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**HRTV** · 04-04-2008, 06:15 PM

Published: Tuesday, April 1, 2008
LAKE WALES
Boat Races to Aid Special Playground

The 2008 U. S. Title Series "Race For The Kids" will be held Saturday and Sunday on Lake Wailes.

More than 80 race teams from across the country are expected to compete in the race sanction by the American Power Boat Racing Association.

This will be the conclusion of the U.S. Title Series Florida Speed Week, which began the weekend before at Lake Hernando near Inverness.

Drivers will arrive Friday and start tuning and testing their boats.

The U.S. Title Series is a national racing series consisting of 10 different classes of the Professional Racing Outboard division of the American Powerboat Association.

Hybrid two-stroke engines will be raced on both hydroplane and runabout boat configurations. Speeds in many classes will reach or exceed 100 mph in these lightning-quick boats. Designed solely for racing, the methanol-powered engines can generate in excess of 13,000 RPMs.

Adults and children can meet the racers, see the boats up close, get autographs and take pictures from 5 to 7 p.m. Friday.

Music and games also will be played.

The three-day race festival is sponsored by the Lake Wales Kiwanis.

Proceeds from the weekend will be used to build Barney's Dream, an all-inclusive playground designed for special needs and able-bodied children at Kiwanis Park.

For more information contact Norm Kuehn at 863-676-8986.

Last modified: April 01. 2008 5:46AM

**John Howe** · 04-04-2008, 08:21 PM

Any word about the weather situation?

**L. Allen** · 04-05-2008, 04:18 AM

I heard people were hanging around yesterday waiting for the wind to die down so they could test.
Sure hope somebody posts some results later!

**RLR** · 04-05-2008, 05:29 PM

Saturday Results

1st of all we are alive and well and did not get blown to Orlando, but that did seem possible a couple of times today.

My congrats to Mike Bowers, the Kiwanis Club, and all others at Lake Wales who worked their hearts out for this one, including some of the best food vendors found on our circut, wow.

We were rained on, wind blown, and just generally had the dickens kicked out of us with the weather today. We were unable to finish the day, as we had a tremendous storm blow up at about 4:30 and stopped all racing. one heat of K-pro was finished-big wrecks in 125h and one heat of 500-hydro in. Will try to finish Saturday program on Sunday morning before regular program.

In 125H Billy Allen blew over going down front straightaway--ok and then David Augistine and Kristi Ellison collided at the entry to the bottom turn. All okay, but Kristi took a real whack in the back from David's engine, but she said she is okay.

K-Pro Wendy Eldridge-Kurtis Nydahl-Zack Maquire??CRS setting in on third
Travis Ellison spun in the bottom turn so hard, it actually put the engine at a odd angle on the transom

500 Hydro--David Hooten-Brandon Thirlby-Jim War Wagon Wright
Sean Mckean and David went to the first pin, with Brandon on the outside and only David and Brandon came out, as Sean took a slug of water into the Carb and hydroliced the number two piston and blew it up and out as it cracked the cylindar head. Sean told me that at first he thought he was upside down and started his go through of checking the belts and the air supply and begining the process of the escape routine. Fourtaaneltly not the case and he moves toward tomorrow.

In 250 R--Brandon Thirlby-Tim Small-Brian Payn 2/2/1 for Brandon.
Tim Small had two 1st place finishes and blew it up in the 3rd heat. Buddy Tennell and Rich Krier collided at the start and put holes in Miss Laurie, Buddy's entry and Rich was able to start the 3rd heat.

350 Hydro--Mark Stahl-Chris Hellesten-Bruce Summers--Lots of GJ in this one as Gary Buskirk had speed, but Mark Stahl drove his heart out with the new MJR livery and did really well. Congrats to Mark, Wisconsin broke his heart, but this put him on the mend.

500R--Mike Thirlby-Pete Voss-Nic Nothe 1/1/1--need I say more?????
Pete Voss continues on the mend and is driving even better than last as he now has 2 straight 2nd place finishes. Mike was superb in his driving and had the speed today.

My thanks to Robbie Galletta and our whole USTS team who perfomred heroically on the judges Stand. Shirley Summers, Bev Krier, Pat Augistine, Cooke Hookirk, Tammy Buskirk, Jackie Kammer, forgive if I forgot anyone,and our referee, Nic Thompson. Also thanks to my Bud, Paulie Bosnich who told me that he worked harder today than he did all week helping Kristi manage the pits and helping me get the 30 to the 3 count right.

