Photos from Hinton, WV 2012

[Mark 72@E]

Austin and I came to Hinton, WV this year as spectators, not racers. My last racing trip to Hinton was in 1974. If what we witnessed and experienced this weekend is the level of support the town will provide boat racing in the future then the Stock Outboard Commission should APPROVE WITHOUT HESITATION any bid for a Nationals to be held here.

Here are six random shots from Saturday.

1S - Eric VanOver, multiple trophy winner Saturday.
17F - Bill Walker, a winner in my book.
24A - Fast Jack better be fast. He has to make the 16 hour trip back to Maine after racing is finished Sunday and report to school by 10:00 AM.
53E - A first place trophy now belongs to Sam.
10S - Frank Novotny tries out a new ride.
62E - The boat number keeps changing but Jerry Davids never stops winning.

[fhafer]

Hinton Nationals

I agree with Mark...the West Virginia Water Festival Race Committee pulled out all the stops in supporting this race. We need a National Event in Hinton as soon as we can get it scheduled!! Summers County/Hinton West Virginia is fully behind boat racing...we need to reciprocate!

Fred

[Mark 72@E]

Hinton, WV 2012 Saturday

TOP PHOTO - The view from turn 2 looking west towards the pits and judges stand. The main road, Route 20, is the ridge line you see above the pits and it was lined with spectators. YES, SPECTATORS!
1F - Becky Nichols charges to a first place in AXSR
46E - Austin Price in close AXSR action
F45 - Abby Pond running in 125CCH - (thanks to all who helped identify)
8E - John Mauck on his way to a first place win in 250CCMH
BOTTOM PHOTO - Peace Out, until we post pics from Sunday's racing, but it won't be Sunday night.

[D_Allen_III]

Just taking a guess based on helmet and hair, but the 125 looks like Abby Pond.

Sign me up for a Nationals return to Hinton. I miss that view from the turn boats.

[racnbns]

125 Hydro

Just taking a guess based on helmet and hair, but the 125 looks like Abby Pond.

Sign me up for a Nationals return to Hinton. I miss that view from the turn boats.

I think your right. Abby got a taste of the speed at Winter Haven and I think she's hooked! Good job Abby.

Bruce

[Dave_E71]

Yep, it's Abby, one of the three women running in 125 hydro this weekend. Abby, Kristi Ellison and Kate Augustine was running her first race in 125. A side note, I'm almost as happy as she was! She went out and came back both heats and her first question to Ian was "Dad, how much are these..."

Dave

[Bill Huson]

hahahahaha ...

Yep, it's Abby, one of the three women running in 125 hydro this weekend. Abby, Kristi Ellison and Kate Augustine was running her first race in 125. A side note, I'm almost as happy as she was! She went out and came back both heats and her first question to Ian was "Dad, how much are these..."

Dave

Ian, you better sign up for OT.

[Matt Dagostino]

The Things We Remember............

Sign me up for a Nationals return to Hinton. I miss that view from the turn boats.

The view from the patrol boat in turn 2 is unreal.............the upper road (cliff) was lined with hundreds of people!!

When Luce and the field of open stack D Mods took the water the mountain echoed for 30 seconds after the heat was over!

We laid out a little over a mile course with a true 500 foot buoy and NO committment buoy. "Tight" 5 pin turns were the set up and turn one was close to shore right in front of the bleachers the town set up!!

I was taken back by the 'agencies' that came out in force both local and state!! They had a workforce similar to 1997 when we hosted the last 600 plus boat Nationals. DNR had a small army of ARMED patrols looking to sink any pleasure boats that dared enter the area......

Good stuff.

[DiGia54D]

Anyone know any results? Good turnout? Matt, How did you and Mighty Mel do?

[Matt Dagostino]

Turnout

Anyone know any results? Good turnout? Matt, How did you and Mighty Mel do?

110 enteries Saturday............

Mighty Mel won the first heat of CSH and went on the wrong side of the 500 foot buoy coming to the start for heat 2!!

Jesse Rueling wound up winning and Chris Johnson second and i believe Mel wound up third. 10 CSH's. Largest class.

Jesse won the Travis Pond Award at the banquet for winning the class with the most enteries. Gary, Marsha, Aimie and Abby were all in attendence. The awards were great. Trophies and a feast catered by Pizza Hut. The Water Festival hosted the banquet and all the food and drinks were great!

Many APBA National Commissioners were there from the PRO, Stock and MOD Division. Also J Class Chair Buddy Tennell was here. The Hinton race committee will evaluate the event but it looks like they may be in Fort Worth for the 2013 National Meeting to lobby for a major National event.

Nothing has changed in Hinton since 1997 when we were there last time............the Bluestone Cabins and town are all the same. Maybe the mountains have gotten taller?????

[DiGia54D]

Thanks Matt!!!

[burl11]

The Usual Suspects in the Hinton Pits

Here's a few photos from the pits....

[Matt Dagostino]

More Pics.............

View from the upper road!!............

[Janet]

Ride home from Hinton

yielded many wildlife viewing opportunities this afternoon thanks to a decision to hop off the Interstate and take Skyline Drive part of the way home

Dave and I got to see
Several Deer
Male turkey (no picture, he walked into high grass before Dave could grab the camera)
Female turkey (no picture, she took off running when I slowed down...d*a*m*n* turkeys)
Mother bear and 2 cubs - first time Dave and I have ever seen a bear in the wild - awesome, worth the $15 entry fee and 35 mph speed limit for a few hours! Bear pic 1 is one of the cubs, bear pic 2 is mom
3 Long Horn Steer (in Sperryville)
2 Whistle Pigs

[Jeff5P]

A few pics

Here are a few more pictures from Hinton.