propeller magazine august 2012
DESCRIPTION
The American Power Boat Association's August 2012 issue of Propeller Magazine is now available.TRANSCRIPT
Volume 69, Issue 7 // August 2012 apba-racing.com
USA: $5.00
More Than Racing
Running on emptyTHE DEMANDS OF A LONG RACE SEASON
The Trip is half the fun
IT TAKES A VILLAGE…HOW TO PUT ON A SUCCESSFUL RACE
SFI 38.1
$599
1-855-NecksGen
// IN THIS ISSUE
PROPELLERVolume 69, Issue 7 // August 2012 17640 E. Nine Mile Road, PO Box 377
Eastpointe MI 48021-0377
PHONE 586-773-9700 FAX 586-773-6490
E-MAIL [email protected] WEB: www.apba-racing.com
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR //Dan Wiener [email protected]
ACCOUNTING //Linda Likert [email protected]
MEMBERSHIP COORDINATOR //Sabrina Haudek [email protected]
SANCTION/ HIGH
POINTS COORDINATOR //Cindy Minoletti [email protected]
COMMUNICATIONS DIRECTOR //Ryan Berlin [email protected]
ASSOCIATE EDITOR/ WRITER //Joe Pas [email protected]
SR. ACCOUNT EVECUTIVE //Jamie Kirts [email protected]
DEVELOPMENT STAFF //Racquel Fakhouri [email protected]
//Abe Alcodray [email protected]
2012 APBA OFFICERS AND BOARD OF DIRECTORSPRESIDENT //Mark Wheeler [email protected]
VICE PRESIDENT //Kristi Ellison [email protected]
NATIONAL COMMISSIONER //Charles Strang [email protected]
TREASURER //Jose Mendana Jr. [email protected]
SECRETARY //Jean MacKay-Schwartz [email protected]
LEGAL COUNSEL //R. Steven Hearn [email protected]
//J. David Augustine Sr. [email protected]
//Ernie Dawe [email protected]
//Chris Fairchild [email protected]
//Fred Hauenstein, Jr. [email protected]
//Dan Kanfoush [email protected]
//John F. Sharp [email protected]
//Peggy Wendt [email protected]
//Donny Lick (Region Rep) [email protected]
//Adam Allen (Category Rep) [email protected]
COUNCIL-AT-LARGE: Penny Anderson, Alexander Jennings III, Mark Miskerik, Robert F. Moore,
Jeff Titus, Laurie Allen, Jeff Conant, Jean MacKay-Schwartz, Jack Meyer,
William B. Walker, Rachel Warnock.
2012 RACING CATEGORY/COMMITTEE CHAIRMEN INBOARD //Mark Weber [email protected]
INBOARD ENDURANCE //Ted Kolby [email protected]
JUNIOR CLASSES //Buddy Tennell [email protected]
MODIFIED OUTBOARD //Tom Sutherland [email protected]
OPC //Adam Allen [email protected]
PRO //Steve Greaves [email protected]
R/C MODEL //Brian Lepinski [email protected]
SLT //John F. Sharp [email protected]
STOCK OUTBOARD //Jeff Brewster [email protected]
UNLIMITED //Sam Cole [email protected]
VINTAGE & HISTORIC //Butch Kropfeld [email protected]
PROPELLER© welcomes unsolicited articles and photos. Views expressed herein are not necessarily those of the publication and do not represent official APBA policy. Advertising herein cannot be construed as an endorsement by APBA or its members. PROPELLER (ISSN 0194-6218) (USPS 0047-800) is published 4 times yearly for $25.00 (U.S. & Canada); $55.00 (foreign) by APBA, 17640 East Nine Mile Road, PO Box 377, Eastpointe MI 48021-0377
Periodical postage paid at Eastpointe MI and additional mailing offices. Postmaster: send address changes to APBA, P.O. Box 377, Eastpointe MI 48021-0377.
DEPARTMENTSFrom The Editor: Overcoming Obstacles
From The Top: Our Greatest Challenges and What Lies Ahead
Driving Digital AdvancementThe Challenge of Growth
You Make the Call
APBA Grapevine
Looking Back: History of the Challenge
By The Numbers
Suited For Safety
Category CornerModified OutboardsStock OutboardPRO OutboardJ-class
Scorers Forum
Announcements
Racing Calendar
In Pictures...
Region Round UpIn Memoriam: Frances Hauenstein
AGAINST THE ODDS 4 Dan Schwartz’s remarkable road to recovery
Spotlight On...SPARKS, NEVADA 10
RUNNING ON EMPTY 15
WELCOME TO THE COOKOUT 20
IT TAKES A VILLAGE... 22APBA ANNOUNCEMENTS 32
>// RYAN BERLIN, COMMUNICATIONS DIRECTOR
OVERCOMING OBSTACLES
Challenges are all a part of life. It’s how we deal with those challenges that make us who we are. For one man in particular, the challenges that he deals with on a daily basis don’t compare to the everyday grind that we as the boat racing community deal with.In 2010 at the OPC Nationals in Kankakee, Ill., driver Dan Schwartz was in a horrific wreck that nearly took his life. Over the past two years, Dan and his wife Jean have been determined to get their lives back to normal. After the accident, Dan spent months recuperating in a Chicago hospital. With the support of his wife, family, friends and the entire boat racing community, there isn’t anything that Dan can’t conquer. While his life has forever been changed, he is up for the challenge.The challenge of boat racing is something that can take a toll on anybody. Things happen, especially to boat racers. Throughout the length of a season, engines break, hulls crack, money gets tight and travel starts to drag. For three racers it’s all about the love of the sport that makes all the craziness worth the challenge.But what about the race organizers? Putting on a race is no easy task. Planning a race takes months. The day the race ends, planning for next year is already in the works. The two biggest challenges that race organizers face are funding the proper funds and finding local ties to the race. When it comes to putting on a race there is nothing more important and challenging than finding a way to relate it to the local community.Challenges define who we are as people. In the words of Gen. George S. Patton, “accept challenges, so that you may feel the exhilaration of victory.”
// FROM THE EDITOR /////////////////////////////////////////////
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PROPELLER
>
OUR GREATEST CHALLENGES AND WHAT LIES AHEADThe theme of this month’s issue of Propeller is challenges. In the pages that follow, you will read about the challenges faced by APBA members and APBA clubs and how these problems were overcome. APBA as an organization also faces challenges. Our two greatest current challenges are risk management and declining membership. Our risk management difficulties came to a head last fall with the non-renewal of our regatta liability and participant accident insurance. After a good deal of hard work by our agent, the Hylant group, APBA was able to secure insurance through American Specialties. The APBA Board of Directors also strengthened and clarified the organization’s risk management procedures. Indications are that APBA clubs are currently doing a wonderful job with risk management. Continued efforts toward risk management are the key to continued insurance coverage and reduced insurance rates in the future.Aside from risk management, the biggest challenge that APBA faces is increasing APBA membership. The APBA Board of Directors has taken several steps to grow membership. On a day-to-day basis, the most noticeable step has been APBA’s digital transformation. APBA’s membership during recent national meetings has called for improvement of been that APBA’s website and general digital presence. APBA is now into its first year of a three-year project to enhance the organization’s digital presencePart of APBA digital transformation is the publication of an enhanced Propeller. Like many of you, I miss going to the mailbox each month to find a copy of Propeller.
// MARK WHEELER, APBA PRESIDENT
// FROM THE TOP /////////////////////////////// PROPELLER
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However, readership of Propeller has increased with the improved online version. The number of average number of Propeller is higher than our overall membership. This exciting development is a first step toward increased membership. A hard copy of Propeller still arrives four times per year.Increased readership of Propeller also enhances our staff ’s ability to raise funds through advertising. Companies want to place ads where large number of potential customers will see them. The most recent four-page advertisement that appeared in the July 2012 Propeller is evidence of Propeller’s increasing value. In addition, there is still a lower rate for APBA clubs or race sites to place ads .Another way to grow membership is to give non-members the opportunity to drive a race boat. On both the national and local levels, driving schools are paying big dividends for APBA and our clubs. At a drivers’ meeting in June 2012, Race Chair Dean Sutherland asked how many of the drivers who were racing that day had been through Michigan Hydroplane’s driving school. Ten drivers, representing 10% of the weekend’s entries, raised their hands. Steve Greaves has reported even larger numbers of entries coming from Seattle Outboard’s driving school and the race boat building partnership between the Hydroplane and RaceBoat Museum and the Seattle Outboard Association. APBA’s digital transformation and driving schools are key to growing APBA’s membership. Please forward this link—apba-racing.com—to your friends who love motor sports. Invite anyone interested in competition and speed to consider a driving school.
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// 5
//Gloria Crim
Against the odds
Dan Schwartz’s remarkable road to recovery
Sporting events are synonymous with the term “challenge”…
Faster?! Higher?! Stronger?! However, it is not often that anyone has the opportunity
to witness the courage, determination and fortitude
shown by boat racers Dan and Jean (Mackay)Schwartz.
They have truly met the ultra-challenge of their own personal
“Life vs. Death Iron Man Marathon.” No matter how daunting the obstacles, how threatening the climbs, how deep the trenches they both
have taken the baton and dared to face another leg of
their epic jorney.
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Sept. 5, 2010 at the OPC Nationals on the Kankakee River in Kankakee, Ill. Dan roared from the dock start in the cockpit of his red and white Revolution #31 SST120; Jean stood watch high above the river on the Judges’ Stand. Then in the blink of an eye, before any boat reached the Finish Line, the world of fans, families and friends changed forever. When the splashes settled and the disastrous aftermath could be seen, fans were in total dismay when they saw Dan’s boat was upside-down and pickle-forked into the turf of the adjacent golf course. He and his boat had been launched airborne at least 75 feet above the river.What followed immediately was an incredible feat of teamwork aimed at the urgent yet delicate challenge of assessing the crash site, and safely removing Dan from the mangled remains of his race boat. To this day, Dan and Jean have nothing but glowing accolades and heart-felt gratitude for the quick-responding, well-prepared and remarkably competent efforts put forth by the Black Diamond Rescue Team and local medical personnel. Clinging to life and suffering from multiple life-threatening injuries, Dan was literally in the hands of both earthly and celestial Guardian Angels. Along the banks of the river, the roaring cheers of enthusiastic fans, the exuberant
screams of family members and the coaxing calls of the ever-present crews had been suddenly crushed. Instead, the entire festive air of a challenging boat race and good-natured competition had been irrevocably transformed into breathless gasps, horror-stricken faces and stunned chaos. “What happened?” “Did you see that?” “Who was that?”… and a long list of highly charged expletives echoed along the race course. Utter disbelief, sheer terror, and paralyzing dismay blanketed the whole scene while everyone watched as the steely-nerved emergency personnel took expert control of the frenzied situation.When the crowd had realized it was Dan, thoughts then immediately went to Jean. “What about Jean?” “Where was she?” “What had she seen?” “What did she know?” Could anyone even imagine what was going through her mind? What challenge was her own personal being now facing?To get Jean to her husband’s side, Fred Miller instantaneously appeared in front of her with a golf cart and quickly shuttled her to the aftermath. From that point in time “Uncle Freddy” was by their sides as a journey of epic proportions and a series of herculean human efforts answered the challenge of getting Dan on the road to recovery.
