KC Tennis Academy. Now, the four hard surface courts in Victoria Commons are sporting a different shade of blue–that of the U.S. Open. In addition, the United States Tennis Association(USTA) has implemented changes to the rules for kids 10 and under to establish new court sizes. You can learn more about the changes at the ten and under tennis website. Collis says he now has courts suitable for tennis players of all ages.
“We have a really active tennis program at Victoria Park with lots of casual and competitive play by residents of all ages,” Collis said. “Everyone is very excited about the new surface and the cool U.S. Open colors.” Read More
Mulligan’s Recipes for Fun
Here’s another recipe from our Chef Scot Choquette. This is a great hors d’oeuvres or light entree item perfect for a cooler afternoon or sunny Sunday brunch. To see more of what’s new at the Victoria Hills Golf Club and Mulligan’s visit the website and check out the monthly calendar of events.
Resident Loves Live/Work Lifestyle
Vernette Conrad has seen Victoria Park emerge from a vision for a new hometown to one of the best master planned communities in Florida. Along the way, she went from selling the community full time to buying a home and living the lifestyle full time as a resident. We caught up with her on a beautiful fall morning enjoying a day off at the pool.
“I have been here from the very beginning since 2000 and it’s just been a wonderful experience,” said Conrad, now a sales representative for Shea Homes at Victoria Gardens. “We made the decision in 2002 to move from an older home in DeLand and I am really fortunate to be able to live and work here at Victoria Park.” Read More