MCi1t¥zlf'a GLOBAL BOAT TRANSPORT

JHEIR DREAMS

WARRIORS 0 . WOUNDED VEJERANS MAKE BO iii RACING

DEBUJ 0

~DEPARTMENTS

From The Editor

From The Top: Risk Management Challenge s

This Date in~History e Spotlight On: Trenton, Mich.

Race Calendar

Rooster-Tales: Inside the Thrills of Unlimited & Inboard Hydroplane Racing

Inside the Cockpit: Duke Johnson

You Make the Call

Suited for Safety

Behind the Barn Doors: The First Grand Prix Hydroplane

Category Corner Junior Classes Stock Outboard

Region p""LlnI;IUp

Region 5 Region 6 Region 10 Region 11

oNotice 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 ofleadership, 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: 02008 Penny Anderson Edmonds, WA 02009 Ernie Dawe Indio, CA 02010 George Thornhill Tacoma, WA 02011 Brian Small Dracut, MA 02012 Tracy Trolian Milan, MI 02013 Roger CarrSanJuan Capistrano, CA

The 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

oNotice of Honor Squadron Nominations The APBA Honor Squadron is the highest non-racing award that the APBA offers each year.

PROCEDURE: l.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 con idered. The description of each contribution, exceptional service, or accomplishment must be specific.

SPOTLIGHT ON:

TRENTON, MI[H. Since 1951 boats have been kicking up rooster-tails on the Detroit River.

Beginning as a Stock Outboard Marathon Race, the Trenton Roar on The River slowly morphed into one of the most exciting OPC races in the country.

"I had a Sport E boat and a couple of my friends did too, so we put that Sport E on the schedule for 1977 and that was the start ofOPC racing (in Trenton)," event coordinator Fred Miller said. "From there on we started inviting bigger classes as well."

Boats from all categories, including Stock Marathon, SLT,]unior Classes and OPC will take to the Detroit River in Trenton for the 64th straight year. For nearly 10 years The Trenton Roar on the River has been home to the DIM SST-45 World Championship and just a few short years after that, it became the home for the SST-200 DIM World Championship

Last year SST-45 driver Mark Schmerbauch and SST -200 driver Terry Rinker claimed the top spot in their

respective classes and became World Champions.

"The World Championship becomes a big deal with the Trenton Rotary Club," Miller said. "Drivers can also run their SST -120s with the SST-200s and compete for a world championship. As a matter of fact last year Terry Rinker brought his 120 and won. Obviously the good 120s are competitive with the good 200s."

With 10 to 12 SST-200 boat nationwide, Miller expects all of them to be in Trenton, mixed with a few 120s, there should be a full field and in the 45s, Miller expects the usual 19 to 20 boats.

Set in a 160 acre park in Wayne County, Elizabeth Park "serves as a perfect site for us," Miller said. Being able to launch up to eight boats at a time and having a separate area for the pits in the shade and the judges stand area while the spectator area is set on a hill so it acts as a natural amphitheater so fans get a full view of the race track. Having a long tradition as a river town, the residents of Trenton look forward to this

boat race every year, according to Miller.

"There are a lot of educated boat fans in the Trenton area. A lot of local people who live around Trenton will come in for the boat races as well," Miller said.

Treating the race as a fundraiser and community event, the Trenton Rotary Club has an action packed weekend planned and it all kicks off Friday night with the Taste of The Races. With 30 to 40 Trenton area restaurants showcasing their chefs and most popular menu items, located right in the park, the all-you-can-eat event starts at 6:30 p.m. and will run until 8 p.m. and tickets cost just $25.

On Friday and Saturday night a children's fair with vendors and pony rides will take place along with live music. "In 1964 we had the Marathon Nationals and from there the event just took off," Miller said. "The tradition of the boat race is very important to Trenton. It's a varied show and we think there is something there for anybody who races a boat."

2.5 Litre Stock racing saw a full field of boats with Tom Yeager in Twyster (S-128) taking the overall victory. Photo: Jim Vota

PROPELLER , .... -0-0

High Flying Action Names The GP Game by Jim Vota

Holy Toledo, it's spring! At least that was the slogan the city of Toledo used

to celebrate this past Memorial Day. The weather, however, was anything but spring-like with temperatures reaching no higher than the 60's and 50's. Because most of the racers came prepared for the 90 degree weather the Midwest had been ex­periencing for a few weeks prior to the event, a sweatshirt or jacket concessionaire in the pits probably would have made a killing.

The race course was located at the beautiful water front facility in downtown Toledo. The location provided for one of the best spectator areas in the country for boat racing; and while the spectators look-

ed on, the racers couldn't help but have their hands full with the choppy water and shifting, gusty winds. On Saturday, there was a prevailing wind out of the south which pointed directly up the backstretch. The wind shifted 180 degrees on Sunday and made things exciting on the front chute. High flying action was the name of the game for the weekend.

It was the first Grand Prix race of the season, and there were several brand new, untried GP's and 7litres in the fleet of 22. The new boats were cabovers apparently designed for calmer water than what was available for the weekend. But it wasn't only the new boats that had their hands full running on the river. Most of the

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blown monsters had so much power that they were having a hard time keeping off the breakwall in the narrow front straight­away.