At Saint Mary’s Hospital in Kankakee, Dan was stabilized for air transport to the Level 1 Trauma Center/ICU at Loyola University Hospital in Chicago; there he would undergo treatments, procedures and necessary surgeries administered by the very best physicians in the country. Examinations and tests showed extensive and possibly life-threatening injuries including: fractured vertebrae (neck and lumbar regions), two broken legs, a fractured clavicle and a subdural hematoma (severe traumatic brain injury). There is no denying that coming back from this would be a tough course to conquer, a huge mountain to climb and an unimaginable obstacle to overcome. But as Dan and Jean would both adamantly proclaim later, they came to recognize the amazing healing power that came from the intricate workings, dogged determination and genuine dedication of a truly remarkable medical staff, as well as the colossal power of prayer, support and well-wishes of family/friends from virtually everywhere.Then there’s the ever-present sense of humor which hovered over Dan and Jean like a very special Guardian Angel who never really left their side. So often this was reflected in Jean’s writings and Dan’s perfectly timed, short bursts of “words of wisdom.” Jean wrote about Dan’s “Hulk Hogan” vest, designed to support his
///AGAINST THE ODDS
lumbar fracture, which had to be modified when Dan’s halo was removed and he transitioned to a cervical collar. A “do-it-yourself ” medical supply team (aka: a couple of Chicago area boat racers) arrived bearing tools specifically ordered by Dan: tin snips and files. An haute-couture, one-of-a-kind, “V” or “Scoop”-neck vest hit the scene immediately allowing Dan to eat comfortably without choking.Who can imagine the delight on Dan’s face when he finally made the switch from hospital bed to wheelchair? Jean will never forget that day because in typical “Dan-the-Boat-Racer” fashion, he blasted off from the start, his chair thrust out of the room by double-foot-power and down the hallway leaving a wake of surprised but delighted on-lookers. The beaming Mackay-Schwartz grins added a new light and lift to the Northwestern University Rehab Team on that otherwise challenging and chilly December day.Dan’s hours of hard rehab work continued strenuously with exhausting sessions under the coaching of speech, occupational, and physical therapists, as he “graduated” to the Holy Family Hospital and their Ventilation Weaning Facility. With the addition of a PMV valve he began to talk with verbalizing; his eagerness to move forward helped him strengthen his diaphragm, neck muscles and vocal chords. Frequent visits from boat racers
who live in the Chicago were among the best in cognitive rehab. They talked about people they remembered, reminisced over accomplishments they attained and bragged about a motor tweak or two. The intended result was to kick-start Dan’s thinking networks and memory skills.After months and months of Surgery and rehab, Dan and Jean were finally able to validate their boarding passes for the westward flight of “The Big Bird”; and Coco dutifully rode “shotgun” and supervising the homeward bound journey of “Dad’s” boat, the family truck and all their belongings. On Jan. 8, 2010 Dan, Jean and their dog Coca returned to California, the ultimate leg of their miraculous journey home and the answer to a challenge laid down upon them four months earlier.These days, Dan continues on with his therapy and tinkering with Jean’s boat. He can also be found cooking meals for Jean in the motorhome they take to and from race venues. For a long time he found the greatest challenge to be able to get out of his wheelchair; but now he walks totally unassisted around the house, takes care of personal needs on his own and gets around outside with the assistance of two ornately carved walking/hiking sticks. Sometimes to Jean’s dismay, she looks around and says, “Where’d he go now?”
The boat racing circuit has welcomed Dan back with great pride as he returns to his familiar position as Race Inspector.As they look back on those sometimes dark and distant days, the long miles they’ve conquered, and the leaps they’ve made, Dan and Jean also have the memories of “baby-steps,” progress that seemed at times to be in slow motion, and tears of pain as well as tears of joy. They describe the feeling of “witnessing the miracle of Christmas every day” and finding “the power of prayer to be the strongest medicine.” They find it challenging now to adequately convey their gratitude for the kind words of both acquaintances and even strangers, the generous gifts from the boat racing community and their extended families, as well as the encouragement and support that surround them to this day. To attempt to list all the names would be not only daunting but virtually impossible; to all those who have pitched in over this time, be it known that you are loved and appreciated beyond what you can imagine.Last but not least, Dan and Jean emphatically attest to the safety features built into the Revolution boat design and recent technology implemented by APBA’s OPC Commission. The challenge to preserve and protect a beloved racer was answered for the Schwartz family that day in Kankakee, Ill.
PROPELLER
///AGAINST THE ODDS
Rockey Stone Memorial KilosDevil's Lake Lincoln City, Oregon
October 13-14, 2012
PLEASE REFER TO THE RACE CIRCULAR FOR IMPORTANT CHANGES!
Rockey Stone, 1954. Photo by Carver & Swanson
PLEASE PREREGISTER by October 5th at 503-649-4064ON-SITE REGISTRATION October 12th from 4-6:00PMDRIVERS MEETING 7:00 AM October 13th and 14thCLASSES All UIM, Inboard, OPC, PRO, Stock and Modified Outboatd, J-Classes, Inboard Endurance, and Special EventsENTRY FEE: $175 ($150 with preregistration) REGION 10 RECORD RUN $60 ($50 with preregistration)
$50 Crane Fees will be effect. This event may be cancelled due to circumstances beyond the control of the race
committee.
If you have plan to travel far, or if you have any questions, please contact the Race Chairmen: Allen Thorsen at 503-
538-3266 or Buzz Thorsen at 503-649-4064
> I have a five year old son. Maybe you have (or have had) one too. Now for the last two years I’ve paid to have him in swim lessons. He can swim… But for the first two weeks of taking him to the pool this summer he would fight and cry when I asked him to swim across the pool because “he couldn’t do it” and he “liked sitting on the side.” He was scared, because it had been almost six months since his last lesson.So for two weeks I was “that dad” at the pool -- pushing my boy to get in the water and swim. Pushing him to do things that were uncomfortable to him but that in the long run would ensure he had a more fun summer. Showing him the other kids who were doing what I knew he could. And a few months into our record-breaking heat I’m glad to report he is once again the fish I knew he could be. Jumping off the side of the pool, picking weighted rings off the bottom floor and just enjoying being in the water. So you might be asking, what does this have to do with transformation and the APBA specifically?Well, my son doesn’t remember the fights we had at the start of this summer. He doesn’t remember how he would refuse to
Monthly Update from Crown
put his head in the water and swim like he knew how to do. He is no longer thinking about how much less risky it was to sit on the stairs. He’s just enjoying being able to dominate in the water (sounds like a future APBA racer…).Change management is a lot like this story. You see it’s easier to do what we know and what we’ve grown accustomed to. Taking a dive can sometimes be a risk even when others are around saying it’s possible and can point to other situations where it’s worked out. And getting started is normally a battle. Blood, sweat and tears are par for the course when one is looking to make significant change. The Association is on a change management journey. Consultants who transform other businesses digitally are leading the way, saying do this and change that. It’s painful... It’s not how we’ve grown used to doing it... We liked how we knew what to expect the other way…It’s more work to learn a new way… This is completely normal and it’s part of the transformation process. There have been fights… and challenging conversations – our own version of blood and tears… but less than three quarters in to this digital transformation, we still see a future that has the Association overcoming these
challenges and swimming into a bright future. More initiatives are beginning to pick up traction and are at a point that they can be actively promoted to motor sport enthusiasts who are not yet here. These include:• The Digital Propeller is on pace to have one million unique page views in 2012• Advertising revenue from Propeller is increasing• The APBA web site has had it’s HIGHEST month in June (25% increase in traffic compared to May)• Google Advertising royalties paid out their highest amounts in June• Target lists and tools are being built to actively solicit 2013 sponsors• Social media is keeping more members in the know and building APBA trafficChange like the Association is undergoing is always a challenge. Here’s hoping that like my son we’ll be looking back in a few quarters and hardly remember what it took to change the trajectory of this great sport.
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THE CHALLENGE OF GROWTH
// DRIVING DIGITAL ADVANTAGE ///////////////////// PROPELLER
Sparks Nevada
// SPOTLIGHT ON /////////////////////////////////////////////
SPOTLIGHT ON:
For the first time since Juliann Rucki can remember, power boat racing will be returning to Sparks, NV., on August 18th and 19th.
“Well, I haven’t been around long enough to know the last time there was a race in Sparks. I do know that many moons ago there was racing there,” said Rucki, the Vice Commodore of the Northern California Outboard Association.
>
PROPELLER
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YOU MAKE THE CALL
“I don’t know why the interest left. I don’t know if it was a city thing, an expense thing or an attendance thing. I have been in boat racing, out in (Region 11) since the mid-70s and I don’t ever remember racing up in Sparks. I don’t know how far back it goes.”For years Sparks has been building a reputation as a place of that “It’s Happening Here!” Racing Inboard, Stock, Mod, PRO, OPC and J-Class, Sparks Marina is a place where it will all be happening and city officials are excited that power boat racing is making its way back to western Nevada.Located less than 10 miles from Reno and an hour from Lake Tahoe, there is always something to do in Sparks.
“We have some pretty prominent event venues, with the marina being one of them. The marina is one of the unique destinations that the city has. It’s a lake, it’s a natural aquifer so it’s being replace with natural fresh and lake water. We pump about 1 million gallons out of the marina into the Truckee River,” said Adam Mayberry, community relations manager for the city of Sparks.
