The Officers

Ken Eyler - President

“This club has for me, grown from a casual place to surf on the internet to something that is a part of my identity.”  I said that in my pitch to be on the Board of Directors this year, and I meant it.  One of my passions is cars, pretty much anything to do with them, and has been for years.  My 1999 Deep Slate M, Dark Fire, has been a pleasure to drive and modify, and she is the first car that has gotten me involved with an owners club.  For that, I am grateful, because this club has more than just owners of the same car – it has good people.  That, more than the car makes the club part of my identity.

The rest of my identity is defined by my family, including my wonderful wife Cherie, and our menagerie of pets that all live with us in our home in Owings Mills, MD, just Northwest of Baltimore.  Cherie indulges my passions for cars, and shares it just enough to enjoy going to shows like Carlisle with me, but not enough to go on a Banzai trip to Detroit for the NAIAS.  She also has never begrudged me a Mod, and has in fact suggested some that my conservative CPA side said were too expensive.  I am truly blessed because of her involvement.  We have no kids yet, but do not rule them out in the future – so long as the car seat stays out of Dark Fire, we’ll be just fine…

I am in my mid-thirties, and work for Freedom Management Group, a Family Wealth Management and Family Office firm in Reston, Virginia.  It's a great position, with amazing people and clients.  I manage my 65 mile commute quite well, enjoying Dark Fire's company the whole way.

I look forward to an aMazing 2005, and will do all I can to ensure that this club continues to grow and prosper.  Thank you to all of our members.   Please feel free to e-mail me at president@300mclub.org if I can do anything for you, or answer any questions.

Don Scruggs - Vice President

I am a 45 year old Fleet Automotive Technician/Fleet Auto Body Shop Manager for the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority. I have 24 years of service to the Authority and see myself staying for some time yet to come. My entire tenure has been within the Office of Bus Maintenance although my last hands on bus or bus component activity was in 1983. Since that time I have been a part of the Service Vehicle Maintenance Shop system. I am currently the supervisor of the system's auto body shop.
 
I was born at old Sibley Hospital in Washington DC on my father's 21st birthday. I have spent my entire life in the Washington DC area. My mother was an American History professor at a local college for 28 years. My father died in an auto collision when I was not yet 3 years old. My mother raised myself and my younger sister alone with some help from her mother (until her death in 1971) and her brother. I graduated from Northwestern Senior High School in 1976 and enrolled in Lincoln Technical Institute later that year. After graduation from Lincoln Tech I worked through several automotive repair jobs until starting my career with WMATA in 1981.
 
I have long been a supporter of ASE certification and currently hold the following certifications. Master Automotive Technician, Advanced Level Gasoline Engine Performance Technician, Master Automotive Machinist, Master Diesel Machinist, Undercar Specialist, School Bus Technician, Medium/Heavy Truck Technician, Alternative Fuels Compressed Natural Gas Technician and Parts Specialist. Individual certifications within those categories number twenty six.
 
I spent fourteen years as a Boy Scout leader in both the Cub Scouting and Boy Scouting programs. I am a Wood Badge certified Scouter who was proud to work my ticket from the top of the food chain as a Bear. My current hobby of choice is Drag Racing every chance I get. I race my 1999 Chrysler 300M every chance I get. Last year I won over $700 drag racing. I plan to race in PA, OH, IL & VA this year in addition to my two home tracks in MD.
 
I first fell in love with the styling renaissance that was Bob Lutz's Chrysler of the late 1990s with the Sebring Sedan and Chrysler Concorde in 1998. By 2000 I was also quite enamored with the 300M styling as well. Being an AVID Boy Scout leader I of course had a Chevy pickup truck and a diesel Chevy Suburban to support all those camping trip. In 2001, when the 1983 Suburban lost a transmission at 'only' 188,000 miles I decided to sell it. (Sold it on Ebay to a guy in London England!) Our new car was found when my wife was helping her father look for a new car at CarMax in Laurel. She called to say there was a Red 1999 300M for sale there and that we should look at it. Sure enough we bought it that night.
 