Besides this being the first GP event of the year, it was also the second race of the OMC Cobra Series for 2.5 Litre Stock and Modified boats. Also on hand was a con­tingency of 5 and 6 Litre rigs.

Racing opened with the first heat of 2.5 Litre Stock. In this race, Bob "Top Gun" Newman, in Superhook, prov~d he was an ace when he took out the first turn buoy. He was out in front with nobody else anywhere near when he ran into some rough water which pitched him into the larger than life 10 foot marker.

The GP racing on Saturday proved to be a race of attrition with about half of the boats either not finishing or limping back to the pits. Mike Weiner put a supercharg­ed engine in his 7 litre II boat. The boat, which Glenn Koutny had trouble getting on plane in its first race in St. Pete, had no trouble doing it this time. Koutny's pro­blem in Toledo was how not to go into or­bit when he tried to jump over the bridge at the end of the front chute.

Eventual GP winner, Mike Endres, had his share. of troubles when the horizontal tail wing, on his Third Generation, broke at the finish line. This didn't seem to slow him down, however, as he ran without it for the remainder of the weekend, and took the season's first victory.

Sunday started out a lot like Saturday, weatherwise, except the wind had shifted 180 degrees. The course had also been shifted toward the downtown side of the river at the south end. This provided more room for the start line but cut down the room going into the second turn to maybe three tight lanes for the GP's.

For Race Director Tom Funka, Sunday morning could have started off a little bet­ter. He and GP owner Warren Wilhelm, with his new boat in tow, arrived at the course only to be denied entrance by the Toledo police. Funka had apparently forgotten his parking pass and the policemen thought Wilhelm was trying to crash the race by bringing a supercharged

boat with him. Warren's boat was a brand new untested Staudacher hull complete with reinforced cockpit, a first in the GP class.

On the race course, however, things ran much smoother. The Baker brothers started the racing with an exciting duel, a supercharged GP against a stock Ford­powered 7 Litre II all on a tight course. Wheeler won the duel by holding brother Tom to an extremely narrow path, forcing him to make a very sharp 90 degree pivot which slowed him up exiting the turn. Tom eventually yielded to engine trouble while trying to play catch up.

Splashing up his share of water, Marty Niles debuted Warren Wilhelm's new Staudacher complete with the first reinforced cockpit in GP racing. Photo: Jim Vota

Even with his share of mechanical troubles, Mike Endres and his Third Generation were still able to capture the season's first GP win. Photo: Jim Vota

In Formula MerCruiser 5L action, Alan Schide in Ron Brunner's Shop Smith took the overall win with a few consis­tent runs. Photo: Jim Vota

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Robert Theoret ran his usual spectacular race in the old GP Valleyfield while Harry Richardson in the new boat was having teething problems. Marty Niles in Warren Wilhelm's new boat made a splashing debut as he almost submarined the boat in its initial outing when exiting the pits.

Full fields for racing in the 2.5 Litre Stock, Modified, and 5 Litre classes pro­vided plenty of action on Sunday. Tom Yeager, in Twyster, ran consistently ahead of the field to take the overall 2.5 Litre Stock class, while Bill Morrison, in his Competition ran consistent and quick enough to win in 2.5 Litre Modified. The Formula MerCruiser 5 Liter class was taken by yet another consistent runner and win­ner, Alan Schide in Ron Brunner's Shop Smith.

Formula MerCruiser 6 Litre competition was a little scarce with only four boats on hand for the event . Einar Glasius and Wilder Viking wound up on top with very little trouble. An Obvservation as to the toughness of this class was noted at the awards presentation where all the drivers in the 6 Litre class seemingly limped up to get their awards.

The most exciting race of the weekend was probably the GP final. Four of the finalists approached the line so early they were practically off plane when the gun sounded. While all this was happening, Wheeler Baker, in the Prime Mover, was lining up to make a flying start, only to find that when he arrived at the line, the door was closed. The gun sounded and the four supercharged GP's put up a wall of water which doused Wheeler. He was even further wet down going into the first turn, puting him practically a full straight away

behind coming out of the first turn. Up front Bob Theoret held a narrow

land over Mike Endres, but he couldn't hold it. He was forced to relinquish the

; lead in the first turn of the second lap when he punched a hole in his boat due to the rough water. This left Endres out front to stay, with the exception of Wheeler who almost came out from under his setback at the start. He charged hard with his stock 7 Litre motor, and if the event had gone one more lap, he just might have caught up to Endres and taken the GP crown with his 7 Litre .

