Happy New Year BBQ Gang! What a year! Lots of new sanctioned and non-sanctioned events taking place in the state. Lots of new enthusiasm built on new smokers, all types of charcoal, and any number of wood preferences. All in all it has been a very good year...and looking to get better! Fasten your seat belts folks, there's a lot coming at you in this eNewsletter! Here's what's going on in the world of the Illinois BBQ Society for the last eNewsletter of 2007... ~ KCBS Revamps Team of the Year Points System for 2008… ~ KCBS Announces New Judging Procedures and Score Sheet for 2008… ~ New State Championship Cook-Off in Des Plaines Coming Up… ~ BBQ Cooking Class with Johnny Trigg and Rod Gray ~ ILBBQS is looking for your stories… ~ Upcoming Contests… ~ Upcoming Classes… x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x This eNewsletter brought to you by: Ace of Hearts BBQ Specialties ~ http://www.AceOfHeartsBBQ.com Home of The Good-One line of Smokers and Grills Watch for their cooking classes, coming to Illinois, featuring 8 time American Royal Champion Chris Marks of Three Little Pigs BBQ! x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x KCBS Revamps Team of the Year Points System for 2008… From KCBS.us - December 23, 2007 This past week, the Board of Directors adopted a new team of the year points system that will start in 2008. The existing point structure of awarding teams points will be replaced with a new, exciting system. This new system will make for a very thrilling points chase and will virtually eliminate the possibility of ties. It will be utilized to calculate the overall team of the year as well as the overall four category winners. The teams top ten overall finishes and category finishes will be used to calculate points. There are plans to keep the point standings continuously updated on the KCBS website beginning sometime in the spring. Every team at a contest will receive points, even the last place team. Additionally, every team participating in a contest will be awarded bonus points based on the number of teams at an event, up to a maximum of 100. There are no double and triple points, only the bonus points based on the number teams competing at each event. While teams will still be rewarded for doing well in large contests, this system helps to bridge the gap between the smaller and larger events, rewarding teams for their consistency on the competition circuit regardless of event size. The following is a breakdown of the points awarded at each event to each placement. Take for example the third place overall finisher at a 47-team event. The team will receive 200 points plus 47 bonus points based on the number of teams competing, for a total of 247. Here's how the points will add up: 1st---250 2nd---225 3rd---200 4th---175 5th---150 6th---140 7th---130 8th---120 9th---110 10th--100 11th--95 12th--90 13th--85 14th--80 15th--75 16th—70 17th--65 18th--60 19th--50 20th--45 21st--40 22nd--35 23rd--30 24th and down--25 *************************************** KCBS Announces New Judging Procedures and Score Sheet for 2008… From KCBS.us - December 23, 2007 The Board of Directors have approved changes in the judging procedures for 2008. After, a year of testing and development, a new judging slip will be used beginning March 1st, 2008. Each number on the judging slip will have a definition associated with it. The starting point of six has been abolished. There will be no starting point. The definitions are as follows. 9 – Excellent 8 – Very Good 7 – Above Average 6 – Average 5 – Below Average 4 – Poor 3 – Bad 2 – Inedible 1 – Disqualified *************************************** New State Championship Cook-Off in Des Plaines Coming Up… Keith Engstrom (KRE Smokers) has been around the circuit long enough that when word got out of his little ‘winter burn-off’ last winter, the teams rolled in…in February…with a -19 wind chill…and it was worth it. The 2007 contest ran with KCBS rules, had an all-star line up of what could have possibly been the most seasoned judges (all certified) that included the likes of Mike Wozniak (Quau) and Scottie Johnson (CancerSucksChicago.com), and had around 18 teams for the hey-let’s-get-some-friends-together-for-a-little-cook-off event. The contest proved successful enough (and fun enough) to bring it back in 2008 to the bowling alley parking lot in Des Plaines that shares a neighborhood with the very first McDonald’s restaurant. Thanks to the ILBBQS’ deal with the State of Illinois, the Governor’s Proclamation has been secured and Keith & Crew are working hard to make sure all the qualifications are met for this to be a Jack Daniels World Invitational Qualifier. Dates are not yet set, but is looking to be in February or March. Keep an eye on ILBBQS.com, and this eNewsletter, for updates as they become available. *************************************** BBQ Cooking Class with Johnny Trigg and Rod Gray Just found out that a popular BBQ cooking class has been scheduled for April 4th in Shannon, Illinois. Billed as 'Old School vs. High Tech', the instructors, Johnny Trigg of Smokin' Triggers and Rod Gray of Pellet Envy, have over 100 championships between them. This class is limited in space and should be a fun, interesting, and informative class for all level of cooks. Check out the BBQ Classes page