SOA New drivers at Capitol Lake

[propnuts]

SOA holds a New Drivers Day to promote the sport of hydroplane racing!

Curious Aussie travelers are clambering for news of this wonderful event!

[drbyrne55]

I believe about 20 people signed up for rides yesterday.

We missed Mobey Grape at the first turn today. Maybe Sunday?

I missed much of the day but heard K Lewis lead both heats of CSH (Spit Tail) and 20SSH (Kamikaze). Report in Sean Byrne had the Black Pearl Orange delivering mail in OSY too. May have some gun jumping in there to be sorted out.

Both Jamie Nilsen and Kyle Bahl are ok after Jamie hooked and Kyle went over his boat in CSH. Both boats should be "patchable" for nationals.

I'm sure someone can chime in with detailed scorers' info.

[jpro60]

Sadly, no

We missed Mobey Grape at the first turn today. Maybe Sunday?

Unfortunately no MGR this weekend at all. Crew Chief is in Sydney, Australia. I just got a new job as a certified flight instructor a week and a half ago, so I'm working this weekend. I may see what I can do about managing a fly-over tommorow, but it doesn't look promising.
Have fun everyone, and keep them shiny side up,
Mike

[Jason Diamond]

At drivers meeting this morning they announced that there were 36 new drivers that went for test rides. Each new driver was given instruction and safety gear to wear. They took laps in either J hydro, AXSH, 20ssh, or CSH. There was even a very exciting new driver in a C runabout, he tried his best to fall out, but held on for two laps. There was even a ride in a c service runabout.

One of the new racers was racing today in ASR. Todays racing was great, one scary moment as Jamie Nilsen went out hard in turn one, and his boat was hit by Kyle Bahl driving a Revolution, both boats severly damaged, and Kyle has a badly bruised shoulder. Kyle was hoping to get back into his boats for tomorrow.

[propnuts]

36 new guys, that's awesome

If we can just hook I out of every 12 of those we could be doing great. Thanks to everyone that put in that hard work to make this possible, I'd try to name names but there's so many I'm sure I'd miss someone. Glad everyone was OK after the crash, keep em numbers side up tomorrow guys and gals.

[Mrs blueskyracer]

Programs like this one are instrumental in getting new people into our sport. If other regions are doing similar events, please let us (your hydroracer staff) know so that we can promote them.

We all know what will happen if new drivers don't enter the sport! After all we are all getting older, some faster than others!

My hat is off to SOA for hosting this event and wow that was a lot of potential new participants.

Teresa

PS Thanks Propnuts for letting me hijack your thread!

[Kev43V]

Well done!

[voodoo]

I want to say thanks to SOA fo an Incredible experence and a ride of a life time. I want to exspecialy thank Ken Kaiser for all his advice and information in outboard racing. I have been thinking about getting into this sport for about a year now, and after my test ride and some of Ken's advice I bought a 20ss/csh the very next day. My dad (who also took the ride) and I will be joining you guys next season. We will be at the Rockaway race next, to give support and a hand if needed.
One more thing. To the owners of the boats used in the test rides. Thank you very much. I thought maybe the boats that were going to be used might be donated used up rigs that the club dues payed for. They were not! I saw some of those boats go through some abuse with some of us noobs, and I just wanted to say we appreciated them...........................

Brant Policar

[jpro60]

Right On!

Welcome to the club Brant. I have met your dad numerous times this year, and I'm glad that you guys have taken the plunge so to speak. We look forward to having you guys around, and if you need any help just find my dad or I. Look forward to seeing you guys at Rockaway,
Mike Perman 32-R, 1-US
P.S. for any of you who don't know, our club will be gaining yet another fantastic photographer in Joel.

[voodoo]

I want to say thanks to SOA fo an Incredible experence and a ride of a life time. I want to exspecialy thank Ken Kaiser for all his advice and information in outboard racing. I have been thinking about getting into this sport for about a year now, and after my test ride and some of Ken's advice I bought a 20ss/csh the very next day. My dad (who also took the ride) and I will be joining you guys next season. We will be at the Rockaway race next, to give support and a hand if needed.
One more thing. To the owners of the boats used in the test rides. Thank you very much. I thought maybe the boats that were going to be used might be donated used up rigs that the club dues payed for. They were not! I saw some of those boats go through some abuse with some of us noobs, and I just wanted to say we appreciated them...........................

Brant Policar

[Nilsen Racing]

Awesome

I want to say thanks to SOA fo an Incredible experence and a ride of a life time. I want to exspecialy thank Ken Kaiser for all his advice and information in outboard racing. I have been thinking about getting into this sport for about a year now, and after my test ride and some of Ken's advice I bought a 20ss/csh the very next day. My dad (who also took the ride) and I will be joining you guys next season. We will be at the Rockaway race next, to give support and a hand if needed.
One more thing. To the owners of the boats used in the test rides. Thank you very much. I thought maybe the boats that were going to be used might be donated used up rigs that the club dues payed for. They were not! I saw some of those boats go through some abuse with some of us noobs, and I just wanted to say we appreciated them...........................

Brant Policar

Awesome. Along with David Williams and the HARMS project, the "New folks in boats" event at Capital Lake, Olympia, WA is something other clubs and regions should seriously consider. It was an all day event Friday, us racers had a chance to test for a few hours (with newbees watching), than put 35-37 new people in boats for the next four hours. I don't know how many smiles I saw on faces of individuals coming in from their three laps. I personally know we had a father and son (sorry I forgot names) fly up from Reno, NV just for this event. The father used to race out of Spokane and father and son are using MJR plans to put together a 20SSH ride. Son tested a boat Friday, they asked lots of questions, took a lot of pictures, attended drivers meeting Saturday, and watched racing all day Saturday before flying home Saturday night. Just like last year, we had an individual who tested on Friday come back an race with our club on Saturday (we hooked another one). Many people need to be thanked, but I want to single out Steve Greaves for his work at the Lake Union Wooden Boat Show (plus races) for answering questions, promoting, and signing up people to take rides in boats, the Peterson's, Salmon's, Kaiser's, Malhoit's, Gleason/Bahl, & Greaves for the use of their boats (all race ready for Saturday & Sunday) and to Dwight Malhoit, as race director, for making it happen at Capital Lake.

A lot of work but well worth it.
Thanks to all
Jim

[Mrs blueskyracer]

Again, my hat is off to those who made this happen. It is a great program and sounds like we have a few more with the need for speed joining us.

As I said before if other regions are hosting an event like 'New Folks In Boats" please let me know and we will make sure it gets notice here on hydroracer.net.

Teresa

[guedo499]

My favorite part of Friday was when Aaron Peterson showed all the newbies how to do circles around Chip Hanauer, literally!

[sponsonhead]

Coming soon

I wrote a Hydroracer.Net EXCLUSIVE news story/photo essay on that.

Hopefully Teresa will approve it soon so it can show up here. An amazing story!

R-19

[Mrs blueskyracer]

Patrick,

I have made it so!

Teresa