A friendly sibling rivalry between Wheeler and Tom Baker turned into an exciting GP duel, with Tom eventually losing the battle to brother Wheeler (J-9). Photo: Cari Vota

With the only Ford engine in 2.5L Modified, Bill Morrison (right) won the first place honors, while his son and father shared in the victory. Photo: Jim Vota

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REGION 1:

7112-7113 Thompson. CT PRO, Modified, Stock, Junior 7/4-7/6 Madison. IN Unlimited

9/20-9/21 Kingston. NH PRO, Stock, Junior 7/19-7/20 Neosho. WI Modified, Stock, Junior

REGION 2: 8116-8/17 Rising Sun. IN Vintage, Inboard, OPC

8/9-8/10 Clayton. NY Vintage, Junior REGION 8:

8116-8/17 Towanda. NY Speda l Event Inboard 7/26-7/27 Crosby. MN OPC

9/6 Grand Island. NY Vintage 8/9-8/10 Crane Lake. MN OPC

9/12-9/14 Redwood. NY Modifi ed, Stock, Junior 9/13-9/14 Forrest Lake. MN OPC

REGION 3: REGION 10:

8/30-9/1 Lock Haven. PA Modifi ed, Stock, Junior 7/4-7/5 Gold Beach. OR Outboard Ri ve r Racer

9/6-9/7 Mays Landing. NJ Inboard 7112-7113 Olympia.WA Vintage, Inboa rd, Inboard

9/13-9/14 Wildwood Crest. NJ Speda l Event Inboard Endura nce, Junior

Millville. NJ Modifi ed, Stock, Junior 7/19-7/20 Seatac. WA PRO, Modified, Stock, Junior

1 0/ 11 -1 0/1 2 8/4-8/9 Moses Lake. WA Modified, Stock, Junior

REGION 4:

Cambridge. MD Inboard 8116-8/17 Oak Harbor. WA Vintage, Inboa rd, Inboard

7/26-7/27 Endurance, OPC, Junior 7/26-7/27 Huntington. WV OPC 8123 -8/24 Eatonville. WA PRO, Modified, Stock, Junior 8/2-8/3 Hampton. VA Inboard

8123 -8/24 Lewiston. ID Special Eve nt, Jet Ri ve r Racer 8/29-8/31 Wheeling. WV Vintage

8/29-8/31 Cocur d' Alene. ID Vintage, Inboa rd, Unlimited 9/27-9/28 New Martinsville. WV I nboard, Offshore, PRO,

Modifi ed, Stock, OPC, Drag, 8/31-9/1 Grants Pass. OR Outboa rd Ri ve r Racer

REGION 5: 9/6-9/7 Spanaway. WA Vintage, Inboard, Inboard

7112-7113 Tampa. FL Offshore Endurance, PRO, Modifed, Stock

9/27-9/28 Hernando. FL OPC 10/4-1 0/5 Lincoln City. OR Special Eve nt, Inboard, Inboa rd

Endurance, PRO, Stock, OPC, 1 0/1 7 -1 0/19 Lake Alred. FL PRO Junior

11 / 1-11 /2 Tavares.FL Vintage REGION 11:

REGION 6: 7112-7113 Copperopolis. CA COR, Inboard, Modified, Stock,

7/3-7/4 Pittsburgh. PA OPC OPC, Junior

7/11-7113 Detroit. MI Vintage, Inboard, Unlimited, 10/3-1 0/5 Antioch. CA Vintage, Inboa rd, Stock, OPC SLT

1 0/18-1 0/19 Nicolaus. CA Special Eve nt, Vintage, Inboard, 7112-7113 Marietta. OH OPC PRO, Modified, Stock, OPC, Junior

7112-7113 Grass Lake. MI Stock, Junior

7118-7/20 Waterford. MI Vintage, Inboa rd, Stock, REGION 12: Junior 8/ 1-8/3 Long Beach. CA Inboard, Inboa rd En durance, OPC

7/19-7/20 Trenton. MI Stock,OPC 9/12-9/14 San Diego. CA Inboard, Stock, OPC, Unlimited, 8/2-8/3 Portsmouth.OH OPC Junior

8116-8/17 Rabbit Hash. KY Vintage OPC REGION 14:

8116-8/17 Indian River. MI Stock, SLT, Junior 7/ 1-7/4 Kingston. TN PRO, Junior

8123 -8/24 Celina.OH Vintage, Inboard, Junior

8123 -8/24 Dayton.OH Modifi ed, Stock, Junior

9/6-9/7 Grass Lake. MI Stock

9/13-9/14 Big Rapids. MI Stock

As a third generation racer in a fourth generation family, PRO driver Duke Johnson was introduced to boat racing as an infant by his grandfather Guy Johnson and his father Jim. As Duke carries the Johnson family torch, along with his brother Walter, he is also in the process of passing it to nephews Walter and Kyle Deptula. And with the help of his wife Becky, Duke is having more fun boat racing than he ever has before.

Question: How did you get into boat racing?

DukeJohnson: My grandfather started it all. I'm third generation and I have been around boats since I was an infant in Omaha around the Missouri River. The last time my grandfather was in a boat I was probably about six or seven at Carter Lake. Then my dad started running probably around 1949 or '50. He was running little Mercurys at first then got into C-Service and he drove that until about 1968 and then I started running that year and I ran some C-Stock and then got into the C-Service Runabout. We moved from Omaha to

Toronto so we ran with Carl Lewis and the Canadians for about five years along the St. Lawrence and Black Lake. Then we moved back to Dayton and we started going to DePue and in '72 I was second in the country in C-Service Runabout and in '83 I won the Canadian Nationals in C-Service Runabout. Then I took a 20 year hiatus but I still watched the boats and I got back into it in 2003.

Q: What was it that made you want to come back to boat racing?

