APBA Driving School in Dayton, Ohio, May 30-31

[HRTV]

Dan,

The press release will be out shortly. I will post it here as soon as it is available.

Mark

Thanks Mark I hope everyone had a great time

[Mark.Wheeler]

Press Release on the APBA Driving School

LEARNING CURVE by Tana Moore

The first-ever APBA Driving School took place on Eastwood Lake in Dayton, Ohio's Five Rivers MetroPark on May 30-31, 2009. Twenty-nine students from New York, Ohio, Minnesota, North Carolina, South Carolina and Michigan showed up to learn how to drive a race boat. They ranged in age from nine to 74 years old. It was a congenial, enthusiastic group; and even with the inevitable waiting, there was a lot of banter and fun. The weather cooperated, with sunny skies and moderate wind both days.
Friday night was capsule training for ST 120 and 5 Litre students, conducted by the Box 21 Rescue Team. Student James Benson of Katonah, NY had expected that to be the hardest part of the weekend, but was pleasantly surprised. "It was easy," he said. "They did a great job."

APBA Vice President Mark Wheeler had prepared a slide show (with help from Michigan Hydroplane Racing Association's Dean Sutherland) for the classroom time on Saturday morning. Students learned about flags, course layout, and race course safety rules. Then everyone migrated to the on-water part of the course, where instructors Chris Fairchild, Dan Kanfoush and Brandon Thirlby took over. Some students came with driving experience. Roger Hinsdale of Spring City, TN, owns Vintage boats and wanted to improve his skills. Among the class were former racers Frank Deem of Leicester, NY and Donald Trotter of Canfield, Ohio. Frank had driven race boats for Phil Kunz years ago. After several flips, he opted to take a break. When he and Phil attended a race together recently, however, it was clear that safety equipment had come a long way from the open-cockpit, motorcycle helmet days. So Frank bought an Inboard, and he and his wife Melia Koerner both signed up for the Driving School.

Donald Trotter had built and raced boats in the 1960s, and had even driven in the Hudson River Marathon. He and some other students had driven pleasure boats; some had no driving experience at all. Everybody learned from the weekend, including the APBA Driving School staff. There was great interest in driving both SST 120 and 5 Litre; in fact, 12 students had signed up for that option; 10 selected 5 Litre and the rest opted for SST 120, C Stock Hydro or Junior Hydro. When the 5 Litre engine failed, the Driving School team shifted gears quickly. Some students, like Frank Deem, opted to wait for another school so they could have the 5 Litre experience. Others took the tunnel boat ride instead. That meant SST 120 instructor Chris Fairchild had a lot of coaching to do. He was on the radio much of the day, telling students, "Punch it!" "Bump up! Bump down!" "Don't let up!" "Turn! Now!"

Although several students had their hearts set on an Inboard ride, they found SST 120 driving just as big a thrill. Learning to take a one-pin turn at high speed is quite a rush. Nobody flipped, spun out, or hit the dock. Everybody emerged from the boat with a big grin. The kneeldown rides went just as well. Laura Wheeler helped her “””Dad Mark and Brandon Thirlby with the outboard teaching duties. Junior Hydro drivers Nick Godfroid, 11, of Cincinnati, and Nathan Hoeft, nine, of Powell, got on plane just fine and hit respectable speeds on the course. Nick's father and uncle, Bob and Mike Godfroid, tried C Stock Hydro, as did John Deck of Chardon, Ohio. Steve and Kyle Roskowski provided the JH equipment and a lot of help.

It was a testing weekend at Eastwood Lake as well. Students got to see some very fast, very loud Inboard, Vintage and outboard race boats zipping around the course between school sessions. Wandering down to the pits, they could meet other drivers—including Ken Warby, the fastest man on water.

Sunday morning, people lined up to take their first or second ride in the SST 120. Everyone who wanted a ride got one. Mark and Lori Weber were busy all weekend helping drivers in and out of safety equipment and boats, explaining and encouraging, scheduling and organizing. A Saturday night party at a local American Legion allowed the class of 2009 to enjoy each other's company and meet the other race teams there for the testing weekend. Laurie Allen and Wendy Fairchild kept things organized and handed out certificates and T-shirts. The entire Fairchild Racing team including dock crew Bill Chatfield and "Big Pat" worked hard all weekend to give students a great experience. Photographer F. Peirce Williams took photos and even tried the SST 120 himself. Afterward, Chris Fairchild joked, "Do you have more respect for us drivers now?"

Ten laps around a course are not enough to turn a novice into a racer, of course; but the APBA Driving School offered 29 people a taste of what racing is like. Every Driving School student is now a member of APBA and will receive Propeller magazine every month. Many will go on to become full-fledged racers. The Driving School itself will evolve, based on this first experience. The goal, according to APBA President Mark Weber, is to lower the barriers to power boat racing. This past weekend was a good start.