Shortly after that day, while searching the 'net for info about our new car I stumbled upon an announcement that a new 300M Enthusiasts Club was being formed. Five minutes later I was a paid member. (Thank God for PayPal!) I later found out that I was member #14 and the first to join after the public announcement. I kept that car for a year until a red light runner hit us at about 70 MPH. :-( That car was totaled but saved our lives. With $17,500 from the insurance company in hand we went car shopping. We nearly bought a 2002 Special but decided to look at a Red 1999 300M up at Carmax in White Marsh. When we sat in it we BOTH went Ahhhhhh! It was EXACTLY the same as the one that got hit except that it had half as many miles AND had the Performance handling group. It was priced at $16,998. We signed the back of the insurance check and drove home.
 
In the spring of 2003 I decided to attend the Fast 'M' Furious meet put on in Pittsburgh by loyal member Mike Martin. Though we ended up racing in Ohio on a cool, windy 40 degree day I caught the bug and have been drag racing ever since. I have hosted three Ocean City, MD meets plus one Hyattsville, MD meet where we attended the Washington DC Auto Show. I am proud to be active in this club as we approach the signing of member #1000. This year as I serve as Vice President I pledge to do my best to live up to the vision the founders intended for the club. God Bless America, God Bless Chrysler and God Bless our good friends at the Bramalea assembly plant in Brampton Ontario that gave us our fine automobiles.
 
Lastly, on a personal note my wife and I have been very heavy for the overwhelming majority of our lives. After 25 years of diets and 5 years of contemplating we both decided to undergo gastric bypass surgery. She had her surgery in November of 2004 and I had mine in December. As of February 17th I am down 68 pounds from last January and 43 pounds since the surgery. Lizzi is doing well also. I hope to see each and every member at meets all over the country. I enjoy meeting new friends everywhere I go.

Hugh Mason - Secretary

I am proud to be elected as a Director and Secretary of our Club.  I think 2005 will be an exiting year for all 300M Enthusiasts.  I joined the Club in 2002.  My previous experience has been with local 'Vette clubs in the great 'auto town' of Atlanta.  I organized and co-hosted the 2003 Southeast Event in Atlanta and the 2004 "Meet" at the Southeastern Mopar Event.  Club meets are something that you should not miss! 

My 2000 is a daily driver approaching 100,000 miles.  Nevertheless I enjoy maintaining and modifying my M (as well as an occasional run down the strip).  I am self-employed as a commercial real estate broker and am retired from the U.S. Marine Corps. My daughter is married and also lives in the Atlanta area.  My golf handicap index is 8.7 and rises with age.

Paulette Parong-Waters - Treasurer

I have been a member of the Club since the beginning. I am  founding member #4. Being club Treasurer since it’s beginning I have enjoyed watching it grow from 9 members  to member #985.

2005 for the Club will be another fun-filled one.  Roger and I organized the first Las Vegas meet which  had great participation, and we got to meet several members.  I look forward to staying involved with the many activities the club plans for the upcoming year as I continue in my position as Club Treasurer.

After working for the Boeing Company (Military Branch) in the Seattle area for 35 years as a Logistics Analyst my husband Roger and I, along with our Sheltie Sinbad (who thinks he’s a person) retired to the Las Vegas area and are now enjoying  the warm weather along with Sinbad’s sister Velocity (a retired greyhound).  I am considering a new career as a Victoria’s Secret model and will let you know how that goes. (Victoria’s Secret may not be receptive; the worst they can do is say no!!)
 

Robert Powell

I'm charter member 33 and a 35 year old member from Midlothian, Virginia.  I work as an electrical engineer for a large tobacco company located in Richmond and it keeps me very busy.  When I'm not there I spend much time with my two families: my real family, and my online family aka the 300M Club.

I've been a 300M owner since Feb 1999 and still love the car over 6 years later.  I regularly manage our online presence (this website and our message board)   I also attend as many club rendezvous as possible.   I expect to see many of you at a meet this year.

I am 34 years old, and I live in Cincinnati, OH. I was born, and raised in this area. I attended the High School at Oak Hills High School, I graduated in 1988.

I was on the wrestling team, played football, performed on the Track & Field team, and was also in the choir. I was involved in Student Government as well.

My claim to fame from High School was that I sat next to Pete Rose Jr. in homeroom, and that I actually knew him. 