DJ: I was at DePue with my dad and I ended up helping Bernie Van Osdale. It was a hot week and he was having trouble getting started so I got in the water and I started cranking his motor and I got him started and it was like 'doggone. If I can help Bernie then maybe I can get back in.' Dad still had all of the equipment so in '03 we got back into it. I haven't stopped since. I ended up getting a new runabout and a new hydro and we started having fun again. I'm an old man now but I'm having the most fun I've ever had.

Q: How did you make the jump from C-Stock to PRO?

DJ: We got to be friends with Ted Abel in Canada. He ran C and D-Stock and he had an extra C-Stock and we bought a boat from him and dad was running C-Service and I was running C-Stock just to get some seat time. We went to the Nationals in Lake Placid and that was the only Stock National I ran in and I never ran PR until I was 53 years-old. Here I'm running PR and I'm running the same engine my grandfather ran and I think that's kind of special.

Q: What does it mean for you to be a part of that Johnson family tree and be a part of a four generation long racing tradition?

DJ: It really means that my grandfather started something really good. My dad followed in his dad's footsteps and his kids followed. I have nephews that race as well so we have four generations of family run the boats. You hear about it every once in a while, there are several of us but not many of us that can take it that far with family. I am proud that, number one, we like doing it and we try to be safe and have fun. In racing good things happen and bad things happen but as long as you can go on and you haven't gotten hurt then I'd say it's a pretty good day.

Q: What is it that you enjoy so much about boat racing?

DJ: I think it's the camaraderie. I just had my 60th birthday Sunday (June 8th) and

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we were in Huntington. The Gibson team called my wife and they said they wanted to have a surprise birthday party and there were about 30 folks at the cookout Saturday after racing. We did it last year too. We went to Applebee's in Huntington, we had about 30 people. You talk and the stories and you get close with the people you don't really know that well and it is pretty special.

Q: What would you say is your proudest moment?

DJ' I lived in Louisville at the time. I picked up my Dad in Dayton and we drove 13 hours from there to Tracy, Qtebec. We ended up putting the boat on top of a Ford Maverick. We put the tools, motor and

fuel in the backseat with one goal to win a DJ: It will be really tough right now National Championship. I got a second in because I missed one race already and you the first heat and first in the second heat have to go to even compete. I want to stay and I won the '82 Canadian Nationals. The humble about it and hopefully others can kid that thought won had already left and understand that you don't always win at they didn't have computers or anything so what you do. I really do believe that if you they are adding it up and everybody was do the best you can and most importantly kind of shocked that I had won on time. are having fun and it ends up being more of That's a memory that I will never forget a family situation then it's all worth doing. no matter what. Even last year I got three If you deter from that situation then you thirds and that was a highlight. I dumped probably shouldn't be doing it. You have to in the first heat of C-Race Hydro. My have fun with the things you do in life and I nephew helped me get the boat out of the have made up my mind to try and do that. water and get the water out of the motor. We had to take the motor off because we couldn't get the motor turned over so we took it off, got the boat turned over, got the water out, got the motor started and I got second in the third heat and got a third in the country. People asked me 'I thought you dumped in the first heat?' 'Well I did.' 'Then how did you get a trophy out of this?' We really worked hard and you know that, that is a proud moment to be able to do that.

Q: What would it mean to you this year to win a National Championship?

AUGUST4-9 CASCADE PARK AT MOSES LAKE

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REGION 5 It is late Mayas I write this and the Stuart Sailfish Regatta was two weeks ago and I am still grinning from ear to ear. I must say, though, it didn't start out that way. When Jeff and I pulled into the pits on Friday morning we saw a lot of boats and a lot of motor homes, plus at least 15 to 25 mph winds that were threatening to get worse. Not a great way to start the weekend. How many of you have tried to hold down registration forms and use an imprinter and smile with 20+ mph wind threatening to blow it all away. Not my idea of fun. But in the hope it would all settle down Ann Shaw, Suzette Eckman, Linda Eldredge and I kept going with the help of a few large rocks. Then Saturday came and nothing had changed. The Stuart Sailfish Regatta members had worked for months and drivers and crew had come a long way, many from Canada, but the wind won the day for the Inboard and OPC Categories on Saturday. But the PI Superstocks came to the rescue. These boats are 28 feet long and they love the rough water and didn't

REGION 6 June has happened. Just as expected, spring sprung, leaves are on trees, birds are feeding young'uns, just like every year. Not quite, it's all a little behind schedule here in Region

mind the wind. So they ran several heats on Saturday afternoon. The crowd was treated to great racing, the sponsors were happy and we were hoping Sunday would be calm, and it was. There were over 50 Inboard entries in six classes including several members in H350 and GP from the American Canadian Hydroplane Association (ACHA). Please go to the APBA website (listed under race results) to see the results of each event.

Jeff and I drove to the Valleyfield, ~ebec, Canada event last July. We have heard stories about that event for years but always had a conflict and couldn't make the trip. We made it for the July 2013 event. Now I believe each and every story ever told about the many APBA, CBF and ACHA events held there over the years. I have not seen too many G P races, especially when I was working on the Judges Stand, but that is where I was in Stuart. Now that is the definition of up close and personal. I started watching the qualif)ring heats standing on the ground but by the time the final was run I had climbed on top of the highest picnic table so I wouldn't miss anything. I am used to scoring in the OPC category and

6.What is on schedule, though, is the racing.