“Near-by the marina is a fairly new destination shopping complex called The Legends at Sparks Marina. There is a two mile walking trail around the marina, which is popular among bikers and people that like to walk or job. The walking path also connects to The Legends at Sparks Marina.”Located sporadically throughout the United States, Sparks is home to Scheels, the largest all sports store in the world. Scheels has everything under the sun, from hunting gear to fishing equipment and weight-lifting equipment back to
camping gear. Whatever you want for sports, you go to Scheels, according to Mayberry. However the main attraction at Scheels isn’t the sporting equipment, it’s the ferris wheel.Scheels is truly an attraction and it is one of the key anchors of The Legends project, Mayberry said. Also located at The Legends at Sparks Marina are a handful of outlet stores, restaurants and it offer a unique environment as well.
“The reason it’s called The Legends is because it has this outdoor mall where you can walk from store to store and there are medallions, artwork and sculptures on Nevada history, so it truly is an attraction,” Mayberry said. “Across the street from the marina is Wild Island Water Park and that is certainly a destination with water slides and pools.”
“If people would rather enjoy the great outdoors, we have a white water park located on part of the Truckee River. A few years ago we opened this white water park and we were able to put large boulders and rocks to a portion of the Truckee River that allows people to recreate in it, whether it’s tubing, fishing or just enjoying the water.”Located about eight miles from the marina is the Golden Eagle Regional Park. The Golden Eagle Regional Park is one of the largest projects of artificial turf in the world. Activities at the park include soccer, baseball, softball, little league and pop warner football.After a long day of boat racing and countless activities in the water, Sparks is home to a plethora of fine dining restaurants. However, when people go to Sparks they should head over to John Ascuaga’s Nugget, the largest casino and resort in Sparks, for The Awful Awful Burger.
Featured on Travel Channel’s Food Wars, The Awful Awful Burger is made at both Rosie’s Café in John Ascuaga’s Nugget, which claims to be the original, and Reno’s Little Nugget Casino and Resort.
“At one time all of the Nuggets were owned by the same player but those days are long behind us and the Awful Awful Burgers are pretty popular,” Mayberry said. The Awful Awful is probably the signature dish.”Created over 50 years ago, and originally named because it was “awful, awful good,” The Awful Awful Burger is a Sparks staple and served with two ¼ pound patties, or one half-pound pattie, topped with American Cheese and a special sauce. Other eateries include Grimaldi’s Pizzeria, Louisiana Jazz Kitchen and a beautiful, custom-built lodge, at Scheels, that features a Fudge and Coffee Shop, which serves 24 flavors of fresh homemade fudge and Starbucks coffee.
“We want to be known as the event capitol of northern Nevada. We want to introduce people to Sparks as a very premier, progressive city that wants to showcase and display a very vibrant and dynamic lifestyle,” Mayberry said. “Along with Reno and Las Vegas our state has probably been hit the hardest by the Great Recession and I mean that fugitively and literally.
“It certainly helps our morale when we can showcase our city to a national audience and raise awareness and get out from under the shadow of Reno.”
// SPOTLIGHT ON /////////////////////////////////////////////
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// PACK A BAG AND FIND YOUR WAY
////////// WIN AN APBA PRIZE PACK
// MAKE THE CALL /////////////////////////////////////////////
Have you noticed that our Association is full of clever and witty people? Hey, let’s just say it… we have more than a few wise guys and smart alecs. Well, here’s your chance to put those skills to good use. Not only will you get recognition for your special “talent”… if your caption is deemed to be the funniest, it will be featured in next month’s Propeller, and just might win a prize. Click on this month’s image to go to the Social Community and begin submitting your witty captions. You can also upload your own images that might be featured in an upcoming You Make the Call caption contest!Remember that we’re a family organization… so please keep it clean.
“THE APBA IS GOING GREEN!” -DAVID GARZA
YOU MAKE THE CALL
A MONTHLY CAPTION CONTEST
THIS MONTH’S PHOTO:
SUBMIT“YOUR CAPTION GOES HERE”
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////////// WIN AN APBA PRIZE PACK
// APBA GRAPEVINE //////////////////////////////
GETTING SOCIAL
APBA COMMUNITY
>EVER WONDER JUST HOW YOUR FRIENDS KNEW? BET THEY HEARD IT THROUGH THE GRAPEVINE… HERE’S JUST SOME OF WHAT YOU MAY HAVE MISSED IF YOU HAVEN’T CHECKED IN ON THE APBA SOCIAL COMMUNITY:
CURRENT MACH SCHEDULEDOT OUT.... DOT ME OUT!! 2012 PRO NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIPS
Running on emptyTHE DEMANDS OF A LONG RACE SEASON
The bulk of the racing season can be a long and arduous few months. Broken equipment, endless bills, tight schedules and constant travel can begin to wear on a racer’s psyche.
Competing is as many as 15 races a season, Kyle Bahl spends most of his time and money working on his equipment. Being from the Northwest, the competition for Bahl is stiff, so equipment upkeep is essential for him in his never-ending quest to go faster.“Things happen, they break and you have to repair those. This year, the two boats I am driving, I have already broke a sponson off in one boat, and then in the other I hydrauliced the bottom out in a runabout,” Bahl said. “You got to keep up with equipment. I drive hard, so that’s my main issue.“If you want to go faster and keep up with the big boys you have to keep up with the equipment really. Within a season there are at least 100 hours you can put in easily just working on your engine. We’re always trying to go faster, we’re always trying to do new things, and that can become quite challenging.”
“There are several challenges that we have to deal with as boat racers. Scheduling is an issue between real work and boat racing, money obviously and then the unforeseen that we don’t know about when you crash a boat or wreck a motor,” OPC and Stock Outboard driver Robert J. West said.“Then it’s difficult to be competitive with testing, so we try to do some of that during the winter because we can get a little behind during the season, as far as how you’re running. You have to do a little bit of testing to try and get better.”Being a weekend sport and having races all over the country, racers need time to travel to races and find the funds to do so. Most racers travel by truck with boat and trailer in tow. With national gas prices averaging around $3.40 a gallon and having to pay for food and lodging on top of that, traveling to races around the country has become quite the challenge.
“Being on the West Coast, we have our local series, and when I say local series I mean we still have to travel 13 hours to what I would call a local race down in San Diego or Arizona,” West said. “Logistically we need to make sure we can get enough help driving the car.“Usually we’ll split the driving with a couple of people and then fly in some crew members so we don’t have a full car or a huge airline bill. Sometimes we’ll even try to buddy with someone on the West Coast who is headed to an East Coast race. We’ll share a trailer and a truck, and that way it makes it more cost-effective, as well as be easier on everybody.”Participating in a full season of races takes a lot of commitment, love, time and money. Racers unquestionably have the love and commitment to get behind the wheel. It’s the time and money part that have to be properly managed.
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>
BEFORE AFTER
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The idea is somewhat similar to the America’s Cup race, an international race between two yacht teams. The only difference was APBA ran the race yearly instead of every four years.In brief, “challenge” refers to a sort of duel when one club asks the previous winner to a match. When yachts of the APBA ran, club colors were flown and rivalries played out. The winner of the APBA Challenge Cup took the trophy home. Future challengers would have the chance to take it away at a location of the winner’s choice.The exact tradition didn’t last long. The nickname for the Challenge Cup, the “Gold Cup,” took off in recognition and popularity, and soon the locations of the race would be determined by a bidding system. Since 1989, Detroit has been host for the race and it takes place on the Detroit River.The APBA Challenge Cup isn’t the only “challenge” sport out there, and it isn’t even the only “Challenge Cup” around…
CHALLENGE TROPHY -- One of the oldest trophies in Canada, it’s awarded in a soccer tournament to determine the national champion among 10 teams. First played in 1913, and established by the Canadian Soccer Association a year earlier, the current trophy was a gift from the English Football Association in 1926. The current defending champion is the Huskie Alumni of Saskatoon.
CHALLENGE LEAGUE -- The second highest tier soccer league in Switzerland. Created in 1897, the former “Nationalliga B” and current “Swiss Challenge League” had 15 teams compete last season. They compete each year to gain entry into the Swiss Super League, the top tier. The St. Gallen Football Club won last season and the runner up, Aarau, won the traditional playoff against the Super League’s 9th place team. Losers of the Challenge League get relegated to the newly created 1. Liga Promotion league.
CHALLENGE TOUR -- A second tier golf tournament in Europe organized by the Professional Golf Association European Tour. Established in 1986, formerly the Satellite Tour, it is the highest of “developmental” tours, above the third-tiers like the Alps Tours and the Nordic League. Initially, the top five performers “won” their invitation into the elite European Tour, but now it’s solely ranked by money earned. Usually the top-15 performers are good enough to qualify for any Euro tournaments. Tommy Fleetwood finished first on the Challenge Tour money list last season, earning 148,913 euros.
GRAND CHALLENGE CUP -- This golden box-like chalice is the award for the men’s rowing eights section of the annual Henley Regatta -- and then the Henley Royal Regatta -- held on the River Thames in England. Dating back to 1839, it’s one of the oldest active trophies in sports. Though, because of its age, the fragile history keeper was replaced with a identical replica in 1964.
HISTORY OF THE CHALLENGE What do people really know about the APBA Gold Cup trophy? Perhaps, some outside of boat racing may recall it has something do with those Unlimited hydroplanes streaking across the Detroit River, every summer. Those who know a little more may recognize that it is the oldest active trophy in all motorsports, first appearing in New York in 1904. If someone knows even more about the topic, he or she might boast that the Gold Cup trophy isn’t really the “Gold Cup.” It’s actually the APBA Challenge Cup, and it always has been.Ken Strong, “one of the guys” at the Hydroplane and Raceboat Museum in Kent, Wash., knew the correct answer that even some veteran racers didn’t. He also said the Challenge Cup was originally created as a contest among yacht clubs. However, why was it called “Challenge?”