on the http://www.ILBBQS.com website for additional information! *************************************** ILBBQS is looking for your stories… We’re looking to expand the eNewsletter in 2008 to include ‘Stories from the Road’. Since we can’t be everywhere, we’re going to rely on you, the members, for short stories/news items that relate to our Illinois BBQ family. If you have something to send a long, please do! Email to bbq@ilbbqs.com for possible inclusion in the weekly(ish) eNewsletter. *************************************** Upcoming 2008 Non-Sanctioned/Backyard Contests... ~ May 2-3, 2008 - Southwestern Illinois Spring Festival - Contact: Shane Swartzlander - Phone: (618) 533-5703 ~ Fax: - E-mail: 2chubby@sbcglobal.net *THIS CONTEST IS PENDING KCBS SANCTIONING* ~ September - Carbondale Main Street Pig Out - Contact: Meghan Cole, 121 S. Illinois Avenue, Carbondale, IL 62901 - Phone: 618-529-8040 Fax: 618-529-8041 - E-mail: info@carbondalemainstreet.com *THIS CONTEST IS PENDING KCBS SANCTIONING* ~ October 10-11, 2008 - Central Illinois Bragging Rights - Contact: George Fritz, 136 S. Vine Street, Arthur, IL 61911 - Phone: 217-543-2181 - E-mail: bbq@arthuril.com *THIS CONTEST IS PENDING KCBS SANCTIONING* ~ October 12, 2008 - TENATIVE - Maschhoff's Pork Farm Backyard BBQ Cook-Off - Contact: Julie Maschhoff, 7475 State Route 127, Carlyle, IL 62231 - Phone: 618-594-2125 - E-mail: juliem@pigsrus.net ~ October - Barn Burner BBQ @ Lamb's Farm - Contact: Claudia Stevens, 14245 W. Rockland Rd, Libertyville, IL 60048 - Phone: 847-990-3750 ~ Fax: 847-362-0742 - E-mail: crs@lambsfarm.org *THIS CONTEST IS PENDING KCBS SANCTIONING* *************************************** Upcoming 2008 KCBS Contests... (All info posted on http://www.ILBBQS.com -> Contests/Events) ~ May 9-10, 2008 - Dust Off Your Grill Backyard BBQ Cook-Off - Contact: Patty Peterson, 1000 Health Center Drive, Mattoon, IL 61938. - Phone: 217-258-2424 ~ Fax: 217-258-4135. - E-mail: ppeterson@sblhs.org ~ May 16-17, 2008 - The Randolph County Pig Party - Contact: Jason Vallett, 402 E. Broadway, Steeleville, IL 62288. - Phone: 618-965-3414 ~ Fax: 618-965-3177 - Email: jason@gregvallettautosales.com ~ June 13-14, 2008 - King City BBQ Showdown - Contact: Troy Heitmeyer, 104 N. 9th Street, Mt. Vernon, IL 62864 - Phone: 618-242-4020 x 15 ~ Fax: 618-242-3383 - E-mail: troy@cmacsoft.com ~ June 13-14, 2008 - Elk Grove Rotary Ribfest - Contact: Ron Nunes, 701 E. Irving Park Rd, Ste. 200, Roselle, IL 60172 - Phone: 630-307-8744 ~ Fax: 630-307-8755 - E-mail: rnunes9457@aol.com ~ July 11-12, 2008 - Illinois State Championship & Butt to Butt Pork Invitational - Contact: Connie Smith, 301 E. Sunrise Drive, Shannon, IL 61078 - Phone: 816-864-2542 ~ Fax: 815-864-2825 - E-mail: rrribs@frontiernet.net ~ September 12-13, 2008 - Southern Illinois Bluegrass & BBQ Festival - Contact: Rick Russ, TourSalem.com, 101 South Main Street, Salem, IL 62881 - Phone: 618-548-7752 ~ Fax: 618-548-5330 - E-mail: fun@bluegrassbbq.com *************************************** Upcoming KCBS Classes... (All info posted on http://www.ILBBQS.com -> BBQ Classes) ~ Certified Table Captain’s Class: Chicago/Elk Grove Village, Illinois - 01/11/2008 - Instructor: Mike Lake - Website: http://www.elkgroverotary.com - Contact Information: Ron Nunes ~ Phone: 630-440-3045 ~ rnunes9457@aol.com. ~ Certified BBQ Judging Class: Chicago/Elk Grove Village, Illinois - 01/12/2008 - Instructor: Mike Lake - Website: http://www.elkgroverotary.com - Contact Information: Ron Nunes ~ Phone: 630-440-3045 ~ rnunes9457@aol.com. ~ Certified Table Captain’s Class: Arthur, Illinois - 03/07/2008 - Instructor: Mike Lake - Website: http://www.CIBR-BBQ.com - Contact Information: George Fritz ~ Phone: 217-543-2181 ~ bbq@arthuril.com ~ Certified BBQ Judging Class: Arthur, Illinois - 03/08/2008 - Instructor: Mike Lake - Website: http://www.CIBR-BBQ.com - Contact Information: George Fritz ~ Phone: 217-543-2181 ~ bbq@arthuril.com ~ Certified Table Captain’s Class: Mount Vernon, Illinois - 04/18/2008 - Instructor: Mike Lake - Website: http://www.SouthernIllinois.com - Contact Information: Troy Heitmeyer ~ Phone: 618-242-4020 x 15 ~ troy@cmacsoft.com ~ Certified BBQ Judging Class: Mount Vernon, Illinois - 04/19/2008 - Instructor: Mike Lake - Website: http://www.SouthernIllinois.com - Contact Information: Troy Heitmeyer ~ Phone: 618-242-4020 x 15 ~ troy@cmacsoft.com *************************************** Upcoming BBQ Cooking Classes... (All info posted on http://www.ILBBQS.com -> BBQ Classes) ~ Shannon, Illinois - 4/4/08 thru 4/5/08 - Old School vs. High Tech BBQ Cooking Class - Instructors: Johnny Trigg & Rod Gray Location: Eastland Middle School ~ 601 Chestnut Street ~ Contact Information: Rod Gray ~ rod@pelletenvy.com *************************************** If you have a BBQ related news item you would like to share with the group, be sure to send it in! There is an easy-to-use 'Submit News' button on our website at http://www.ILBBQS.com ...use it often! As always, if you have any pictures, stories, news items, comments, suggestions, questions, or ideas, let me know! Well folks, that's gonna do it for this year's news and updates. I hope you have a most wonderful, and safe, New Year! I'm looking forward to seeing a lot more of you down the BBQ trail of 2008! Carpe 'Que, Jim Rhino