By the time you read this, you should have results from some June Michigan racing in Walled Lake (Inboard, Vintage, SLT), Constantine (SO, MOD, J), Hillsdale (IOC Mod and SO) and Bay City (Formula 1

the speed and close completion is always very exciting, but the speed, noise and spray of a G P Inboard Hydroplane is something else. What a treat.

My thanks to Ann, Dave and John Shaw for taking the time to come south for the second time this spring to lend their expertise to our events, I wouldn't try to do it without them. Bob Pontek was the Race Director, and his son, Blair, spent the entire weekend keeping the race course and buoys in racing condition and thank you isn't enough for the hours and hours it takes to make an event like this a success. Jeff Titus was the Pit Manager and our son, Mark, and other volunteers drove the forklifts and moved boats around all weekend keeping the time between heats at a minimum. The quote "it takes a village" is very true. I am sure Stuart Sailfish Regatta is already making plans for 2015 and I know I plan to be there.

/ /Sally Titus

Prop Tour SST 45,120,200).

Now, what happened in May? The real lid lifter for racing would have been on May 3 and 4, but the Three Rivers Club event in Delaware, Ohio got high watered out. Mter the near perfect previous weekend of testing

........ i~ i)'~~~~;' M~' N~~~~' ~~'~~~d .~.~. h~~' ~;i~~~"" .~~~~~~: i~' ~cl; 'f~~~'~~~k~~d~: T~~'~ 'i~~~""'" R~~i~~ A~~~~i~~i~:~n~Pt1~Lt~asiMe· and watered Region 6. Something about choose your poison, go for it. community. Driving School is being held on drought avoidance. So, instead, Three Rivers Friday,July 11. threw out the first boat Memorial Day July 4 (Friday only) - Pittsburg, Penn.-weekend, in Franklin, Penn. A beautiful APR Superleague Three River Regatta weekend saw 15 different winners in the - SST -120,200, a high profile event in two day event, congrats to all. a major city, an annual happening on the

Out of region, but Region 6 racers anyway, saw LaGrange, Ga., hold an APR Superleague event on wonderful West Point Lake, great site, great viewing, great reception (thank you to Sherron and Sam Winer and Dave Archiable).John Ludwig got a 3rd and 5th out of his SST -120, in the stiff competition put on by these tunnel boat touring pros. Some intrepid Inboarders from the GNH class made the trek also, with Dan Walls coming out on top over the Irishman, Steve Kuhr, but only barely (by roughly one sponson). Great times for all in LaGrange, hope to go back next year.

On the OPC front, Region 6'rs Jim Robb, Jeff Zeller, Chris Carrigan and Steve Merleau exercised their SST-45's in Port Neches, Texas, while Jimmie Merleau earned a fine 2nd place in SST -200, also in Port Neches.

July stacks up with seven separate Region 6

REGION 10 Outboard racers in Region 10 experienced the frustration of a season opening blow-off at Castle Rock when bad weather put the lid on the Mt. St. Helens Regatta at Silver Lake. Weather was marginal at best for testing on Friday, then totally took a dump on us with big time winds on Saturday and Sunday, forcing us to keep all equipment on the beach. Still, plenty of time to drink beverages, tell lies and see all the new racing equipment coming out for the 2014 season.

Things were much better for the 66th Annual Newberg Ore., Memorial Day Boat races a few weeks later. Racers came out of the woodwork, and we saw over 100 entries each day of racing, plus the usual support of the townspeople of Newberg who love and support this event. First wins over the weekend went to rookie Jayson Shrock in 750cc Mod Hydro, and Kierra Marquard, who edged out little brother Trey on time

Fourth of July. Contact Sam and Sherron Winer.

July 5-6 - Lakemore, Ohio (a little southeast of Akron, Ohio) on Springfield Lake - Three Rivers Club is Rocking the Docks with SO, MOD, and Junior Classes. Friday, July 4 will feature Driver School.

July 11-12-13 - APBA Gold Cup in Detroit, Michigan - 105th running of the APBA Gold Cup for Unlimited Hydroplanes. This is the oldest contested prize in the motors ports world (the Indy 500 is just a kid in comparison). Additional classes are Vintage, SLT, and added this year are MACH Series 5-Litre Stock Inboard Hydros. The excitement starts on Friday on the famed Detroit River Belle Isle Course.

July 12-13 - Grass Lake, Michigan - Wet and Wild SO, MOD,J, and Marathon Divisional Championships are on tap, served up by the Michigan Hydroplane

for the win. Trey did, however, pick up the Sunday version of the Helldiver Award for having a close encounter with the dock after coming in following his first heat win. Nicole Dunlap was Saturday's Helldiver, with Sherri Hathaway coming in a close second. And it wouldn't be Newberg without Strawberry Shortcake and a boat burning bonfire on Saturday night.

Up next is Silver Lake Everett for the annual one day extravaganza; then our J's will be running with the Inboards at the Soap Lake race; and the Western Divisionals for Stock and J at Cullaby Lake. Mod Divisionals, originally scheduled for Castle Rock, are now added to the ambitious racing program for Eatonville in late August.