//JOE PAS, ASSOCIATE EDITOR
PROPELLER// LOOKING BACK ///////////////////////////////
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BY THE NUMBERS…
Dan Kanfoush was made to break records. Even his name sounds fast -- Kanfoush, sounds a lot like “whoosh.” The highly decorated 1 litre Mod Inboard driver makes the challenge of setting and breaking water records look like child’s play, though it’s anything but. Much work goes into his Y-63 boat, which has double-digit records to its name. In this month’s By the Numbers, find out just how many:
111.633Kanfoush’s fastest speed in miles per hour, acquired in a 2008 Kilo.
4THE NUMBER OF WORLD
RECORDS KANFOUSH OWNS DRIVING FOR JIM
SECHLER’S BOAT. HE HAS SET 13 RECORDS BREAKING HIS OWN RECORDS 9 TIMES.
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THE NUMBER OF ATTEMPTS HE’S MADE TO
GO AFTER A RECORD. IN BASEBALL, HE’D BE HITTING
WELL ABOVE AVERAGE AT A .433 SUCCESS RATE.1
Speed can be dangerous, but luckily Kan-foush has only flipped his boat one time and looks forward to breaking more records. 7
Dan has seven consecutive high point titles to his name, 10 altogether. He also lays claim to seven summer nationals.
16’6” THE
LENGTH OF HIS
860 POUND BOAT.
2005????
HIS YAMAHA GTR 3-CYLINDER ENGINE
MAKES AN UNKNOWN HORSEPOWER. “THAT’S A NUMBER NO ONE’S
GETTING.”
Though he’s been racing since 1991, Kanfoush found his stride
in this year, recording his first world record. He began his career
in 2.5 litre Stock.
20The average number of hours per week he and his team work on the boat year-round.
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∞ Kanfoush said he’ll try for as many records as he can. So, the sky’s the
limit (or would that be water).
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30THE NUMBER OF ATTEMPTS HE’S MADE TO
GO AFTER A RECORD. IN BASEBALL, HE’D BE HITTING
WELL ABOVE AVERAGE AT A .433 SUCCESS RATE.
>
>PROPELLER
THE NECKS GENERATION IN SAFETY
// SUITED FOR SAFETY ///////////////////////////
The Next Generation of Head Restraints is Here! Race drivers from all motorsport disciplines around the world have a revolutionary new option in head and neck protection, with the introduction of the NecksGen frontal head restraint system.
NecksGen takes safety and quality to the next level with its lightweight and simple-to-use head and neck restraint. This is designed to work in conjunction with a multi-point 2” or 3” seat-belt harness of any high-speed racing vehicle, including power boats. Constructed in southern California from the latest DuPont carbon fiber composite material, the NecksGen system has achieved superior results in Certification 38.1 testing by
the Safety Foundation Institute (SFI), which administers safety standards for specialty and performance products in the automotive and racing industries.The lightweight, flexible, one-size-fits-all design is extremely comfortable and adjustable to fit a wide range of seat angles. The low profile design also makes it ideal for those in small confined cockpits. The NecksGen unit uses a single adjustable tension-neutralizing helmet tether, which allows the impact load to be distributed evenly through four load paths for maximum head and neck protection. The single tension-neutralizing tether allows for a full range of head motion under normal racing conditions. The unit includes quick-release helmet hardware as well as a hard mount option.If you protect your head with a helmet, why not protect your neck with a head and neck restraint? Please visit www.NecksGen.com for more information.
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If you’ve been charged with preparing a meal for a gathering you have undoubtedly asked yourself this question “What does everyone want to eat?” And if you actually said it out-loud for others to hear and respond - you clearly understand the challenge of pleasing different appetites and have found yourself turned into a short-order cook, not a good role to have. The simple fact is most of us are picky eaters. For example I like my hamburgers cooked to just past pink while Uncle Herbert likes his bloody rare and Miss Katherine demands – er politely suggests – her burgers be charred all the way through...then rehydrates her dried hockey puck with Worcestershire sauce and ketchup. I suspect this diversity of preferences is why buffets are so popular at larger outdoor gatherings of friends and family – combined with the phrase “bring something to share!”I do like to please my guests and desire to hear the words “that was great,” after they eat something I’ve grilled … but ... I’m also a fairly lazy cook. I don’t like being a cook-to-order host, and would prefer to prepare food that folks can alter to suit their unique preferences. Over the years I’ve accumulated a couple of tricks to reduce (by at least one!) the challenges of grilling food at a cookout. In a word: “Single Ingredient”OK that’s two words, but you get my drift. Make one grilled ingredient that can serve a variety of uses, ergo a variety of tastes.I’ve realized that to please the carnivores, omnivores, dieters, second and third helping-ers, the kids, teens, seniors and everyone in between, my go-to meat is chicken; specifically chicken tenders. Why? These little individual chicken fillet mignons are pretty much the easiest thing to prep, cook and serve in a variety of ways. I buy them in bulk at the warehouse store – cheap! Virtually no preparation is required (yes you can remove the tendon but you don’t have to.) It’s easy to season handfuls of chicken tenderloins in a big ol’ sealable plastic bag – and the result is collections of seasoned tenderloins in a variety of flavors to please just about everyone. Chicken tenderloins are fairly consistent in size, so portion planning is simplified and they grill quickly in batches. If you want or need more it’s not a big production. Grilled chicken tenderloins can be served as an entree, added to packaged salads, inserted into a bun and served to kids as a “Chicken Tongue” sandwich (OK maybe that name wouldn’t make your “littles” happy but I guarantee every 10-year old boy will laugh like a demon when informed he’s being served a chicken tongue sandwich.) We add sliced chicken tenderloin medallions to sandwiches, or pasta or even as a substitute for breakfast meat along-side fried eggs. Spice ‘em up before and after grilling and they replace wings aka Grilled Buffalo Tenders.Here’s my simple method for preparing and grilling chicken tenderloins.
// BARRY “CB” MARTIN, PROPELLER CULINARY COLUMNIST
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// WELCOME TO THE COOKOUT /////////////////////////////////////////////
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COOKING FOR A GROUP
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INGREDIENTS
2lbs chicken tenders – frozen
Vegetable oil like safflower or canola optional
Favorite seasonings and/or standard salt & pepper
Favorite marinade(s)
DIRECTIONS
1. Remove thawed chicken tenders from bag2. Don’t need to rinse but you can use a paper towel to dry them off of excess moisture.3. Toss portions into gallon-size sealable plastic bags and add seasonings and/or marinade and store in cooler or fridge for up-to-24 hours.
NOTE: over-marinating with acidic marinades can result in mushy meat – the acid breaks down the muscle fibers – so if you plan on keeping the chicken tenders in longer than 24 hours consider adding marinade closer to the cook time. 4-5 hours can be sufficient4. Prior to grilling add a small amount of oil to the seasoned tenders in bag(s) re- seal and toss to give a light coating to the chicken.5. Remove and place on clean dry grates heated to about 450F degrees. “Where the meat hits it sits!” Allow the tenders to grill about 2-3 minutes and use the tips of tongs to gently lift and gauge the “stickiness” Generally speaking the meat will brown and release – but a little nudge or slipping the tongs between meat and grates may be
necessary. Grill on both sides and remove from direct heat – either to the warming rack or into an open disposable tray placed on the grates away from direct heat. With the hood closed finish the chicken tenders to no more than 165F degrees internal temperature measured with a trusted instant read thermometer.6. When finished – toss into pasta dishes, a hot dog bun, salads, as the entree or even as a side dish instead of Buffalo- Style wings --- just about anywhere you think they might work. Depending upon the seasonings – marinades – sauces used, you may find chicken tenders are some of the most versatile meat you can grill!
INGREDIENTS
1 1/2 c. sour cream1/4 c. mayonnaise1 pkg. Original Ranch Dressing Mix1/2 - 1 c. blue cheese, crumbledDIRECTIONSMix sour cream and mayonnaise. Add Ranch Dressing Mix. Blend well, add crumbled blue cheese to taste. If mixture is too thick, add 1 tablespoon buttermilk. For milder flavor you could omit mayonnaise.
CB’S EZ BLUE CHEESE RANCH DIPPING SAUCES
PROPELLER
////CB’S EZ GRILLED CHICKEN TENDERS
Sherron Winer, co-owner of the Powerboat SuperLeague in New Martinsville, W. Va., said she can breathe a little easier, as of June 27. She received a pleasant surprise when news came that her Sept. 29 quarter-mile Challenge budget would be fully funded.
“But the work’s not done yet,” she said. The work is never really done for race producers or clubs who put on these events across the country, according to Winer. It’s a year-round second job, in most cases, involving numerous committees, third parties and droves of volunteers. From conception to cleanup, it literally takes a village to successfully run a boat race. Why is it so time consuming?
“How much time and how much paper do you have?” Winer said. “It isn’t any one hurdle that’s hardest to handle. There are many disparate things you have to handle.”
“There is a lot of coordination among many different departments that are required to put on a race,” said Ellen Greenleaf, Offshore Super Series event and media director. “The most positive thing is the camaraderie among (everyone).” There are a lot steps, but none more important than funding, a fact universally echoed by racer and organizer alike.
“You need money to bring the circus to town, so to speak,” said John Brunner, OSS operations director.
“It is very expensive to put on these races,” race organizer and region 16 chairman Justin Squires said. “A lot of the time the cost is extended onto the racers in registration fees, which discourages competitors from attending.”
“We’ve been doing this for 26 years and it’s more of a challenge than ever, because finding money is extremely difficult,” Winer said. Ann Fitzgerald, whose club-organizes The Wildwoods New Jersey Governor’s Cup Hydrofest is still little less than two months away, and still sees an endless list of tasks requiring money.
IT TAKES A VILLAGE…HOW TO PUT ON A SUCCESSFUL RACE
//JOE PAS, ASSOCIATE EDITOR
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“I need to include tow money and show money to provide a professional event for my community, she said. “It all takes money.”
All of these requirements can change by category, region and size of the hosting town. For example, one need at an Offshore race may not be needed for a Stock Outboard race, and vise versa. But even if bigger events require bigger budgets, the sport in general is struggling.