Ray

**David Weaver** · 04-05-2008, 05:32 PM

Today

Mark Stahl won 350H. Honestly did see the rest, while repairing cylinder piston.

Only 1 heat of 125H, K PRO and 500H completed due to multiple storms.

3 125's damged during 1 heat with all drivers OK. Billy Allen came out of his boat or spun. Kristi and Dave Augustine traded paint in the turn 2. Again, all drivers ok. Very bad storms. 1 boat damaged.

Hope for better weather tomorrow.

**John Howe** · 04-05-2008, 06:22 PM

Thanks for the posts David. I just saw the pics from Joe and those are some really harsh conditions,...to say the least! I`m glad everybody came out okay after the various incidents. I was all set to go up to the lake this morning, but decided to call it off after I checked the weather forecast again late last night. I was so looking forward to the event.

**Lights** · 04-05-2008, 06:31 PM

Thanks for the update guy's. I hope you have better weather tomorrow.

**John Howe** · 04-05-2008, 06:32 PM

Batten down the hatches!! I just now checked the weather in that vicinity, and on the radar it looks like hurricane Bubba is about an hour away!

http://www.wunderground.com/radar/ra...0Wales%2c%20FL

**FL47F** · 04-05-2008, 11:32 PM

Left Lake Wales at about 5pm. Most of the EZups had been gathered up, hail stones swept away and the lake was lying down again. About a half hour South in Avon Park, NASGRASS was holding their first National event for Lawn Mowers. Wisconson, Michigan,Maryland and other States were all represented well. Don got some great pictures that I hope he sends up to Dan. Pete also got some good video for the new hydroracer video venue. The races were all LeMans start ten lappers. Just like Boat Racing, if you get the start your odds are you will maintain your position. Hard to pass on an eighth of a mile track.
The only down side was NO BEER TENT. That makes tomorrows decision on which race to attend a no brainer.
USTS!!!!!!!!!!!

**Racing Fan** · 04-06-2008, 04:20 AM

We ended up leaving during the 1st storm which came through I think around 2:30. The skies were black. Wanted to stick around to watch more--but my husband's face was wind burn. Mightly strong winds. Good racing! Way to keep the boats right side up (for most anyway). Was very impressed with the # of vendors there. Great food. Even a kid zone where you could take the kids to play on giant slides. Great annoucing! Not only kept the spectators informed but educated them as well. Again--a great run race!

**L. Allen** · 04-06-2008, 06:27 AM

Thanks a lot for all the info and especially for giving us the "all drivers OK." That was the most important thing said.

P.S. Some people just don't know to come in out of the rain...

**Doug Hall** · 04-06-2008, 01:28 PM

Just got off the phone with my dad who is down at the race. Sounded like they had good water but only ran two heats of each class. Tim Small won 350 runabout, David Hooten won 500 Hydro with Brandon finishing second, Brandon won 700 Hydro w/ David finishing second. 250 Hydro was either Brandon or Billy Allen. Dad wasnt sure who won but said they each had a first and a second and Chris Helsten finishing third. Mike Thirlby won 500 runabout w/ Pete Voss finishing second and he thought Jared G taking third. This is all he thought were the results. Hope to see everybody in Depue.

**HRTV** · 04-07-2008, 06:48 AM

Originally posted by FL47F View Post

Left Lake Wales at about 5pm. Most of the EZups had been gathered up, hail stones swept away and the lake was lying down again. About a half hour South in Avon Park, NASGRASS was holding their first National event for Lawn Mowers. Wisconson, Michigan,Maryland and other States were all represented well. Don got some great pictures that I hope he sends up to Dan. Pete also got some good video for the new hydroracer video venue. The races were all LeMans start ten lappers. Just like Boat Racing, if you get the start your odds are you will maintain your position. Hard to pass on an eighth of a mile track.
The only down side was NO BEER TENT. That makes tomorrows decision on which race to attend a no brainer.
USTS!!!!!!!!!!!

Hey Pete,

If you get a chance please post a few clips to the new HR TV

Thanks

**David Weaver** · 04-07-2008, 06:55 AM

2008 Race for the Kids

Thanks to all the folks who worked so hard to organize this event. Thanks to the USTS officials who braved treacherous wheather conditions and kept the show going. Thanks to the volunteers who stayed and cleaned-up ( and jeers to those who volunteered and left due to rain).

Despite the brutual weather conditions, we managed to put on an entertaining show for the spectators. Sunday's racing was particularly good until the weather once again set-in.

I enjoyed watching and racing with the European style boats. Their ability to handle rough water was very impressive.

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