While Newberg was going on, our Idaho folks were "Racing The Joe!" Kyla Sawyer recaps the action there:

''An estimated 7,000 to 10,000 fans watched

July 12-13 - Marietta, Ohio - the Buckeye Outboards are presenting the Riverfront Roar on the Ohio River, featuring SST 60, 120's, and Super Sport classes.

July 18-19-20 - Waterford, Michigan - ~ake on the Lake's annual event on Pontiac Lake (west of Pontiac offM-59) features the Inboard Nationals. It is also a MACH Series event. Roostertails and entertainment galore. Want to know more? Find out on Facebook, ~ake webpage, Marine Prop Riders.

July 19-20 - Trenton, Michigan - 64th annual PNC Trenton Rotary Roar on the River! World Championships for SST-45 and SST-200 tunnel boats. SO, AXR Marathon, Junior Classes and SLTs promise entertainment and fun for all.

Let's go Racing!

/ /Don llEIi" Whitney

26 teams from three countries compete at the 2nd Annual Race the Joe! 2014 Jet Boat Race at St. Maries, Idaho, Memorial Day Weekend.

Jet boat teams from Canada, New Zealand and the United States raced a total of 200 river miles in two days on the scenic St. Joe River.

Current Canadian series champion and driver Chad Burns and his father!navigator Willie Burns of Peace River, Alberta won the Dave Smith Motors Overall and Burly Racing Unlimited Class trophies with a total time of 1:59:12 piloting theirT-58 General Electric Turbine powered, 21 ft. Eagle jet boat, 'Bad Habit' CDN-1.

USA driver Jeff Edwardsen and brother! navigator Jim Edwardsen of Lewiston, Idaho, piloting #313 Fast Time Maniac, had a nearly 40-minute lead on the competition to win the Coors Light Unlimited Piston Class trophy.

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Former 2012 USA World Jet Boat Marathon Champion driver Ryan Rogers of Clarkston, Wash., and navigator Larry Keatts of Lewiston, Idaho, piloting #285 'Pure Insanity' sped to a first place trophy in the Truline RV - A Class.

Canadian driver and 2013 USA1 champion Ivan Buchholtz and brother!navigator Eric Buchholt of Peace River, Alberta piloted #221 'Fasten Your Bucklez' to a first place win in the St. Maries Auto Parts/NAPA -CXClass.

First time racers USA driver Adam Steffes and navigator Shaun Fiamengo of Lewiston, Idaho edged out the competition piloting #19 'Know Idea' for first place in the Riddle Marine FXlFXV Class. The third and final race of the 2014 USA Jet River Series is scheduled for Aug. 22 through 24 during Thunder on the Snake at Lewiston, Idaho."

Over with the vintage racers in our region, they have revamped their trophy presentation for the season. Ron Morrison gives us the details:

"In this racing endeavor trophies can be a mixed blessing. The positive, we love to get them; as reminders, they recognize accomplishment and recall people and events. The negative, they take up space, collect dust and become part of the accumulated stuff our lives carry forward.

For the Vintage Division a participant award trophy comes with each event; while appreciated, each new one soon can raise a question of what do I do with/where do I put it? Hence, a new approach. Over the winter, display plaques were developed and constructed by a team from the Northwest Vintage Hydroplane Club. These are available to each of the Region's Vintage teams. At each 2014 regatta a unique event medallion will now be presented as the Vintage participant award. A Vintage team's plaque can accommodate a number of the medallions. This is seen as a fix for both race committees and Vintage participants.

Now, hear the tale of my favorite trophy. In 1964,50 years ago, I received a third place 150 hydro class trophy at the Liberty Lake

Regatta in Spokane Washington. I know In July we have the 32nd annual Black this because it is engraved on the trophy Lake Regatta, this year sponsored by the as I have no recollection of the event. The Lucky Eagle Casino/Hotel We are looking trophy is a traditional English pewter mug, forward to this new host of the event. The shape tapered to a wide bottom, with a J Hydro's are joining us at several of the broad handle. Through the years, indeed races this season, as we have four families decades, this boat race trophy mug has that now have the kids in racing. Looking always been in the front of my home's glass forward to Sandstrom beating me again, I and cup cupboard, available as first choice usually deserve it. to hold my favorite libation. This trophy has some bumps and scratches now but its special place for me is in (1), the symbolic tie to boat racing and (2), its perfect utility, both of which have passed the test of time. Drink Up."

Jim Codling gives us a brief update on the Seattle Inboard/Seattle Drag and Ski scene:

''A fun weekend just behind as we race towards Soap Lake and the Del Red regatta. I had a chance to visit with Ed Nelson, long time Unlimited inspector and Inboard owner! crew chief. Ed was Commodore of Seattle Inboard for several years, and on the U .L. circuit with the Budweiser gang and several others. Our key word then was 'Tourista, Tourista' and we roared to the race sites each morning. (Noonan was squealing) in the back seat. Ed has not changed very much and says hi to all.

Then I got with Rob Hall over in Idaho where he still lives, and asked him to come to our events in eastern Washington, Rob also says hi to all and is looking forward to seeing all the pirates at the Del Red event at Soap Lake. His new GP boat is painted now and waiting for some motor funds.