“A few years ago we had a $50,000-purse per race,” said Brunner, “now it’s down to $37.5 thousand because we lost a couple of race sites. Additional reductions were made across the board for not only our race sites but also the teams from 25 to 50 percent in an effort to help ease the costs,” he said. Creating and sustaining ties at the community level is one of the best solutions to the money crunch. Local and community ties are also important for ensuring a quality race experience for both fans and drivers. The demand required of race organizers, who must wear many hats during planning, can only be met by a “strong, totally committed local community,” Winer said. The rewards for both sides can be great, especially for host cities, according to Greenleaf who said Offshore economic impact brings millions in revenue. From the beginning of planning race producers or club organizers create local committees, which are staffed with numerous volunteers. The good news for a cash-strapped sport, the help comes at little to no cost, and they can come in the hundreds.
“These races require vast amounts of volunteers,” Squires said. “It’s something that a lot of outsiders and even racers don’t realize; this is primarily a volunteer-driven sport. (Everyone working) is there for the love of the sport.” It’s a good thing, too, since it’s a long, exhaustive effort. Some permits, like those from the U.S. Coast Guard, take 135 days to acquire. That means, a race in August needs to begin planning months ahead of time.
“I treat my volunteers like gold,” Fitzgerald said, “because without them, our Wildwoods Hydrofest would not run efficiently.”Going to a site for the first time is especially daunting. Besides gathering sponsors and support, race committees are also trying educated an entire community. Usually the first response an inquiry gets is,
“you want to do what?” Winer said. Overall, the devil is in the details, and knowledge is power.
“You can’t do anything unless you have the three Ws: wealth, wisdom and workers, in that order,” Winer said. “You don’t necessarily have to be wealthy, you just have to know the right people. You also have to know the right people who have knowledge of event production. Do they understand that you need porta-johns, and have they navigated city restrictions? It’s a whole lot to consider.
“But just keep it simple. If it’s simple, it’s doable.” Come race day, with primary power shifted to the race director or the race control, all the preparation is finally put to the test. A successful result is in large
part due to the immense prep work – and a little luck with the weather. No amount of planning can account for the number of contingencies created by storms and water conditions. “So be prepared for those hurdles,” Winer wrote in an email.
Without a defined and grounded race track, like other sports, “we are at the mercy of nature,” Squires said.Once race producers and organizers overcome the issues of funding, sponsorships, and finding a seasoned race director, almost any problem that occurs is manageable, according to Brunner.
“Things begin falling into place Everyone comes to realize that the boats will come out as schedules, racers run their courses, demonstrate their skills and wow the crowd with the thrill and risks that is offshore racing. By 5:00 on Sunday, most people will think, ‘Wow, that was pretty simple.’ “ The nature and business of boat racing is fickle. A good weekend means, at 5 p.m. on Sunday, organizers will strive to make next year’s race even better, and that definitely won’t make the challenge easier.
“I was visiting a sponsor the other morning and he said, ‘Why do you do this?’” Fitzgerald said. “It’s a dedication and a way to give back to the sport that has meant so much to me. Only people within the sport can understand this.”
PROPELLER
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MORE THAN RACINGThe trip is half the fun -//SEAN BOWSHER
Hello fellow racers. I just got back from Olympia, Wash., and the Western Divisionals. It was a great trip. But alas this article is not about the great people out west or the awesome race they put on. This is about the time aged saying, “Getting there is half the fun”. Defined: what hap-pens before doing something is a large part of what makes that thing enjoyable. Let me tell you fellow racers, if you think the highway is just for getting to a destination you’re missing out!
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horse statues. This is one of the high lights of this trip and is a must see. Make sure you get there during day light hours and stop to see the Wild Horses Monument.As our journey continues, the next leg is the Snoqualmie Pass. It is a mountain pass that carries Interstate 90 through the Cas-cade Range and into Seattle. The elevation of the pass summit is 3,022 feet. What the Rocky Mountains in Montana had in size and greatness, Snoqualmie has in beauty and serenity. If you have time stop and see the Snoqualmie Falls, do it.Snoqualmie pass leads you into Seattle and the dreaded Interstate 5. I truly be-lieve to battle unemployment Washington State hires people to just drive on the I-5. The road seems like it is always backed up. Traveling south on the I-5 we will see to the left Mount Rainier. Mount Rainier is a massive stratovolcano located 54 miles southeast of Seattle. It rises out of the mountains like a sleeping giant. Another truly awesome sight on this trip!Well we finally made it to Olympia and now we get to race! This is the fourth time I have made this trip and each time I see more and more things that I have not seen before. We all know we do not race for money. But we all can get richer by racing for the experience. Fellow racers, don’t see a race site as the destination; see it as a way point on the trip of a life time. These great United States have tons of rarely seen historical locations and breath-taking scenery. Disconnect from the smart phone and just look out the window, you will never know what you might see!For you statisticians here are the final numbers of the round trip: 70 hours, 53 minutes driving, 354 gallons of fuel, 4460 total miles, five nights of hotels and untold amounts of junk food. The experience though was priceless and I hope you all can make a trip like this one day. All roads go both ways!
I left central Illinois (Cisco, IL) around 4 p.m. on Tuesday, July 4. The truck was packed, the boat looked good and the highway was calling. The first major landmark we came upon was three hours later, The Mighty Mississippi, the larg-est river in our great Nation. How many of us think back to Chevy Chase and National Lampoon’s Vacation and re-enact that scene when they drive over the “Old Man River?” “Everybody in the car. Boat leaves in two minutes... or perhaps you don’t want to see the second largest ball of twine on the face of the earth, which is only four short hours away!”Hitting the Mississippi River also put us on I-80 into Iowa. If you have never been on I-80 you are missing the largest truck stop in the world, The Iowa 80 Truck stop in Walcott, Iowa (www.iowa80truckstop.com). It is truly a marvel and you could spend hours there. About a third of the way through Iowa we head north through the Silos & Smokestacks National Heri-tage Area, passed Diamond Joes Casino and into Minnesota at Albert Lea where we get onto I-90 and westbound.Five hours later we pass Chamberlain, SD. The road is plain but as you approach Chamberlain you crest a large hill and a truly amazing site unfolds before you, the Missouri River. We had just been here two weeks earlier for the River City Racin’ (www.rivercityracin.org), another great hydroplane race, this is a place I know well and plan on returning.
After Chamberlain we continue west with the plethora of Wall Drug signs, their advertising budget must be in the millions. Before we leave South Dakota we stop at Sturgis and take pictures at Harley Da-vidson. Sturgis is a place where you can gaze out at the Black Hills and Badlands. Wildfires this year diverted us north from I-90 to I-94 and we lost around an hour, no biggie, we are here for the trip not only the destination. Somewhere around Rapid City area is the half way point of this trip for us.Now we are in Big Sky Country, Mon-tana! This, my friends, is a long state. Plan on taking at least 11-12 hours to get through Montana on I-90, but what a beautiful trip it is. Montana is where we hit the Rocky Mountains, the Continental Divide, and tons of Nationals Forests and breath taking mountain passes. One mo-ment it is 95 degrees and then you crest a mountain and its back down to 68 in the shadow of a great mountain. Not enough can be said about this leg of the trip.We then make for Idaho. It’s a short 90 minutes through, but we see one of the most awe inspiring lakes in the mountains, Coeur d’Alene. This lake is magnificent! I plan on taking the family here for a vacation. It is a nice little gem tucked away in the mountains. Shortly after Coeur d’Alene we get into Washington and the great Columbia Plateau. It is a geologic and geographic region that lies across parts of Washington, Oregon and Idaho. It is a wide flood basalt plateau between the Cascade Range and the Rocky Mountains, cut through by the Columbia River. The Columbia River at I-90, Vantage, Wash., is the gateway to the deep, parched, flat region of Eastern Washington from the Cascade Mountains. The view of the mighty Columbia River is arresting and commands that you admire the scenery. The best viewpoints are on the west side of the river at Gingko State Park or on the east side at a rest stop below the wild
PROPELLER
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>CATEGORY CORNER
// CATEGORY CORNER /////////////////////////////////////////////
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PROPELLER
Recently, at a couple of races that I attended, there has been some question as to the requirements and restrictions for pick up boat, rescue boat and turn judge personnel. After consulting Mary Williams, APBA Chief Referee, Mark Wheeler, the Mod Chief Referee and the Rule Book, I think I have the answers.
PICK UP BOAT: Anybody can man a pick up boat during a race. They do not have to be an APBA member and there are no age requirements. RESCUE BOAT: If you are on the rescue boat you must be 18, and you do not have to be an APBA member. Please note that the insurance coverage is higher if you are an APBA member.
CLARIFYING THE RULES// TOM SUTHERLAND, MODIFIED OUTBOARD CHAIRMAN
TURN BOAT: The more surprising thing to me was the turn judge rule. The rule reads as follows: “At least one qualified turn judge approved by the referee shall be required in each turn. All turn judges should be APBA members.” Again, there is no age requirement, and you do not have to be an APBA member.Also at the races, I noticed that boat counts are down. Most of us are not traveling as much any more since clubs have been trying to put on more local races. To make this plan work we all need to make a concerted effort to show up at our local races to race. See you there.
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// CATEGORY CORNER /////////////////////////////////////////////
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2012 PRO NATIONALS:
After extensive work from the Village of DePue, Mayor Eric Bryant, the DePue Men’s Club, the State of Illinois, and the US Title Series, there has been a guaranteed water level of five feet for this year’s APBA PRO National Championships. Although the water level was originally too low for racing, the state will be installing a temporary dam to raise the water level two full feet. Again, a huge thank you to the volunteers for their herculean effort in getting this matter resolved.
PRO TECHNICAL MANUAL:
Check out the information in the latest version of the “PRO Technical Manual.” The Manual is much, more than just technical specifications for the various PRO classes. Here’s some of the information you’ll find:- How to get started- Suppliers- Awards- Commissioners- Committees- Class participationTake a look. The Manual is online under “resources” on the APBA website.
