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Submitted by: Blake Johnson
G-Spec. Racing (this team name originated from the specification of “G” on PRO boats hailing from Minnesota) began with a trip to the 2003 Nationals in Depue, Illinois. Bruce Johnson brought his son, Blake Johnson and daughter-in-law, Abby Johnson to introduce them to the unique sound and thrill of a 6 cylinder Mercury alcohol racing outboard, the same engines Bruce had heard over 30 years earlier when he was a boat racer. Bruce and Blake began scheming in their normal meticulous way on how to form a team defined by precision, professionalism, beautiful equipment, and an overall emphasis on perfection.
The same remains true today that nothing is “raceable” without it first being perfected. Much of this perfectionism can be attributed to Blake Johnson, who now acts as both Crew Chief and Quality Control. Blake is 26 years old and has already established himself as a top buyer for the Des Moines Bolt Supply Corporation. He was married in 2005 to Abigail, herself one of the founding trio who rekindled a boat racing past. Abby Johnson acts as G-Spec. Racing’s graphic design and IT specialist. She aspires to be the team’s future 250cc Runabout driver.
Bruce Johnson enjoys his role as Team Owner as well as chief mechanic and tuner. “Point blank, He makes us go fast. He does more than his share of the work, and pays more than his share of the bills. None of this could happen without him.” Said Blake in regards to Team Owner and Father Bruce. His wife, Barbara, married him in 1971 knowing full well that he raced boats and worked on his engines on the dining room table. Together, they acted as the founders, the President and Secretary of the 1970s American Boat Racing Association (ABRA) in Minnesota. They remained active in local boat racing for nearly ten years until they decided to have children; Blake who was born in 1982, and Brianna, in 1986. Barb is happy to be back and acting as Treasurer, a.k.a. “The Wallet,” and Team Chef.
It took Brianna Johnson quite a while to figure out what her family was up to as she was wrapping up her high school diploma and then moved to Massachusetts to attend Smith College. She went to her first boat race after her first year at college in 2006. Needless to say, she found something she was looking for in boat racing that college out east couldn’t give her. In the beginning of 2007, she moved home and continues to pursue her B.F.A. in Creative Writing. Calling herself a boat racer and a poet, she is the team’s writer and editor. The Winona Regatta 2008 marks the beginning of her rookie year of racing in 125cc Hydro. The “boys” have her in mind to race 500cc Hydro in the future and she would also like to try her hand at 350cc Runabout.
The story of how Derek Gesler was assimilated into G-Spec. Racing is complicated, but most certainly evolved from his and the team’s mutual want to create a new level of professionalism in PRO boat racing as well as a shared love of 6 cylinder Alky Mercury’s. Derek has acted as G-Spec. Racing’s boat builder with the intention that he drives them after he builds them for two years now. The results of this unification between G-Spec. Racing and life-long boat racer, Derek, have been striking, innovative, and unspeakably fast. At the 2007 Nationals back in Depue, G-Spec unveiled their new 1100cc Top Hydro that Derek had built, and that Bruce and Blake had finished. It tested extremely well and has paved the way for some new technology to come. Derek and Brianna also climbed into the 1100cc Two-Person Runabout and took Third Place. At 22 years old, Derek recently moved to Minnesota, is pursuing his degree in Civil Engineering, and works as a Geological Technician for Braun Intertec. He has recently, in a joint effort with G-Spec Racing, designed and built the molds for the new “Carbon Core” completely composite capsule hydro’s which will be debuted in the 2008 season.
For the 2008 UIM/APBA World Championships in Florida, G-Spec. Racing will be fielding 2 1100cc Carbon Core Hydros one will be driven by Derek Gesler the other driven by Yvonne Koenig, an F500/F700 driver from Germany. Yvonne has been racing since 2001 and has become the premiere female driver on the international boat racing circuit. G-Spec. Racing will also have Derek Gesler racing in 500cc Runabout, and Brianna Johnson competing in 125cc Hydro.