In 1991, I moved to Milwaukee, WI. I spent a little over 5 years in Wisconsin. I lived in Milwaukee for nearly 4 years. I caught the racing bug during this phase of my life. The first car I seriously modified was a 1988 Volkswagen Fox. It was a 4-door, lightweight, and very fun to drive. I installed a high performance cam, exhaust system, suspension modifications (including z-rated rubber) in this car, I was able to drive from Milwaukee to Cincinnati in 4 hours, and 45 minutes (of course, I had a radar/laser detector, police scanner, and a CB). I started Technical School in 1994 at Milwaukee Area Technical College. I had been working on computers for the 3 previous years through jobs at Radio Shack, etc. I was not able to graduate due to lack of funds, but I continued to work in the Computer Industry. In 1995, after amassing 180,000 miles on the Fox, I traded it in on a 1989 Mustang LX Hatchback. It had the GT Performance Package, with the 5.0L, and 5-Speed. After a few mods to this car, I was deep into the 13’s (I had to buy a helmet) It was then that I moved from Milwaukee to Oshkosh. Home of the EAA Fly-In. Nothing like a town of 50,000 people being overrun by 800,000. I got my first “real” computer jobs here, and it seriously formed the foundation of my career. 

In 1997, I moved from Oshkosh back home to Cincinnati. I held onto my Mustang until 1998, after sinking good money after bad, I sold it, and bought a 1977 Plymouth Gran Fury. It had 45,000 original miles on it, and I paid $700 for it. It wasn’t fast, but it was a good car. But I couldn’t hold off the racing itch. So, the following year, I sold it, and purchased a 1984 Volkswagen Scirocco. It was an 8-Valve car. That car was one of the most fun cars I have ever owned. I did some SCCA Road Course racing with this car. I also made an Indiana State Trooper laugh at me when he walked up to the Scirocco after pulling me over for doing 120 in a 65 zone. Saw me “shoehorned” into this car. (I am 6’, and ~ 375lbs.) After owning the Scirocco for almost 3 years, I traded it in for what would become the most seriously raced car I ever owned…a 1997 Pontiac Grand Prix GT.  

I purchased it shortly after my 30th birthday in 2000. I did nothing to it the first 6 mos. I owned it. It was then I got involved with Club Grand Prix. I met some other local owners of Prix’s in the Cincinnati area. In the summer of 2001, we formed Cincinnati Club Grand Prix. I ended the 2001 racing season at Edgewater Raceway Park with a 15.67 @ 87 mph. During the off season, I started working with ZZPerformance testing parts. I installed High Ratio Rocker Arms, Ported Exhaust Manifolds, Ported & Polished Heads, and Ported & Polished TB…custom programmed PCM, GTP Radiator for additional cooling,  These mods propelled my car to 14.615 @ 92.81 MPH. Which at the time was the 3rd fastest Normally Aspirated Grand Prix in North America. In September of 2002, I represented our local chapter at the 2002 Grand Prix Gathering in Kansas City, KS.  At the end of 2002, I was elected to become President of our local chapter. In Feb. of 2003, while testing the installations of a shift Improver Kit, and a Higher Stall Torque Converter…I destroyed my Differential, and Transmission. The differential shattered, and pieces went flying. After a month of thinking about what to do….we found our M.

I sold the Prix to a family member, and bought my 1999 300M. Which brings me to now….being involved in this thing of ours….

I race my M whenever I get the chance. My wife Lisa is a motorhead, and lets me head to the track often. Even though we have 2 kids (Allyson is 2, and Kathryn will be 1 on 3/6/05) Not to mention we have #3 on the way!!! I am working on ways to make our cars faster through affordable means!! After all, I have kids to feed!! Me, and a couple members of the local chapter of Club Grand Prix (CNCGP) have started Cincinnati Ghetto Racing. When racing on a budget is a must!!!  The 05’ racing season starts in 6 days….I look forward to racing, and making good times. Also, I look forward to making it to events this year….

I got some plans up my sleeve this year….

If anyone ever needs anything, don’t hesitate to ask.

I like to thank everyone for being involved, and let’s make this the best year of the club EVER!!!