2012 CHAMPIONSHIPS:
The following table shows the various PRO Championship races remaining in 2012 as of August 2012:2012 EASTERN PRO DIVISIONAL CHAMPIONSHIPS:
Aug 31-Sep 2 700H Hartford, Conn.; U.S. Title Series
2012 WESTERN PRO DIVISIONAL CHAMPIONSHIPS:
Aug 25-26 350R, 500R, 1100R Eatonville, Wash.; Seattle Outboard Association
2012 PRO NORTH AMERICAN CHAMPIONSHIPS:
Aug 31-Sep 2 250H, 700H Hartford, Conn.; US Title Series
The 2012 1100R Eastern Divisionals has been released and is now available. Should any club be interested, please let us know
//STEVE GREAVES, PRO CHAIRMAN
//////PRO RACING HEATS UP>
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NEW PROPELLERS COMING FOR J-CLASS//BUDDY TENNELL, JUNIOR CLASS CHAIRMAN
As a result of a new program instituted by the Junior Classes Committee for National Championship and North American Championship events, new JH/JR propellers were purchased and tested. Although there was a slight deviation of the criteria established by the recently passed rule concerning the propellers, the Junior Classes Committee and Board of Director’s felt it was in the best interest of the sport to accept the proposal of the J Committee and implement the program immediately.
> The Junior Classes Committee and the APBA Board of Directors felt after reviewing the results of the testing that the parity between the propellers was acceptable and an improvement over what had been done in the past. The Junior Classes Committee will continue to monitor the parity of the Championship Propellers.
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>
// CATEGORY CORNER /////////////////////////////////////////////
RACING MEMORIES KEEPING THE PAST ALIVE// JEFF BREWSTER, STOCK OUTBOARD CHAIRMAN
My family and I just returned home last evening from the Stock Outboard Central Divisionals in Lakemore, Ohio on Springfield Lake. As I type away with my exhausted, sunburned body I remember the highlights of the weekend. The Three Rivers Outboard Racing Association was able to pull off a big show, while battling temperature’s in the upper 90’s, with an awesome turn out of entries. During both afternoons, the heat tried its best to build into a tough, summer storm, but we only had to deal with wind as the racing progressed. Undaunted, the TRORA race committee kept running the races off very fast, and we were able to crown all of the divisional champions this year.Some of my favorite memories were watching the CSH battle with a race-high 20 entries and seeing Amy Sweeney win again and qualify for the nationals in ASH. She is far from the average “soccer mom,” isn’t she? Actually, the few delays on Sunday were caused from my own pits. Both of my sons entered 25SSR and did their part to keep the fans entertained. In the first heat, Ryan lost the bottom in our old boat going into turn one. We teased him the rest of the day and called him
“Ricky Bobby” because he was swimming all over turn one picking up pieces of his boat and we couldn’t understand what he was doing. Soon afterward while I was
drying out Ryan’s Mercury engine, I heard the neighboring crowd gasp and looked up in time to watch the elder son Justin trying to not be out done and suffered a blow-over coming out of the first turn in a super-fast, borrowed Yamato-powered rig from Rick Wagner Sr. As I walked to the meet the tow boat, I joked with fellow racers and told them I was taking donations to purchase enough starting fluid to dry out our engines.It was a good learning experience for them, and I am sure it was a day they won’t ever forget. As I type, I can hear Ryan tapping away on a chisel to remove the damaged bottom of his runabout in time for the Grass Lake Nationals. Now he will also learn how to repair a boat for the first time. This all leads me into the main context of my article this month, and that is the memories that we all create every weekend at the races. My life has been so full of wonderful memories and so many incredible people over the years. As we sadly lose the old timers of our sport and their stories, we lose a piece of our racing history. I am very interested in trying to find a way to preserve our history before it is all gone. If you have any ideas on how to accomplish this, please let me know.As I have stated in the past, your leadership is listening. Are you telling us your thoughts?
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> Our racing season has begun and with it brings some changes in the registration process, and while I am discussing the changes, I will also provide some reminders for you, to assist with your race preparations. Remember to:1. Discard the previous year’s supplies if the fees have changed or forms are outdated. 2. Read over your APBA rule book and Scorers Handbook to keep yourself aware of rules and rule changes and the Scorers Handbook is a gold mine of valuable information to help you out. 3. There is a section (page 4) in the Scorers Handbook devoted to race preparations; this includes supplies you will need for Registration and the Judges Stand.
// LISA JENNINGS, APBA CHEIF SCORER
////SCORERS FORUM4. Order enough race supplies for the entire season, as early in the year as possible. If you run short during the season, phone, fax, email, or mail your request, to APBA Headquarters, and they will send them to you as soon as possible. The information for APBA Headquarters is on the website. The Supply Ordering Form is in the Scorers Handbook page 23. Look over the list closely to see what you may need.5. Be sure to order more Minor Waiver and Release of Liability Forms this year, as there has been a change in insurance carriers to ASIS. A minor and their parent/guardian (whoever is responsible for them at the race site) must sign a waiver at ever race site they attend, each time they attend. This is much different than last year, so pay close attention, as this will also take many more forms than previous. Also get plenty of adult Waiver and Release Forms.
6. Remember that anyone signing a Waiver and Release form must receive an wrist band (adult or minor), and must keep it on their wrist through out the event (whole race weekend). The wrist band cannot be placed on a belt, in a pocket, on a cap or anyplace where it can be removed until the end of the racing event. NO EXCEPTIONS!7. Pay close attention to the fee changes for membership, as well as a change in some of the additional registration fees, when a member is not registered in the category or class that he/she is racing in that day. See Scorer’s Handbook page8.8. Don’t forget to order Single Event forms, Driver and Non Driver Membership applications and receipts. With careful race preparations, your race registration should go well. Remember to always feel free to contact a member of the Scoring Committee (List and numbers are in the Scoring Handbook) if you have any questions. Have a safe and enjoyable racing season.
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APBA ANNOUNCEMENTS
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NOTICE OF AWARD NOMINATIONS
Each year the Don Allen Sr. Memorial Leadership Award shall be presented during the APBA Annual Meeting. This award honors service contributions to the American Power Boat Association in the areas of leadership, officiating, safety, or other activities contributing to the benefit of the APBA not directly related to the racing of a specific boat.
PREVIOUS HONOREES ARE:
2008 Penny Anderson Edmonds, WA2009 Ernie Dawe Indio, CA2010 George Thornhill Tacoma, WA2011 Brian Small Dracut, MAThe contribution may be judged on the efforts of a single year, or for work done over a period of years, at the judgment of the selection committee. The selection committee is chaired by the sitting APBA President, and shall comprise of the previous five surviving selectees.It is not required that there be a selectee each year, but it is encouraged that there be a selection process each year. Any member interested in making a nomination for this award may do so by submitting the nomination with written details to APBA Headquarters.All nominations must be received no later than September 30th, 2012
NOTICE OF HONOR SQUADRON NOMINATIONS
The APBA Honor Squadron is the highest non-racing award that the APBA offers each year.
PROCEDURE:
1. Nominations reminder will be in the June, July, and August Propellers, and on the APBA website.2. Nominations are due October 1st.3. Ballots and copies of the nominations are mailed to the Honor Squadron Committee by October 15th.4. Ballots are due October 31st.5. To be a candidate for induction, the nominee must receive a vote of at least 50% of the Honor Squadron Committee members.6. A maximum of 2 nominees will be selected by the Committee for induction into the Honor Squadron, for presentation at the next APBA Annual Meeting Banquet. In case of a tie, the chairperson will resolve it with her/his vote.
CRITERIA FOR NOMINATION AND SELECTION OF CANDIDATES:
Extensive service and contributions to APBA and powerboat racing such as: (a) major boat race promotion accomplishments (new race sites; race sponsors)(b) major structural improvements in APBA’s organization; (c) major contributions to APBA’s functioning through rule restructuring, driver and official recruitment, committee activities.(d) Major technological improvement to one, or several, aspects of the sport.(e) Exceptional long-term racing accomplishments may be considered.The description of each contribution, exceptional service, or accomplishment must be specific.
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RACINGCALENDAR
PROPELLER// RACING CALENDAR //////////////////////////////
RACINGCALENDAR
PROPELLER
REGION 2
8/17-8/19 Clayton, NY Vintage
9/21-9/23 Geneva, NY Vintage, Inboard
REGION 3
9/1-9/3 Lock Haven, PA PRO, Modified, Stock, Junior
9/8-9/9 Mays Landing, NJ Inboard
9/15-9/16 West Milford, NJ Inboard
10/6-10/7 Wildwood Crest, NJ InboardREGION 4
8/11-8/12 Hampton, VA Inboard, Junior
8/11-8/12 Huntington, WV OPC
8/31-9/2 Wheeling, WV Vintage
REGION 6
8/11-8/12 Indian River, MI Stock, Superlight Tunnel Boat, Junior
8/25-8/26 Celina, OH Vintage, Inboard
9/8-9/9 Grass Lake, MI Stock, Junior
9/15-9/16 Big Rapids, MI Stock, Junior
REGION 7
8/18-8/19 Aurora, IN OPC
REGION 10
8/4-8/5 Gold Beach, OR Outboard River Racer
8/25-8/26 Pateros, WA Vintage, Inboard, Inboard Endurance
8/25-8/26 Eatonville, WA PRO, Modified, Stock, Junior
9/8-9/9 Spanway, WA Vintage, Inboard
9/8-9/9 Moses Lake, WA PRO, Modified, Stock, Junior
9/22-9/23 Chelan, WA Vintage, Inboard, Inboard Endurance, OPC
9/22-9/23 Yelm, WA PRO, Modified, Stock, Junior PRO, Modified, Stock, Junior
REGION 11
8/18-8/19 Sparks, NV Inboard, PRO, Modified, Stock, OPC, Junior
9/8-9/9 Nicolaus, CA Inboard, PRO, Modified, Stock,
OPC, Junior
REGION 12
8/4-8/5 Long Beach, CA Inboard, Inboard Endurance, Stock, OPC, Junior
9/14-9/16 San Diego, CA Special Event, Unlimited, Offshore
REGION 14
8/10-8/12 Rainbow, City, AL Modified, Stock, Junior
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SHOW US WHAT YOU GOT!SUBMIT YOUR PICTURES FOR A CHANCE TO BE FEATURED IN NEXT MONTH’S PROPELLER
Tom Thompson breaks loose in 2.5 Mod hydro at Black Lake at the
Western Divisionals, Olympia WA //PATRICK GLEASON
Elizabeth (Wolfe) Volini poses with her husband on her wedding day in front of an Inboard boat.//MYSTIC IMAGES PHOTOGRAPHY
Terry Rinker kisses his wife Suzy after taking first place at Bay City //PAUL KEMIEL
The inboards get lowered into the water at Walled Lake Thunder // RAY DONG
A driver gets towed in at Waves of Thunder in Morgan City, LA. //JAMES A. ROBICHAUX
IN PICTURES...SUBMIT
IN PICTURES...