See you at the Worlds!
G-Spec. Racing (this team name originated from the specification of “G” on PRO boats hailing from Minnesota) began with a trip to the 2003 Nationals in Depue, Illinois. Bruce Johnson brought his son, Blake Johnson and daughter-in-law, Abby Johnson to introduce them to the unique sound and thrill of a 6 cylinder Mercury alcohol racing outboard, the same engines Bruce had heard over 30 years earlier when he was a boat racer. Bruce and Blake began scheming in their normal meticulous way on how to form a team defined by precision, professionalism, beautiful equipment, and an overall emphasis on perfection.
The same remains true today that nothing is “raceable” without it first being perfected. Much of this perfectionism can be attributed to Blake Johnson, who now acts as both Crew Chief and Quality Control. Blake is 26 years old and has already established himself as a top buyer for the Des Moines Bolt Supply Corporation. He was married in 2005 to Abigail, herself one of the founding trio who rekindled a boat racing past. Abby Johnson acts as G-Spec. Racing’s graphic design and IT specialist. She aspires to be the team’s future 250cc Runabout driver.
Bruce Johnson enjoys his role as Team Owner as well as chief mechanic and tuner. “Point blank, He makes us go fast. He does more than his share of the work, and pays more than his share of the bills. None of this could happen without him.” Said Blake in regards to Team Owner and Father Bruce. His wife, Barbara, married him in 1971 knowing full well that he raced boats and worked on his engines on the dining room table. Together, they acted as the founders, the President and Secretary of the 1970s American Boat Racing Association (ABRA) in Minnesota. They remained active in local boat racing for nearly ten years until they decided to have children; Blake who was born in 1982, and Brianna, in 1986. Barb is happy to be back and acting as Treasurer, a.k.a. “The Wallet,” and Team Chef.
It took Brianna Johnson quite a while to figure out what her family was up to as she was wrapping up her high school diploma and then moved to Massachusetts to attend Smith College. She went to her first boat race after her first year at college in 2006. Needless to say, she found something she was looking for in boat racing that college out east couldn’t give her. In the beginning of 2007, she moved home and continues to pursue her B.F.A. in Creative Writing. Calling herself a boat racer and a poet, she is the team’s writer and editor. The Winona Regatta 2008 marks the beginning of her rookie year of racing in 125cc Hydro. The “boys” have her in mind to race 500cc Hydro in the future and she would also like to try her hand at 350cc Runabout.
The story of how Derek Gesler was assimilated into G-Spec. Racing is complicated, but most certainly evolved from his and the team’s mutual want to create a new level of professionalism in PRO boat racing as well as a shared love of 6 cylinder Alky Mercury’s. Derek has acted as G-Spec. Racing’s boat builder with the intention that he drives them after he builds them for two years now. The results of this unification between G-Spec. Racing and life-long boat racer, Derek, have been striking, innovative, and unspeakably fast. At the 2007 Nationals back in Depue, G-Spec unveiled their new 1100cc Top Hydro that Derek had built, and that Bruce and Blake had finished. It tested extremely well and has paved the way for some new technology to come. Derek and Brianna also climbed into the 1100cc Two-Person Runabout and took Third Place. At 22 years old, Derek recently moved to Minnesota, is pursuing his degree in Civil Engineering, and works as a Geological Technician for Braun Intertec. He has recently, in a joint effort with G-Spec Racing, designed and built the molds for the new “Carbon Core” completely composite capsule hydro’s which will be debuted in the 2008 season.
For the 2008 UIM/APBA World Championships in Florida, G-Spec. Racing will be fielding 2 1100cc Carbon Core Hydros one will be driven by Derek Gesler the other driven by Yvonne Koenig, an F500/F700 driver from Germany. Yvonne has been racing since 2001 and has become the premiere female driver on the international boat racing circuit. G-Spec. Racing will also have Derek Gesler racing in 500cc Runabout, and Brianna Johnson competing in 125cc Hydro.
See you at the Worlds!
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