Posted on 01/09/2007 8:04:09 PM PST by uglybiker
Washington, D.C., January 3, 2007 - The Scottish Rite Racing Team will be officially announced and introduced by NASCAR, BC Motorsports, and the Frank Cicci Racing team at the Scottish Rite House of the Temple on Saturday, January 6, 2007, at 11:00am. NASCAR representatives, the Racing Team, and members of the Masonic community will be available to the media. The House of the Temple is located at 1733 Sixteenth St. N.W., Washington, DC.
The Scottish Rite race car will be driven by veteran driver Brian Conz, who himself is a 32° Scottish Rite Mason. Brother Brian, who began his career in 1988 in the Street Stock Division, later moved to the ARCA/REMAX Series in 1996. Brian has 15 wins, 79 top fives, and 108 top ten finishes to his credit and will be in the running for the Raybestos Rookie of the Year honors.
He will be piloting the Scottish Rite #34 Chevrolet for Frank Cicci Racing based in Mooresville, N.C. The team will be celebrating its 20th season in the Busch Series in 2007 and is the oldest running team in series history. With 743 starts and 19 victories, the team has fielded drivers such as current NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series Champion Todd Bodine, Randy LaJoie, and David Green, along with a long line of NASCAR's favorite drivers. Owner Frank Cicci states, "We are so excited and privileged to have such an honorable organization associated with us, we look forward to a long-lasting relationship with the Scottish Rite and Brian."
The Scottish Rite is part of the 'Family of Freemasonry', the oldest and largest fraternal organization in America, dating back to 1730. Many famous American men have been Masons, including fourteen presidents from George Washington to Gerald Ford. Bro. Ford was a Michigan Mason as is Bro. Conz, and both received the 32° in the Scottish Rite, with Bro. Ford being honored with the 33°. About one-third of the 1.5 million American Freemasons have gone on to become 32° Scottish Rite Masons, and about 1% of those receive the 33° in recognition of their service to humanity, their communities, or to Freemasonry. The Scottish Rite sponsor 225 speech and language clinics for children across the country, part of the $2 million a day or $750+ million a year American Masonry spends on philanthropy.
Scottish Rite Racing will compete in the 2007 NASCAR Busch Series commencing at the Daytona International Speedway in Florida on February 17th for the full 35 race schedule.
Scottish Rite Masons and the Racing Team are very excited about their partnership. After the thrill of a NASCAR race is over, the Scottish Rite hopes its racing team will leave an increased awareness of childhood speech and learning disorders and the vital importance of early diagnosis and treatment. Dean R. Alban, 33°, Director of Membership Services for the Scottish Rite said, "If we can help just one more child learn to speak and communicate, then our race team will have served its purpose".
http://www.jayski.com/busch/busch.htm
There are 33 degrees in Masonry. You can't be a Shriner unless you attain the 32 degree. The same holds true for the Scottish Rite level of Masonry. And while ALL Shriners and ALL who belong to the Scottish Rite are at least 32 degree Masons, not all Masons who are Shriners are also Scottish Rite and vice versa. :-)
I hope that helps.
And yes, I will give you one of my exceedingly rare pardons.
The Ancient and Honorable Order of No Homers
That's pretty cool! The interesting thing to me is I'm surprised they would committ to spending the amount of money that a Nascar team would need.
Cool!
My old Lodge! That's me on the left in the second row!
Thanks for the Ping. I might even follow racing this year.
Yes, I see the link between a fraternity that included such notables as George Washington, Ben Franklin, the founders of the Boy Scouts, the Salvation Army, and many of the more notable abolitionists, and the KKK.
Psalm 118:22
"The stone which the builders rejected
Has become the chief corner stone." NASB
Great recognition for the Craft. SD Hiram #40 Raleigh, NC here
BTTT
Very cool!
Excellent!!!
good for him... Cicci is from down the valley bout 20 miles from here.
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