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31-W heads into the turn at the Rochelle Regatta //JOEL JONES
Oh Boy! Oberto coming around the corner at Madison Ind. //PAUL KEMIEL
Two drivers fight it out heading into the turn at the Rochelle Regatta //JOEL JONES
Terry Rinker raises his checkered flag after taking first at Bay City //PAUL KEMIEL
Annabelle S and The Bucaneer put on a fabulous vintage hydro exhibition at Black Lake near Olympia, WA //PATRICK GLEASON
// F. PEIRCE WILLIAMS PHOTOGRAPHY
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>REGIONROUND UP
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PROPELLER
REGION 3
Excitement and high-speed action are two things that draw people to boat races. But I don’t think anyone who is involved in the sport likes witnessing or hearing about an accident on the race course. On June 2-3, there was racing in Elizabeth City, N. C. where two of our Region 3 boats became an accident statistic, colliding into each other. The two boats were Dave Greenlaw Jr.’s “Veri Cheri,” and Trevor Kirsh’s “Summer Storm.”I was disappointed that I wasn’t going to be able to be at their race this year since I had such a great time last year. As it turned out, I was glad I wasn’t there to see the accident. Luckily, I heard about the accident after enough time had passed, that when I did hear about it, I learned that no one was seriously injured. Thank God! I spoke to Dave the driver of JS-99 Veri Cheri, just five days after he was involved in the accident. He said, “I take full responsibility for the accident. It’s what they call a hook, I think. My boat shot left-right in front of JS-1, and they had no time to react.” The JS-1, Summer Storm, ran over the JS-99 flattening the cage in one section. Dave’s helmet was torn off. The deck of the Veri Cheri was ripped off. Dave was knocked unconscious momentarily and had to be transported to the hospital, where he was treated and later released. Dave still has a very badly bruised neck from his straps, and a sore back. John Shaw, who was riding with Dave in JS-99 as his riding mechanic, was bruised and sore from the accident, but was very lucky to escape serious injury, too. For the brother and sister team of Jimmie Stewart and Peg Ewanico, JS-1 driver and riding mechanic, respectively, it must have been like déjà vu’. A very similar accident occurred in Valleyfield, Canada a few years ago. This time, they had Region 4 Rescue responding and acting within in seconds to make sure everyone was taken care of. Jimmie and Peg luckily escaped serious injury this time, too, but were very shook up, needless to say. The Summer Storm
was damaged but repairable and back in action at Kent Island just one week later. Kent Island, my first race of 2012 had beautiful racing weather both days. There were many Region 3 boats in attendance and they were finishing in the front of the pack in most of the heats. Brandon Kennedy, John Shaw, Matt Henning, Tom Richmond, and Dave Savage were just a few from our region to travel to Maryland. The highlight of the weekend for our family was for my brother- in-law Warren Brown III to get his very first win driving The K.I.S.S. JS-65 with his son Warren Brown IV as his riding mechanic. Warren III has been at it for several years now, and it was so nice to see his hard work and his team’s hard work finally pay off. Congratulations to him and to all the winners so far this season. I can’t wait for racing to come to Region 3! I know there are some new teams in our region. Contact me please and let me know a little about you and your boat!
CONTACT BARBARA BROWN
REGION 5 Welcome to the “revived” Southeast Stock, Junior, PRO and Modified Divisions. This is a result of a lot of hard work of several people starting with members of the Carolina Virginia Racing Assocation (CVRA) under the leadership of the Commodore, Abby Pond. On June 2 and 3 we were in Hinton, WV for the first time since 1997. Hinton has an elevation 1400 feet and is surrounded by mountains, cool and beautiful. Hinton has hosted six Stock and Modified Nationals, as well as two PRO Nationals, since 1969. The West Virginia Water Festival was very pleased to have us back. Every time you turned around you saw a person in a STAFF shirt. Ask them for something-they did it quick. We had 110 entries on Saturday. Many thanks to new CVRA to member Fred Hafer, Norfolk, VA for volunteering last year to lead this revival. Thank you, Fred and family. Race Chairman and CVRA Vice-Como Chris Johnson was extremely busy all weekend
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and barely found time to race his CSH. Well done, Chris. Down south on June 23 and 24 found us at Wildwood Park on Clarks Hill Lake, Evans, GA. The CVRA again hosted this new site. Member Mel Thomas (1988 20SSH National Champion), 96 years-old (yes), SC spent countless hours over two years investigating every dam, lake and tributary of the Savannah River. First, thank the U S Army Corps of Engineers who control the flood dams. This is where Regions 4, 5, and 14 all come together. We have many sponsors to thank starting with Jeb Bell, Columbia County Park Supervisor and his staff. They provided: local Rescue Team, magnificent portable toilets, aluminum bleacher seating, circus posters, concessions, and a free Italian dinner Saturday night for drivers, families, and crews. Hayes Marine provided two tow boats. RV hookups are nearby. The course was small in a cove. We had 57 entries daily. The only class with 8 class (Stock Divisionals) was CSH, won by Austin Van Over from Ohio. Again, sponsors want us back. Put it on your calendar for 2013. Highlight was four new drivers. congratulations to: Carson Fabbro in JR, Pensacola, FL, Mike Jablonski in 20SSH, Clarks Hill, SC, Dexter Willard in CSH, Murrels Inlet, SC, and Chris Chambers in AXSR, Warner-Robbins GA. Well Done, see you next race. We wish the best to who are going their Nationals in July and August. CONTACT BILL WALKER
REGION 6
The Central Divisionals were held July 7-8 in Lakemore, Ohio on Springfield Lake, hosted by TRORA. Entry numbers were high, and the thermometer read even higher (over 110 degrees on the blacktop)! Racers turned out from as far as Florida to try to gain a slot to the finals in the upcoming Grass Lake Stock/J Outboard Nationals July 31 through Aug. 4. The ASH class had a full field of 11 boats with a nice mix of veterans and newcomers. Heat 1 featured a battle
between MHRA racers Tracy Trolian, Amy Sweeney and Elek Hutchinson with the 9-S of Sweeney powering her way from the back for the win. Heat 2 was stolen by the Sunshine’s State’s Dave Bennett, but Sweeney was able to force 2nd place out of the heat to take the overall win and the divisional title. ASR had 8 boats – good enough for someone to qualify for Nationals … and veteran Carl Holt was able to squeak a win out by driving smart and staying legal on the start (something few were able to do over the weekend).Joe Silvestri, with some striking resemblance to fellow TRORA member Carl Holt, was one of the smart ones in the 12 CSR drivers. Silvestri was one of only two boats not to jump the gun in heat 1 and proceeded to just finish heat 2 to steal a finals spot out of the bunch.The Hearn family didn’t just walk away from the weekend with some hardware, they RAN! Richard Hearn would qualify in BSR (yes, 8 boats!) and brother Ed would nail the 25SSR spot -- not to mention Grant Hearn’s double steal of J Hydro and J Runabout titles. one would say the three drivers didn’t make out too badly.One of the races of the weekend to watch was that of CSH, with its 20 entries all vying for the checkered flag. After eliminations, Jordan Swain took heat 1 of the final and did what he needed to do in order to take the overall win in points. It was arguably the most coveted finish over the weekend. That’s the way to make a 10-hour drive very worthwhile! To finish Saturday’s racing, Laura Wheeler took home 800 points for her divisional win in an almost-white capped Springfield Lake during AXH (the race would be put on wind-hold to be resumed on Sunday).Sunday, Andrew Tate would start the day with a heat 1 win in 20SSH, only to lose out to Joe Pater for the overall win – Tate wouldn’t ride home empty-handed, however, as a BSH win helped ease the pain. Other notables of the weekend, besides the best racing so far this year, was the spectacular firework show from the
IN MEMORIAM: Frances Hauenstein
1918-2012On June 13, APBA and particularly Regions 11 and 12 lost a strong supporter of racing when Frances Hauenstein departed this life at the age of 94. Frances’s involvement in outboard racing began shortly after meeting Fred Hauenstein, Sr. He was a fierce competitor in the Racing C and Service C classes of Alky Outboard racing. She served as a pit crew member for her husband until their sons, Fred Jr., Jim, and Don, were old enough to do so.Much of racing in Region 11 during the latter ’40s through the ’70s benefitted from the Hauensteins’ help, both financially and organizationally. Frances helped to develop and obtain sponsorships for the “Kingsburg Gun Club” race in addition to making significant contributions to the Pine Flat, Millerton, and Shaver Lake regattas as well as Region 12’s Lake Ming/Bakersfield race in the ’50s, ’60s, and ’70s.Frances will be remembered and missed by many a boat racer who was the lucky recipient of fried chicken, potato salad, sandwiches, and huge quantities of fresh fruit at her “tailgate deli,” which often came from supplies at the family-owned Fred’s Truck Fuels and Café. She also gave aid generously whether it was to repair a flat tire or a broken-down car, boat trailer, or race engine. She rarely sought repayment for these favors. Many outboard racers, traveling California Highway 99, would stop at “Fred’s” for a meal, compliments of Frances.To the end of her life, Frances was a sage mentor and pillar of support for her son, Fred, Jr., and grandsons and APBA Hall of Champions members, Dan and Mike. She was actively involved in their racing endeavors, as well as in her son Jim’s OPC, Inboard, and Unlimited racing. Her husband Fred, Sr., and sons Jim and Don, preceded her in death. She is survived by one son, Fred Hauenstein, Jr. (Linda), daughter-in-law Kathy Hauenstein; two APBA-member grandsons, Dan (Kristy) and Mike (Kate) Hauenstein, four other grandchildren, and ten great-grandchildren.