The complete class list: John Bachik (Royal Oak MI), Bernard Becker (New Baltimore MI), William Benning (West Chester OH), James Benson (Katonah NY), John Bridge II (Harrison Twp. MI), Greg Brown (Xenia OH), John Deck (Chardon OH), Frank Deem and Melia Koerner (Leicester NY), Bob and Nick Godfroid (Cincinnati OH), Mike Godfroid (Warren MI), Roger Hinsdale (Spring City, TN), Eric and Nathan Hoeft (Powell OH), John Ishler (Seneca SC), Bob Knowles (Holly MI), Bernard Lindeman (Eastpointe MI), Scott Minette (Oakdale MN), Lewis Nash (Greensboro NC), Dale Patton (South Solon OH), Brian Reed (Warren MI), Janet Reed (St. Clair Shores MI), Bob Roa (Cincinnati OH), Greg Roa (Cleves OH), Alan Trotter, Donald Trotter (Canfield OH), Brian Williams (South Solon OH) and Steven Wood II (Chesterfield MI).

[HRTV]

Great job Mark my only complaint is that looking at the photo I dont see a signle minority, other then that great job!

* I dont have time to resize the photo right now so if someone else has a chance to do so go for it.

[sam]

http://www.apba-racing.com/gallery.html

[sam]

The average age (ignoring the 2 J drivers) was 50 years old (less 2 weeks)

This fact should not be ignored when considering recruiting new membership

[HRTV]

Not the demographic group I was hoping to see.

[sam]

You can't sell to the wrong group, you have to sell to the interested group

[HRTV]

You can't sell to the wrong group, you have to sell to the interested group

What criteria do you use in order to tell if particular group of individuals is interested or not? or in your own words the "wrong group" be careful!

How do you know if a particular group of individuals are not interested if they have never been exposed to it? exposure equal interest.

[sam]

That was the age group that most showed up ... this was widely distributed (and probably more widely ignored) and not just to AARP


Lots of people see the US Title Series races, I would imagine the crowds are all ages, but only a few fans seem to convert to racers

[Dave M]

In the Beginning

Instead of being critical, how about spreading the word at your local races to interested parties of boat racing ? Perhaps have the club invest in a banner and fab up a booth or simply do a single page handout. At most of races in the midwest there is always a gearhead or two that wanders in the pit area that is very interested in what we do, but really does not have a clue how to go about it. They can't try before they buy. Here is a way for them to do just that. It is somewhat affordable as well. A great marketing tool. Here is a vehical to get what we have all wanted at races. A way to get interesed folks in a boat without investment.

The school is only being offered once a year for now, but if we all do some work I bet it could be offered more than that. So get off the computer and do some legwork ! (not spoke to anyone in particular).

[wagner-racing16-s]

hey if anyone has contact info for the guy in Chardon Please let me know. I work in chardon and live 10 minutes away and wouldnt mind try to help this guy even more in racing.

[swheeler]

Not the demographic group I was hoping to see.

Hope in one hand, crap in the other. See which hand fills up first.

The staff had a good mix of younger members, seasoned racers, males and females. Maybe next time some of our minority members will help out with promoting and conducting the school. This was a very good start and all involved deserve our thanks and support.

[HRTV]

Hope in one hand, crap in the other. See which hand fills up first.

The staff had a good mix of younger members, seasoned racers, males and females. Maybe next time some of our minority members will help out with promoting and conducting the school. This was a very good start and all involved deserve our thanks and support.

What minority members? thats pretty funny anyway enjoy.

Regarding promoting the event I did right here on HR and I am a minority, I can’t speak for the other one or two that might be actual APBA racing or non racing members.

[22W]

What minority members? thats pretty funny anyway enjoy.

Regarding promoting the event I did right here on HR and I am a minority, I can’t speak for the other one or two that might be actual APBA racing or non racing members.

Lets see... there is you and uh, well... Hmm... Oh yeah! Bittu Spedding showed up at a race to watch last year.

[jeff55v]

What criteria do you use in order to tell if particular group of individuals is interested or not? or in your own words the "wrong group" be careful!

How do you know if a particular group of individuals are not interested if they have never been exposed to it? exposure equal interest.

At the boat show a few weeks ago, I met a pretty good mix of different folks. Many seemed only very casually interested in our sport. But, I'll never forget the group of teenagers who laughed out loud at my boat because the motor was steered with cables! (wrong group I guess)
I'm getting discouraged. I just can't seem to find anybody outside of our sport who is willing to work a little to go out and have fun with us. I can't even get one of my own brothers into it. I give up!

I have a nice C marathon boat for sale now.

Sorry, rant over.