With my phone bill soaring I thought I would top it off with a call to our race chairman in Chelan, John Walcher. John tells me about all the changes at the event with Campbell's resort. The ownership there has changed the lower lot which we use a lot for parking the boats, and have cut the size a lot, so things to think about include 1 liter's and 2.5's will be beach launching this year, so plan ahead. Both John Culver and Cole have viewed this change as very doable.

Two weeks to Soap Lake as I write this and we have 48 entries already for the Russ Dodge 1 2/3 mile course.

Think of our sponsors as you go out and buy things, they make your racing possible."

Tacoma Inboard Racing Association Commodore Ana Cappelletti finishes up this month's wrap-up with a brief update on all things TIRA:

"TIRA is getting for our races in late August and early September. Tim Hamilton and Julie Porter are working on the race by getting local sponsorship and looking to make the race another success for the 2014Terry Troxell Memorial Regatta. We also are working diligently on sponsorship and getting permits in place for the 2014 Scott and Linda Carson Western DivisionalslYapachino Memorial Regatta. We are also happy to have select Outboard classes attending the event this year, and hopefully for many years to come. Since the race season has already started we would like to congratulate our fellow club members ... Brent and Josh Harnack and the entire Mr. Jiggs race team on the new world record set at Lake Lawrence at 117.042, J Michael Kelly in C Stock Hydro who upped the 1-2/3 mile competition record to 63.838 mph and Tyler Roth, who pushed Sid Rennels' Super Stock to a new record of 103.264 mph. TIRA hopes for a continued safe and great racing season."

N ext month, we hope to have all the details from the Silver Lake Everett Regatta, Soap Lake, Burley and Cullaby Lake. Until then, race safe.

/ /Patrick Gleason / /Kyla Sawyer / /Ron Morrison / /Jim Codling / / Ana Cappelletti

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R E G I 0 N 11 showed a lot of speed on Sunday by winning line you jump in a kicker boat and get a ride in A-Stock Runabout and earned a solid across the lake so you can jump into John finish in A-Stock Hydro in some very Canfield and Courtney Cox's P-S Cracker

The new boat racing season in Region 11 was opened by the Northern California Outboard Association at Lake Minden on the weekend of May 31st.

Entries from Northern California, Arizona, Nevada and Southern California were blessed with traditional California sunshine and a gentle, cooling breeze that created ideal race conditions throughout the weekend. Saturday night was a very festive occasion starting with a sumptuous pot luck dinner coordinated by The Schmeltz family: Brian, O'Hara and Timothy. The evening was topped off by the traditional barn dance which was offered by Don Haymore, manager of the Thousand Trails/ NACO Leisure Time Campground. Suffice to say, a good time was had by all. Racing was enjoyed by drivers and campground spectators alike throughout the event.

Elimination heats were required for A-Stock Hydro, C-Stock Hydro and 20SS Hydro thanks to the large number of entries. An interesting note here is the introduction of GT Hydro as a Local Class. Mike Breslin and Ricky Ciandro hauled four boats to the race site to be raced for the first. Albeit only two of the four boats ran for the whole weekend, they seemed to have produced enough interest to warrant another invitation to future races.

Another point of interest is the number of podium finishes garnered by the ladies in race boats. For example, a first place finish in AXH went to Brittney Schwartzenbach of Apple Valley, CA. Incidentally; Brittney graduated from high school on Friday night and showed up on Saturday to go racing.

Accompanying the Schwartzenbach Team was a member of her crew, Brandon Wyatt who also graduated from the same high school on Friday night. Imagine driving all night in order to race the next day. Boat racers don't change, only the faces. Brittney drove her brand new AXR to a second place finish behind Karl Bishop. Also finishing well up in that class was Nicole Knudson from southern California.

Region l1's "Fast Lady", Pam Wilde

healthy competition headed by The Box. And, what do you do? You put Mike Concord Flash, Tony Lombardo, and the Wright in the rider's seat and go out and southern California guns, David Hale and win the Cracker Box competition on both Kevin Curtis, not to mention our own Brian days, beating the P-28,44-P and the P-13 Schmeltz. Pam used to take lessons from who had to go home early. Those guys really her father Steve and brother Daniel. Could do put on a show for the crowd, both days the tables be turning as she continues to If you've never seen a 4S-SST boat do garner podium finish after podium finish? a "wheelie" you haven't seen RJ West Speaking of David Hale, when he wasn't race. West led his brother Warren,Jolley

getting a podium finish in A-Stock Hydro Waite and Gilbert Solis across the line on or winning the 20SSH Final, he was nice Saturday. On Sunday he again led Warren enough to volunteer his time on the judge's West, Jolley Waite and Gilbert Solis in that stand doing the flags. What a guy. day's race as well.

The last time out here at Minden the "race of the day" featured The Williams Family: Dad, Craig and son, Brett, in a tightly contested CSR race to a photo finish with the Dad winning. This time things were a little (a lot) different with the son showing the boys the way home. This is especially nice for Brett since he was dicing it out with such guns as Drew Jeppeson and Karl Bishop, both of whom are seasoned veterans in the class. The Dad, Craig Williams, managed a fourth place finish. Brett showed him no mercy while taking home the victory.