PROPELLER
Rock the Docks festival, and MHRA’s Robert Lisius’s first win in 20SSH – beating out a field of 9 on Sunday.Other Region News, the Michigan Hydroplane Racing Association added a third Racer School date to its schedule due to the high number of inquiries. Feel free to drop by and check it out on Sunday, Aug. 5 in Grass Lake (this is the Sunday following the Stock/J Nationals).By the time you read this, the Stock/J Outboard Nationals will be in full swing at Grass Lake and the Top O’ Michigan Marathon Nationals will be soon ahead Aug. 11-12. We wish safe, hard racing to all competitors. Other upcoming events: Aug. 25-26 Dayton, Ohio Record RunsAug. 25-26 Celina, Ohio Governor’s CupSept. 7-9 Grass Lake, Mich. Wild One’s RegattaSept. 15-16, Big Rapids, Mich. Mecosta County RegattaSept. 15-16, Hillsboro, OhioCONTACT ELEK HUTCHINSON
REGION 10
While the rest of the country has been frying in the record heat, the Pacific Northwest version of summer (usually 6-10 weeks long) started on July 4, exactly one day earlier than usual. In our corner, we don’t often get in the hundreds, so the 80 to 90 degree range is plenty for us.Seattle Drag and Ski got the first “Official Race of the Summer” here, held at Black Lake July 8-9. Race Chair Jerry Duggan and SDS Commodore Dick Price pulled out all the stops to make the Inboard Western Divisionals an epic event for us. Sunday alone they successfully ran 28 heats of racing and at least that many on Saturday. Major thanks go out to all of the Race Committee and a special shout out to Rob Hall. He did a stellar job as Pit Boss at the inboard events, while waiting for his motor to be completed for his new Grand Prix boat. The inboard organizations are going to be in a world
of hurt to fill Rob’s shoes once he gets his boat done and returns to racing, because the man does an incredible job at getting boats staged, organized and in and out of the water efficiently and safely. Next up for the Inboards will be Seattle Inboard’s race at Oroville, Wash.Just prior to the Inboard Western Divisionals was Columbia Outboard Racing Association’s annual race at Cullaby Lake, near Seaside Oregon on the Oregon coast. CORA also hosted the Western Divisionals for PRO Hydros and Antique classes. As usual, Mike and Denise Johnson, Allen Thorsen and the rest of the CORA crew put on a great event, while the weather cooperated for no apparent reason. It was especially nice to see our friends from the south venture come north again, including Dan and Jean Schwartz, Steve and Pamela Wilde and Marlee Hill, who tried her had in John Peeters’ super-fast 20SS Hydro. Of course, no trip to Cullaby would be complete without an adventure on the Seaside Bumper Cars on Saturday night. A number of us were ready to go a few more rounds when they closed the place up shortly after 10 on Saturday night. Amazing that the people running the bumper cars would want to leave money on the table, but that’s what happened.To the south of us, the Cal Ore season is also active. Here’s Larry Darneille’s report from there:“The Cal-Ore U.S. Championship season continued to Hoopa, Calif. June 9-10 with the Trinity River Challenge. The spring runoff on the Trinity River subsided enough to provide near perfect racing conditions. The primary sponsors of this race are the Hoopa Tribe and the Lucky Bear Casino. A special thanks to the Hoopa Tribal Civilian Community Corp for crowd control. With near-perfect conditions, Tyler McGinnis, of Gold Beach, smoked the qualifier course for the pole position. In Sunday’s race, he quickly took control of the course and went on to victory, followed by Jeff Lewis, of Grants Pass. In third place was up-and-coming driver Doug Branham, of Hoopa, followed
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by Kyle brown, of Hoopa, in fourth place and Ryan McGinnis, of Gold Beach, in fifth. The rest of the fleet succumbed to the rough rapids with engine and gear failures.“The next race of the season was at Gold Beach, July 7-8. The wind was a threatening factor, as usual, but subsided enough to have a beautiful race weekend. Tyler, again, smoked the qualifier for the pole. Tyler led the fleet in the start of the race, Sunday, leading all 15 starters to the top of the course. The wind-waves on the lower course started taking a toll as the pounding started shaking apart engines. Tyler and Jeff Lewis both were out early with engine failures. The shoals and shallow water with a minus tide in the bay allowed only nine of the 15 starters to finish. Jeff Laird, of Gold Hill, Ore., drove to victory, followed by Derek Woolsey, of Grants Pass, in 2nd place; Robert Calvosa, of Eureka, Calif., in third; Jebb Curtis, of Gold Beach, fourth; and Mike Richardson, of Grants Pass, fifth. The next race will be a return to Gold Beach, Aug. 4-5. “As we go to press, all our Unlimited teams are in the Midwest preparing for the Gold Cup. Region 10’s own Dave Villwock and the Spirit of Qatar team looked very impressive in their win at Madison, Ind., about as far a cry as their difficult Madison run last year one could imagine. A number of our boats also ran strong, including J. Dub Myers’ U-11 Peters and May team, and the U-17 Our Gang Racing/Red Dot, piloted by Kip Brown. Here’s hoping for a safe and successful Gold Cup and trip back to Washington.Outboards will be running at Little American Lake, our first race there in many years, just before most of us head east for the PRO Nationals, followed by the Stock/J Nationals at Grass Lake, Mich. Kyle Bahl is organizing our Rubik’s Cube of a boat trailer, attempting six boats and motors all packed into our big box. Can’t wait to see what he comes up with.And of course, by the time you are reading this, we should be home with plenty more racing news and stories to tell. Here’s to fast racing and successful travels for all.
We mourn the loss of our Stevie West (OPC supporter) as she passed from our presence last week. I am informed that a specific tribute will be prepared for inclusion in this edition in the “Tributes” column. May she rest calmly near calm waters and light breezes.I regret that I have not yet received any specific updates to this year’s “Delta Thunder” SO/OPC race event in Isleton, California as of this writing, but am comforted knowing it will be timely to include it in the next edition. Please get the above race dates in your electronic personal organizer or on the old-fashioned wall calendar, and be ready to race your heart out with us, starting up, once again, in early July (Chowchilla, CA.)See you all at the races and drive safely.CONTRACT PATRICK GLEASON
REGION 11
East Bay Boat Club just hosted its season-opening Chowchilla Lions Club Annual Regatta at the Berrenda Reservoir on 7-8 July. The racing was directed and overseen by a truly professional crew of Steve Wilde, Frank Banducci, Gloria Crimm, Dan Wilde, Pam Wilde, Darrell Sorensen and Jean Schwartz, among several others. Boat count was a little light, but not through any neglect of the “Sport ‘C’ ” or ASH gangs! Those two classes turned out eight and nine boats, respectively! (We ran three flights of three or usually four classes, each.) Weather was quite hot but manageable mainly because of the nice grassy park setting with its several large (and very early on, popular) shade trees. Official results hadn’t gotten to me by publishing deadline 2-days after the race, but I can tell you that the ASH race was the race of the weekend ….. both days. The battle was on between R. J. West – driving Jean Schwartz’ boat – and Pam Wild running new Sidewinders with their throaty sound, ahead of the OMC pack. However, they were only a couple of boat lengths ahead of perennial top competitor Tony Lombardo in his OMC-powered boat. The field was densely crowded and keenly competitive ‘til the checkered flag
sorted it out for them. Marlee Hill came up for the race (with dad, Bunker, and Grandpa Russ) and influenced a couple of other R-12 drivers to bring “A” and “C” equipment, which made ASH all the more competitive. In the “Sport ‘C’ ” class, several returnees from short absences loaded up the field and made for a crowd-stopper. Ultimately, returnee Jolly Waite took first place both days, but all were in the chase during various laps. Poor Michael Biglow couldn’t get his new “Sport ‘C’ “ entry started, so Grandpa Mike Biglow had to run for the family’s pride with his own boat that did start and run well. Gremlins seemed to frequently be plaguing Frank Banducci’s motor, as well. APBA director Fred Hauenstein Jr. was on hand to help a lot with the NorCal-400 local class (training class) program. Quite a return to his roots in R-11, it seemed! Garland Powell, Dean Wilson and Mark Tingley all showed strength in the CModR (500ccModR) class during the two days – very competitive set-ups -- with Powell taking the gold against near-identical speeds from the other two and good driving from a CSR step-up. Powell is driving a new Z-Craft with improved deck dynamics, and it sure looks like part of the answer. Frank Zorkan was on hand from Arizona to check the performance. Northern California Outboard Association is rapidly approaching its “back to Sparks” Regatta on Aug. 18-19 following “Nationals” season. As I mentioned last month, Sparks was a really popular spot to race in the 60s-70s but evaporated as development took over the site. (Look for a feature article elsewhere in this edition on which I collaborated, for details.) Craig Williams has done a yeoman’s job up in that area for our touted return. Hold the dates and join us , SO/MOD/PRO/I (Crackerbox). Word is that Region 10 drivers will be down in decent numbers to celebrate the reopening of racing there. When we were ‘new in town’ around Sparks, we were still running Marchetti, Swift, Dubinski and, eventually, BellCraft hydros, and DeSilva’s hulls all
PROPELLER
but owned the runabout game. Some real classic motors were mounted on those boats in those days, as I mentioned in the larger article. I finally got a few details on a catastrophe involving one of our drivers, or should I say his equipment, as he was returning from an Oregon race last month. Bob Burrell and Brian Schmeltz were returning from the recent Newburg race and parked Bob’s vehicle and his new, enclosed trailer along an off-ramp for a break. That’s when an intoxicated driver plowed into the back of Bob’s trailer at guesses of 40 mph. This tended to destroy the trailer, trash the hulls inside, snap off the tow hitch and send the trailer into Bob’s pick-up tow vehicle. The good news is that they were out of the vehicle at the time and not injured whatsoever, but that sure didn’t help morale for the first few minutes! All are
now safely home and rebuilding inventory, according to sources. Our heartfelt sympathy for the property losses but cheers for the vehicles being unoccupied at the time! Region 11 lost another of its true pillars of support from many, many dedicated decades of hard work and personal and financial commitment when Frances C. Hauenstein passed away on June 13. I have written a Memorium with a few details, which may appear elsewhere in this edition. If you were racing with us (NCOA & APBA Region 11) in the late 40s, 50s, 60s and 70s, you would remember Frances’ broad and tireless support in so many ways to our sport. Her consensus-building and advocating for things that ensured our stability and strength and future during other rough periods. She continued her active inputs, consulting
and financing contributions well through the close of the past millennium, even attending and offering help at the 2010 combined SO/MOD/J “Nationals” hosted by NCOA and EBBC at Oroville in our Region. She was passionate about our future and successes until her last day. We will all miss her dearly. CONTACT KENN CHRISTI
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