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Weathering the big storm
By DON BAKER
OF THE JOURNAL STAR
Posted Jul 24, 2008 @ 07:47 PM
Link to full article
Michigan family without three of its racing boats this weekend at DePue
In the past, the Thirlbys only worried about what might go wrong during the APBA Pro Nationals Boat Races in DePue.
Nothing that happened during the races compares to what happened Monday morning.
The Thirlbys of Michigan were in Bureau County for the races that begin at noon today with hydro and runabout competition. Racing continues at noon Saturday and Sunday.
The Thirlbys arrived at Lake DePue with their boats housed in trailers. Normally, they would not take out the boats until Tuesday. But because one boat needed repair, they took it and others out Sunday along the park area around the lake.
Then came a storm Monday morning, with flat-line winds of more than 70 mph, and down came a tree right on top of three of the Thirlby boats.
Their 250 roundabout was demolished. Two other boats were damaged and won't be ready for this weekend's racing.
"I think we can burn the one at a campfire," Ed Thirlby said.
Brandon Thirlby withdrew from the 500, 700 and 1100 hydro-class competition.
Ed Thirlby, 70, started the racing tradition in his family and has been coming to DePue for 30 years. His 21-year-old grandson Brandon is the current family representative on the water.
Brandon Thirlby is a five-time APBA champion in different classes, a five-time APBA high point season champion and was inducted in the HAPBA Hall of Champions in 2005, one of the youngest drivers ever to receive that honor.
In 2006, he won four national titles at DePue.
Despite the storm knocking Brandon Thirlby out of some class competitions, he still will be competing in several others.
Ed Thirlby's son Michael has retired from racing after being the high point champion 17 times and two-time ABPA national champion in the 250 runabout, 2002 national champ in the 350 runabout, 2005 national champ in the 500 runabout and 2006 national champ in the 1100 runabout.
This year, the Thirlbys will add two more grandsons to DePue history. Tyler Thirlby, 12, and Andrew Thirlby, 13, will compete in the K-Pro Kid Pro competition for the first time.
Ed Thirlby has seen many changes at the race over the years.
"The boats ride so much better and safer and faster," he said. "The boats are much more stable. In the past, we would bounce all over the place. Now, they are like an arrow. You feel much safer in them and go faster, even though the actual speed has not increased much."
Thirlby noted most classes now have full fields compared to in earlier years.
"The pro division is growing," Thirlby said. "It's not a fast growth, but a gradual one. Now 80 to 90 percent of the classes are full fields."
Thirlby quit competing 25 years ago. Now, he said, all he runs is his mouth.
"Coming to DePue is always like coming home," Thirlby said. "The people here are always so pleasant. It's the best reception of any place we compete ... except when you have storms like Monday's."
Don Baker can be reached at 686-3214 or dbaker@pjstar.com.
OF THE JOURNAL STAR
Posted Jul 24, 2008 @ 07:47 PM
Link to full article
Michigan family without three of its racing boats this weekend at DePue
In the past, the Thirlbys only worried about what might go wrong during the APBA Pro Nationals Boat Races in DePue.
Nothing that happened during the races compares to what happened Monday morning.
The Thirlbys of Michigan were in Bureau County for the races that begin at noon today with hydro and runabout competition. Racing continues at noon Saturday and Sunday.
The Thirlbys arrived at Lake DePue with their boats housed in trailers. Normally, they would not take out the boats until Tuesday. But because one boat needed repair, they took it and others out Sunday along the park area around the lake.
Then came a storm Monday morning, with flat-line winds of more than 70 mph, and down came a tree right on top of three of the Thirlby boats.
Their 250 roundabout was demolished. Two other boats were damaged and won't be ready for this weekend's racing.
"I think we can burn the one at a campfire," Ed Thirlby said.
Brandon Thirlby withdrew from the 500, 700 and 1100 hydro-class competition.
Ed Thirlby, 70, started the racing tradition in his family and has been coming to DePue for 30 years. His 21-year-old grandson Brandon is the current family representative on the water.
Brandon Thirlby is a five-time APBA champion in different classes, a five-time APBA high point season champion and was inducted in the HAPBA Hall of Champions in 2005, one of the youngest drivers ever to receive that honor.
In 2006, he won four national titles at DePue.
Despite the storm knocking Brandon Thirlby out of some class competitions, he still will be competing in several others.
Ed Thirlby's son Michael has retired from racing after being the high point champion 17 times and two-time ABPA national champion in the 250 runabout, 2002 national champ in the 350 runabout, 2005 national champ in the 500 runabout and 2006 national champ in the 1100 runabout.
This year, the Thirlbys will add two more grandsons to DePue history. Tyler Thirlby, 12, and Andrew Thirlby, 13, will compete in the K-Pro Kid Pro competition for the first time.
Ed Thirlby has seen many changes at the race over the years.
"The boats ride so much better and safer and faster," he said. "The boats are much more stable. In the past, we would bounce all over the place. Now, they are like an arrow. You feel much safer in them and go faster, even though the actual speed has not increased much."
Thirlby noted most classes now have full fields compared to in earlier years.
"The pro division is growing," Thirlby said. "It's not a fast growth, but a gradual one. Now 80 to 90 percent of the classes are full fields."
Thirlby quit competing 25 years ago. Now, he said, all he runs is his mouth.
"Coming to DePue is always like coming home," Thirlby said. "The people here are always so pleasant. It's the best reception of any place we compete ... except when you have storms like Monday's."
Don Baker can be reached at 686-3214 or dbaker@pjstar.com.
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