On Sunday the C-Stock Hydro competition was hot and heavy with six boats. It was the Concord Flash, Tony Lombardo emerging the winner over a tough bunch of drivers including Bob Burrell cruising to a second place finish followed by David Biagi. Brett Williams, Kent Gabrielson and Casey Wright in that order.

A new guy, Chris Madewell, drove David Biagi's 81 C boat to a respectable finish in 20SS Hydro. Is it possible that we might see more of this young man in the not too distant future? Rachel Biagi might have something to say about this.

When it comes to the slogan, "the family that races together stays together," you have to think about the father and son duo Brian and Timothy Schmeltz. They raced several of the Yamato classes on both days and piled up a lot of points.

Tony Lombardo got a first in the C-Stock Hydro completion as a back up to a first in A-Stock Hydro and somewhere along the

The Sport C guys put on a show which was led by Steve Walde of Discovery Bay. Lance DeStefans of Tower Park chased Walde all the way around the course on both days and he was followed by Bobby Joe Finkbohnner of Sacramento and Jolley Waite of Chino, CA.

The Nor Cal 400 competition on Saturday saw three brand new drivers do their thing. Coming home the winner was DC Davis student Leo Qyi. On Sunday the husband and wife duo, Robert Solis and Mindy raced against each other. Robert edged Mindy at the last moment of the last lap to get the win. I haven't learned whether or not Mindy allowed Robert in the house when they got home.

For those of you who want to take a ride in a real race boat, all you have to do is sign up at a race site, pay your fee, go through an orientation and then go out and compete with the other Nor Cal 400 drivers. You will be coached by veteran drivers, provided the use of a helmet and a cut suit and sent out for some practice laps before you can race in competition with the other newbies. I do know that Leo is hooked on the sport and plans to come back for more racing in the class. He will be trying to accumulate the most points in the class over the course of the season; it wouldn't surprise me to learn that the others feel the same way. They all will be welcomed.

SPORT C CHRONICLES

Region 11, via it's Sport C drivers and Jean MacKay Schwartz, was admirably represented at the long standing Memorial

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Two of the "top guns" from Region 11 made the trip to Newberg to do battle with the "top guns" from the great northwest. Representing Region 11 were Lance DeSteffans and Steve Walde.

On Saturday it was Lance DeStefans bringing home the bacon in a very competitive heat that saw Walde finishing with an overall third place following that wily Region 10 Sport C veteran, Wes Fridell, who gave the troops notice that he was back and raring to run.

Sunday saw a slight adjustment in the first three places order of finish with Walde turning in an overall first by a rather large margin in one heat and a third in the other heat for an overall first that matched Lance Desteffans' first and third place that produced an overall number one position finish so close that it was difficult to say which driver got the overall first place. The results turned in by DeSteffans and Walde were such that in order to calculate the overall placement, the officials had to go to the tapes to determine which driver had the least elapsed time.

And the winner was Steve Walde.

EAST BAY BOAT CLUB PARTICIPATES IN SOLAR REGATTA.

Under the leadership and organizational talents of Jean MacKay Schwartz, members of the East Bay Boat Club took part in

17th. The Regatta is the offspring of the a "Dash for Cash" for C-Stock Hydro as Sacramento Municipal Utility District and well as a marathon for Sport C. Salt Springs is put together and supervised by Suzette is the historical home of the Sport C Bienvenue who is the education specialist Marathon here in Region 11 and should be for the Energy and Technology Center at a welcome surprise for the guys who like to SMUD. Bienvenue welcomed members go out and run, run, run! of EBBC to the event and gave them the opportunity to serve as judges and resource persons for the student-made solar energy powered boats.

Students from grades 7-12 inclusive participated in one division and collegiate class, community college and university students participated in the other division.

This event gives students an opportunity to learn about the mechanics and principals for the exclusive uses of photovoltaic cells in the production of energy to power their individually designed and home built boats. Complimenting this event with a display of power boats were Jean MacKay Schwartz, Bobby Joe Finkbonner, Steve, Vicky and Pamela Wilde and Brian Schmeltz were on hand to answer questions and judge the student entries. Pamela Wilde ran a parade lap displaying the American Flag during the opening ceremonies. Parents and students took part in the event that drew hundreds of participants.

A Notice:

This is an advance notice so you can plan accordingly. Since the Sparks race previously scheduled for July 12 -13 was cancelled, the East Bay Boat Club swung into action and secured that date for a race at the Salt

Steve and Vicky Wilde did some reconnoitering at the lake this past weekend and got some good news from the resort manager, Rod Carr who assured Steve Wilde that there would be ample water to conduct a race and that, if necessary, he would crank up his trusty bulldozer and modi£}r the launch tamp to accommodate the launching and recovering of all of our race boats. The guys from Region 10 know and like this venue and are already getting the word out there.

I personally plan to recycle my aluminum cans and make a contribution to this phase of the event.

Things are picking up here in Region II. Race dates are being filled and new drivers are coming on board. Stay tuned. Official results of this race will soon be posted on APBA Website.

/ /Frank Banducci

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